EMT

definitive care

what the patient needs

Defibrillation

The administration of an electric shock to the heart of a patient who is experiencing a high regular heartbeat, known as ventricular fibrillation

where should a patient be transported?

to the closest appropriate medical facility

scoop stretcher

hip fracture

Transport

A patient's condition requires care by medical professionals, but speed getting the patient to a medical facility is not the most important factor

Prompt Transport

when a patient's condition is serious enough that the patient needs to be taken to an appropriate medical facility in a very short period of time

Rapid Transport

when EMS personnel or unable to give the patient in adequate life-saving care in the field

subjective

what they tell you

Objective

what you see

SOAP

Subjective

Objective

Assessment

Plan

CISD

critical incident stress debriefing

when must CISD occur?

within 24 to 72 hours of the event

standard of care

what you do

scope of practice

what your allowed

what do you do when scene becomes unsafe?

1. remain calm

2. call

3. wait

effects of alcohol

reduce stress BUT causes depression and dehydration

Who came up with the five stages of death and dying?

Dr. Elisabeth Kubler-Ross

what are the five stages of death and dying?

DABDA

1. denial

2. anger

3. bargaining

4. depression

5. acceptance

what are the three components of stress management?

1. recognizing stress

2. preventing stress

3. reducing stress

universal precaution

treat everything as infectious

AIDS

acquired immunodeficiency syndrome

HIV

human immunodeficiency virus

communicable

Easily spread infections

pathogen

disease causing microorganisms

transmitted by contact with infected blood, semen, or vaginal secretions

1. HIV

2. AIDS

3. Hepatitis B

4. Hepatitis C

staphylococcus infection

C-diff

MRSA

SARS

severe acute respiratory syndrome

opportunistic infection

cant fight because immune system is shot

malaria

vector bourne

how is TB spread?

spread by droplets from the respiratory system

Ryan white law

emergency worker is exposed to HIV, his supervisor has 24 hours to tell the emergency workers so they can take precautions

donning

gown, mask, google, glove

doffing

glove, goggles, gown, mask

where should you park your vehicle in emergency?

park your vehicle so that it protects the area from traffic hazards

vector-bourne

animals

blood bourne

disease causing agents spread through blood

• hep B :direct contact with infected blood, can live outside body

• hep A : raw food

definitive death

1. rigor mortis

2. dependent lividity

3. decapitation

4. decomposition

rigor mortis

Stiff, hardening of body

dependent lividity

light on top and dark on bottom

if there is a dog on scene what do you do?

ask someone to put the dog in another room

in a vehicle accident, where should you put the keys?

on the roof

scope of practice

defined by the state and outlines care you can provide

• what you're allowed to do

• defined in protocols and standing orders

• authorized through online and offline direction

standard of care

how well you perform your skills

• can be held accountable for how well you do

standing orders

protocol

duty to act

responsibility to provide patient care

• legal & ethical

• not legal duty to act when off duty but could be ethical

negligence

failure to provide that same care that a person with similar training would provide

• didn't follow standard of care

4 things needed to prove negligence

1. duty to act

2. breech of duty

3. damage

4. causation (you caused it)

breech of duty

failure to act within expected and reasonable standard of care

abandonment

termination of care without patient consent or without provisions for continued care. Care can't stop unless someone equal or higher takes over

expressed consent

patients says yes to your help and what you're doing with any form of communication

implied consent

patient is unconscious or incompetent and its legally implied they would want help

types:

• minor consent (18 & under unless they're legally emancipated)

• patient mentally impaired

• pt under influence

• pt doesn't have the capacity to decide

minor consent

18 & under unless they're legally emancipated

assault

unlawfully putting a person in fear of physical harm without consent

battery

unlawfully touching a person

the most basic law suits in EMS are due to

negligence

when can you do an emergency move?

when a pt is in danger

refusal of treatment

-must be mentally competent

• pt must be informed of risks/benefits of treatment and alternative

-EMT-B should get a signature and try to have a witness, hospitals get AMA

• tell them they can call 911 again

A&Ox4

person, place, time, and event (in that order)

• used to test competency

good Samaritan law

priniciple that you shouldn't be liable when assisting another person in good faith

advanced directive

• specifies medical treatments desired if a pt is unable to make decisions