Chapter 3 Objectives

Define morbidity and mortality.

Morbidity refers to having a disease or symptoms, or amount of diseases in a population. Mortality is the state of being subject to death.

4. Explain the Haddon matrix and how it can be used in the understanding and prevention of injury.

A matrix that use data from the surveillance to determine prevention measures and place them in a pre-event or post-event timeline, encompassing human, mechanical, and environmental aspects.

Discuss pediatric injuries and risk factors for them.

Compared to adults children have thinner skin, smaller airway and a larger head in proportion to body. They also have less ability to protect themselves from harm and this puts them in greater risks. Risk factors: Injury patterns, age, gender, development state, socioeconomic states, family and environment. MVA and pediatrics in their carseats - Almost 150 children receive er care for injuries sustained from a mva every HOUR! Follow proper car seat safety guidelines. Suffocation - Infants are more likely to suffocate while sleeping. Choking on food or other small objects is the most common cause of suffocation in toddlers. Place infants on their back to sleep. Supervise your child when eating, pre-cut food into bite-size pieces.

Describe the steps involved in organizations a community prevention program.

Conduct community assessment. Bring people together to assess what is already being done & what resources we have. - define the problem define on quantifiable terms such as = most frequent cause of childhood injuries. - set goals. And objections start with broad goals with long term changes. Then move to objectives which are time limited specific and quantifiable. Two types process and outcome objective.

Discuss the Principles of injury prevention, including education, enforcement, engineering/environment, and economic incentives

Education- is to inform people of dangers to help change behaviors that could cause damage. This can and should be formed for the people and age group that you are instructing. Enforcement- Legislation and regulation such as speed limit signs, other road signs, and fire inspections. Economic Incentives- Free fire alarm and safety products to help promote safety, and can help insurance rates. Engineering/Environment- increased safety in air bag, child resistant medication bottles, new engineering increases child survival due to new car seat design.

List the major public health laws, regulations, and guidelines, in place in the united states, including the purpose of each.

Helmet laws- not a federal but 19 states do have a helmet law for motorcycles Bicycles- 22 states have laws for under the age of 18- 13 states do not have any laws at all. Seatbelt laws- 34 states have seatbelt laws, 15 states state that you can only be given a citation if you were pulled over for something else ex. Speeding. HIPAA- Health Insurance Portability Accountability Act -formed in 1965, it helps insure patient privacy EMTALA- Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act States that hospitals have to take care of you regardless of your ability to pay.

Define intentional injuries and unintentional injuries.

Intentional injuries: Any injury or death that is self inflicted or perpetrated by another person. Usually context of "violence". Unintentional injuries: Accidental or without intent to cause harm or damage to self or others. Occurs in a short period of time

Discuss the concept of injury surveillance and how it relates EMS.

Learning why people are getting injured or sick and using the data collected to educate the public to prevent further injuries or illness.

Explain the paramedics unique role in promoting public health, both terms of illness and injury.

Paramedic are in the best position to promote public health when it comes to injury and illness. Although EMS is reactive programs such as helmet awareness for kids.

List ways a paramedic can promote injury prevention in his or her community.

Participating in community injury prevention Interacting with the media to promote injury prevention Empowering individual EMS prevention

Discuss the detrimental effects of chronic and acute illness as related to public health?

Practice of preventing disease and promoting good health within groups of people. Public awareness - helping general population be aware of illnesses such as H1N1 influenza. The public needs to have a general understanding of health risks and preventative care. Suggesting more health screenings. -water or seafood contamination - radiation leaks - Lack of sanitary conditions following a natural disaster - increased incidence of cancer after major incidents EMS can get involved by -fundraisers -Car seat Checks - Health fairs - Speeches -BP checks -fall prevention - swimming safety

Define primary prevention and secondary prevention; include examples of each.

Primary: before the injury occurs; seat belts, helmets, education, full prevention. Secondary: after the injury occurs; ex: splint, cast, brace.

Define public health and its role in the healthcare system

Public Health is the practice of preventing disease and promoting good health within groups of people or a community. Its role is to maintain and improve the public's health. The public health system focuses on prevention through population based health promotion- those public services and interventions which protect entire populations from illness, disease, injury and protection. They want to try to control communicable disease within the community.

Explain the relevance of a teachable moment in EMS

Reinforce safety messages when opportunity arises It can be preemptive Example- while doing an assessment on an elderly pt. you notice phone cords on the floor or trip/fall hazards and inform the pt. that what you see is a potential danger. Don't be too blunt, but don't be to relaxed. Know when to be serious and know when it is okay to tell only what is important.

Discuss the detrimental effects of injuries as related to public health

When combining fatal, unintentional injuries and intentional injuries. Injuries have become the 3rd leading cause of death for all age groups. Examples: Poisonings, suffocation, drowning, MVA, falls, choking and accidental firearm discharges.

Explain the concept of years of potential life lost

Years of potential life loss is if you die in an accident at 18 the years of life lost is 52 years, with the average life expectancy of 70. Trauma results in greater years of life lost, medical results in a lower amount. Essentially YPLL effects all of society. It affects Social Security, and taxes.