Chapter 5
What are some advantages and disadvantages of EMS using and relying on cell phones?
- Advantages Transmit and receive calls through the air, have excellent sound quality, availability of channels, easy maintenance, increased privacy of communications, can take/send images from the scene, access data files and call up information from the internet if necessary. - Disadvantage Part of the public phone system and can easily become overwhelmed during multiple-casualty disasters.
What is the difference between a base station vs. a repeater?
- Base Station - Transmits to repeater/receivers - High Power - Repeater - Receive lower power signal - Mounted in trucks or at fixed locale
What are the basic ground rules for radio communication?
- Dispatch, Medic 2 - Keep it short and simple - Use "affirmative" and "negative" - Use "we"not "I" - No "10" codes - No personal info - No profanity
What are some special considerations that should be made in communicating with children?
- Having the parents present with them - Position yourself close to the patients eye level - Maintain eye contact and speak calmly - Clear explanations and always be honest
What are some of the nonverbal ways an EMT can communicate with a patient?
- Posture: patients eye level - Distance: intimate zone - Gestures - Eye contact and touching
What is haptics, and how does the EMT use this in communicating with a patient?
- Study of touching - Used to express compassion and empathy to your patient.
What are the components of a complete oral report?
- Summarize the information you've already broadcasted to the facility, along with updated information. - Patients chief of complaint, vital signs taken en-rout, treatment given en-rout, and their response.
What information should be included in a radio report to the ED?
- Unit number - Emergency/non emergency - Patients age/sex - Chief complaint - Brief history - Vital signs PRN - Pertinent findings - Treatment - Pertinent response to treatment - ETA of arrival to medical facility
How does 2:46 p.m. translate into military time?
14:26
What is ethnocentrism, and what can an EMT do to avoid it?
Ethnocentrism - The view of ones culture is right and any other way is inferior. - Respect their culture/differences.
What is the difference between open-ended vs. closed-ended questions? When should each be used?
Open-ended question - Allows a patient to give a detailed response. Use during patient interview and when obtaining the chief complaint. Close-ended question - Calls for specific information. Use to control/direct the flow of the interview. Helpful when you need information quickly or obtaining additional information that may have not been provided when asking open-ended questions.
How might you accommodate patients with hearing loss?
Talk in direct light, very clearly and move patient away any distractions
When should you use medical terminology, and when should you avoid it?
Use - when talking to peers shouldn't - when talking to patients