EMT-B, Ch 2 EC

What is a critical incident?

A situation that evokes strong emotions

Stress

A state of physical and/or psychological arousal to a stimulus

What are the types of stress reactions?

Acute, Delayed, Cumulative

Hazardous-Material Incident

An accident or when containers begin to leak which pose serious dangers.

Multiple-Causalty Incident (MCI)

An incident where there are multiple patients.

Decontamination

Cleansing of dangerous chemicals and other materials.

Bloodborne pathogens

Contracted by exposure to the patient's blood or bodily fluids.

Stages of Grief

Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Depression, Acceptance

Dealing with Stress

Develop more helathful and positive dietary habits, devote time to relaxing, and exercise.

Alarm, resistance, and exhaustion.

Dr. Hans Selye (a Canadian physician and educator who was born in Austria) did a great deal of research in the area of stress and found that the body's response to it has three stages. What are they?

Body Substace Isolation (BSI) precautions

Equipment and procedures that protect you from the blood and body fluids of the patient.

Personal Protective Equiment (PPE)

Equipment that protects the EMS worker from infection and/or exposure to the dangers of rescue operations. Ex: protective gloves, eye protection, masks, gowns.

Reacting to danger

Flee, get rid of any cumbersome equipment, take cover and conceal yourself.

Signs of Stress

Irratibility with family, friends, and coworkers; inability to concentrate; changes in daily activities, such as difficuly sleeping or nightmares, loss of appetite, and loss of interest is sexual activity; anxiety; indecisiveness; guilt; isolation; and loss of interest in work.

Causes of Stress

MCIs, calls involving infants and children, severe injuries, abuse and neglect, death of a coworker.

Distress

Negative stress.

Pathogens

Organisms such as bacteria, viruses, and fungi that cause disease

Actions required to respond to danger?

Plan, observe, react!

Eutress

Positive form of stress that helps people work under pressure and respond effectively.

Approaches that you can take in dealing wiht the patient and family members confronted with death or dying

Recognize the patient's needs, bet tolerant of angry reactions frrom the patient or family members, listen empathetically, do not falsely reassure, offer as much comfort as you realistically can.

What is a hazardous-materials response team?

Specially trained technicians who will coordinate the safe approach and resolution of the incident.

Airborne pathogens

Spread by tiny droplets sprayed during breathing, coughing, or sneezing.

Hepititis C

The deadly form of hepatitis, in which there is no vaccine, that infects many EMS providers is:

Contamination

The introduction of dangerous chemicals, disease, or infectious materials.

When should eye protection be worn?

To prevent splashing, spattering, or spraying fluids from entering the body through these membranes.

Observing danger

Violence, crime scenes, alcohol or drug use, weapons, family members, bystanders, perpetrators, pets.

Planning for danger

Wear safe clothing, prepare your equipment so it is not cumbersome, carry a portable radio wherever possible, decide on safety roles.

Critical incident stress debriefing (CISD)

What is a process in which a team of trained peer counselors and mental health professionals meet with rescuers and health-care providers who have been involved in a major incident. The meetings are generally held within 24-72 hours after the incident.

Depression stage

When a dying patient mourns things not accomplished or dreams that won't come true, he is said to be in the:

As an EMT at a hazardous materials incident,

You should not be treating patients until after they have undergone decontamination (cleansing of dangerous chemicals and other materials).