Ch 3 Key Terms

Question 1

body substance isolation (BSI)

Answer 1

the practice of isolating all
bodily substances (blood, urine, tears, feces, and so on) of patients from rescuers in order to decrease disease
transmission.

Question 2

conduction

Answer 2

a form of heat exchange

in which heat transfers from a warmer object to a cooler object through direct contact.

Question 3

contamination

Answer 3

soiling of an object, water, or air by foreign material such as dirt, debris, bodily fluids, or radiation.

Question 4

convection

Answer 4

a form of heat exchange

that occurs when a gas or a liquid moves past the surface of an object.

Question 5

decontamination

Answer 5

the process of rendering an object, person, or area free of harmful substances such as bacteria, poison, gas, and radiation.

Question 6

disease transmission

Answer 6

transfer of illness from an infected individual to a healthy individual.

Question 7

evaporation

Answer 7

a form of heat exchange that occurs when a liquid converts to a gas.

Question 8

hazardous materials (HazMat)

Answer 8

substances that have the potential to harm people, animals, or the environment.

Question 9

homeostasis

Answer 9

the body’s ability to regulate its inner environment to ensure stability and to respond to changes in
the outside environment.

Question 10

immunity

Answer 10

the state of being protected from a disease, especially an

infectious disease.

Question 11

material safety data sheet (MSDS)

Answer 11

a form that contains relevant information pertaining to a specific substance, with a focus on the hazards it poses to workers.

Question 12

metabolism

Answer 12

the chemical processes occurring within a living cell or organism that are necessary for the maintenance
of life.

Question 13

nutrition

Answer 13

the body’s process of utilizing food substances needed for growth and the maintenance of life.

Question 14

occupational exposure

Answer 14

an event in which a worker comes into contact with a bodily fluid or hazardous material while on the job.

Question 15

pathogen

Answer 15

an infectious agent that can cause disease or illness.

Question 16

personal protective equipment

PPE

Answer 16

items worn by medical providers, including gloves, mask, safety eyeglasses (or mask with shield), and gown, to protect them from bodily fluids.

Question 17

radiation

Answer 17

form of heat exchange in which energy is transmitted in waves (electromagnetic, ultraviolet, infrared) through space.

Question 18

scene safety

Answer 18

the process of assessing the site of an accident or disaster and making it safe for rescuers to enter.

Question 19

scene size-up

Answer 19

the first step of the assessment process, consisting of four components: scene safety, mechanism of injury, total number of patients involved, and the need for additional resources.

Question 20

Standard Precautions

Answer 20

the practice of protecting health care workers from exposure to bodily fluids based on the assumption that all patients are potentially infectious.

Question 21

ultraviolet radiation

Answer 21

waves of solar energy that are beneficial in small amounts but harmful to the skin and eyes upon overexposure.