Chapter 10- Ensure Scene Safety Flashcards
Issues that you may encounter in the prehospital setting can range from ________ to _______.
Minor difficulties to major damages
Even scenes that appear relatively safe and secure can turn _______ with little notice.
unsafe
What should you do and What question should you ask yourself as you approach any scene?
Look for possible dangers and difficulties
Ask Is it safe for me and my team to enter the scene and approach and manage the patient ?
If the scene is unsafe, what additional resources might you contact ?
firefighters, utility workers, hazardous materials technicians, or law enforcement depending on the condition that is making the scene unsafe.
True/False: It is YOUR job to listen to your instincts and the training and experience of your team when determining if a scene is safe or not.
True
When should you start observing for issues such as uneven or unstable surfaces, water, mud, and ice on the ground ?
Before you step out of your response vehicle.
When you leave the scene, you will be moving at least a _____ pounds (__ kg) or stretcher, a patient that weighs at least ____ pounds (____kg) as well as:
100 pounds (45 kg)
200 pounds (90 kg)
patient care equipment and patient’s personal belongings
If your footing was compromised going in, you are going to have a more difficult time coming out.
True.
Working on a roadway is particularly dangerous. What should you wear when reporting to these incidents ?
A high visibility class 2 or 3 safety vest and use appropriate safety precautions while responding to these incidents.
What environmental conditions should you consider that may present hazards at the scene?
cold, snowing, raining, hot, or humid
Minor weather conditions may present a significant hazard if responders and patients may be exposed to them for a significant amount of time.
True
What is the general rule of thumb that you should use when working in unfavorable conditions or unstable surfaces ?
Any actions you may take for yourself should also be considered for the patient.
(i.e. heavy coats, rain gear, life jackets, air conditioned or heated vehicles)
If you are putting on any equipment to address environmental hazards, provide the patient with the same or similar equipment
If you move away from a scene to take cover from a hazard, move the patient with you.
Help to protect bystanders from becoming _____
Patients
Many bystanders attempt to help during an emergency, but remember:
They are not trained to handle complicated EMS equipment, illnesses, or injuries
Hazards come in many different _____, ________, and ______
forms, shapes, and sizes
What are some of the categories of hazards you may encounter ?
Environmental hazards
Physical hazards
Slip and fall hazards
Biohazards
Chemical hazards
Electrical Hazards
Water Hazards
Fire Explosions
Threats of physical violenece
Describe a physical hazard
Sharp metal and broken glass
Describe a slip-and-fall hazard.
Leaking fluids at a motor vehicle crash
Describe a biohazard.
Blood and body fluids
Describe a chemical hazard.
The release of hazardous materials
Describe an electrical hazard.
Downed power lines
Describe an example of physical violence.
Violent patients
Distraught family members
Angry bystanders
Gangs
Unruly crowds
What is the first thing you should do when you enter a patient’s home?
Look around the immediate area and identify any weapons that the patient or others could access
Weapons are not always items associated with violence, such as a knife or gun, but they can also be _____
household items like a screwdriver or hammer, or other readily available objects
If you identify any weapons that are not secure
Place yourself between the patient and potential danger, thus preventing possible access to the object
In some areas, law enforcement is dispatched with EMS on most calls.
True
If not, you must request ______ assistance as soon as you think there may be danger
law enforcement
Until law enforcement arrives, you may be asked to:
Retreat from the scene until they arrive
Stage at a safe location as defined by local protocols until law enforcement advises that it is safe to proceed.
Responding to abandoned buildings and areas of known violence should raise your suspicions for the need for law enforcement
True
Emergency scenes are dynamically changing therefore you must:
Ensure your safety not only at the beginning of the call, but also remain aware of changes in your environment that may present safety hazards to you, the EMS team, the patient, or bystanders
