Chapter 2: The Well-Being of the EMT Flashcards
Healthful habits of an EMT
- maintaining solid personal relationships
- exercise
- sleep
- eating right
- limiting alcohol and caffeine intake
- seeing your physician regularly and keeping up to date on vaccines
Pathogens
organisms that cause infection, such as viruses and bacteria
Bloodborne pathogens
can be contracted by exposure to pt’s blood and sometimes other body fluids;open wound, sore on hand/face, mucous membranes
Airborne Pathogens
spread by tiny droplets sprayed during breathing, coughing, or sneezing
What should all body fluids be considered?
infectious; appropriate precautions taken for all patients at all times
Standard Precautions/Body Substance Isolation (BSI)
a strict form of infection control that is based on the assumption that all blood and other body fluids are infectious
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
equipment that protects the EMS worker from infection and/or exposure to the dangers of rescue operations.
Contamination
the introduction of dangerous chemicals, disease, or infectious materials
Protective Gloves
- Form of PPE
- vinyl or nonlatex gloves should be used whenever there is the potential for contact with blood and other body fluids
- a different type of glove should be worn when cleaning the ambulance and soiled equipment;heavy weight/tear resistant
Hand Cleaning
- hand washing after each pt contact and if hands are visibly soiled
- alcohol-based hand cleaners can be used except when hands are visibly soiled and/or when anthrax is present.
When should you wear protective eyewear?
Wear eye protection to prevent splashing, splattering, or spraying fluids from entering the body through mucous membranes
When should you wear a surgical mask?
in cases where there will be blood or fluid spatter
When should you wear an N-95/HEPA mask?
in cases where TB is suspected
When should you wear a gown?
it is worn to protect clothing and bare skin from spilled or splashed fluids; childbirth; pts w/ multiple injuries
Hepatitis
an infection that causes an inflammation of the liver; A,B, or C
incubation of weeks to months depending on type
Hepatitis A
acquired primarily by through contact with food or water contaminated by stool
Hepatitis B
contracted through blood; been found to live for many days in dried blood spills; effective vaccine
Hepatitis C
transmitted through blood; no vaccine
Tuberculosis (TB)
- infection that settles in the lungs and can be fatal
- transmitted through respiratory secretions, airborne, or on contaminated objects
- incubation of 2-6 weeks
AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome)
- set of conditions that results when the immune system has been attacked by HIV and rendered unable to combat certain infections adequately.
- contacted through blood via intravenous drug use, unprotected sexual contact, blood transfusions, accidental needle sticks, passed to unborn child
- incubation of several months or years
Ebola
- contracted through blood and body fluids
- incubation of 2-21 (usually 8-10)
MERS (Middle Eastern Respiratory Syndrome)
Primarily found on the Arabian Peninsula, although a dozen in other countries/regions identified.
Avian Flu
- found in poultry that can also affect humans
- outbreaks seen in Asia, the Near East, and Africa
- not easily transmissible from human to human
- symptoms include traditional flu like symptoms that progresses to more sever conditions like pneumonia and acute respiratory distress syndrome
Chicken pox (varicella)
- spread by airborne droplets and contact with open sores
- incubation of 11-21 days
Influenza
- transmitted through respiratory droplets
- incubation of 1-7 days
German Measles (rubella)
-transmitted through airborne droplets; mothers may pass to unborn children
Bacterial Meningitis
- transmitted through oral or nasal secretions
- incubation of 2-10 days
Mumps
- transmitted through droplet of saliva or objects contaminated by saliva
- incubation of 14-24 days
Pneumonia (viral and bacterial)
- transmitted through oral or nasal droplets and secretions
- incubation of several days
Staphylococcal skin infections
- transmitted through direct contact with infected wounds or sores with contaminated objects
- incubation of several days
Whooping Cough (pertussis)
- transmitted through respiratory secretions
- incubation of 6-20 days
