Chapter 2 | Well Being of an EMT

Question 1

Define:

BSI

(abbreviation)

Answer 1

body substance isolation

Question 2

List:

4 main contamination risks

(for rescuers)

Answer 2

• inhalation
• ingestion
• absorption
• injection

Question 3

List:

diseases of concern

9 points (for rescuers)

just know the important ones

Answer 3

• avian flu
• ebola
• hepatitis-B
• hepatitis-C
• HIV/AIDS
• influenza/H1N1
• SARS
• tuberculosis (TB)
• west nile virus

Question 4

Define:

contamination

Answer 4

introduction to dangerous chemicals, disease, or infectious materials

Question 5

Define:

decontamination

Answer 5

the removal or cleansing of dangerous chemicals and other dangerous or infectious materials

Question 6

Define:

hazardous material incident

Answer 6

the release of a harmful substance into the environment

Question 7

Define:

MCI

(abbreviation)

Answer 7

multi-casualty incident

(an emergency involving multiple patients)

Question 8

Define:

pathogen

Answer 8

organisms that cause infection, such as viruses and bacteria

Question 9

Define:

PPE

(abbreviation)

Answer 9

personal protective equipment

(equipment that protects the EMS worker from infection and/or exposure to the dangers of rescue operations)

Question 10

Define:

standard precautions

Answer 10

a strict form of infection control that is based on the assumption that all blood and other body fluids are infectious

same as body substance isolation (BSI)

Question 11

Define:

CISM

(abbreviation)

Answer 11

critical incident stress management

Question 12

Choose:

You are dispatched to a female with altered mental status. Once inside the home, you find a female who appears to have been beaten unconscious. A man, who smells of alcohol, says that she is his wife and that he does not know what happened: “I just found her this way!” The husband is behaving suspiciously, appears paranoid, and is pacing erratically around the room.

What would be the safest course of action?

A: Continue to question the man and begin treating the patient.

B: Have your partner call for help while you stay with the patient.

C: Evacuate the patient and begin treatment.

D: Leave the house and call for law enforcement.

Answer 12

D

Question 13

Fill in the blank:

The body’s three-stage response to a stressful stimulation is known as general [BLANK] syndrome.

Answer 13

The body’s three-stage response to a stressful stimulation is known as general adaption syndrome.

Question 14

List:

stages of general adaption syndrome

3 points (stress according to Dr. Hans Selye)

Answer 14

1. alarm
2. resistance
3. exhaustion

Question 15

Fill in the blank:

According to Dr. Hans Selye, the first stage of the body’s response to stress is known as the [BLANK] stage.

Answer 15

the first stage of the body’s response to stress is known as the alarm stage.

1. alarm
2. resistance
3. exhaustion

Question 16

According to Dr. Hans Selye, the second stage of the body’s response to stress is known as the [BLANK] stage.

Answer 16

the second stage of the body’s response to stress is known as the resistance stage.

1. alarm
2. resistance
3. exhaustion

Question 17

Fill in the blank:

According to Dr. Hans Selye, the third stage of the body’s response to stress is known as the [BLANK] stage.

Answer 17

the third stage of the body’s response to stress is known as the exhaustion stage.

1. alarm
2. resistance
3. exhaustion

Question 18

Answer:

An EMT is confronted by an armed gunman who is threatening to kill the EMT and his partner.

An elevation in the EMT’s heart rate and blood pressure occurs in which stage of the body’s response to stress?

Answer 18

alarm reaction stage

Question 19

Answer:

An off-duty EMT is driving down the road when she sees a major vehicle accident. There are no Emergency Medical Responders on the scene yet. There are only Good Samaritans. The EMT is late for a doctor’s appointment, so she decides that she will not stop and help. The driver of the vehicle dies before help arrives. One of the Good Samaritans notices her EMT license plates and writes them down as she passes by. The Good Samaritan is angry that the EMT did not stop and help and tries to get the EMT fired for not helping.

Was the EMT negligent or not? Why?

Answer 19

No, the EMT is not negligent because she did not have a duty to act.

Question 20

Fill in the blank:

The purpose of Good Samaritan laws is to [BLANK].

Answer 20

The purpose of Good Samaritan laws is to protect people who are trying to help in an emergency.

Question 21

Fill in the blank:

If the EMT’s hands are visibly dirty, an alcohol-based hand cleaner [IS/ISN’T] sufficient.

Answer 21

If the EMT’s hands are visibly dirty, an alcohol-based hand cleaner is not sufficient.

Question 22

True or false:

Following patient contact, the EMT should soak his hands in warm soapy water for at least 30 seconds and then shake them vigorously.

Answer 22

false

Question 23

True or false:

If the EMT’s hands are visibly dirty, an alcohol-based hand cleaner is not sufficient.

Answer 23

true

Question 24

True or false:

In cases where soap and water and alcohol-based hand cleaners are not immediately available, bleach wipes should be used.

Answer 24

false

Question 25

True or false:

If the EMT’s hands are visibly dirty, an alcohol-based hand cleaner is sufficient.

Answer 25

false

they gonna need soap and water

Question 26

Define:

Ryan White CARE Act

Answer 26

legislation that allows EMTs access to resources to identify exposures to infectious disease

Question 27

List:

types of stress reactions

3 points

Answer 27

• acute stress reaction
• delayed stress reaction
• cumulitive stress reaction

Question 28

Define:

acute stress reaction

Answer 28

normal reaction to extraordinary situations

Question 29

Define:

delayed stress reaction

Answer 29

signs/symptoms of stress not evident until long after incident

typically much more intense and disproportionate to immediate trigger

Question 30

Define:

cumulitive stress reaction

Answer 30

stress that results from years of low-level stressors

progresses to loss of emotional control and depression

Question 31

Define:

CISD

(abbreviation)

Answer 31

critical incident stress debriefing

Question 32

Define:

critical incident stress management (CISM)

Answer 32

comprehensive system that includes education and resources to both prevent stress and to deal with it appropriately when it occurs

Question 33

List

5 emotional stages of death and dying

Answer 33

1. denial
2. anger
3. bargaining
4. depression
5. acceptance

Question 34

Choose:

You are working on the ambulance during a pandemic outbreak of a viral pathogen that is suspected to be spread mainly by droplets and fomites.

Which of the following describes the minimum acceptable PPE?

A. A surgical mask.

B. An N95 mask and eye protection

C. An N95 mask

D. A surgical mask and eye protection.

Answer 34

D

A surgical mask and eye protection are the minimal acceptable PPE for a potentially deadly droplet pathogen such as COVID-19.

If the pathogen was confirmed to be airborne, an N95 mask would be required.

Gloves and aggressive cleaning of work uniforms are also recommended but not absolutely required for these pathogens.

In an ideal scenario, all body surfaces including any showing skin would be covered by single-use disposable coveralls, however, the majority of American EMS systems are not equipped with a sufficient amount of this equipment.