EMT Exam 4 Flashcards
EMS Systems Function
- Emergency
- Non-emergency (planned out appointments, like dialysis)
- Wilderness
- Special Event (football games, concerts)
- Tactical
EMS Systems Organization
- Private
- Public
- Authority
- Municipal (city employees)
- Fire based
- Tiered
What to do at the start of a shift
- Check truck/equipment
- Other PM and checklists
- Check in with dispatch, crew chief
- Get radio
Which ambulance type is biggest
Type 3
Emergency Medical Dispatcher (EMD)
- Interrogate caller and assign priority to call
- Provide pre-arrival medical instructions to callers and information to crews
- Dispatch and coordinate EMS resources
- Coordinate with other public safety agencies
What does it mean to package the patient
Readying the patient to be moved and combining patient and patient carrying device as unit ready for transfer; sick or injured patient must be packaged so that condition is not aggravated
What to do before placing patient on carrying device
- Complete necessary care for wounds, other injuries
- Stabilize impaled objects
- Check dressings and splints
- Cover patient and secure to patient-carrying device
What is the minimum number of straps to secure the patient on the patient-carrying device
Minimum of three straps to secure; chest level, waist level, lower extremities
What to do during transport to hospital
- Continue assessment
- Secure stretcher in place in ambulance
- Position and secure patient
- Adjust security straps
What to do during transport to hospital
- Prepare for resp and cardiac complications
- Loosen constricting clothing
- Load personal effects
- Talk to patient
- Notify hospital
- Compile additional patient info
Who must you transfer patient to
Must transfer to same or higher level of care
What to do after you are free from patient care
- As soon as free from patient care, prepare prehospital care report
- Transfer patient’s personal effects
- Obtain your release from hospital
Terminating the call: at the hospital
- Clean patient compartment
- Prepare equipment for service
- Replace expendable items
- Exchange equipment according to local policy
- Make up ambulance cot
Terminating the call: en route to quarters
- Radio dispatch with your status
- Air out ambulance if necessary for odor control
- Refuel ambulance
Terminating the call: in quarters
- Place badly contaminated linens in biohazard containers
- Clean equipment
- Disinfect non-disposable equipment
Operational reason for air rescue
Speeding transpot to distant trauma center
Medical reasons for air rescue
High priority patients requiring advanced care or procedures not available at local hospital; they don’t fly dead people
In PA who must set up landing zone
Fire department
Command of NIMS
- Operations
- Planning
- Logistics
- Finance
EMS Branch Functions Under Command Structure
- Mobile command center
- Extrication
- Staging area
- Triage area
- Treatment area
- Transportation area
- Rehabilitation area
What is the goal of triage
Afford greatest number of people greatest chance of survival
Prioritizing patients in MCI
- Priority 1: Treatable life-threatening illness or injury
- Priority 2: Serious but not life-threatening illness or injury
- Priority 3: Walking wounded
- Priority 4 (aka priority 0): Dead of fatally injured
Color code for priority 1 patient
Red
Color code for priority 2 patient
Yellow
Color code for priority 3 patient
Green