Introduction & Safety Flashcards
ALS
Advanced Life Support
BLS
Basic Life Support
CISD
Critical Incident Stress Debriefing
Off-line
Standing orders which allow EMT’s to provide care without direct contact with a physician.
On-line
Direct order received from the physician to provide care.
— May be requested at any time
PPE
Personal Protective Equipment.
Protective equipment that blocks exposure to a pathogen or a hazardous material.
Protocol
Written operating procedures (OP) and policies that provide guidelines for patient care.
Intravenous (IV) Therapy
The delivery of medication directly into a vein.
Eustress
A stressor that produces a positive response.
The following are examples:
— Receiving a promotion — Taking a vacation — Working out — Giving birth — Joining a new club
Distress
A stressor that produces a negative response.
The following are examples:
— Death of a friend / family — Divorce — Financial problems — Health issues — Illness or injury
Acute Stress Reactions
Reactions to stress that occur during a traumatic situation or event.
Aerosol-generating Procedure
Treatments that increase the risk for transmission of infections that are spread through the air or by droplets.
i.e. — The process of performing CPR.
Airborne Transmission
The spread of an organism via droplets or dust.
Bloodborne Pathogens
Pathogenic microorganisms that are present in human blood, and can cause disease in humans.
These pathogens include:
— Hepatitis B Virus
— Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)
Burnout
A combination of exhaustion, cynicism, and reduced performance resulting from long-term job stressors in healthcare and other high-stress professions.
Communicable Disease
Disease that can be spread from one person or species to another.
Compassion Fatigue
Stress disorder characterized by gradual lessening of compassion overtime.
Concealment
The use of objects to limit a person’s ability to see you.
Contamination
The presence of infectious organisms on or in objects such as dressings, water, food, needles, wounds, or a patient’s body.
Cover
The tactical use of an impenetrable barrier for protection.
Cumulative Stress Reactions
Prolonged or excessive stress.
Delayed Stress Reactions
Reactions to stress that occur after a stressful situation.
Direct Contact
Exposure or transmission of a communicable disease from one person to another by physical contact.
Exposure
A situation in which a person has had contact with blood, body fluids, tissues, or airborne particles in a manner that suggests disease transmission may occur.