Operations Exam Study Guide ? - Scene environment Flashcards
Describe the safe driving habits while responding in an ambulance with lights and sirens
Must be wearing a seatbelt and tell the patient before you do so and apply proper restraints
All equipment must be properly restrained
Travel at a speed that allows you to stop safely at all times
Slow down to ensure all drivers are stopping as you approach an intersection
Maintain situational awareness at all times for weather and traffic conditions
Don’t assume that others will hear you and take proper action
When driving on a multilane highway, stay in the left hand lane
Describe the type of patient who would benefit from helicopter transport
Patients with time dependent injuries or illnesses would benefit from a helicopter transport.
This includes patients suspected of having a stroke, heart attack, serious spinal cord injuries, injuries from a car accident, horseback riding, and diving.
Also, serious accidents that occur in remote areas and in the wilderness may require a medivac.
Trauma patients, candidates for amputations, patients that need to go to a burn center, hyperbaric (oxygen therapy), and venomous bite center
List techniques to improve radio communication
Wait 1 sec before speaking, hold the mic ⅔ inches from mouth.
Use clear and concise language.
Address the unit you are calling and provide your unit name.
Avoid using codes and slang or abbreviations.
Do not use names.
Remain objective and impartial when describing patients
Monitor background noise
List the resources an EMT has to help identify an unknown hazardous material
Reading labels, placards, and ID numbers; could use binoculars to see from a safe distance
A copy of the DOT emergency response guidebook, can be found online or the dispatch center
Call for a specially trained and equipped hazmat team
Describe additional resources that may be required to assist the EMS provider
Might need law enforcement if there is a potential for violence.
Hazmat team when there is evidence of hazardous materials.
Turnout gear.
Help from the local Fire Department, CHP, PD.
Discuss the importance of patient management at the scene of a crime and how the EMT would go about moving items found at the crime scene
Must try to not disturb the scene as it can ruin the chain of evidence - Unless it’s necessary to provide medical care. For example, if there are gun shot holes on their shirt, try to cut around them, and avoid stepping on blood, or creating footprints in grass or soil around crime scene
Chain of evidence
Explain some scene findings which would make the EMT think there was the presence of a weapon of mass destruction.
Use the mnemonic: B-NICE B- biological N- Nuclear I- incendiary C- chemical E- explosive
Indicators that may give you clues as to whether the emergency is the result of a terrorist attack include the location, type of call, number of patients, victim statements, and pre-Incident indicators.
Describe the proper technique for lifting and moving a patient
When lifting a patient, spread feet about shoulder width apart and bend to squat position by bending knees.
List the Categories of START triage and the steps to triaging a patient
IDME
Calling out to patients at a disaster site. All those that can walk towards my voice please do. GREEN - walking wounded. Transport can be delayed.
Non-walking patients assess respiratory status - If not breathing - BLACK. If can breath - Immediate- RED - transport.
Check bi-lateral pulse. If no pulse - RED - transport
Assess Patients neurological status - simple commands. If can not follow commands - they are Immediate RED. ie. If unconscious. A person that can follow commands- YELLOW- Delayed transport
Describe the type of patient which would fall into each of the START triage categories
Green - Lacerations. Sprained ankle. Walking wounded.
Yellow - Can follow commands and not going into shock. Regular breathing.
Red - Immediate. Someone going into shock. Bleeding profusely. Unconscious
Black - Dead. Or clinical status expectant dead
Define critical incident stress management and the timeline for conducting one
CISM is the process used to confront the responses to critical incidents and defuse them, directing the EMS personnel toward physical and emotional equilibrium.
Timeline:
Defusing session: occur during the event or immediately after within 24-72 hrs. People vent their emotions and guidance on proper techniques to manage feelings are discussed. Debriefing sessions are held within 24-72 hours of a major incident. CISM team holds these meetings with peers and mental health professionals. Time to vent. It is not a time to critique ops.
Diffusing. Debriefing
List the components which are assessed during scene size up
- Review the information provided by dispatch
- Assess, road, weather, and traffic hazards, environmental hazards
- Assess for any scenes of violence
- Observations of the scene; look for possible difficulties and dangers
- Consider traffic safety issues and physical hazards
- Consider any limitations
- Weapons
- PENMAN:
P- personal, partner, patient safety
E- environmental hazards
N- number of patients
M- mechanism of injury (MOI), nature of illness (NOI)
A-additional resources if needed
N- need for spinal immobilization: Blunt or penetrating trauma to the neck or spine, patient reports pain in neck or spine, paralysis of the legs or arms, altered mental status, blunt trauma and intoxicated, inability or difficulty to communicate
List the criteria for a rapid extrication of a patient
- The vehicle or scene is unsafe
- There is a fire or potential for fire
- explosives or hazardous materials are on the scene
- patient can’t be properly assessed
- patient needs immediate intervention that requires supine position
- the patient has a life threatening condition
- the patient blocks your access to another patient
List the components which are assessed during a scene size up
- Review the information provided by dispatch
- Assess, road, weather, and traffic hazards, environmental hazards
- Assess for any scenes of violence
- Observations of the scene; look for possible difficulties and dangers
- Consider traffic safety issues and physical hazards
- Consider any limitations
- Weapons
- PENMAN:
P- personal, partner, patient safety
E- environmental hazards
N- number of patients
M- mechanism of injury
(MOI), nature of illness (NOI)
A-additional resources if
needed
N- need for spinal
immobilization
Blunt or penetrating trauma to the neck or spine, patient reports pain in neck or spine, paralysis of the legs or arms, altered mental status, blunt trauma and intoxicated, inability or difficulty to communicate
Describe the process for making patient contact when the patient is in a vehicle and the doors cannot be opened
Clear concise directions
