Special Care Flashcards
What should be done if patients need immediate treatment before the decontamination area is set up?
Patients may need to be treated and transported without delay.
This is crucial for survival in cases of respiratory distress or critical conditions.
What is the procedure if additional delay for decontamination is life-threatening?
Cut away all of the patient’s clothing and perform a rapid rinse to remove contaminants.
This is applicable in nontoxic exposure situations.
What protective clothing is required when treating and transporting a contaminated patient?
Increase protective clothing to include:
* Two pairs of gloves
* Goggles or a face shield
* Protective coat
* Respiratory protection
* Disposable fluid-impervious apron or similar outfit.
Many hazmat teams carry lightweight, disposable protective suits.
What decision does the Incident Commander (IC) make regarding transporting a contaminated patient?
The IC decides to transport based on recommendations from the hazmat team.
This decision is crucial, as transporting a contaminated patient increases the scope of the event.
What preparatory steps can be taken to make decontaminating the ambulance easier?
Steps include:
* Taping the cabinet doors shut
* Removing unused equipment from the patient compartment
* Turning on the power vent ceiling fan and air-conditioning unit fan.
Opening windows helps prevent creating a ‘closed box’ inside the ambulance.
What information should be communicated to the hospital when transporting a critically injured patient?
Inform the hospital that you are transporting a critically injured patient who has not been fully decontaminated.
This allows the hospital to prepare for the patient’s arrival.
What should an EMT do upon arriving at the emergency department with a contaminated patient?
One EMT should enter the emergency department, report to hospital staff, and advise them of the incomplete decontamination.
Directions should be obtained before unloading the patient.
What should be done with the ambulance after transporting a contaminated patient?
The ambulance needs to be decontaminated before transporting another patient.
This is essential for safety.
True or False: It is acceptable to transport a contaminated patient without notifying the receiving hospital.
False.
The hospital must be informed to prepare for the patient’s needs.
Fill in the blank: If a patient is not fully decontaminated, the hazmat team should wear _______.
[additional protective clothing and SCBA]
