Work Force Safety and Wellness Flashcards
Components of welling being
- wellness is the quality or state of being in good health
- a focus on wellness is important
- components of wellness:
- physical
- mental
- emotional
- spiritual
providers who are physically in shape:
- are less likely to become injured
- may heal better if injured
- have a better quality of life
- are better able to deal with mental stress
nutrition
- present day emergency medicine has access to much more information regarding current guidelines about proper nutrition
- preplan meal
- stay hydrated with bottled water
- carry numerous small snacks
- avoid fast food or high fat foods
- consequences of poor nutrition include:
- cardiac illness
- type 2 diabetes
- obesity
smoking
- schedules often conflict with the bodys circadian rhythms
- ignoring your circadian rhythms can cause difficulty with:
- higher thought functions
- physical coordination
circadian rhythms and shift work
- determine you natural rhythms
- tips for dealing with shift work:
- avoid caffeine
- eat health meals
- keep a regular sleep
- do not overlook the need for sleep
periodic health risk assessments
- hereditary factors may affect your overall health
- consider researching your family history
- many disease have hereditary factors
- the most common hereditary factors are heart disease and cancer
- build health assessments into your routine physical checkups
body mechanics
- healthcare providers are often required to lift and move a variety of patients
- develop the following habits:
- minimize the number of total body lifts you have to perform
- coordinate every lift prior to performing the lift
mental well-being
- when a person is subjected to stress, the fight or flight system is activated
- preparation on how to react is crucial
- healthcare providers need to be in control of his or her emotions
- plan for your behavior
emotional well being
- make a deliberate effort to create a healthy balance between life at work and life away from work
- good healthcare providers are strong and sensitive
stress
- any event that causes us to react physically, emotionally, or mentally is considered stress
- stress is a reaction of the body to any stressor that requires the person to adapt
- stress is neither good nor bad
what triggers stress
- a stress response often begins with events that are perceived as threatening or demanding
- each person needs to appraise the stress triggers in his or her life
the physiology of acute stress
- when a person perceives an event as threatening, a standard series of physiologic reactions are triggered
- prepare us for flight or fight syndrome
- most modern stressors are not solved by fighting or running away
reactions to stress can be
- acute
- delayed
- cumulative
- stress can result in many physical and psychological symptoms
prolonged or excessive stress is a strong contributor to:
- heart disease
- hypertension
- cancer
- alcoholism
- depression
response of providers
- providers are not immune to stress
- you will some times experience many feelings
- these are normal, but control them on scene
- avoid becoming irritate with a patient who does not seem ill
coping with your own stress
- early warning signs of stress
- heart palpitations
- rapid breathing
- chest tightness
- sweating
- learn to feel yourself entering your fight or flight mode
management techniques include
- control breathing
- progressive relaxation
- professional assistance
- focus on the immediate situation
- attempt to get enough rest
burnout
- the exhaustion of physical or emotional strength
- burnout develops because of the way a person reacts to stress
- avoid false beliefs that can lead to burnout
signs and symptoms of burnout
- chronic fatigue and irritability
- cynical, negative attitudes
- emotional instability
- changes in sleep patterns
- overindulging
coping with death and dying
- encounters with life and death are an honor
- a most private moment in someones life
- births and deaths are a holy time in some cultures
- you will help many people
- few will be successful resuscitations
stages of the grieving process** quiz
- 5 stages of grieving include:
- denial
- anger
- bargaining
- depression
- acceptance
dealing with the dying patient
- people who are dying generally know their situation is serious
- let the dying patient know you understand and will talk
- dying patients need to feel they still have some control over their life
dealing with a grieving family
- even if there is nothing you can do for the victim, the call is not over
- do not try to hide the body
- do not use euphemisms
- do not hurry to clear away resuscitation equipment
- give the family time with their loved one
- try to arrange for further support
dealing with a grieving child
- be particularly sensitive to the emotional needs of children
- children up to 3 years of age will be aware
- 3 to 6 years of age believe death is temporary
- 6 to 9 years of age may mask their feelings
- 9 to 12 years of age may want to know details
after the care
- everyone involved in shocking situation are likely to experience some intense feelings
- do not keep feelings inside
- every service should have debriefing procedures
- watch for PTSD after critical incidents
disease transmission
- you will treat and transport patients with communicable and infectious diseases
- protective measures can dramatically minimize risk of infection
- always practice discretion
infectious agents are spread through transmission
- food borne
- vector borne (intermediary, animals, bugs)
- contact transmission (direct or indirect)
- bloodborne pathogens are spread through direct contact
- airborne transmission
protecting yourself
- providers follows standard precautions
- approach all body fluids as potentially infectious
- prevention begins with personal health
- annual examinations
- immunizations
- PPD screening
personal protective equipment and practices
- important infection control practices:
- wear gloves
- wash your hands
- use lotions
- use eye protection
- consider wearing a mask
- protect your body
- N95 or P100 respirators
- clean your area and equipment
- properly dispose of sharps
- consider wearing specialized gear
management of an exposure
- follow guidelines
- turn over care to another provider
- follow your department infection control plan
- comply with all reporting requirements
- get a medical evaluation
- document the incident