Talk Like an EMT
Your patient is awake and alert but only nods or shakes his head to answer your questions. Whenever possible, you should begin your assessment using this type of question to gather the most information.
What are open-ended questions?
This document becomes part of the patient's permanent medical record and can be used in a court of law.
What is the Patient Care Report (PCR)?
Whenever possible, patients should be moved using this instead of carrying them.
What is a wheeled device or stretcher?
This is the most dangerous phase of call for EMTs.
What is en route to scene?
This is the first thing that should be completed after arriving on scene.
What is a scene size up?
Your patient doesn't speak English. Without an interpreter, you should rely on these instead of simply talking louder.
What are simple questions and gestures?
In court, an incomplete or messy PCR may suggest this.
What is possible falsification?
These maneuvers are used when the patient is in a critical condition and needs to be moved off-scene quickly.
What are urgent moves?
Unlike transporting most unstable patient, these should normally be turned off for stable patients.
What are the emergency lights and sirens?
You arrive at an MVC with multiple patients and one entrapped victim. Before patient care, you should do this.
What is request additional resources?
A patient's daughter keeps answering every assessment question even though the patient is alert. This person should answer whenever possible.
What is the patient?
A child has suspicious marks on their body. Your best action is to do these two things.
What is document and report to the emergency department staff?
This is the number of providers that should help to lift a patient weighing about 250 pounds.
What is four providers?
When driving an ambulance, you should always assume this about other drivers.
What is they do not see or hear you?
A patient is trapped in a vehicle with inadequate breathing and no radial pulse. This type of extrication is indicated.
What is rapid extrication?
When calming an angry patient, avoid this type of body language.
What is aggressive/threatening posture?
Patient care officially transfers after you do this.
What is give an oral report to the receiving nurse or physician?
A patient weighs over 350 pounds. Before attempting to move them, your first priority is requesting these.
What are additional personnel and bariatric resources?
Your ambulance is contaminated and missing supplies after a trauma call. Dispatch gives you another assignment. This is what you do next.
What is tell dispatch your ambulance is out of service?
The main patient-moving device that cannot be used on stairs
What is a wheeled ambulance stretcher?
Before a competent patient refuses transport, you must make sure they understand these.
What are the risks of refusing care?
They are the four elements of negligence.
What are:
- duty to act
- breach of duty
- damages
- causation
Your partner hurts their back while carrying a patient downstairs. Your next action is this.
What is stop the move and request additional assistance?
Lights and sirens give emergency vehicles this.
What is a request for the right-of-way?
While transporting a stable patient, you discover a major MVC. This is your next step.
What is continue transporting your current patient and notify dispatch?