EMR Roles and Responsibilities
What does EMR stand for?
Emergency Medical Responder
What does PPE stand for?
Personal Protective Equipment
What type of consent occurs when an alert patient verbally agrees to receive care?
Expressed Consent
Which body system includes the brain and spinal cord?
Nervous System
When lifting, what muscles should you primarily use?
Leg muscles
What are 2 primary responsibilities of an EMR?
Ensure scene safety, assist other responders, provide care within scope of practice, communicate observations
What are universal precautions, and which patients should they be used with?
Practices that reduce exposure to potentially infectious materials. Use them with every patient.
An unconscious adult needs emergency care and cannot give permission. What type of consent generally allows responders to help?
Implied Consent
Describe the difference between a patient lying supine and a patient lying prone.
Supine means lying on the back; prone means lying face down.
What is the main difference between an emergency move and a nonemergency move?
An emergency move is needed urgently because of immediate danger or an urgent care need. A nonemergency move allows time for planning, assistance, and appropriate equipment.
A frightened family member repeatedly interrupts you while you are helping a patient. Describe two ways to respond professionally.
Speak calmly, acknowledge their concern, explain what you are doing, or give them a safe, useful task. Avoid arguing or making promises about the outcome.
You expect blood to splash while caring for a patient. Besides gloves, what additional PPE might you need, and why?
Eye protection and a mask or face shield, plus a gown if clothing or skin may be exposed. Select protection for the anticipated exposure.
After a call, a friend asks you to share the patient’s name and what happened. How should you respond, and why?
Explain that you cannot share private patient information. Protect the patient’s confidentiality.
A patient has an injury below the knee but above the ankle. Describe its location using both “proximal” and “distal.”
The injury is distal to the knee and proximal to the ankle.
A patient is too heavy for you to move safely by yourself. What should you do, and why?
Request enough trained help and appropriate equipment. Attempting the move alone risks injury to the responder and patient.
Another responder asks you to perform a procedure you have never been trained or authorized to do. What should you do, and why?
Explain your limitations, request an appropriately trained responder, and continue providing care within your scope. Being asked does not authorize you to exceed your scope.
A responder removes their gloves correctly and immediately begins eating without cleaning their hands. What step was missed, and why is it necessary?
Hand hygiene after glove removal. Gloves do not eliminate the possibility of hand contamination.
An EMR begins caring for a patient, then leaves before an appropriate responder takes over because their shift has ended. What legal concern does this raise, and what should happen instead?
Possible abandonment. Arrange an appropriate transfer of care before leaving.
Explain how the respiratory and circulatory systems work together to deliver oxygen to the body.
The respiratory system brings oxygen into the lungs, where it enters the blood. The circulatory system transports oxygenated blood to body tissues.
Two responders lift a patient at different times without communicating. Identify the problem and explain how to correct it.
The movement is uncoordinated. Designate a leader, explain the plan, confirm readiness, and move together on a clear command.
After a difficult call, an EMR has trouble sleeping and concentrating. They want to ignore it and keep working. Explain a better response and why it matters.
Seek support from a supervisor, qualified professional, or appropriate support program; address rest and well-being. Difficulty concentrating can affect the responder’s health and ability to provide safe care.
At an industrial explosion, you see injured people near smoke and flying debris. A bystander says, “You have gloves—go help them!” Explain why that reasoning is incorrect and what you should do first.
Gloves protect against certain exposures; they do not protect against fire, explosions, or hazardous fumes. Assess safety from a safe location, request appropriate emergency resources, and avoid entering the hazardous area.
A coworker takes a patient’s photo and says, “I can post it because I won’t include their name.” Explain two problems with this reasoning and what you should do.
A photo or scene details may identify the patient; omitting a name does not make sharing appropriate. Protect privacy, discourage the unauthorized photo or post, and follow agency reporting procedures.
A patient loses a large amount of blood and becomes confused. Explain how a problem in one body system could affect another system in this situation.
Blood loss can reduce circulation and oxygen delivery to the brain. This connects the circulatory system’s function with the nervous system’s function and may explain the confusion.
A patient may have a spinal injury. Compare your movement decision if the scene is safe with your decision if an immediate threat develops. Explain your reasoning.
At a safe scene, avoid unnecessary movement and await appropriate assistance. If an immediate threat makes remaining in place unsafe, an emergency move may be necessary when it can be performed safely. Minimize movement and protect the head, neck, and spine as much as possible.