EMS Systems
Medical/Legal
Medical/Legal
Name the four general levels of EMS training, starting with the lowest level of training and defining features of each?
What are EMR (basic cpr, tourniquet, emergency child birth, first aid) often arrive on scene first (think PD, park rangers)
EMT everything below plus OPA, NPA, medical assessment, trauma assessment
Advanced EMT everything below plus additional meds, ALS training, basic IV, IO, supraglottic airway devices (Igel)
Paramedic everything below plus cardiac monitoring, additional ALS meds, endotracheal intubation
What is the span of control?
the number of people or resources that a supervisor can effectively manage during an incident. It is between 3-7 ideally 5
What needs a DOT placard regardless of weight?
Water reactive solids, combustibles, poisonous gases, radioactive material
What PPE should you wear when suctioning a patient?
gloves, eye protection, and mask
If the patient has head, neck, or back pain when you arrive on scene what should you do initially after ensuring you have on the appropriate ppe and the scene is safe?
direct partner to hold manual in-line stabilization of cervical spine
What constitutes the official transfer of care of a patient?
Oral report given at the hospital or on scene to an ALS unit (paramedic) to an equal or higher level of care (nurse, PA, physician)
What organization recommends and sets national guidelines for EMT training?
NHTSA
Where does EMT treatment of a patient occur in a Hazmat situation?
cold zone
If you and fire are both at an intersection what should you do?
change the siren tone, let fire go first (they are bigger, brighter, louder, easier to see)
What movement technique should you use to move a patient that is in stable condition and is in a narrow hallway?
Non-urgent move such as the Extremity lift
Most commonly defined by state law, outlines the care you able to provide for the patient. Can be modified by the local medical director if training and approval is given.
What is Scope of Practice?
What does it mean to operate with due regard?
Drive safe, maintain a cushion of safety between you and the driver ahead of you (about 4-5 seconds to stop safely), consider a Risk benefit analysis of using lights and sirens and doing other maneuvers based on what is safest for you and considering the people/cars around you
What is Level A PPE?
most protective (entirely self contained suit) protects against highest level of exposure, SCBA
Can you take off your seatbelt while transporting a patient?
If it actively prevents you from doing life-saving patient care
When can you use a KED?
if patient is stable, environment is safe, and patient is seated with head, neck, back pain
When can you release patient's info?
Person you are giving info to is directly involved in their care, billing/insurance purposes, pt signs a release, pt is under conservatorship, there is a court subpoena
What is an example of mobile integrated healthcare?
Paramedics getting extra training and permission from medical director to help with preventative care: give vaccines, labs...etc in a community aimed to help communities in need
Airway burns following an explosion would be what category of Blast Injury?
A patient with cyanide poisoning may present with what s/sx?
cyanide is a metabolic agent that disrupts the usage of O2, so pt will have a normal spo2 reading, but immediately upon exposure report SOB, show signs of increased WOB, tachycardia, AMS, seizure, respiratory distress --> failure --> arrest
What are emergency moves? When do you use them?
Emergency clothes drag, blanket drag, arm drag, arm-to-arm drag, fire-fighters carry
When the patient is in immediate danger or scene is unsafe ex: hazmat/fire/hostage situation
What is it called when a crime occured where an EMT had a duty to act, but breached that duty, harm occurred to the patient, and there is a causal link between the breach of duty and harm
What is Negligence?
When you arrive on scene of a TC what should you do?
How do you park for a TC if you are first or you arrive after fire?
Consider scene safety, PENMAN, Leave warning lights on, park in a fend off position (parallel), put parking break on, Put on reflective gear,
if you are first on scene park 100 ft in front of the scene, if you are second park 100 ft behind the scene
What do you assign the lowest priority patients?
What are examples of conditions that would warrant a black tag?
When do you treat them?
ex: respiratory arrest, cardiac arrest, brain matter exposed, obvious mortal injury (decapitated, torn in half)
Treat them after all the others (red, yellow, green) if we have enough resources to do so
Use short, simple direct communication
Point to parts of your body to try to figure out what is going on with them
What is the rapid extrication technique?
When do you use it?
Apply a C-collar to a pt, use at least three people ideally to remove the patient from a vehicle and place onto a backboard keeping spinal precautions as a priority at all times
Vehicle or scene is unsafe, hazmat/fire/explosives, pt is in critical condition