Chapter 2 Workforce Safety and Wellness AAOS EMT 12th Knowledge Objectives |21 questions fully SOLVED

Explain the steps that contributes to wellness and resilience and their importance in managing stress. - Eat Healthy and Well balanced diet - 7-9 hours of sleep - Positive relationships, with friends, and family - Build relationships with peers and colleagues - Daily exercise - Build habits of mindfulness and positivity Nutrition, Exercise, Sleep, No vaping, or nicotine, No Alcohol, no drugs. Differentiate infectious Disease and Communicable Disease. Infectious Disease: Is a medical condition caused by growth and spread of harmful organisms within the body where as Communicable disease: can spread from one person to person or from person to species to another. Immunizations, protective techniques , and hand washing( cleanliness) help to prevent this. Identify the risks and hazards of sleep deprivation in EMS. Fatigue can lead to medical errors vehicle crashes , harm to patients, bystanders, and EMS providers. Longterm sleep deprivation can lead to hypertension, sleep apnea, diabetes, respiratory issues, depression, and stress. State the routes of disease transmission. They can be transmitted by: contact, direct, or indirect, aerosolized( in droplets) , food-borne, and Vector-borne( Transmitted through insects or parasitic worms. Direct Contact( eg , Blood-borne Pathogens) Indirect Contact ( eg, needlesticks ) Airborne transmission( eg, sneezing) Food-borne transmission ( eg, contaminated food) Vector Borne transmission ( eg, fleas) Describe the specific routes of transmission and the steps to prevent and/or deal with an exposure to hepatitis, tuberculosis, or human immunodeficiency (HIV)/acquired immunodeficiency disorder (ADIS). The Specific Routes are direct contact and indirect contact and airborne transmission, aswell as food borne transmission, and vector borne transmission. The steps to prevent direct contact are Donning and Duffing Full PPE, proper hand hygiene, gloves , Eye protection, and face Shields, masks, respirators , and Barrier Devices , proper disposal of sharps, employer responsibilities, cleaning, and decontaminating , immunizations. Apply the standard precautions used in treating patients to prevent infection. Component hand hygiene, PPE, Patient Care Environment, and special circumstances. Explain the steps to take for personal protection from airborne and bloodborne pathogens. Step 1: En Route to the scene make sure that PPE is out and available. Step 2: On arrival, identify and address safety hazards, then perform a rapid scan of the patient, noting wether any blood or body fluids are present. Select the proper PPE according to tasks you are likely to perform. typically gloves and protective eye wear will be used for all patient contacts. Demonstrate proper handwashing techniques. - wash your hands before and after contact with a patient even if you wear gloves. - Any breaks in the skin such as tiny cuts and abrasions are potential access points for pathogens. Although soap and water are not protective in all cases, they provide excellent protection against further transmission from your skin to others. - Rinse your hands using warm water. If water is not available you may use waterless hand- washing substitutes. - Finally , dry your hands with a paper towel, and use the paper towel to turn off the faucet. Explain the ways in which immunity to infectious disease is acquired. - One way to gain immunity from many diseases is to be immunized, or vaccinated against them. - Another way in which the body becomes immune to a disease is when it recovers from infection from that germ. Afterword, the body's immune system recognizes and repels that pathogen when it shows up again. - After healthy people are exposed , lifelong immunity to many common pathogens will develop. Summarize postexposure management of exposure to patient blood or body fluids, including completing a postexposure report. -if you are exposed turn over patient care to another EMS provider. - Clean exposed area with soap and water - if eyes are exposed rinse them with water for 20 mins - Activate department infection control plan, you will be evaluated , and follow up with a doctor. - complete exposure report - if exposed time is critical - If an airborne exposure occurs quarantine for 14 days - the last defense is post exposure preventive measures or treatment. Discuss the steps necessary to determine scene safety and to prevent work-related injuries at the scene. - You should be begin protecting yourself as soon as you are dispatched - Before you leave for the scene begin preparing yourself mentally and physically. - Make sure you wear a seat belbelts and shoulder harness all times unless patient care makes it impossible. _ park the ambulance at safe but concvienent distance from the scene. Before attempting to assess patients who are trapped in vehicle, check the vehicle/'s stability. Describe the different types of protective clothing worn to prevent injury Cold weather- multiple layers Turnout gear- protection from heat, fire, sparks , flashover , cuts , abrasions , and electrical shock. Also called bunker gear. Gloves- heat, cold , cuts. May reduce dexterity in rescue situation Helmets- falling zone Eye protection- minor injuries, blood, body fluids Ear protection- loud noise Skin Protection- against sunburn Body armor- Fire arms Differentiate issues concerning care of the dying patient, death, and the grieving process of family members. Grieving process: 1. Danial 2. Anger, hostility 3. Bargaining 4 . Depression 5. acceptance What EMT can do: 1. Ask the patient and family if there is anything you can do to help. 2. Reinforce the reality of the situation 3. be honest and sincere 4. Do not say you know how the patient or family feels 5. Let the patient or family members grieve in their own way. Recognize the physiologic, physical, and psychological responses to stress General adaption syndrome: 1. Alarm response too stress 2. Reaction and resistance to stress 3. Recovery- or exhaustion form stress. Physiologic Manifestations of Stress: 1. Increased respirations and heart rate 2. Increased blood pressure 3. Dilated venous vessels near the skin surface( causes cool, clammy skin) 4. Dilated pupils 5. Tensed Muscles 6. Increased blood glucose levels 7. Perspiration 8. Decreased blood flow to gastrointestinal tract Stress reactions: 1.Acute stress reactions a. Occur during a stressful situation 2. . Delayed stress reactions a. Manifest after a stressful event 3. Cumulative stress reactions a. Prolonged or excessive stress b. Physical symptoms i. fatigue ii. change in appetite iii. GI problems iv. Headaches v. Insomnia or hypersomnia vi. Irritability vii. Inability to concentrate viii. Hyperactivity or underactivity Explain posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and steps that can be taken, including critical incident stress management, to decrease the likelihood that PTSD will develop PTSD- May develop after a person has experienced a psychologically distressing event Symptoms- depression , flashbacks, phoneme, dissociative episodes CISM - used to help providers relieve stress -CISM can occur formally or at an ongoing scene Trained CISM professionals facilitate: 1. defusing sessions are held during immediately after the event 2. Debriefing sessions are held 24-72 hours after the incident 3. An important rule is to not turn the debriefing session into an operational critique If CISM is not an option , private counseling by a mental health professional may be preferable. Identify the emotional aspects of emergency care Be calm and act responsibly (keep emotions under control). Realize that these emotions are normal. 1. At times, even the most experienced health care provider has difficulty overcoming personal reactions and proceeding without hesitation. 2. The struggle to remain calm in the face of horrible circumstances contributes to the emotional stress of the job. Recognize the stress inherent in many situations, such as mass-casualty scenes a. Socioeconomic background b. Fear of medical personnel c. Alcohol or substance use disorders d. History of chronic illness e. Mental disorders f. Reaction to medication g. Age h. Nutritional status: feeling of guilt i. Feelings of guilt j. Past experience with illness or injury 3. Quickly and calmly assess the actions of the patient, family members, and bystanders. 4. Use a professional tone and show courtesy, along with sincere concern and efficient action. 5. Patients must be given the opportunity to express their fears and concerns. 6. Religious customs or needs of the patient must be respected. a. Some people have religious convictions that strongly oppose the use of medications, blood, and blood products. Report this information to the next level of care. 7. In the event of a death, handle the body with respect and dignity. Recognize the possibility of violent situations and the steps to take to deal with them. 1. Assaults, hostage situations, riots, or other disturbance a. Scene assessment should begin while en route. b. Once on scene continue your assessment using personal observation and information from other responders while maintaining personal safety and the safety of your team. 2. Mass violence a. Several agencies will be involved. Know who is in command. b. Remain vigilant for the potential for violence at all times. c. Allow law enforcement to secure the scene before you approach. d. At scenes involving projectiles find protection: i. Cover: the tactical use of an impenetrable barrier for protection. ii. Concealment: hiding behind objects to limit a person's ability to see you. e. If you believe the event is a crime scene, attempt to maintain the chain of evidence, and do not disturb the scene unless it is absolutely necessary for patient treatment. 3. Violence against responders a. The rate of violence-related injuries with work loss for emergency responders is 22 times higher than the overall rate for other employees in the United States. b. Recommendations for the prevention of violence: i. Training and practice in identifying scenes of potential violence ii. Training and practice in deescalation strategies and techniques iii. Training and practice to improve interpersonal communication iv. Practice in ongoing scene assessment v. Dispatch identification and alerting of past or potential threats of violence c. Recommendations for protection against violence: i. Training and practice in self-defense and escape techniques ii. Training and practice in physical and chemical restraint techniques iii. Fitting and use of body armor iv. Training and practice in operations with law enforcement Identify behavioral emergencies -Mass violence - Violence against responders - assault , shooting, hostage situations , riot. Discuss workplace issues such as cultural diversity, sexual harassment, and substance abuse A. Cultural diversity on the job 1. You are expected to work alongside coworkers with varying backgrounds, attitudes, beliefs, and values and to accept their differences. 2. Culture is not restricted to different nationalities, you should also consider age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, work experience, and education. 3. Communicate in a way that is sensitive to everyone's needs. 4. Your ultimate goal should be cultural humility. a. Remain curious about others and continuously reflect on your viewpoints with an open mind. B. Sexual harassment 1. Any unwelcome sexual advance, request for sexual favors, or other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature when submitting is a condition of employment, submitting or rejecting is a basis for an employment decision, or such conduct substantially interferes with performance and/or creates a hostile work environment. 2. Two types of sexual harassment: a. Quid pro quo i. The harasser requests sexual favors in exchange for something else, such as a promotion. b. Hostile work environment i. Jokes, touching, leering, requests for a date, talking about body parts 3. The intent of the harasser does not matter, but rather the perception of the act and the impact the behavior has on someone else. 4. Because EMTs and other public safety professionals depend on one another for their safety, it is especially important for you to develop nonadversarial relationships with coworkers. 5. Report harassment to your supervisor immediately. C. Substance abuse 1. Increases risks of accidents and tension among workers 2. Causes poor treatment decisions 3. Many EMS systems now require personnel to undergo periodic random tests for illegal drugs and have "for cause" testing when it is believed that individuals are under the influence of alcohol or drugs. 4. Seek help or find a way to confront an addicted coworker. 5. Allowing it to go on poses a tremendous hazard to the public. 6. Employee assistance programs (EAPs) are often available. D. Injury and illness prevention 1. EMS providers visit EDs for work-related injuries and exposures over 20,000 times each year. 2. Each program should include six interrelated and interdependent elements: a. Management leadership b. Worker participation c. Hazard identification and assessment d. Hazard prevention and control e. Education and training f. Program evaluation and improvement