Medical Direction
Oversight of the patient-care aspects of an EMS system by the Medical Director.
Protocols
lists of steps, such as assessments
... [Show More] and interventions, to be taken in different situations. Protocols are developed by the Medical Director of an EMS system
Offline Direction
consists of standing orders issued by the medical director that allows EMTs to give certain medications or perform certain procedures without speaking to the medical director or another physician.
Online Direction
consists of orders from the on-duty physician given directly to an EMT-B in the field by radio or telephone.
Standing Orders
A policy or protocol issued by a Medical Director that authorizes EMT-Bs and others to perform particular skills in certain situations.
HEPA Mask
High Efficiency Particulate Air respirator; used for patients with suspected TB; worn by the EMT provider to prevent airborne transmission
Hepatitis B
infectious inflammation of the liver caused by the hepatitis B virus (HBV) that is transmitted sexually or by exposure to contaminated blood or body fluid
Hepatitis C
inflammation of the liver caused by the hepatitis C virus, transmitted by exposure to infected blood (rarely contracted sexually)
Tuberculosis
Infectious disease caused by the tubercle bacillus, Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Most commonly affects the respiratory system and causes inflammation and calcification of the system.
Acute Stress
short term ; fight or flight response ; effects disappear quickly after it is over
Scope of Practice
What we are allowed to do or trained to do
Standard Care
the degree of care that a reasonably prudent person should exercise under the same or similar circumstances
Duty to Act
an obligation to provide care to a patient
Good Samaritan
a person who voluntarily offers help or sympathy in times of trouble
Expressed Consent
Permission that must be obtained from every conscious, mentally competent adult before emergency treatment may be provided
Implied Consent
The consent it is presumed a patient or patient's parent or gaurdian would give if they could, such as for an unconscious patient or a parent who cannot be contacted when care is needed.
Treatment of a Minor
Must be given by legal guardian
Involuntary
Mentally incompetent person
Advanced Directive
a legal document prepared by a living, competent adult to provide guidance to the health care team if the individual should become unable to make decisions regarding his or her medical care; may also be called a living will or durable power of attorney for health care
Polst
Physicians orders for life sustaining treatment. May include order for DO NOT RESUSCITATE
PCR
Prehospital care report
Emergency Move
a move made when there is an immediate danger to the patient.
Urgent Move
Move used if a scne factor causes a decline in patient's condition, or if the treatment of a patient requires a move.
Non urgent move
No immediate threat to life, are carried out in such a way as to prevent injury and to avoid discomfort and pain.
bariatric stretcher
Stretcher for obese patients
scoop stretcher
this cot splits in tow or four sections, so it can be used where larger stretchers cannot fit.
basket stretcher
designed to surround and protect the patient, this stretcher is used to move a patient from one level to another to over rough terrain.
flexible stretcher
made of canvas or rubberized or other flexible material, often with wooden slats sewn into pockets and three carrying handles on each side. can be useful in restricted areas or narrow hallways
anatomical planes
1. coronal (vertical cut into front and back halves) 2. transverse (horizontal cut into upper and lower) 3. sagittal (vertical cut into left and right halves)
fowler position
a bed sitting position with the head of the bed raised to 45 degrees
semi fowler position
the head of the bed is raised 30 degrees; or the head of the bed is raised 30 degrees and the knee portion is raised 15 degrees
shock position
feet elevated 12 inches higher than head
anterior
Toward the Front
posterior
Toward the back
superior
toward the head or above point of reference
inferior
away from the head or below point of reference
dorsal
Toward the back/spine
ventral
Toward the front/ belly
medial
Toward center of body
lateral
Away from center of body
bilateral
Both sides
unilateral
One side
ipsilateral
Same side
contralateral
opposite side
proximal
Near the point of reference
distal
Far from point of reference
mid clavicular
the line through the center of the clavical
mid axillary
line drawn veritcally from the middle of the armpit to the ankle
plantar
Sole of foot
palmar
Palm of hand
quadrants of the abdomen
Describing where an abdominal organ or pain is located is made easier by dividing the abdomen into four imaginary quadrants.
*Right upper quadrant (RUQ)
*Left upper quadrant (LUQ)
*Right lower quadrant (RLQ)
*Left lower quadrant (LLQ)
vertebrae
the 33 bones of the spinal column
Ribs
Vertebrosternal = 'True ribs" -ribs 1-7 attach directly to the sternum through their costal cartilage. Vertebrochondral = "False ribs" =ribs 8-10 costal cartilage articulate indirectly with the sternumb by joing the costal cartilages of ribs above. Vertebral Ribs = "Floating ribs" ribs 11 and 12 no anterior attachment.
upper airway
(Nose, mouth, pharynx, larynx)FUNCTION:Conducts air to lower airway Protects lower airways *Warms, filters & humidifies air
lower airway
trachea, bronchi, bronchioles, and aveoli (gasses travel through the structers to and from the blood)
cricoid cartilage
the ring-shaped structure that forms the lower portion of the larynx
diaphragm
muscular partition that separates the thoracic cavity from the abdominal cavity and aids in respiration by moving up and down
phrenic nerve
stimulates the diaphragm
edema
swelling
perfusion
The supply of oxygen to and removal of wastes from the cells and tissues of the body as a result of the flow of blood through the capillaries.
hypo perfusion
Also known as shock (decreased blood flow through an organ, as in hypovolemic shock; if prolonged, it may result in permanent cellular dysfunction and death.)
cerebrum
large part of the brain that controls the senses and thinking
cerebellum
the "little brain" attached to the rear of the brainstem; its functions include processing sensory input and coordinating movement output and balance
brain stem
the part of the brain continuous with the spinal cord and comprising the medulla oblongata and pons and midbrain and parts of the hypothalamus
epinephrine
adrenaline; activates a sympathetic nervous system by making the heart beat faster, stopping digestion, enlarging pupils, sending sugar into the bloodstream, preparing a blood clot faster
noepinephrine
A neurotransmitter from nerve endings and a hormone from the adrenal gland. It is release in times of stress and is involved in hunger regulation, blood glucose regulation and other body processes.
alpha1 and Alpha2
Alpha1 vessels constrict and release sweat
Alpha2 try's to regulate alpha1
beta 1
increases HR, inotrophy (forced contraction of heart) increases electrical impulse in heart
beta 2
relaxes smooth muscle such as bronchioles and some vessels
pulse pressure
difference between systolic and diastolic pressure no more than 25%
respiration
..., the bodily process of inhalation and exhalation
pulmonary ventilation
..., Movement of air into and out of the lungs
internal respiration
..., exchange of gases between the blood and the cells of the body
external respiration
..., exchange of gases between the lungs and the blood
cellular respiration
..., process that releases energy by breaking down glucose and other food molecules in the presence of oxygen
carina
..., the fork at the lower end of the trachea where the two mainstem bronchi branch.
bronchioles
..., smallest branches of the bronchi [Show Less]