Operations Flashcards

You are dispatched to the scene of a 9 year old girl who has been struck by a car. Police are unable to reach her parents. What gives you the ability to treat the girl?

Answer: Implied Consent

Implied consent applies when a patient is unable to give express consent, such as an unconscious individual or a minor whose parents are not present. In emergency situations where immediate treatment is necessary to save a life or prevent serious harm, the law presumes that the patient (or their legal guardian) would consent to care. This allows EMTs to provide essential treatment without delay.

You are dispatched to 123 Somewhere Rd to a call for an injured woman. As you approach the door of the home, a man opens the door and tells you "this is none of your business" and to "get out of here". What is the correct course of action in this case?

Answer: Return to the ambulance drive a safe distance away and call for the police to help

Scene safety is paramount for EMS providers. If a third party, like the man in this scenario, becomes hostile or prevents access, it creates an unsafe environment. Retreating to a safe distance and calling for police assistance ensures the safety of the EMS crew and allows law enforcement to address the situation, potentially gaining access to the patient if needed, especially if there's a concern for domestic violence or an incapacitated person inside.

When dealing with an emotionally disturbed patient, you should be concerned with

Answer: whether the patient could harm you

When dealing with an emotionally disturbed patient, their behavior can be unpredictable and potentially violent. The primary concern for an EMT must always be personal safety and the safety of the patient and others on scene. Assessing for potential harm is crucial before attempting to provide medical care or gather information, as an agitated patient can quickly become a threat.

This practice of protecting yourself and your patient from the transfer of bodily fluids is known as what?

Answer: Body Substance Isolation

Body Substance Isolation (BSI) is a comprehensive infection control strategy that assumes all bodily fluids are potentially infectious. It involves using personal protective equipment (PPE) such as gloves, masks, eye protection, and gowns to create a barrier between the EMT and the patient's bodily substances. This practice protects both the patient and the provider from the transfer of pathogens.

What law provides protection from legal action to someone who provides help to an injured person?

Answer: Good Samaritan law

Good Samaritan laws are designed to protect individuals who voluntarily provide emergency medical assistance to an injured person from legal liability. These laws encourage bystanders to help in emergencies by ensuring they won't be sued for negligence, provided they act in good faith, without expectation of payment, and within their scope of training or knowledge.

While responding, ambulances are particularly at risk of collisions in which areas?

Answer: Intersections

Intersections are statistically the most dangerous areas for ambulances responding with lights and sirens. Other drivers may not see or hear the ambulance, may be confused by its direction, or may misjudge its speed. EMTs must exercise extreme caution, slow down, and ensure all lanes of traffic are yielding before proceeding through an intersection, even with emergency warning devices activated.

Headlights are often overlooked as part of the emergency warning lighting system. Headlights should be used while______________?

Answer: On the road

Headlights should be used at all times an ambulance is operating on the road, regardless of whether it's an emergency response or routine travel. This practice significantly increases the vehicle's visibility to other drivers, especially during daylight hours, enhancing safety and reducing the risk of collisions. It's a fundamental aspect of defensive driving for emergency vehicles.

While responding to a Hazardous Materials incident, the EMT should approach the scene from _________?

Answer: Up wind, Uphill, Up river

When approaching a Hazardous Materials (HazMat) incident, the EMT should always approach from upwind, uphill, and upriver. This strategy minimizes exposure to hazardous substances by ensuring that airborne contaminants are blown away, liquid spills flow downhill and away, and waterborne contaminants are carried downstream, keeping responders safe from the immediate danger zone.

EMS should set up in which zone during a HazMat incident?

Answer: Cold zone

During a HazMat incident, the scene is divided into zones based on contamination levels. The Cold Zone is the safe area, free from contamination, where EMS personnel should set up their operations. This zone serves as the command post, staging area for resources, and the location for patient treatment after decontamination, ensuring the safety of all personnel.

When is it acceptable to take a patient directly from the hot zone without going through decontamination?

Answer: Never, no matter how sick the patient is they must be decontaminated

Decontamination is a critical step for all patients exposed to hazardous materials, regardless of their medical condition. Bypassing decontamination, even for life-saving interventions, risks contaminating EMS personnel, equipment, the ambulance, and the receiving hospital, creating a secondary hazard and potentially exposing many more individuals to the dangerous substance. Patient care can only begin safely after decontamination.

You have called an air medical service to come pick up your accident victim from your scene. The helicopter contacts you when they are 5 minutes out. They ask for landing zone (LZ) information. Which of the following should be included in this safety brief?

Answer: All of the above

A comprehensive landing zone (LZ) safety brief is essential for the safe operation of air medical services. This brief must include all potential hazards that could affect the helicopter's approach, landing, or departure. Overhead obstructions (like wires or trees), the type of surface (which affects dust or debris), and the presence of high-tension power lines are all critical pieces of information for the flight crew.

Which of the following patients would be appropriate for air medical transport from your scene?

Answer: 55 year male high speed motor cycle accident vs. a cement highway barrier

Air medical transport is typically reserved for critically injured or ill patients who require rapid transport to a specialized facility, especially when ground transport time is prolonged or the patient's condition is unstable. A high-speed motorcycle accident versus a cement highway barrier indicates significant mechanism of injury and potential for multi-system trauma, making air transport appropriate for rapid access to definitive care.

When you arrive at the receiving facility you must transfer care to the ED staff. By giving a report to the attending nursing staff about the past medical history, the patient’s complaint assessment, and interventions you have just allowed for what?

Answer: Continuity of care

Giving a thorough verbal report to the receiving hospital staff is crucial for ensuring continuity of care. This detailed handover allows the emergency department team to quickly understand the patient's medical history, chief complaint, assessment findings, and all interventions performed by EMS. This seamless transfer of information prevents delays and ensures the patient receives uninterrupted, appropriate treatment.

Arriving on scene of a multi-car accident, the in-charge EMT tells dispatch that they have arrived and what they have found. "Squad 3 is on scene. There is a three car accident. All patients are out and walking on the scene." What is this information called?

Answer: Scene size up

A scene size-up is the initial and ongoing assessment of an emergency scene, providing crucial information to dispatch and incoming units. It involves quickly identifying the nature of the incident, assessing scene safety, determining the number of patients, and identifying any immediate resource needs. This initial report helps guide the overall management of the incident.

Upon arriving on any scene, what is the most important action an EMT should do?

Answer: Position the squad to protect the scene

Upon arriving at any scene, the most important action an EMT should take is to position the ambulance to protect the scene. This involves using the vehicle as a barrier to shield responders, patients, and the incident area from traffic or other hazards. Proper vehicle placement creates a safe working environment and minimizes further risks.

Which of the following bones is affected with a swollen, painful deformity to the lateral bone of the left forearm?

Answer: Radius

The forearm consists of two bones: the radius and the ulna. The radius is located on the lateral (thumb) side of the forearm, while the ulna is on the medial (pinky) side. Therefore, a swollen, painful deformity to the lateral bone of the left forearm indicates an injury to the radius.