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 to unconscious, incapacitated, or mentally incompetent patients, or minors whose parents/guardians are not present, when immediate medical treatment is necessary to prevent death or serious harm. In this scenario, a 9-year-old struck by a car is presumed to be in need of immediate care, and consent for treatment is implied by the emergency nature of the situation and the inability to obtain express consent.

You are dispatched to 123 Somewhere Rd to a call for an injured woman... 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

As an EMT, your safety is paramount. If a person denies access to a potential patient and creates a hostile or unsafe environment, you should not force entry. Retreating to a safe distance and contacting law enforcement is the appropriate action to ensure your safety and allow police to investigate the situation and secure the scene, potentially enabling you to provide care once the area is safe.

If a patient refuses treatment and an EMT treats the patient anyway, what crime can the EMT be charged with?

Answer: Battery

Battery is the unlawful physical contact with another person without their consent. If a conscious, competent adult refuses medical treatment and an EMT proceeds to treat them against their will, it constitutes battery, as it is an unwanted and unauthorized physical touching. Respecting a patient's right to refuse care is a fundamental ethical and legal principle in emergency medicine.

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 body fluids are potentially infectious and requires the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) to prevent exposure. It is a broader concept than just wearing gloves or universal precautions, encompassing a range of practices designed to protect both the healthcare provider and the patient 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 reasonable assistance to those who are injured, ill, in peril, or otherwise incapacitated. These laws generally shield the rescuer from liability for ordinary negligence, encouraging people to offer aid without fear of legal repercussions, provided they act in good faith and within their scope of training.

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

Answer: Intersections

Intersections are the most dangerous areas for emergency vehicle collisions because they involve multiple directions of traffic, potential blind spots, and drivers who may not hear or see the ambulance approaching. Despite the use of emergency lights and sirens, other drivers may fail to yield, leading to a significantly higher risk of impact at these junctions.

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

Answer: On the road

Headlights should always be used when an ambulance is on the road, regardless of whether it is responding to an emergency or not. This is a basic and crucial safety measure to increase the vehicle's visibility to other drivers, especially during daylight hours, dusk, dawn, or inclement weather. Using headlights continuously is a standard driving practice that enhances overall road safety for all 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, EMS personnel must prioritize safety by considering environmental factors. Approaching from upwind prevents inhaling hazardous fumes, uphill prevents exposure to spilled liquids flowing downwards, and upriver avoids contact with contaminants carried by water currents. This strategic approach minimizes exposure risks and ensures responder safety.

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 designated safe area, free from contamination, where EMS personnel should establish their treatment and transport operations. This ensures the safety of responders and prevents secondary contamination of equipment and facilities.

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 non-negotiable step in HazMat incidents, regardless of the patient's condition. Bypassing decontamination risks secondary contamination of EMS providers, the ambulance, and the receiving hospital, potentially exposing many others to the hazardous material. Even in critical situations, rapid gross decontamination must occur before transport to protect everyone involved.

You have called an air medical service to come pick up your accident victim... 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. Providing information about overhead obstructions, the type of surface, and the proximity of high-tension power lines allows the flight crew to assess potential hazards. This critical communication enables them to plan a safe approach and landing, preventing accidents and ensuring the safety of all personnel.

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 requiring rapid transport to a trauma center or specialized facility, especially when ground transport is too slow. A high-speed motorcycle accident against a cement barrier indicates a significant mechanism of injury with a high potential for multi-system trauma. This scenario necessitates the speed and specialized care access that air medical transport provides.

When you arrive at the receiving facility you must transfer care to the ED staff... 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

Providing a thorough patient report to the receiving emergency department staff is crucial for maintaining continuity of care. This detailed handover ensures that the hospital team receives all pertinent information regarding the patient's history, assessment findings, and interventions performed by EMS. This allows them to seamlessly continue medical treatment without interruption or repetition, optimizing patient outcomes.

Arriving on scene of a multi-car accident... 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 critical assessment performed by the first arriving EMS unit at an emergency. It involves quickly gathering information about the incident type, potential hazards, number of patients, and necessary resources. This rapid evaluation is fundamental for ensuring responder safety, effective resource allocation, and initiating appropriate patient care.

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 emergency scene, the most important action for an EMT is to ensure scene safety. Positioning the ambulance strategically to block traffic or create a safe work area protects both responders and patients from ongoing hazards. This establishes a secure environment, allowing EMS personnel to safely assess and care for patients.