EMS Infection Control and Hazard Management

Study Notes

AEMT training focuses on recognizing and managing hazards in the work environment, such as exposure to illnesses, high-risk situations, and intense stress.
Infection control is crucial for EMS personnel, including understanding infectious diseases, routes of transmission, and preventing the spread of illnesses through proper cleaning and disinfecting.
Direct contact, indirect contact, airborne transmission, foodborne transmission, and vector-borne transmission are common routes of disease transmission that EMS personnel should be aware of.
Training in handling bloodborne pathogens is required for EMS personnel by OSHA standards, including precautions for blood and body fluid exposure.
Standard precautions developed by the CDC aim to prevent healthcare workers from direct contact with germs carried by patients, emphasizing the importance of assuming every person could potentially spread an organism.
Proper infection control procedures for EMS personnel include hand hygiene, wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) like gloves, gowns, and goggles, and following specific protocols for handling contaminated materials.
Double gloving may reduce the risk of exposure to hazardous materials, especially in situations where gloves become extremely soiled or contaminated.
Eye protection with compliant goggles or face shields is essential to protect against blood or fluid splatters, as prescription eyeglasses or contact lenses do not provide adequate protection.
Proper disposal of sharps is critical to prevent HIV and hepatitis spread, requiring sharps containers to be easily accessible, labeled with biohazard insignia, and properly sealed when full for disposal.

Description

This quiz covers essential topics for EMS personnel, including infection control measures, routes of disease transmission, bloodborne pathogens handling, and proper disposal of hazardous materials. It emphasizes the importance of recognizing hazards in the work environment and following standard precautions to prevent the spread of illnesses.