Unitek EMT Midterm Flashcards

EMS Origins and Structure

• EMS was invented in France.
• The first ambulances were operated by funeral homes/undertakers.
• NREMT was established in 1970 to regulate EMS training.
• The National Emergency Medical Services Systems Act (NEMSSA) was passed by Congress in 1973.
• EMS standards were developed in 1966 by the Department of Transportation (DOT).

NHTSA EMS Standards

• The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) established essential standards including:
  • Regulation and Policy
  • Resource Management
  • Human Resources Training
  • Transportation
  • Facilities
  • Communications
  • Public Information/Education
  • Medical Direction
  • Trauma Systems
  • Evaluation (Quality Assurance/Improvement)

Components and Operations of EMS

• Key components of an EMS system include:
  • Emergency medical dispatcher
  • EMS responders
  • Emergency Department/hospital
  • Specialty centers (trauma, burn, pediatric, cardiac, stroke, etc.)
• Enhanced 911 technology provides the caller's number and location for immediate assistance.

Roles and Responsibilities of EMTs

• EMTs ensure personal safety and the safety of crew, patient, and bystanders.
• Responsibilities include patient assessment, care, lifting/moving, transport, transfer of care, and patient advocacy.
• Key qualities for EMTs involve good physical condition and personal traits.

Public Health Role of EMS

• EMS plays a vital role in public health through:
  • Injury prevention programs targeting geriatric and pediatric populations.
  • Public vaccination initiatives.
  • Disease surveillance efforts.

Medical Directives and Care

• Different levels of EMS training include Emergency Medical Responder, EMT, AEMT, and Paramedic.
• On-line orders are provided by medical direction via phone/radio, while off-line orders are standing orders.
• Body mechanics emphasize proper use to prevent injury during lifting and moving.

Patient Care Protocols

• Emergency and urgent moves are performed when immediate threats to life or decline in conditions are present.
• Non-urgent moves occur when there is no immediate threat.
• Standards and precautions for patient care stem from OSHA regulations.

Mental Health Considerations

• Involuntary transportation is justified if a patient poses a threat to themselves or others based on assessments by mental health professionals or law enforcement.

Patient Rights and Legal Considerations

• Patients may refuse care if they are legally competent, alert, informed, and sign a release form.
• Good Samaritan Laws offer immunity from liability for those rendering aid in good faith, though they often do not cover on-duty personnel.

Physiological Terms and Concepts

• Proximate causation ties harm directly to EMT action or inaction.
• Dependent lividity, rigor mortis, and putrefaction are signs indicating death.
• Pathophysiology studies how diseases affect body functions, with the mitochondria converting glucose to ATP.
• Metabolism can be aerobic (requiring oxygen) or anaerobic (producing lactic acid in the absence of oxygen).

Respiratory Concepts

• Tidal volume refers to air volume inhaled/exhaled per breath, while minute volume is calculated as tidal volume multiplied by respiratory rate.
• The medulla oblongata controls respiration, and respiratory distress indicates the body is compensating effectively.
• Signs of hypoxia include shortness of breath and increased respiratory rates.
• Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) aids in noninvasive ventilation for respiratory issues.

Trauma and Assessment

• Mechanism of Injury (MOI) contrasts with the Nature of Illness (NOI), distinguishing between trauma and medical conditions.
• Different types of trauma are categorized by velocity: low (knife), medium (gun), and high (rifle).
• Vital signs such as respiratory rates depend on age groups, e.g., adults: 12-20 breaths/min, infants: 25-50 breaths/min.

Pulmonary Conditions

• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) encompasses conditions like chronic bronchitis and emphysema.
• Asthma results in chronic bronchoconstriction, whereas pulmonary edema involves fluid in alveoli causing swelling.
• Pneumonia is characterized by lung infection leading to inflammation and mucus buildup.

Emergency Care Techniques

• Ventilation involves the movement of air in and out of the lungs, with oxygen flow rates of 15 L/min for BVM/NRB and 2-6 L/min for nasal cannula.
• Signs of inadequate breathing in pediatrics include nasal flaring, grunting, and seesaw breathing.

By understanding these key concepts, EMTs can provide effective care while ensuring safety and compliance within the EMS framework.