Workforce Safety and Wellness Quiz

Workforce Safety and Wellness

• Students will understand the importance of recognizing hazards, coping with physical and mental stress, assisting patients and families, taking preventive actions, dealing with patients and coworkers with sensitivity, taking precautions when dealing with infectious diseases, and preventing on-the-job injuries.
• National EMS Education Standard Competencies include medicine, applying fundamental knowledge to provide basic emergency care and transportation, infectious disease awareness, and how to decontaminate equipment.
• Preparatory skills cover standard safety precautions, personal protective equipment (PPE), stress management, dealing with death and dying, prevention of response-related injuries, disease transmission, lifting and moving patients, and principles of wellness and resilience.
• Knowledge objectives include explaining steps for wellness and resilience, differentiating infectious and communicable diseases, identifying risks of sleep deprivation in EMS, describing routes and steps to prevent/deal with hepatitis, tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS exposures, applying standard precautions, explaining steps for personal protection, demonstrating proper handwashing techniques, explaining how immunity is acquired and summarizing postexposure management.
• Skills objectives cover demonstrating glove removal and managing potential exposure situations.
• Readings and preparation involve reviewing instructional materials, CDC resources, hazardous materials in the DOT's Emergency Response Guidebook, NFPA Standards, OSHA regulations, supporting materials such as lecture powerpoints, case studies, and skill drill presentations, proper glove removal techniques, and managing potential exposure situations.
• Skill Drill 2-2 focuses on managing a potential exposure situation, including steps for dealing with emotional or violent patients, death determination protocols, information about CISM teams, contact information for CDC and hospice programs, regular exercise in lifting and moving patients, cultural sensitivity, and respecting viewpoints and beliefs.
• Unit activities suggest writing assignments, presentations on PPE, group activities simulating communicating with grieving families, and visual thinking activities using PPE images.
• "You Are the Provider" is a case study that encourages critical thinking skills.
• Introduction topics include the importance of self-care, recognition of hazards, and safety.
• Health, wellness, and resilience encompass the interaction of physical, mental, and emotional well-being, emphasizing eustress and distress, wellness as the active pursuit of good health, and resilience as the capacity to cope with distress. Practices that promote resilience include balanced diets, adequate sleep, positive relationships, and exercise. Stress management includes techniques to alleviate and eliminate stress reactions, and strategies for managing stressors, changing work environment, attitudes, exercising, and talking to trusted people.
• Additional topics include not obsessing over unchangeable circumstances, adopting a relaxed attitude, expanding social support, and avoiding excessive caffeine, alcohol, tobacco, and limiting intake of sugar, fats, sodium, and alcohol. Recommendations for combating fatigue are presented including appropriate sleep practices, physical activity, and mindful relaxation prior to sleep.
• Infectious and communicable diseases involve definitions of pathogens, contamination, exposure, and PPE. Routes and risk reduction practices are outlined, including standard precautions for health care workers. Immunity, immunization histories, and handling exposed materials are also discussed.
• General postexposure management involves actions if exposed to a patient's blood or body fluids, cleaning exposed areas with soap and water, rinsing eyes if exposed, and activating infection control plans.
• Scene safety and hazards include an overview of how to proceed upon arrival at a scene, safety considerations for downed power lines, lightning, and fire risks, and recognizing risk of injury.
• Caring for critically ill and injured patients and dying patients are discussed, along with communication techniques during these events, methods for notifying family, and coping strategies with death.
• Stress management includes defining physiologic manifestations of stress, situations that are stressful for EMS providers, types of stress reactions (acute, delayed, and cumulative), and causes and coping strategies for stress. Additional topics include burnout, compassion fatigue, and critical incident stress.
• Cultural diversity discusses the importance of working with co-workers from various backgrounds and acknowledging differences. It also addresses the importance of communication sensitivity and respect, and avoiding quid pro quo and hostile work environments as forms of harassment.
• Topics also include substance abuse as a concern, employee assistance programs (EAP), injury and illness prevention programs, including strategies for management, hazard identification, and program evaluation, along with reviewing available assessments in Action.

This quiz covers essential concepts related to workforce safety and wellness, including hazard recognition, stress management, and infection control. Students will explore topics such as personal protective equipment, coping mechanisms for physical and mental stress, and preventive measures to ensure safety in emergency medical settings.