Workforce Safety and Wellness

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Workforce Safety and Wellness
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Objectives

• Review the importance of using Standard
  Precautions.
• Discuss specific diseases of concern the Advanced
  EMT is likely to encounter.
• Identify strategies for Advanced EMTs to ensure
  their safety while working in the prehospital
  environment.

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Introduction

• Now more than ever, Advanced EMTs must employ
  multiple strategies to ensure their safety
• Disease transmission
• Recognition of a dangerous scene
• Personal safety

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Standard Precautions

• Deciding what precautions are needed should be
  done during the scene size-up
• Gloves are a minimum.
• Face and respiratory precautions as needed.
• Do not underestimate the importance of hand
  washing.

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Standard Precautions (contd)

• Advanced EMT modalities
• Intravenous catheter insertion
• Medication administration
• Advanced airway placement
• Additional attention to Standard Precautions is
  required since these modalities can cause a risk
  of exposure to disease if proper practices are
  not performed.

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Standard Precautions will help prevent exposure
to disease. They are taken after determining what
risks of exposure are present.
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Exposure Prevention

• Place standard precaution equipment in a readily
  available location.
• Be comfortable handling sharps.
• Understand equipment decontamination procedures.
• Use disposable equipment.

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Taking Standard Precautions too early will render
your efforts ineffective when you truly need them.
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Diseases of Concern
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Diseases of Concern (contd)
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Wear high-visibility vests when working in and
around a roadway.
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The chevron pattern is used to increase ambulance
visibility.
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Reacting to Danger

• The best ways to deal with violence are through
  observation and prevention
• Call for help
• Use of cover
• Use of concealment
• Retreating when necessary

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Cover hides your body and offers ballistic
protection.
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Concealment hides your body but offers no
ballistic protection.
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Lifting and Moving

• Back injuries are a leading cause of injury to
  Advanced EMTs.
• Use lifting strategies.
• Request help.

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Proper stance for lifting.
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Summary

• Always use standard precautions according to
  need, not assumption.
• Given the enhanced skills of the Advanced EMT,
  additional attention to standard precautions is
  required.

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Summary (contd)

• Any scene can rapidly deteriorate Always be
  alert to dynamics.
• Only lift and carry what you can safely do. Call
  early for assistance with moving patients if
  needed.