West Coast EMT Block #1

Mentally competent patients have the right to refuse treatment. T/F? - ANSWER True When a patient is unconscious, you may provide treatment under the concept of _________________. - ANSWER Implied consent List conditions where minors may, by state law, give consent for medical care despite their young age. - ANSWER Married, armed services, pregnant __________ is sometimes necessary when you are confronted with a patient who is in need of medical treatment and transportation but is combative and presents a significant risk of danger to himself, herself, or others. - ANSWER Forcible restraint What is the difference between advance directives and DNR orders? - ANSWER An advance directive is a written document that specifies the types of care a patient would want if she were unable to express it herself. A DNR order prevents resuscitative efforts from starting if a patient goes into cardiac arrest. You respond to the home of a 72-year-old cancer patient with a valid DNR order. The patient's family has called because he is having difficulty breathing. Should you give him oxygen? - ANSWER Yes. A DNR order only applies to resuscitative measures (ventilation, chest compressions, and defibrillation). The EMT must perform all other measures in his scope of practice to make DNR patients comfortable and safe, including giving oxygen, stopping bleeding, applying splints, etc. The laws that define what an EMT can do are called _________________. - ANSWER Scope of Practice What four elements must be present to prove negligence? - ANSWER Duty, Breach of Duty, Damages and Causation Despite the expressed refusal of care by a competent 40-year-old patient, you splint an ankle that you believe may be sprained. What crime have you committed by doing this? - ANSWER Battery List four special situations that may, based on state or local laws, have to be reported. - ANSWER Any four of the following: Abuse, injury during a felony, drug-related injuries, childbirth, scene of a crime, deceased patient, exposure to infectious disease The first key rule of lifting is to ____________. - ANSWER keep the back in a straight, upright position and lift without twisting. What are the six steps of a power lift as described in Skill Drill 35-1? - ANSWER 1. Tighten your back in its normal upright position and use your abdominal muscles to lock it in a slight curve. 2. Spread your legs apart about 15″, and bend your legs to lower your torso and arms. 3. With your arms extended down each side of your body, grasp the stretcher or backboard with your hands held palms up and just in front of the plane described by the anterior torso and imaginary lines extending vertically from it to the ground. 4. Adjust your orientation and position until the weight is balanced and centered between both arms. 5. Reposition your feet as necessary so that they are about 15″ apart with one slightly farther forward and rotated so that you and your center of gravity will be properly balanced between them. Be sure to straddle the object, keep your feet flat, and distribute your weight to the balls of the feet or just behind them. 6. With your arms extended downward, lift by straightening your legs until you are fully standing. Make sure your back is locked and that your upper body comes up before your hips. Which direction should the palms be facing when lifting? - ANSWER Up Describe the diamond carry. - ANSWER One EMT at the head end, one EMT at the foot end, and an EMT on each side of the patient's torso. Which end of the backboard should go down a flight of stairs first when carrying a patient on a backboard? - ANSWER Foot End Where is most of the weight when carrying a patient in a supine position? - ANSWER Head End How far is safe to extend your arms when pulling a patient? - ANSWER 15″ to 20″ in front of your torso List the four emergency drags that can be used to move patients from life-threatening scenes. - ANSWER Clothes drag, blanket drag, arm drag, arm-to-arm drag