Chapter 2

Question 1

What are pathogens?

Answer 1

the organisms that cause infection, such as viruses and bacteria.

Question 2

a strict form of infection control that is based on the assumption that all blood and other body fluids are infectious; how to protect yourself from transmitted disease

Answer 2

Standard Precautions

Question 3

the introduction of dangerous chemicals, disease, or infectious materials

Answer 3

Contamination

Question 4

a state of physical and/or psychological arousal to a stimulus

Answer 4

Stress

Question 5

What are the 3 stages of stress?

Answer 5

Alarm reaction, Resistance and Exhaustion

Question 6

Define and Describe the first stage of stress

Answer 6

The first stage is your Alarm reaction. It is the fight or flight syndrome. (Parasympathetic NS)Your pupils dilate, your heart rate increases, and your bronchial passages dilate. your blood sugar increases, your digestive system slows, your blood pressure rises, and blood flow to your skeletal muscles increases. Cortisol increases, which is the hormone that helps the body cope and adapt to stress.

Question 7

Define and describe the second stage of stress

Answer 7

The second stage or the stage of Resistance, your body returns to normal functioning. This is the stage of coping. You have adapted to the stimulus and it no longer produces stress for you.

Question 8

Define and describe the third stage of stress

Answer 8

The third stage is Exhaustion. Prolonged exposure to a stressor. At this point the individual has lost the ability to resist or adapt to the stressor and may become seriously ill as a consequence. Most people do not make it to this stage.

Question 9

What are three types of stress?

Answer 9

Acute, delayed and cummulative

Question 10

Describe Acute stress

Answer 10

Acute stress comes with or shortly after a catastrophic incident. Signs and symptoms of acute stress can be physical (nausea), cognitive (ability to think clearly) emotional (crying) or behavioral. These are signs that this particular situation is overwhelming your usual abilities to cope and to perform effectively. It is normal and reflect the process of adapting to challenge.

Question 11

What is Delayed Stress?

Answer 11

Delayed Stress, also known as PTSD, is a reaction to stress that may not appear for weeks, months or years later. This delay in presentation may make it harder to deal with the stress reaction, since the individual has seemingly moved past the incident and moved on with life. Signs and symptoms may include flashbacks, nightmares, feelings of detachment, irritability, sleep difficulties, self-harm behaviors or habits, or problems with concentration or interpersonal relationships occurring for a month or longer.

Question 12

What is Cummulative Stess?

Answer 12

Cummulative stress known as “burnout” results from sustained, recurring low-level stressors—possibly in more than one aspect of one’s life—and develops over a period of years. In early stages, may present as a vague anxiety, progressing to boredom and apathy, and a feeling of emotional exhaustion. If problems are not identifies, the progression will continue to physical symptoms. It is important to find balance to manage this stress.

Question 13

What are some signs and symptoms of stress?

Answer 13

irritability with family, friends, and coworkers; inability to concentrate; and changes in daily activities, such as difficulty sleeping or nightmares, loss of appetite, loss of interest in sexual activity, anxiety, indecisiveness, guilt, isolation, and loss of interest in work.

Question 14

What are two types of stress?

Answer 14

Eustress is a positive form of stress that helps people work under pressure and respond effectively. Distress is negative and happens when the stress of a scene becomes overwhelming.

Question 15

What are some lifestyles changes to deal with stress?

Answer 15

Eating a healthy, well balanced diet, exercising and relaxation techniques such as meditating. You may also request a transfer or shift change in your professional life to deal with stress.

Question 16

What is Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM)?

Answer 16

a comprehensive system that includes education and resources to prevent stress and to deal with stress appropriately when it occurs.

Question 17

What are some approaches in dealing with patients or family members who are confronted with death or dying?

Answer 17

Recognize the patients needs, be tolerant of angry reactions from patients or family members, listen empathetically, do not falsely reassure and offer as much comfort as you realistically can.

Question 18

The release of harmful substance into the environment

Answer 18

Hazardous Materials Incident

Question 19

the removal or cleansing of dangerous chemicals and other dangerous or infectious materials

Answer 19

Decontamination

Question 20

What three words should be considered when responding to danger?

Answer 20

Plan, Observe, React

Question 21

How do you Plan for dangerous situations?

Answer 21

Wear protective clothing, Prepare your equipment so it is not cumbersome, carry a radio, Decide on safety roles.

Question 22

How should you observe a scene?

Answer 22

Look for signs of violent behavior, signs of drug and alcohol abuse, look for weapons, perpetrators, pets, bystanders and unstable family members and friends.

Question 23

EMT’s should never stand directly in front of a door when knocking or ringing a door bell.

Answer 23

True

Question 24

What are the three R’s when responding to danger?

Answer 24

Respond, Radio, Reevaluate

Question 25

It is not part of your responsibilities as an EMT to subdue a violent person or wrestle a weapon away from anyone.

Answer 25

True

Question 26

What are some ways of retreating from danger?

Answer 26

Flee, get rid of any cumbersome equipment, take cover and conceal yourself

Question 27

What mode of transmission most accurately describes the route of spreading hepatitis A?

Answer 27

Fecal-oral

Question 28

What is the name of the federal act that mandates a procedure by which emergency healthcare providers can find out if they have been exposed to potentially life-threatening diseases while on the job?

Answer 28

Ryan White CARE Act

Question 29

You respond to a laceration call. When you arrive on-scene, you walk into the house and find a person suffering from a severe wrist laceration from a broken window. Without thinking, you immediately grab the wrist and apply direct pressure to the wound. You then realize that, in your hurry to save a life, you forgot to put on your gloves. You look down to see your hand is covered in blood. When practical, you immediately wash your hands thoroughly. What is your next best action?

Answer 29

Report the exposure so you can protect yourself from any accidental infection.

Question 30

What is a common term used to describe the items needed for Standard Precautions or body substance isolation precautions?

Answer 30

Personal protective equipment

Question 31

What is best defined as “a state of physical and/or psychological arousal to a stimulus”?

Answer 31

Stress

Question 32

Posttraumatic stress disorder may be described as a(n):

Answer 32

Delayed Stress Reaction

Question 33

Which of the following terms refers to a positive form of stress that helps people work when under pressure and respond effectively?

Answer 33

Eustress

Question 34

What is a positive, healthy way to help deal with stress?

Answer 34

Regular physical exercise

Question 35

While transporting a patient to the hospital who has a history of terminal brain cancer, the patient says, “I know I’m going to die, but first I want to see my grandson graduate from high school.” What stage of death and dying describes this patient’s current condition?

Answer 35

Bargaining

Question 36

An EMT should consider wearing protective eyewear when caring for which of these patients?

Answer 36

A patient who is actively coughing

Question 37

What reference provides important information regarding hazardous materials, emergency care, and procedures in case of accidental fire or release; supplies definitions of placard colors and identification numbers; and should be standard issue on board all ambulances and rescue units?

Answer 37

Emergency Response Guidebook

Question 38

You are dispatched to the staging area of a terrorist-related chemical exposure. The incident commander asks you to stand by while hazmat personnel bring patients to the cold zone. As an EMT on board an ambulance, what statement best describes your role?

Answer 38

Transport decontaminated patients.

Question 39

You are first on the scene of a vehicle collision where a vehicle has gone off a bridge and is partially submerged. You are told that a person is still trapped in the vehicle. Your partner starts to take off his shoes and prepares to go in to save the victim. You stop your partner and tell him it is too dangerous. He tells you he is prepared to die to save a life. What is the best response to him?

Answer 39

He is not only putting his life at risk, but also placing the lives of the professional rescuers unnecessarily at risk.

Question 40

You are dispatched to a “man down” with no further information. As your unit arrives on-scene, you see a crowd of bystanders looking at a man lying in an alleyway. The bystanders begin screaming to you, “Help him, he’s been shot! He’s bleeding real bad!” What would be the best course of action?

Answer 40

Dispatch law enforcement and wait until the scene is secure.

Question 41

You are approaching the scene of a motor vehicle crash. Which of the following would be the first way to safeguard your well-being as an EMT?

Answer 41

Ensure scene safety.

Question 42

Which of the following provides the greatest personal safety for an EMT working at a motor vehicle collision?

Answer 42

Reflective Outer Clothing

Question 43

How can you detect TB exposure?

Answer 43

A tuberculin skin test can detect TB exposure.

Question 44

Critical Incident Stress Debriefings (CISDs):

Answer 44

Are now less commonly used and not recommended by health care professionals

Question 45

If the EMT’s hands are visibly dirty, an alcohol-based hand cleaner is not sufficient.

Answer 45

True