Title: Lesson 1-3 Workforce Safety and Wellness
Course: EMS 1119 Emergency Medical Technician > Section: Module I Preparatory

Discuss the significance of using the correct safety procedures and precautions to ensure the safety of the patient, the EMT and the EMS team

At the end of this lesson and the associated lab activities students will be able to:

Cognitive Learning Objectives

- 1.3.1 Explain the need to determine scene safety
- 1-3.2 Discuss the importance of “Standard Precautions” (BSI)
- 1.3.3 Describe the steps the EMT should take for personal protection from airborne and blood borne pathogens as well as communicable diseases
- 1-3.4 List the personal protective equipment necessary to protect oneself in common emergency situations
- 1-3.5 List the possible emotional reactions that an individual (EMT and EMT family, patient and patient family) may experience when faced with trauma, illness, death and dying
- 1-3.6 State the steps the EMT should take when approaching a family confronted with death and dying
- 1-3.7 Recognize the warning signs of personal stress and discuss the strategies EMTs can apply to manage it
- 1-3.8 Identify good body mechanics while using a stretcher and other patient moving devices
- 1-3.9 Discuss the guidelines and safety precautions that need to be followed when lifting a patient.
- 1-3.10 Describe the guidelines and safety precautions for carrying patients and/or equipment
- 1-3.11 State the guidelines for reaching and their application
- 1-3.12 State the guidelines for pushing and pulling
- 1-3.12 Discuss patient positioning in common emergency situations
- 1-3.13 Discuss situations that may require the use of medical restraints on the patient & explain guidelines and safety considerations for their use
- 1-3.14 Define ‘infectious disease” and “communicable disease”
- 1-3.15 Describe the routes of transmission for infectious disease
- 1-3.16 Explain the mode of transmission and the steps to prevent/deal with an exposure of hepatitis, meningitis, tuberculosis & HIV
- 1-3.17 Explain how immunity to infectious disease is acquired
- 1-3.18 Explain post exposure management of exposure to patient blood or body fluids, including completing a post exposure report
- 1-3.19 Describe the components of physical fitness & mental well being

Affective Objectives

- 1-3.1 Explain the rationale for serving as an advocate for the use of appropriate protective equipment

Psychomotor Objectives

- 1-3.1 Demonstrate good body mechanics while using a stretcher and other patient moving devices
- 1-3.2 Given a scenario with potential infectious exposure, the EMT will use appropriate personal protective equipment.  At the completion of the scenario, the EMT will properly remove and discard the protective garments and then complete disinfection/cleaning and complete reporting/documentation

Reading

- AAOS 10e, Chapter 2: PP. 32-75
- Limmer 12e, Chapter 2: pp. 21-47

Supplemental Reading

- Infection Control Procedures.pdf (from Orange County EMS)

Websites

- Occupational Safety & Health Administration Information for Clinicians

Online Video

Your instructor will recommend which videos to view for this lesson. All videos are valuable resources. Students may wish to view more to enhance their learning.

- Stryker Stair Chair (12:27)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_c0A8hMRvSQ
- Stryker EMS: Power-LOAD Demonstration (7:42)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MBONsE4bB8M