Professional Documents
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01 Introduction To EMS System
01 Introduction To EMS System
Lesson 1
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Introduction
First Responders are essential part of EMS system First trained persons to reach ill/injured patient Individual summoned to provide care in an emergency Professional duty to respond/provide emergency care Usually have access to supplies/equipment for providing initial care
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Medical Emergencies
Situation where person suddenly needs medical care Often person is injured or experiences sudden illness May be life-threatening U.S. Medical Emergency Statistics 40 million visits made to emergency departments 2 million people are hospitalized 140,000 die from injuries 180,000 die from heart attacks 162,000 die from strokes
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Sudden Illness
Medical conditions that occur suddenly Person with non-emergency chronic illness Common Causes of Injuries Treated in Emergency Departments Examples of annual cases in U.S.: Falls - 7,989,000 Motor vehicle crashes - 4,582,000 Struck by or against object - 4,209,000 Cut or pierced by object - 2,544,000 Poisoning - 750,000 Burns - 516,000
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911 Systems
Callers identify name, location, and phone number Enhanced 911 systems automatically provide dispatcher with callers phone number/location for land lines Caller may need to specify exact location With cellular calls, callers location is unknown
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Preplanning
Preparing a plan in anticipation of different emergencies Many industrial plants have plans for response that identify: key personnel, locations of supplies mechanism for notifying EMS evacuation routes Fire departments/EMS systems preplan responses to areas of potential hazards
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Police department, fire department, and EMS receive the call Lifeguards, ski patrol members, and athletic trainers are already at scene
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EMS Professionals
Dispatcher First Responder Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Medical Director
Dispatcher
Called an emergency medical dispatcher (EMD) or dispatch Receives most 911 calls Located in law enforcement agency, fire station, or other site Trained to obtain information/determine what personnel/equipment are needed Sends appropriate EMS unit(s) to the scene
First Responder
Sometimes called an emergency medical responder Usually first person to arrive at emergency Takes over care of victim from those giving first aid Gathers information concerning the victim Controls scene Prepares for arrival of an ambulance Provides care until more advanced professionals arrive
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Medical Director
Physician within EMS system who oversees First Responders/EMTs Establishes protocols for medical care Available for consultation by radio or telephone
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General Responsibilities
1. Respond in safe/rapid manner 2. Maintain personal safety 3. If emergency requires special personnel/equipment, contact EMS 4. Gain access to patient 5. Give care to the patient 6. Document emergency/actions to meet local recordkeeping requirements
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Training Responsibilities
Keep your skills/ knowledge up to date Attend continuing education programs and refresher training Read professional publications Maintain current knowledge of issues affecting EMS
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Medical Oversight
Responsibility of physician overseeing out-ofhospital emergency care Medical director leads response team and decides how care is delivered Includes direct/indirect medical control
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