1. CHAPTER 32 EMERGENCY HEALTH CAREERS

2. Careers in Emergency Health
The goal of modern emergency care is immediate aid, treating shock, giving CPR, & transport to acute care
The EMS system is a coordinated response by all levels of practitioners to accidents and sudden illness
In most areas, EMS services are initiated through the use of the telephone call
CALL
911
HE’S UNCONSCIOUS!!!!

3. EMERGENCY CALL CENTER

4. Emergency Careers Educational Cost and Earnings
Job Title
Educational Cost
Average Earnings
Emergency Medical Technician
(EMT)
$800 – 2,000
1 – 3 months
Night or weekend programs
$37,000 / year
Paramedic
$3,000 – 13,000
1 – 2 years full-time
$42,000 Ambulance
$44,975 Air Rescue
Flight Nurse (RN)
AND $6,000-40,000
BSN $40,000 – 200,000
$66,640 Acute Care
$79,796 Flight Crew

5. Emergency Medical Technician
Works under the supervision of a physician
Provides care to the acutely ill or injured person in the pre-hospital setting
Four classifications of E.M.T.s:
ER technicians
E.M.T.
Paramedic
Triage
Intubation

6. Emergency Medical Technician
EMT-P (Paramedic) (EMT-4)
Provides advanced life support
Skilled in all duties of other EMT personnel and monitoring electrocardiograph readings and defibrillation
May administer medication and perform endotracheal intubation

7. Emergency Medical Technician (Continued)
Requirements vary by state
At least 18 years old and high school diploma
Registration with the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (required by 38 states)
Training includes a supervised internship
EMT certification is required by ALL states
Recertification

8. Other Emergency Personnel
Flight rescue professionals
Flight paramedics
ACLS certification
Prior field experience
Flight nurses
Registered nurse with at least 2 years of critical care or emergency room experience
ACLS, PALS and critical care certification
Flight respiratory therapists
Must be certified respiratory therapist
Critical care experience
Flight rescue professionals transport victims to emergency facilities

9. Emergency Procedures
Purpose of first aid is to sustain life and prevent death
First aid training teaches treatment of:
Breathing problems
Choking in adults & infants
Allergic reactions
Low blood sugar
Wounds
Poisoning
Burns
Shock
Fractures
Temperature alterations
Illness caused by medical conditions/chemicals/drugs
Standard Precautions must ALWAYS be observed

10. Emergency Assessment and Treatment
Order of treatment: Remember your ABC’s

11. Wounds Wounds result when tissue is damaged: External (six types)
Abrasion
Scraping of skin
Bleeding is minimal
Incision
Cut made with a surgical instrument, knife, or glass
Wound with straight edges
Bleeding is rapid and heavy
Laceration
Irregularly shaped cuts made by a sharp object
Bleed the least

12. Wounds (Continued) Wounds result when tissue is damaged:
External (six types)
Puncture
Object pierces the skin
High risk of infection
Avulsion
Traumatic tearing away of part of the body
Bleeding is rapid and heavy
Amputation
Surgical severing or cutting away of part of the body
Internal
Contusion or bruise

13. Bleeding Wounds

14. Figure 32-8 Pressure on Artery Points

15. Methods of Bandaging

16. Fractures Breakage of a bone Classified as: Closed (simple)
Do not penetrate skin
Open (compound)
Bone breaks through the skin
Greater chance of infection

17. Table 32-7 Fractures

18. Other Injuries to Bones & Muscle Tissue
Muscle strains
Usually from overuse
Cause pain, and sometimes cramping
Muscle sprains
Rapid swelling and pain when joint is moved
Dislocation
Bone moves out of joint
Swelling, pain, and discoloration
Treatment: RICE (rest, ice, compression, elevation)

19. Apply Your Knowledge… Moving a patient with one person
Please find a partner and practice the drag technique in the video, then treat them for a bleeding laceration…

20. Breathing Problems Signs & Symptoms: Possible causes: Treatment:
Very rapid or slow breathing
Labored breathing
Accessory muscle use to breath
Hands up holding throat
Possible causes:
Asthma
Anaphylaxis
Shock from a medical condition
Choking
Treatment:
Keep calm
Get inhaler if asthmatic
Give epinepherine if allergy
Abdominal thrusts if choking
Call 911 & get ready to do CPR

21. Causes of Shock

22. Shock
Response of the cardiovascular system to the presence of adrenalin resulting from capillary constriction
Can result from:
Trauma
Electrical injury
Insulin shock
Hemorrhage
Reaction to drugs
May occur in conjunction with other injuries or illnesses
Anaphylactic shock is response of body to an allergen

23. Early Signs and Symptoms of Shock
Pale and clammy skin
Weakness
Restlessness
Pulse and respiratory rate are rapid
Vomiting may occur
TREATMENT OF SHOCK

24. Later Signs and Symptoms of Shock
Apathy
Unresponsiveness
Dilated pupils
Mottled skin
Loss of consciousness

25. Burns May result from exposure to heat, chemicals, or radiation
Severity is determined by location, depth, and size
Burns to the face, arms, legs, and genitals are the most critical

27. Poisoning Most poisoning occurs in the home
Poisonings occur in several ways:
Inhaled
Absorbed
Injected
Obtained by radiation
Signs and symptoms of poisoning:
Discoloration or burns on the lips
Unusual odor
Vomiting
Presence of a suspicious container

28. Poisoning

29. CHOKING
Are you choking…can I help you???

30. Temperature Alteration
If body temperature varies, body cannot function well
Muscle cramping
Results from electrolyte imbalance caused by loss of salt from sweating
Causes pain and inability to use muscle
Heat exhaustion
Body temperature is normal but skin is pale and clammy
Feel weak and exhausted
Heat stroke
Skin is dry and flushed
Pulse is fast and strong
May cause death
Know how to treat a victim for heatstroke

31. Temperature Alteration
Frostbite
Water in body tissue freezes
Tissue will die
Hypothermia
Usually caused by immersion in cold water or being stranded in subzero weather

32. Table 32-8 Temperature Alteration

35. Marine Injuries
Most injuries by marine life and during diving are caused by the victim
Aquatic life is rarely aggressive
Scuba diving
Air embolism and decompression illness
Result from rapid ascent

36. Marine Injuries (cont.)
Three main types of marine injuries:
Stings
Jelly fish, coral
Punctures
Sea urchins, stingrays, or spiny fish
Bites
Fish

37. Coral
Jellyfish
Sting ray
Stinging fish
Puncture wound
Puncture wound

38. Table 32-10 Marine Injuries

39. Medical Conditions Strokes or cerebrovascular accidents
Occur from spontaneous rupture of a blood vessel or clot formation in the brain
Signs and symptoms include:
Loss of consciousness
Paralysis
Difficulty breathing
Slurred speech
Loss of bladder control
Unequal pupil size

40. Medical Conditions (Continued)
Seizures (uncontrolled muscle activity)
May be preceded by an aura
May occur in several patterns
Convulsions (uncoordinated movement of groups of muscles)
Move all hard object out of persons way
Protect the head

41. Table 32-11 Medical Conditions

42. Performance Instruction
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation
Treatment for burns
Treatment of poisoning
Treatment of fractures
Heat exhaustion and heatstroke
Hypothermia and frostbite
Nosebleeds
Drowning
Eye injuries
Insect or snake bites
Stroke and seizures

43. Table 32-12 2005 CPR Guidelines for Lay Responders

44. Figure Fractures