UNIVERSIDAD NACIONAL DEL NORDESTE

Facultad de Medicina
Cátedra INGLÉS II

TRABAJO PRÁCTICO N°1

The importance of EMT's and Paramedics
Whether it is an ambulance rushing through the downtown traffic or a fire truck screaming along the highway,
or a rescue chopper soaring over the mountains - we all know that there are people in trouble and the brave
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EMT's and paramedics onboard these vehicles will do everything they can to save them.
But how many of you have considered what this actually involves? EMT's are often depicted on TV as the ones
in the medical world who are able to cope in any situation, using only the limited selection of tools at their
disposal, and while this is true, it would be wrong to think that any of their activities are spontaneous or not
2 thought-out. Each and every response is a testament to their training and knowledge.
At the time of a call out, it is impossible to predict the exact situation they will be walking into, so all EMT's are
trained to cope with the unexpected in a methodical and calm way. They may arrive on the scene of a highway
accident in which multiple casualties are present, the EMTs may need to extricate patients from their vehicles
and then prioritize the seriousness of each injury, to do this an LOC test is often used.
Once all casualties have been assessed and placed in a safe position, it is up to the EMT's to stabilize the
patients through the most viable course of action. This stabilization which can be offered depends on whether
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it is provided by an EMT or a paramedic as the paramedic has had more extensive training and can even
provide minor surgical interventions such as a nasogastric intubation , or use an AED something which an
EMT basic is forbidden from doing. However, both the EMT basic and the paramedic are well trained in
procedures to suppress bleeding or remediate breathing using ventilation. Both kinds of healthcare workers
are also able to perform CPR.

4 Once the initial treatment has been given, the patient needs to be prepared for transport which in itself can be
a challenge. Many patients who have been involved in accidents may have suspected damage to their spine
so they need to be secured to a cot to prevent movement. If a patient appears jaundiced, it may be a sign that
they could vomit during transport so it is important for their airways to be kept clear. Fortunately,
modern rigs contain a wide array of devices which can be used in both, the treatment and movement of
patients so EMTs onboard are well equipped.
Once the patient is en-route to the hospital, it is crucial that the EMT's apprise the hospital of what to expect so
that the doctors and nurses on duty can be ready and waiting to continue the treatment. The driver of the
ambulance has to balance the necessity for high speed with the need to make the ride as comfortable for the
patient as possible.

5 As with everything in healthcare, paperwork is also generated by these runs with EMT's having to fill out a run-
sheet each time they are called out on an emergency run with basic information about the patient, the
complaint and any action taken, and a face-sheet each time a patient is taken to hospital showing that all
relevant details have been provided to the hospital.
And once all that is done, the day is still not over for the EMT as the ambulance needs to be disinfected and
any items used during the run need to be replaced. As you can see, the life of an EMT is far from boring.

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Read and complete the exercises accordingly

1. Read paragraph 1 and choose the right interpretation for the words given below:
a. Downtown
Parte baja de la ciudad
Zona céntrica
b. Chopper
Choperas
Helicópteros
2. Read paragraph 2 and choose the right interpretation for the words given below:
a. Thought-out
Meditada
Expresada en voz alta
b. Testament
Testamento
Evidencia
3. Read paragraph 3 and choose the right interpretation for the words given below:
a. Walking into
Encontrar
Ingresar
b. Casualties
Casualidades
Víctimas
4. Read paragraph 5 and choose the right interpretation for the expression given below:
A wide array
Un buen arreglo
Una gran variedad
5. Read paragraph 6 and choose the right interpretation for the expression given below:
On duty
En deber
De guardia
6. Write the number on the line to match the initials with their meanings. There are extra options.

1 EMT ● Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation _____

● Expert Mechanical Technician _____
2 LOC ● Lack of Consciousness _____
● Emergency Medical Technician _____
3 AED ● Level of Consciousness _____
● Automated External Defibrillator _____
4 CPR

Read the definitions below and write the right word on the line provided.
 extricate prioritize stabilize viable nasogastric intubation Suppress remediate ventilation

Cot jaundiced rig en-route Apprise run-sheet Face-sheet

a. An ambulance ________________
b. To correct or make right ________________
c. A form providing information to the hospital admitting a patient ________________
d. A flat board which is used for carrying patients in a horizontal position ________________
e. To remove from a situation which is often difficult or dangerous ________________
f. Yellowish in appearance ________________
g. To provide or give information, to inform ________________
h. The process of inserting a plastic tube through the nose and into the stomach ________________
i. To give importance to something or someone ________________
j. To reduce, inhibit, or stop ________________
k. Possibly, likely to succeed ________________
l. A list of all events and procedures organized in a temporal order ________________
m. The process of using a mechanical device to provide air to a patient ________________
n. On the way, in the process of travelling to a location ________________
o. To make it steadier, to prevent from changing ________________
1. Read and decide whether the ideas are TRUE or FALSE. Choose the correct answer.
a. AED and CPR can be used together by a paramedic on a patient with a low LOC. TRUE / FALSE
b. Nasogastric intubation can be used to remediate suppressed ventilation. TRUE / FALSE
c. Patients need to be extricated before they can be prioritized and stabilized through the most viable course
of action. TRUE / FALSE