Safety at the Medical or Rescue

Emergency

Chapter 6

6-1
 Learning Objectives
• Discuss the hazards faced by responders at
emergency medical or rescue incidents.
• Explain methods of minimizing and preventing
injuries associated with hazards found at emergency
medical incidents.
• List various requirements and uses of commonly
used personal protective equipment.

Cont. 6-2
 Learning Objectives
• Explain the requirements for infection control.
• Discuss procedures that can be used to meet the
requirements of infection control.
• Discuss the systems used for scene accountability
and incident management.

6-3
 Introduction
• This chapter focuses on the type of incidents that
most responders face most of the time
• Not uncommon to find rural, suburban, and urban
departments involved in EMS
• EMS safety is a critical and integral part of any
department’s safety and health program
• Information presented in the chapter relates to Life
Safety Initiatives 11 and 12

6-4
Hazards Faced by Responders
• General hazards for all EMS incidents
– Four phases
1. Gaining access
2. Approach and first
contact with the patient
3. Providing care
4. Packaging and
placement in unit

Cont. 6-5
Hazards Faced by Responders
• Vehicle accidents
• Incidents on roadways
• General safety
principles

6-6
 Infection Control
• 2009 H1N1 flu pandemic
• Must understand
– Dose
– Virulence
– Host resistance
– Route of exposure
– Means of transmission

6-7
Personal Protective Equipment
• EMS PPE vs. Firefighting PPE
• Body substance isolation (BSI)
• The right PPE for the task
• Universal precautions

6-8
PPE Matrix

6-9
Incident Management Systems
• Senior EMS responder assumes many of the roles in
the command staff
• One common factor is the Incident Safety Officer
• Components
• Elements at EMS incidents
– IMS structure
– Accountability

6-10
PPE

6-11
Example Expanded EMS IMS

6-12
 Summary
• EMS emergencies comprise the highest percentage
of incidents
• Hazards are increased by uncertainties and need to
interact closely with patients
• Anticipate hazards of vehicle incidents with training
• Utilize law enforcement
• Infection control is important
• Engineering, education, and PPE are three
requirements essential to the safety program
6-13