Download Perhaps the Most Important Infection

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The Well-Being of
the Paramedic
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Back Safety
• EMS is a physically demanding career.
• Lifting and moving patients is frequently
required.
• To avoid back injury, you must keep your
back fit for the work you do.
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Correct Posture
Will Minimize
the Risk of
Back Injury
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Correct Sitting Posture
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Important Lifting Principles (1 of 2)
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Move a load only if you can handle it.
Ask for help if you need it.
Position load close to your body.
Keep your palms up—when possible.
Do not hurry.
Bend with your knees.
“Lock-in” the spine.
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Important Lifting Principles (2 of 2)
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Always avoid twisting and turning.
Let the leg muscles do the work.
Exhale during lifting.
Tense ur abs!
Given a choice, push. Do not pull.
Look where you are going.
Only one person should be in
charge of verbal commands.
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Personal Protection from Disease
• There’s a lot you can do to
minimize the risk of infection.
• Begin by developing a habit of doing
the things promoted in this
presentation.
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Infectious Disease
• Caused by pathogens, such as
bacteria or viruses.
• May be spread from person to person.
• For example, infection by way of
bloodborne pathogens can occur
when the blood of an infected person
comes in contact with another
person’s broken skin.
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Common Infectious Diseases
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Body Substance Isolation
• A strict form of infection control
that is based on the assumption
that all blood and other body
fluids are infectious.
Take BSI precautions with every patient.
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BSI is achieved through the
use of PPE.
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Appropriate personal
protective equipment
should be available in
every emergency
vehicle.
 Protective gloves
 Masks and protective
eyewear
 HEPA and N-95
respirators
 Disposable resuscitation
equipment
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High
Efficiency
Particulate
Air
Respirator
(HEPA
Mask)
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An N-95 Respirator
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To Remove Gloves, Hook the Gloved
Fingers of One Hand Under the Cuff of
the Other Glove.
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Then Slide the Fingers of the Ungloved
Hand Under the Remaining Glove’s Cuff.
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Perhaps the Most Important
Infection-Control Practice Is...
HANDWASHING
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To Wash Your Hands Properly, Lather Well
and Scrub Under Your Nails.
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When You Rinse Your Hands, Point Them
Downward So That Soap and Water Run Off
Away From Your Body.
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Important:
• Dispose of
Biohazardous
Waste in a
Properly
Marked Bag.
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Also Very Important:
• Discard
Needles and
Other Sharp
Objects in a
Properly
Labeled,
Puncture-proof
Container.
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Contaminated
Non-disposable Equipment Must
Be Cleaned,
Disinfected, or Sterilized.
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…Cleaned, Disinfected, or
Sterilized
• Cleaning refers to washing an object
with soap and water.
• Disinfecting includes cleaning with a
disinfectant.
• Sterilizing is the use of a chemical
or steam to kill all microorganisms
on an object.
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Post-Exposure Procedures
• In most areas, an EMS provider who
has had an exposure should:
Immediately wash the affected area.
Get a medical evaluation.
Notify the agency’s infection control liaison.
Document the event.
Take the immunization boosters.
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Next Week
• Back Safety
– Basic Concepts
• Protection from Infection