EMT workers routinely treat patients that carry infections. There is no way of predicting what germs you may encounter when treating a patient or what illness they will have. What precautions are you taking to protect yourself from the unknowns of your everyday job?
Infection Protection
- Thread starter reneew10
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HAZMAT
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You want to stick with the basics to begin with, proper BSI along with hand washing and general good hygiene. If your patient has a bad cough or you don't feel comfortable breathing the same air as they do put a mask on you or them whether it be a N-95 or a surgical mask. A non rebreather can't hurt! Keep up on vaccinations and your health.
- HAZMAT
- HAZMAT
VCEMT
Forum Captain
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I generally wear a HAZMAT suit, I get some stange looks from people. However, I look important.
medichopeful
Flight RN/Paramedic
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If you really want to look important, make sure it says "EMS" on it in at least 5 places, and make sure you also wear a belt with at least 5 items on it as well
Smash
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If you really want to look important, make sure it says "EMS" on it in at least 5 places, and make sure you also wear a belt with at least 5 items on it as well
5? Amateur!
As for me, I generally try to avoid licking the patients. Mostly I am successful, sometimes I am not.
I hate it when that happens. Things are going fine, you relax and start your paperwork...next thing you know, you're licking the patient again.
medichopeful
Flight RN/Paramedic
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5 is just the number to start at. That way, when you see more stuff you might need, you have plenty of room to add it!
I once managed to pick up lice from a particularly filthy pt. i dont know how. i kept my hair short and wear a hat.but i now eliminate the possibility of it ever happening again by shaving my head. well... i also didn't think i could rock out with the ben franklin hair...
I'm dreading the day when i get sent to a house w/ active TB for a chief complaint of "feels sick". I also dread doing CPR on a pt, bringing them back... only they've really only become re-animated as a zombie and will now proceed to eat my brains. watch zombie movies... it totally counts as a transmittable disease.
I'm dreading the day when i get sent to a house w/ active TB for a chief complaint of "feels sick". I also dread doing CPR on a pt, bringing them back... only they've really only become re-animated as a zombie and will now proceed to eat my brains. watch zombie movies... it totally counts as a transmittable disease.
nomofica
Forum Asst. Chief
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"dissppaaatcchheerrrsss...--- er... I mean... brraaaaaainnnsss"
JPINFV
Gadfly
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Don't forget about rule # 4: Double tap. Don't be stingy with ammo.
My area has high tb rates. I'm pretty paranoid about that one, too.
VCEMT
Forum Captain
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If you really want to look important, make sure it says "EMS" on it in at least 5 places, and make sure you also wear a belt with at least 5 items on it as well
Dude, I got a polarized visor(with my company's logo on it), American flag on one shoulder, county EMS logo on the other, "EMT" on the back, company logo left chest, County EMS logo on my gloves, and top of the line scissor holster.
JPINFV
Gadfly
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Hal9000
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I actually once had a whac... a more socially-inclined EMT tell me that I should "wipe the person and lick it to tell if they're sweaty or clammy."
You can't see me, but I'm giggling right now. -_-
To keep my post on topic, I recommend against wiping and licking your patients.
JPINFV
Gadfly
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Actually, the lick test is used for swine flu. If the patient tastes like bacon, then the patient has swine flu.
medichopeful
Flight RN/Paramedic
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booooo!!
medichopeful
Flight RN/Paramedic
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Woah. Nice setup! Can you send me links?
No but in all seriousness, I think 2 (maybe 3) of those things are actually legitimate or not "whackerish." Who wants to guess which ones? B)
Hal9000
Forum Captain
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If they are large enough, it is sometimes possible to look for grease drippings. These also indicate swine flu.
medichopeful
Flight RN/Paramedic
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Why not just go the whole way?
Cut them up into strips, and cook them like you would bacon. If they taste good, they had swine flu. If not, they didn't.
B)