EMT prehospital care / Mark C. Henry, Edward R. Stapleton ; edited by Dennis Edgerly

Includes bibliographical references and index

1. Introduction to emergency medical care. The emergency medical services system and the EMT -- Overview of the emergency medical services system -- The healthcare system -- Roles and responsibilities of the EMT -- Professional attributes of the EMT -- Quality improvement -- Medical direction -- 2. Well-being of the EMT. Wellness -- Scene safety -- Understanding communicable diseases -- Hazardous situations -- Stress management -- Comprehensive critical incident stress management -- Terminal illness and death -- 3. Medicolegal and ethical issues. Ethical responsibilities -- Scope of practice -- Negligence -- Consent -- Refusal of treatment and transport -- Abandonment -- Intoxicated, irrational, and emotionally disturbed patients -- Resuscitation issues -- Donor and organ harvesting -- Medical identification insignia -- Crime scenes -- Risk management -- 4. The human body. Anatomic terms -- Body systems -- Understanding the relevance of anatomy and physiology -- Sudden and unexpected death -- 5. Lifting and moving patients. Body mechanics -- Principles of moving patients -- Equipment -- Patient positioning -- Skills -- 6. Airway. Anatomy and physiology -- Adequate versus inadequate breathing -- Opening the airway -- Positive-pressure ventilation -- Oxygen therapy -- Special patient populations -- Airway obstruction -- Skills -- 7. Patient assessment. Overview -- Scene size-up -- Initial (primary) assessment -- Patient history -- Focused (secondary) assessment -- Ongoing assessment or reassessment -- Skills -- 8. Communications. Communication systems -- Radio communications -- Principles of radio communication -- Communication with medical direction -- System maintenance -- Interpersonal communication -- 9. Documentation. Prehospital care report -- Principles of documentation -- Components of a prehospital care report -- Special authorization forms -- 10. General pharmacology. Medications and the EMT -- Assisting with a prescribed medication -- Reassessment strategies -- Geriatric considerations --

11. Respiratory emergencies. Anatomy and physiology -- Pathophysiology -- Anatomic considerations in infants and children -- Assessing the patient with difficulty breathing -- Emergency medical care -- Conditions that cause respiratory emergencies -- Skills -- 12. Cardiovascular emergencies. Chain of survival -- Anatomy and physiology -- Cardiovascular disease -- Acute coronary syndromes -- Cardiopulmonary resuscitation -- Automated external defibrillators -- Skills -- 13. Altered mental status. Anatomy and physiology -- Causes of altered mental status -- Diabetic emergencies -- Seizures -- Stroke -- Emergency medical care for patients with altered mental status -- Chronic neurologic diseases -- Skills -- 14. Allergies. Allergic reactions -- Assessment -- Management -- Skills -- 15. Poisoning and overdoses. Incidence -- Poison control centers -- Types of exposure -- Assessment -- Management -- Ingested poisons -- Inhaled poisons -- Absorbed poisons -- injected poisons -- Drugs of abuse -- Skills -- 16. Environmental emergencies. Thermoregulation -- Heat loss -- Mechanisms of control -- Cold emergencies -- Heat emergencies -- Drowning and submersion episodes -- Animal bites and stings -- Diving emergencies -- Altitude illness -- 17. Behavioral emergencies. Scope of the problem -- Types of behavioral disorders -- Pediatric behavioral emergencies -- Geriatric behavioral emergencies -- Approach to the patient with a behavioral emergency -- Transport and patient restraint decisions -- Skills -- 18. Abuse and assault. Domestic violence -- Types of abuse and recognition -- Approach to the suspected victim of domestic violence or abuse -- 19. Obstetrics and gynecology. Anatomy and physiology -- Pregnancy -- Childbirth -- Resuscitation and care of the newborn -- Special circumstances in childbirth -- Predelivery emergencies -- Gynecologic emergencies -- 20. Bleeding and shock. Anatomy and physiology -- External bleeding -- Internal bleeding -- Shock -- Management -- Traumatic cardiopulmonary resuscitation -- Skills --

21. Soft tissue injuries. Anatomy and physiology -- Wounds -- Dressings and bandages -- Facial injuries -- Burns -- Skills -- 22. Chest and abdominal emergencies. Chest -- Abdomen -- Acute abdomen -- Skills -- 23. Musculoskeletal care. Anatomy and physiology -- Musculoskeletal injuries -- Skills -- 24. Injuries to the head and spine. Anatomy and physiology -- Function of the nervous system -- Injuries to the spine -- Injuries to the head -- Skills -- 25. Infants and children. Epidemiology -- Differences between children and adults -- Assessment -- Management -- Common pediatric conditions -- Child abuse -- Infants and children with special needs -- Emotional stress -- Skills -- 26. Ambulance operations. Phases of an ambulance call -- Aeromedical considerations -- 27 Gaining access. Response and approach to the scene -- Gaining access at the scene -- 28. Disasters and hazardous materials. Hazardous materials -- Disasters -- Incident management system -- Roles and responsibilities of the EMT -- 29 Advanced airway management. Cricoid pressure ( Sellick maneuver) -- Endotracheal intubation -- Alternative airway devices -- Suctioning -- Advanced airway management in infants and children -- Skills -- 30. Weapons of mass destruction and the EMT. Terrorism preparedness and response -- Overview of nuclear, biologic, and chemical agents -- Biologic agents -- Chemical agents -- Nuclear agents -- Summary and further recommendations -- 31. Geriatric emergencies. Physiologic changes with aging -- Factors complicating patient assessment -- Common complaints and problems in elderly patients