Chapter 11: Safety

a state of being unaware of ones surroundings and unable to react or respond to people places or things

coma

A sudden catastrophic event in which people are injured and killed and property is destroyed

disaster

when electrical current passes through the body

electrical shock

that which carries leaking electricity to the earth and away from an electrical item

ground

any chemical in the workplace that can cause harm

hazardous substance

paralysis on one side of the body

hemiplegia

any event that has/could harm a patient, resident, visitor, staff member

incident

loss of muscle or loss of sensation or loss of both muscle and sensation

paralysis

paralysis in the legs and lower trunk

paraplegia

paralysis in the arms legs and trunk

quadriplegia

when breathing stops from the lack of oxygen

suffocation

violent acts (including assault and threat of assault) directed toward persons at work or while on duty

workplace violence

AED

automated external defibrillator

CPR

cardiopulmonary resuscitation

EMS

Emergency Medical Services

FBAO

Foreign body airway obstruction

MSDS

Medical Safety data sheet

OBRA

Omnibus Reconciliation Act of 1987

OSHA

Occupational Health and Safety Administration

PASS

Pull safety pin, Aim low, Squeeze lever, Sweep back and forth (in case of fire for extinguisher)

RACE

Rescue, Alarm, Confine, Extinguish

How to identify a patient

compare info on assignment sheet with the patients ID braceletUse two identifiers (have them state name and/or DOB) Use patients ID number to identify themCall person by name when checking ID bracelet (BEFORE giving care)

How many identifiers are required to correctly identify a patient?

2 identifiers

symptoms of lead poisoning

signs and symptoms are gradual in onset. Not always obvious. Abdominal pain, decreased activity poor appetite, behavior problems, constipation, poor coordination, diarrhea, fatigue, decreased growth, headache, hearing loss, hyperactivity, irritability, language problems, learning problems, memory problems, muscle weakness, pallor, slow reflexes, seizures, increased sleep, sluggishness, speech impediment, vomiting, weight loss

considerations for abdominal thrusts on pregnant woman when choking

perform abdominal thrusts above the baby belly

who has highest choking risk?

children

colorless, odorless, tasteless gas

carbon monoxide

Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

instead of breathing in O2, the person breathes in air filled with carbon monoxide, death can occur

What are some accident risk factors?

age, awareness of surroundings, agitated and aggressive behaviors, vision loss

injuries to a patients body caused by lead poisoning

injury to: the brain, nervous systemRBC (red blood cells)kidneysliverteethbones

signs and symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning

breathing problemscherry-pink skinconfusiondizziness, fainting, headachenauseasleepiness slurred speechvomitingweakness

breathing stops due to the lack of O2

suffocation

FBAO (Foreign Body Airway Obstruction) is another term for what?

choking

describe a person if they have a mild airway obstruction

conscious, usually can speak, often forceful coughing can remove the object, breathing may sound like wheezing in between breaths. ENCOURAGE the person to keep coughing to expel the object.

describe a person with severe airway obstruction

conscious person clutches at throat (universal sign of choking), has difficulty breathing, may not be able to breath or speak, poor quality cough, no noise or a high-pitched noise if person tries to inhale, infants cannot cry, person may appear cyanotic (blue), air does not move in and out of the lungs

how do you relieve a person with a severe airway obstruction

abdominal thrusts (CPR), these can be performed with the person standing, sitting, or lying down.

colored wristbands

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