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Chapter 2 Notes- Workforce Safety and Wellness
General Health and Wellness
Wellness: a state of complete mental, physical, and social well-being
Management of Acute Stress
Stress: any event, thought, or action perceived as a threat
1.Personal Safety
2.Scene safety, including safety of others
3.Patient Care
Focus on things in this exact order
The ways to handle stress can be positive or negative. Positive ways to manage stress include talking about your feelings with someone you trust, cutting back on overtime, expand social support beyond coworkers, change the work environment, etc. Nutrition
Your body’s three sources of fuel, carbohydrates, fat, and protein are consumed in increased quantities during stress, particularly if physical activity is involved. -Glucose is the quickest source of energy and it taken from stored glycogen in the liver. It only lasts less than a day though.
-Protein, drawn primarily from muscle, lasts a long time
-Tissues use fat for energy
-The body retains sodium by exchanging and losing potassium from the kidneys in order to conserve water
Eating several smaller meals throughout the day will allow your body to keep consistent levels of energy
Exercise and Relaxation
You should exercise at least 30 minutes a day 5 days a week in order to maintain health. It is important to work on endurance, flexibility, and strength. Lifting is an important part of the job. Safe lifting techniques include preplanning the move, bending legs, keeping the weight close to your body, and lifting straight up using legs, not your back. Sleep 2
Sleeping throughout the night might not be a possibility. Therefore, taking short naps might help. Three sleep episodes of 2-3 hours each can provide similar effects of a full 8 hours of rest.
Disease Prevention
Knowing your hereditary factors will help you adjust your lifestyle to help prevent disease. Drugs
Smoking and tobacco produce many of the most horrible cardiovascular and lung disasters that EMTs encounter. It also sets an awful example for the public. Acceptable alcohol consumption is defined as one to two drinks per day. Many EMS agencies drug test their employees. If a test comes back positive, one might face suspension and/or dismissal. Balancing Work, Family, and Health
Having a “bad call” can put a lot of pressure on you and your relationships with other people in your life.
When this happens, options include reaching out for help from a critical incident stress management team or information sessions conducted by your EMS unit’s employee assistance program. Infectious and Communicable Diseases
Infectious disease: a medical condition caused by the growth and spread of small, harmful organisms within the body
Communicable disease : a disease that can be spread from one person or species to another
Infection: the abnormal invasion of a host or host tissues by organisms such as bacteria, viruses, or parasites, with or without signs or symptoms of disease
-Immunizations, protective techniques, and simple handwashing can reduce risk of infection
Pathogen: a microorganism that is capable of causing disease in a susceptible host
Contamination: the presence of infectious organisms or foreign bodies on or into objects such as dressings, water, food, needles, wounds, or a patient’s body
Exposure: a situation in which a person has had contact with blood, body fluids, tissues, or airborne particles in a manner that may allow disease transmission to occur
Personal protective equipment (PPE) : protective equipment that blocks exposure to a pathogen or hazardous material
Routes of Transmission
