Limmer, First Responder: A Skills Approach, 7th ed. © 2007 by Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, NJ

Chapter 1 Introduction to the

EMS System

Limmer, First Responder: A Skills Approach, 7th ed. © 2007 by Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, NJ

Topics

Emergency Medical Services

The First Responder

Medical Oversight

Limmer, First Responder: A Skills Approach, 7th ed. © 2007 by Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, NJ

Emergency Medical Services

Limmer, First Responder: A Skills Approach, 7th ed. © 2007 by Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, NJ

Emergency Medical Services

The Golden Hour

The EMS System– Dispatch – First Responders– Transport– Emergency

Department

Limmer, First Responder: A Skills Approach, 7th ed. © 2007 by Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, NJ

Emergency Medical Services

Access to EMS– 9–1–1

Trained staff of dispatchers

Access to all services

Minimizes delays

E-9–1–1

– Non-9–1–1Delay for patient to look up number

Must call specific agency

Limmer, First Responder: A Skills Approach, 7th ed. © 2007 by Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, NJ

Emergency Medical Services

Levels of EMS training– First Responder (EMR)– EMT-Basic– EMT-Intermediate– EMD– EMT-Paramedic– Critical Care Paramedic

Limmer, First Responder: A Skills Approach, 7th ed. © 2007 by Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, NJ

Emergency Medical ServicesLevels of EMS training– First Responder

Conducts a patient assessment

Manages a patient’s airway

CPR

Initial stabilization of injuries

Assists other EMS providers

Limmer, First Responder: A Skills Approach, 7th ed. © 2007 by Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, NJ

Emergency Medical Services

Levels of EMS training– EMT-Basic

All activities of the First Responder

Patient restraint

Staffs ambulance for transport

Some advanced airway control

Limmer, First Responder: A Skills Approach, 7th ed. © 2007 by Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, NJ

Emergency Medical Services

Levels of EMS training– EMT-Intermediate

All EMT-Basic functions

Limited medication administration

Manual defibrillation

IVs

Limmer, First Responder: A Skills Approach, 7th ed. © 2007 by Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, NJ

Emergency Medical Services

Levels of EMS training– EMT-Paramedic

All EMT-Intermediate functions

Advanced airway management

Cardiac monitoring

Expanded medication administration

Limmer, First Responder: A Skills Approach, 7th ed. © 2007 by Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, NJ

Emergency Medical Services

National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians– Supplies many

states with tests for all levels of EMS providers

– Certifies all levels of EMS providers in these states

Limmer, First Responder: A Skills Approach, 7th ed. © 2007 by Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, NJ

Emergency Medical Services

Classic Components of EMS pg 7 (1 of 2)

– Standards set by NHTSA through the U.S. DOT

– Regulations and policies– Resource management– Human resources and training– Transportation– Facilities

Limmer, First Responder: A Skills Approach, 7th ed. © 2007 by Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, NJ

Emergency Medical Services

Classic Components of EMS (2 of 2)

– Communications– Public information and education– Medical oversight– Trauma systems– Evaluation

Limmer, First Responder: A Skills Approach, 7th ed. © 2007 by Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, NJ

Emergency Medical Services

In-hospital care system– Specialized medical facilities

Trauma centers

Burn centers

Pediatric centers

– Local hospital emergency departments

Limmer, First Responder: A Skills Approach, 7th ed. © 2007 by Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, NJ

The First Responder

Limmer, First Responder: A Skills Approach, 7th ed. © 2007 by Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, NJ

The First Responder

Roles of the First Responder (1 of 2)

– Protect the safety of you, your crew, the patient, and bystanders

– Gain access to the patient– Assess the patient for life-threatening

injuries– Contact additional resources

Limmer, First Responder: A Skills Approach, 7th ed. © 2007 by Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, NJ

The First Responder

Roles of the First Responder (2 of 2)

– Provide care based on your assessment

– Assist other EMS providers

– Participate in record keeping and data collection

– Liaison with other public safety personnel

Limmer, First Responder: A Skills Approach, 7th ed. © 2007 by Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, NJ

The First Responder

Responsibilities– Guard your health and safety– Maintain a caring attitude– Maintain composure– Maintain a professional appearance– Maintain an up-to-date knowledge of skills

and issues affecting EMS

Limmer, First Responder: A Skills Approach, 7th ed. © 2007 by Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, NJ

Medical Oversight

Limmer, First Responder: A Skills Approach, 7th ed. © 2007 by Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, NJ

Medical Oversight

Medical director

Medical control– Direct– Indirect

Standing orders or protocols

Limmer, First Responder: A Skills Approach, 7th ed. © 2007 by Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, NJ

Summary (1 of 2)

EMS is a network of response to provide care and transport

Public access to EMS may vary by location

Know the different levels of providers

Review the components of an EMS system

Limmer, First Responder: A Skills Approach, 7th ed. © 2007 by Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, NJ

Summary (2 of 2)

Understand the in-hospital care

Know the roles and responsibilities of the first responder

Working under medical oversight