Ems Terminology Chapter 2

Front 1

Burnout

Back 1

a condition resulting from chronic job stress, characterized by a state of irritability and fatigue that can markedly decrease effectiveness.

Front 2

Cleaning

Back 2

the process of washing a soiled object with soap and water

Front 3

critical incident

Back 3

any situation that causes unusually strong emotions that interfere with the ability to function

Front 4

critical incident stress debriefing (CISD)

Back 4

a session usually held within 24 to 72 hours of a critical incident, where a team of peer counselors and mental health professionals help emergency service personnel work through the emotions that normally follow a critical incident.

Front 5

defusuing

Back 5

a session held prior to a critical incident stress debriefing (CISD) for emergency service personnel most directly involved to provide an opportunity to vent emotions and get information before the CISD.

Front 6

disinfecting

Back 6

In additon to cleaning, this process involves using a disinfectant such as alcohol or bleach to kill many of the microorganisms that may be present on the surface of an object.

Front 7

Pathogens

Back 7

microorganisms such as bacteria and viruses that cause disease

Front 8

Personal protective equipment (PPE)

Back 8

equipment worn to protect against injury and spreading infectious disease

Front 9

Purified protein derivative (PPD) tuberculin test

Back 9

a test to determine the presence of a tuberculosis infection based on a person's positive reaction to tuberculin, a substance prepared from the tubercle bacillus.

Front 10

standard precautions

Back 10

a method of preventing infection by disease orgnisms based on the premise that all blood and body fluids are infections. Formerly called body substance isolation.

Front 11

sterilization

Back 11

the process by which an object is subject to certain chemical or physical substances (typically, superheated steam in an autoclave) that kill all microorganisms on the surface of an object.