IAED EMD flashcards
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32 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.
- Chief Complaint
- The single protocol category, chosen from the MPDS list, that describes the patient's main problem and determines which Key Questions will be asked.
- Case Entry Questions
- The fixed introductory questions covering location, callback number, what happened, age, consciousness and breathing, asked before any Chief Complaint protocol is opened.
- Callback Number
- A verified telephone number where the caller can be reached if the connection drops, obtained early in Case Entry so the call can be re-established quickly.
- Verified Address
- A location confirmed by repeating it to the caller, including apartment number, city, cross street or building name, and the nearest access point for responders.
- Protocol 31
- The MPDS Chief Complaint number for Unconscious or Fainting, a high-acuity category because it may indicate cardiac arrest or a serious neurological event.
- Third-Party Caller
- A person reporting an emergency who is not at the scene; information is limited to what that caller can confirm, and it is recorded as unverified.
- Abandoned Call
- A connection that ends before Case Entry is complete. The dispatcher calls back and, if there is no answer, follows local policy for dispatch.
- Case Entry Time Target
- Case Entry is designed to take roughly 30 seconds, so the call moves quickly into the Chief Complaint protocol without delaying dispatch.
- Determinant Code
- A three-part code such as 6-D-2: the Chief Complaint number, the acuity level letter, and the digit identifying the key question answer that set the response.
- ECHO Determinant
- The highest acuity level, assigned to conditions such as cardiac or respiratory arrest; it triggers the most urgent response and immediate pre-arrival instructions.
- OMEGA Determinant
- The lowest acuity level, used for non-urgent complaints; it generates a cold response and may be routed to an alternative care pathway.
- Hot Response
- A response using lights and siren, assigned to ECHO, DELTA and CHARLIE determinants; BRAVO, ALPHA and OMEGA receive a cold, no-lights response.
- Key Questions
- Protocol-specific questions asked in a set order after the Chief Complaint is selected; the highest-priority affirmative answer fixes the determinant code.
- Not Alert
- A key-question finding that the patient does not respond normally to voice or touch, which typically escalates the determinant to a higher acuity level.
- Ineffective Breathing
- Breathing that is absent, gasping, or agonal; it is treated as cardiac arrest and usually produces an ECHO determinant with immediate CPR instructions.
- Upgrade Rule
- When key-question answers conflict or are ambiguous, the dispatcher selects the higher-acuity determinant and the more urgent response mode.
- Pre-Arrival Instructions
- Scripted, medically approved directions given after dispatch to start care before responders arrive, such as CPR, choking relief, or bleeding control.
- Compression Rate
- Chest compressions are delivered at 100 to 120 per minute, with a depth of about 2 inches (5 cm) in an adult and full recoil between compressions.
- Compression-Ventilation Ratio
- For a single rescuer, 30 chest compressions are followed by 2 rescue breaths, repeated continuously until responders take over.
- Hands-Only CPR
- Continuous chest compressions without rescue breaths, used when the caller cannot or will not provide ventilations during a cardiac arrest call.
- Agonal Breathing
- Irregular gasping that is not effective breathing; it is treated as cardiac arrest and chest compressions are started without delay.
- Choking Adult Protocol
- Conscious adult choking is managed with abdominal thrusts; if the patient becomes unresponsive, the instruction switches immediately to CPR.
- Severe Bleeding Control
- Apply firm direct pressure with both hands, add dressings on top of saturated ones, and never lift or remove the original dressing.
- Imminent Delivery
- Childbirth instructions: support the baby's head as it emerges, check for a cord around the neck, and never pull on the infant.
- Post-Dispatch Instructions
- Brief preparatory directions given after dispatch and after any pre-arrival instructions, such as unlocking the door or gathering medications and identification.
- Call Closure
- The final call step: confirm no further questions, restate the callback number, advise calling back if the condition changes, and release the line.
- Stay on the Line
- A post-dispatch instruction asking the caller to remain connected so the dispatcher can give updates or escalate care if the patient worsens.
- Re-Entry
- Reopening the call in the protocol when the patient's condition changes, which produces a new determinant and possibly an upgraded response.
- Determinant Upgrade Notification
- Informing the dispatch center when new key-question answers or caller reports raise the determinant after units have already been sent.
- Never Hang Up First
- The dispatcher keeps the line open until the caller ends the call, unless the caller is abusive or the line is needed for another emergency.
- Scene Safety Instruction
- Post-dispatch direction to move to a safe location, avoid traffic hazards, and not enter an unsafe scene before responders arrive.
- Documented Instructions
- Every pre-arrival and post-dispatch instruction given, together with the caller's response, is recorded in the call narrative.