The Dos and Don’ts of Radio CommunicationWhen using radio communication, remember these best practices to go by and which radio faux-pas to avoid! Show
Do: Think aheadAlways know what you’re going to say before you transmit, as no one else can use their radio while you’re holding down the talk button. While you’re um-ing and ah-ing someone else might be trying to transmit an emergency message, so be ready and know what you’re going to say before you speak. Don’t: Transmit confidential informationUnless you have the necessary security in place, don’t relay any sensitive information over your radio. Remember that frequencies are shared, and you do not have exclusive use of the frequency. Do: Be clear and briefSpeak clearly, at a regular volume, and a little slower than you normally would. Keep your message concise and only include necessary information. Don’t: InterruptIf other people are having a conversation, wait until they’ve finished before transmitting your message – unless it’s an emergency. Do: Know what to do in an emergencyIf other people are having a conversation and you have an emergency message, wait until you hear “over” then press push to talk. Say “Break, break, break, [your name/call sign], I have an emergency message for [recipient’s name/call sign], do you copy, over.” Don’t: Get impatientThe other person may not be able to reply immediately. Give them time to respond before trying again. Do: Identify yourself and who your message is intended forBefore starting your message, identify yourself and get the attention of the person you need to communicate with. For example, “[recipient’s name/call sign], this is [your name/call sign], over.” You can transmit the rest of your message once they have responded and you know they’re listening to avoid repeating yourself. Don’t: Start talking straight awayThere can be a short delay before your radio transmits, so wait a second or two before speaking to make sure the beginning of your message doesn’t get cut off. Do: Know the lingoHere are some key phrases to remember:
Click here to test your knowledge of two-way radio lingo! Which one of the following statements is most appropriate when transferring a patient to the emergency department and giving an oral report? D) "Mr. Benton called us today because he was having chest pain." Why is using a standard format for relaying medical information to the emergency
department important? C) The
opportunity for forgetting important medical information decreases. A 31-year-old female with a history of depression took some pills in a suicide attempt. Her husband is visibly upset and her three young children are crying as you place her into the ambulance. She is conscious and stable as you transport her to the hospital. During the transport, she tearfully states she did not mean to take the pills and asks
if she is going to die. In regards to therapeutic communication, which one of the following is your best response? B) "You are stable right now and we are transporting you for definitive care." What important piece of information has been omitted from the following report: "University Hospital, we are en route with a 61-year-old male complaining of generalized weakness. He states that he was cutting the grass when he suddenly became hot and weak, forcing him to sit down. He has a history of
diabetes and prostate cancer, but takes no medications. Right now he is alert and oriented and has the following vital signs: pulse 96, respirations 18, and blood pressure 156/82 mmHg. We have placed him on two liters of oxygen by nasal cannula and are transporting in a semi-Fowler's position. He states that the weakness is starting to resolve. Do you have questions or orders?" You are returning from a call when you come across an apartment building with flames coming from several windows on the top story. You see several occupants trapped and hanging out of the windows screaming for help. Which one of the following radio transmissions is most appropriate when advising dispatch of the situation? D) "Central communications from Unit 118, how do you copy?" When using your portable radio, you must push the "press to talk" button and wait one second before speaking. This is essential to effective communication because your EMS system must use: While you are returning from
lunch, a frantic woman flags you down and states that she just found a young child on the roadside who appears to have been hit by a car. She is not sure if the child is breathing. You should immediately: B) advise dispatch that you have been flagged down for a possible emergency. You pull up to the scene of a one-car motor vehicle collision and find a physician treating the patient. Which one of the following is the best way to initially communicate with the doctor? B) "Hello, we are EMTs. How can we help you, doctor?" What role does the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) play in EMS? C) Establishing and enforcing regulations related to the use of radio operations You are treating a 2-year-old girl who fell off her bike. She is crying and will not answer any of your questions. Which one of the following would be appropriate to find out where the girl hurts? C) Have the girl's mother ask your questions for you. A 42-year-old female is complaining of shortness of breath. Which of the following questions would best assist you in
getting additional information about the patient's chief complaint? C) "You appear to be short of breath. Are you also having chest pain?" Which one of the following is a disadvantage in using cell phones as an emergency backup communication system? D) Cell phones may not be effective in disaster situations. You have been called for a 23-year-old male who is completely deaf. To best communicate with this patient, you should: C) write questions on a note pad. Which one of the following is an effective way to improve communication with most patients? Which one of the following statements is most appropriate when communicating with the medical facility that will receive the patient? D) "En route to your facility with a 73-year-old male complaining of dizziness." Which of the following is a function of providing the physician or nurse with an oral report when transferring care to the hospital emergency department (ED)? B) To summarize patient assessment and treatment information When providing a lengthy radio report, the most important reason to pause every 30 seconds is so that: B) other people can use the radio for an emergency transmission. Which phrase best illustrates the EMT using the summary technique of therapeutic communication? B) "It appears that you have been depressed for several weeks now." A patient who was complaining of a headache is being transported to the hospital. After providing a report to
the emergency department, the patient begins to seize. The seizure lasts for 1 minute and then stops. At this time, you are 5 minutes from the hospital. After providing care for the seizure, your next action should be to: B) call the hospital and inform them of the seizure. Which one of the following best explains the reason why emergency services communications are recorded? C) Communications can become part of a legal record if need be. An effective and reliable communication system is
essential to the EMT and the EMS system because: A) hospitals can better prepare for the arrival of a patient. You are treating an 82-year-old female who is having trouble hearing some of your questions. What technique would be best in helping you get her past medical history? D) Speak clearly and slowly. Which one of the following is the most appropriate way to contact a receiving hospital to alert them that you are en route with a patient? B) "St. Margaret's Hospital, this is BLS ambulance 17-64. How do you copy?" Medical direction has advised you to place a patient who is obese and extremely short of breath in a supine position. Knowing that doing so
will cause the patient to become more short of breath, your best action would be to: D) explain your concern to the physician and ask for clarification. How should the EMT respond when first making contact with an alert and oriented patient complaining of chest pain? D) "My name is Charles Smith, and I am an EMT. Can I help you?" As you drive lights and sirens to the hospital with a critical patient, the paramedic asks you to notify the receiving hospital since he is busy caring for the patient. He tells you to specifically let the emergency department know that the patient's blood sugar is 15
mg/dL (very low). There is no history of diabetes. Of the following reports, which is best? A) "... be advised that the blood sugar is 15 ... that is one-five mg/dL" Your partner accidentally uses a profane word when talking to dispatch. Which agency has the power to fine him and the ambulance service? B) Federal Communications Commission An advantage to asking the patient close-ended questions is a(n): C) ability to get medical information very quickly. The wife of a 57-year-old male called 911 because he had chest pain. Which of the following pieces of information would be included in your SBAR report at
the hospital? B) "... I am thinking that the patient would benefit from 324 mg of aspirin ..." Currently, there is a debate within your organization regarding the use of codes in your medical communications and radio traffic. As you are in favor of plain English, and doing away with codes, a strong argument to justify this position would be: D) medical information can be too complex for a simple code system. When relying on a cell for medical communications, the EMT realizes that: C) he should use the same format of communication as used for radio transmissions. Throughout a radio transmission to the dispatch center, the EMT periodically uses the term "break." You should recognize this to mean he is: B) purposely pausing his transmission. You have accepted the head position on a committee that oversees the operation and maintenance of the communications system for your busy service. Which of the following
mandates would you make to maximize the effectiveness and quality of the communication system? B) Emergency generators must be placed at the base station and repeater stations. Which one of the following is an open-ended question? D) "Can you describe the pain to me?" You have arrived by the side of an 82-year-old male complaining of generalized weakness. After introducing yourself, he states, "My name is Edward Burns, but everyone calls me Eddy." Which of the following is your most appropriate response? A) "Do you want us to call you Eddy as well?" When interviewing a patient with a medical emergency, the
EMT is using the technique of summary when she says: D) "So the nausea and vomiting started two days ago." You arrive in the parking lot of a retail store and find a middle-age male on the ground, unresponsive and with blood coming from a laceration to his forehead. Several shoppers have gathered around the patient and have covered him with a blanket. What should you do first? D) Go to the patient and begin providing care. You have arrived at the scene of a medical emergency. As you enter the room where the patient is located, you note him to be sitting up and talking without difficulty. Emergency Medical
Responders are on scene and providing basic care for the patient. Which one of the following will you do first? B) Get a report from the Emergency Medical Responder. Your patient denies difficulty breathing, but displays signs of respiratory distress. You state, "I know that you said you are breathing fine, but you cannot speak more than two to three words at a time without gasping for air." Your response is an example of: Over the radio, medical direction has given the following order for an unstable patient you suspect of having a heart attack: "have the patient chew four baby aspirin, each one at 81 mg, and transport as soon as possible." You would show reception of this order by stating: A) "copy ... we will have the patient chew four baby aspirin, each one at 81 mg and transport ASAP" Your ambulance was dispatched for a patient complaining of shortness of breath at 1512. You arrived on scene at 1523 and left at 1538. You arrived at the hospital with the patient at 1557 and were back in service at 1622. Which one of the following is true? A) Your scene time was 15 minutes. Over the next three days, your ambulance service is getting new and improved mobile radios. As an EMT with knowledge of communication equipment, you realize that: B) new radios will be installed in all of the ambulances. When you press the button on the radio to talk you should wait at least how long before speaking to avoid cutting off the first words of your transmission?Wait 2-3 seconds.
Which of the following is an effective way to improve communication with most patients?7 Ways to Improve Communication with Patients. Assess your body language. ... . Make your interactions easier for them. ... . Show them the proper respect. ... . Have patience. ... . Monitor your mechanics. ... . Provide simple written instructions when necessary; use graphics where possible. ... . Give your patients ample time to respond or ask questions.. What does PTT mean on a portable or mobile radio quizlet?base station. Radio communications include trends in the patient's condition, responses to interventions, and information from the scene; they are monitored by the: Federal Communications Commission (FCC) What does "PTT" mean on a portable or mobile radio? push to talk.
What would be considered an objective patient assessment finding?Examples of objective assessment include observing a client's gait , physically feeling a lump on client's leg, listening to a client's heart, tapping on the body to elicit sounds, as well as collecting or reviewing laboratory and diagnostic tests such as blood tests, urine tests, X-ray etc.
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