AMBULANCE |
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An ambulance is a vehicle designated for the transport of sick or injured people. The first ambulances called by that name were horse ambulances used in the American Civil War. The first practical ambulances were created by Dominique Jean Larrey, a French surgeon (17661842), for use in the Napoleonic Wars. Modern-day ambulances are typically large automobiles on a van or light truck chassis.
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DROWNING |
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Drowning is death caused by the filling of the lungs by a liquid, usually water, rendering breathing ineffective and leading to death due to asphyxia. Near drowning is initial survival of a drowning event, and can lead to serious secondary complications including death later on; cases of near drowning therefore also require attention by medical professionals. Secondary drowning is death due to chemical and biological changes in the lungs after a near drowning incident or exposure to chemicals. In many countries, drowning is one of the leading causes of death for children under 14 years old.
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EMERGENCY MEDICINE |
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EMERGENCY MEDICINE - The branch of medicine concerned with the provision of immediate treatment to the acutely ill or injured. Emergency medicine is a branch of medicine that is practiced in a hospital emergency department, in the field (in a modified form; see EMS), and other locations where initial medical treatment of illness takes place.
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EMS - Emergency Medical Service |
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The Emergency Medical Service system (known by the acronym "EMS" in the USA and Canada) is responsible for providing pre-hospital (or out-of-hospital) care by paramedics, emergency medical technicians (EMT's), and medical first responders (MFRs in US terminology). The goal of EMS is to provide early treatment to those in need of urgent medical care, and ultimately rapid transportation to an Emergency department. Stabilizing patients early (within the golden hour) significantly increases their chances of survival, particularly in the event of a heart attack, diabetic emergency, or severe physical trauma.
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EMT - emergency medical technician |
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An emergency medical technician (EMT) is an emergency responder trained to provide emergency medical services to the critically ill and injured.
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PARAMEDIC |
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A paramedic is a highly trained medical professional who responds to medical and trauma emergencies in the pre-hospital setting ("in-field") for the purpose of stabilizing a patient's condition before and during transportation to an appropriate medical facility, usually by ambulance.
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WOUND CARE |
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In medicine, a wound is a type of physical trauma wherein the skin is torn, cut or punctured (an open wound), or where blunt force trauma causes a contusion (a closed wound). In pathology, it specifically refers to a sharp injury which damages the dermis of the skin.
Before any medical or paramedical evaluation, a wound is considered as minor when:
it is superficial (a "flesh wound");
it is away from natural orifices;
there is only minor bleeding;
it was not caused by a tool or an animal.
Any other wound should be considered as severe.
If there is any doubt, a wound should be considered as severe. "Severe" does not necessarily means that it endangers life, but it must at least be seen by a physician. In the case of severe open wounds, there is a risk of blood loss (which could lead to shock), and an increased chance of infection due to bacteria entering a wound that is exposed to air. Due to the risk of infection, wounds should be kept clean, and closed if possible until professional help is available.
Depending on their severity, closed wounds can be just as dangerous as open wounds. An injury to the brain such as a contusion is an extremely dire closed wound, and requires emergency medical attention.
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