In the field Archives

Are you current on seizure terminology changes?

Many professionals who have been involved in emergency medical services for a long time now were not provided the correct information at the beginning. Let's go through the correct seizure terminology we should all be using when referencing seizures.

Important metrics to monitor when treating pediatric trauma

When faced with responding to a pediatric trauma call, it is important for you to be able to recognize the signs and symptoms of impending shock and intervene rapidly.

Patient assessment scenarios see terminology updates

During our patient assessment scenarios during lab training, every one of us learned to regurgitate scene safety and body substance isolation protocols. But did we really look over the scene? Did we really take the time to determine if we needed to wear more than gloves? The answer to both questions is “unlikely.”

Are you aware of the emotional care bariatric patients need

As pre-hospital providers, we must develop and express additional plans in the event our original strategies fail to empathize with bariatric patients. Our ability to do this will provide an added sense of security and empowerment to their treatment, which may be something they never experienced in a medical setting.

How autonomic dysreflexia and hypertension connect

Autonomic dysreflexia is a medical emergency. Hypertension in a patient with a spinal injury is autonomic dysreflexia until proven otherwise. If you can treat the cause quickly, you can prevent some diseases that have high associated morbidity and mortality rates.

The long spine board isn’t going away and shouldn’t

I was teaching a class a few months ago and a student said his agency had completely removed long spine boards from service. I was floored. The long spine board is needed for spinal immobilization as well as other emergency uses.

Can you get popcorn lung from vaping? Most likely

There is yet to be a known case of popcorn lung as a result of e-cigarette smoking because vaping is so new. However, there is strong indication that vaping e-juice with diacetyl, pentanedone and acetoin could lead to the condition over time.

Get on board with two-person bag mask ventilation

If you are working for a volunteer department and you are the only person on scene, you clearly have an argument that you don’t have the manpower. If you work for a paid rural service, you do. Let's explore why we need to worry about two-person bag mask ventilation.

Frostbite season is upon us. Stay safe!

This time of year, as pre-hospital providers go forth to save lives, cold-related injuries such as frostbite should be top of mind. Learn how to avoid frostbite while caring for patients in the extreme cold.

Mild hypothyroidism may be over treated

One of the most common endocrine disorders is hypothyroidism. But there is evidence to support the idea that mild hypothyroidism is over treated by family physicians.