Have you ever responded to a patient who was in cardiac arrest? How long did it take you to get to the patient? Right now, the average 911 ambulance response is about 7 minutes. It might take you even longer, 10, 15, even 30 or more minutes to get to your patient depending on where [...]
How much weight can you lift? How much can you safely lift without hurting yourself? As EMTs and paramedics, we are expected to lift an enormous amount of weight several times a day. Now days, most of us have a Stryker gurney… the normal size, power Stryker gurneyweighs about 125 pounds, and the manual one weighs [...]
Recent wartime experience has demonstrated that tourniquets can save lives. Yet many common military and civilian injuries, particularly armpit and groin injuries and pelvic fractures, remain difficult to treat in the field. Patients with these injuries are at high risk for bleeding to death. Since 2012, special operations forces worldwide have been using an advanced tourniquet [...]
Many providers in EMS often strive to and eventually attain their certification to transport patients via rotorcraft and/or fixed wing modes of transport. While these modes of transport are often looked at as the apex of one’s EMS career, non pressurized flight comes with not only emotional and intellectual stressors due to the inherent acuity of [...]
Stroke is one of the top 10 causes of death in children in the U.S. Signs of stroke are often missed in children and teens because of a lack of awareness, we think of geriatric, not pediatric stroke. AIS (arterial ischemic stroke) accounts for about half of all strokes in children, in contrast to adults in [...]
1961, Dr. Jack Fishman and Dr. Mozes Lewenstein applied for one of the first patents for naloxone. 1971, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved using naloxone to treat overdoses. 1995, the FDA has granted OxyContin drugmaker Purdue Pharma, fast track designation for opioid overdose antidote Revex nalmefene hydrochloride (HCl) injection. However, the besieged firm [...]
In the ever-evolving landscape of healthcare, one crucial profession often remains in the shadows but plays a pivotal role in saving lives and promoting community well-being. These unsung heroes are known as community paramedics. In this blog, we will delve into the world of community paramedics, exploring their vital role in healthcare and the impact they [...]
As a paramedic or AEMT, you are on the frontlines of Sepsis care, providing crucial care in emergency situations. One condition that requires swift recognition and immediate action is sepsis. Sepsis is a life-threatening condition that can develop rapidly, making early detection and intervention essential. In this blog, we will explore what sepsis is, its [...]
End-tidal carbon dioxide (ETCO2) has been around for a while now. We started with the main-stream (BVM/ ET tube attachment) that we can use on our mechanically ventilated patients, and then we progressed to having the side-stream (nasal cannula type device) that we can use on all of our breathing patients. End-tidal has become the gold [...]
The term “Special Healthcare Needs” means different things to different people. Collectively, patients with special healthcare needs encompasses the geriatric, bariatric, pediatric, sensory impaired, technologically dependent patients, behaviorally challenged patients and many others. Every group has special challenges, risk factors and needs as well as the fact that our approach to them as health care providers [...]
