For years, intraosseous (IO) access has been considered the “hail mary, last ditch effort” of vascular access. The procedure was often only utilized after all other repeated intravenous (IV) attempts had proven unsuccessful. What if intraosseous access could be utilized earlier? What if we could prevent the dynamic downward spiral that often accompanies multiple unsuccessful [...]
One of the many benefits working for DistanceCME as an instructor is getting to work with some of the greatest emergency responders in our nation who utilize our platform to stay current with their continuing education (CE). Though most students come to learn from us, we learn a lot more from them. For example, we gain [...]
Were you ever told not to give Ketamine to your head injury patients, hypertensive patients, increased intracranial pressure (ICP) patients? I was taught that. “Early studies suggested that ketamine could increase intracranial pressure, decreasing cerebral perfusion pressure and thereby reducing oxygen supply to the damaged cerebral cortex.” (NIH, 2022). There have been 11 recent studies [...]
As of 2017, it is reported that at least 75 percent of American adults are overweight, obese, or morbidly obese, so it is not surprising that more and more people are trying to lose weight. I know that we have all heard about the recently popular weight loss shots: Ozempic (Semaglutide), Mounjaro (Terzepatide), Wegovy, Zepbound, [...]
Have you ever wondered what do to with your career as an EMT or paramedic? The obvious choice is to work on an ambulance, either for a fire department, private company, or government run entity. But not everyone wants to work on an ambulance, not all ambulance jobs pay enough to support you, or maybe [...]
I understand that discussions about wearing masks for protection from COVID can evoke some strong emotions and differing opinions. However, I believe that using basic math we can come to the realization of what truly works and what does not work. Let’s first look at what is a virus and the sizes of viruses: A [...]
Most healthcare providers, when asked would equate the role of the pancreas with blood sugar regulation. While true, this fact was unknown until the late 19th century. The pancreas’ role in blood sugar regulation was initially discovered by Dr. Oscar Minkowski and Dr Joseph VonMering much by accident. These two researchers were studying the role of [...]
Emergency responders operate in high-pressure, dynamic environments where effective leadership is crucial for ensuring the safety of responders and the public. Various leadership styles can be effective in emergency response scenarios, each with their own strengths and weaknesses. Here are some leadership styles commonly observed among emergency responders and when they should and should not [...]
Emergency Medical Services (EMS) professionals are the frontline heroes who tirelessly respond to crises, saving lives and providing critical care. In New York State, where the rhythm of life is as fast-paced as the city streets, EMS providers stand as guardians of health and safety. However, the nature of emergency medical care demands continuous learning [...]
It’s 3 am on a dark winding stretch of road a father, husband, son is driving home from work to rejoin his family after a long nightshift. His eyes begin to tire as his trunk slowly drifts off the road. The tones drop as you rub your eyes wishing for just a few more hours of [...]
