Tuesday, September 13, 2011

Drunk versus diabetes: How can you tell?

EMS News in Focus
by Art Hsieh

By Art Hsieh

Scenario: Dispatch calls your unit to the side of a roadway, where police officers have detained a driver on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol intoxication. You find the female driver handcuffed in the back seat of a police cruiser. She is screaming profanities and hitting her head against the side window...

Calif. Man Buried Neck Deep in Dirt Freed | Firehouse.com

Calif. Man Buried Neck Deep in Dirt Freed | Firehouse.com

Dispatch Log

Bystanders save man from under burning car / Clear angle shows controversial motorcycle crash response

Concerns about PPE and scene safety?

Bystanders save man from under burning car

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And then:

Video: Clear angle shows controversial motorcycle crash response

Concerns about PPE and scene safety?

Friday, September 9, 2011

FirstResponder.gov

EMS Students Use Simulation Learning for Lung Sounds - Training - @ JEMS.com

The lost art of using a stethoscope

Bob Page, AAS, NREMT-P, CCEMT-P, NCEE

From the August 2011 Issue | Monday, August 1, 2011

Simulation learning is the best way for EMS students to learn to identify lung sounds. Photo Courtesy Bob Page

A few years ago, I was looking through the Department of Transportation curriculum and standards for EMTs and paramedics. I noticed more time was “recommended” for teaching marine animal envenomation than the time spent in the correct use of a stethoscope. Why is that?

Free Online CEUs for Paramedics & EMTs | Bound Tree University

Free Online CEUs

Course Offering:

Courses Approved for Advanced Life Support (ALS) Providers

A100 – 12 Lead EKG Interpretation
This course discusses cardiac anatomy as it relates to the cardiogram. Goals of the course include: to develop an initial understanding of “Axis,” understand how to interpret hypertrophy, recognize Bundle Branch Blocks, understand how to interpret EKGs for signs of myocardial infarction, and understand the “grouped leads” concept.

A220 – Pediatric Patient: Part 1
This is Part 1 of a two part series on the Pediatric Patient. The course will review pediatric patient traits, explore relevant anatomy and physiology, and discuss causes of pediatric injury and death.

A221 – Pediatric Patient: Part 2
This is Part 2 of a two part series on the Pediatric Patient. The course will discuss pediatric patient assessment techniques, explore principles for immobilizing pediatric patients, and explain issues in pediatric patient transport.

A255 – Airway Management
This course describes airway structures and function, identifies important differences in pediatric airway anatomy, explores basic airway management techniques, and describes delivery of ventilations and supplemental oxygen.

A268 – Diabetic Emergencies: Part 1
This is Part 1 of a two part series on Diabetic Emergencies. The course will discuss the relationship of insulin, glucagon and glucose, examine the pathophysiology of diabetes mellitus, and discuss types of diabetic emergencies.

A269 – Diabetic Emergencies: Part 2
This is Part 2 of a two part series on Diabetic Emergencies. The course will review assessment findings from Part 1 and introduce treatment options.

A281 – Pharmacology and Drug Administration
This course on pharmacology will review basic pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics, explore essentials of drug administration, and discuss the indications and uses of specific medications.

Courses Approved for Basic Life Support (BLS) Providers

B204 – Unusual Resuscitation
This course discusses unusual resuscitation situations in environmental emergencies. It will explain the underlying pathophysiology that complicates respiratory and cardiac resuscitation from an environmental emergency, describe treatment for respiratory and cardiac arrest resulting from an environmental emergency, and identify reasons not to begin CPR.

B239 – Emergency Childbirth
This course will review the relevant anatomy, physiology and care for an emergency childbirth. It will discuss assessment for the obstetric patient with an impending delivery, explain assessment and care of the newborn infant, and review care for the mother immediately following the delivery of a newborn.

B405 – NiPPV (Non-Invasive Positive Pressure Ventilation: Pre-hospital Use of CPAP and BiPAP)
This course discusses the pre-hospital use of CPAP and BiPAP. It will describe non-invasive positive pressure ventilations (NiPPV) and physiology, identify indications, contraindications and benefits of NiPPV, explain steps to applying NiPPV and adjusting settings, and discuss adjunctive therapies and ongoing monitoring.

Epilepsy Foundation Training for First Responders

First Responders

First Responder Online Trainings

Now Available - Epilepsy & Seizure Response for EMS
The EMS training, about 60 minutes in length, describes a variety of seizures associated with epilepsy, seizures with other potential causes, appropriate EMS response on scene, and issues to be considered when determining whether or not further medical care is warranted.
The Law Enforcement training, about 45 minutes in length, aims to train law enforcement on seizure recognition, correct response to seizures, and awareness of the unique needs of people with epilepsy who might be taken into police custody.
These products were developed with support from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention under cooperative agreement number 5U58DP000606 – 05.