EMS For Dummies 101

The first time I was dispatched out to a Cardiac Arrest, I sat there and wondered why EMS is being called to a Cardiac Arrest? If a person is getting arrested, shouldn't the police respond? Contrary to popular belief, a Cardiac Arrest does not involve Police, handcuffs, and jail!  All patients who complain of chest pain should be receive a 12-lead ECG to inspect their heart, although not a definitive diagnosis tool, it sure can help with recognizes myocardial infarction's (the same thing as a heart attack), ischemia, atrial or ventricular hypertrophy's, PE's, hyperkalemia, and other such wonderful things. It is important to gather a detailed history (not dating history, but medical history), and physical exam. Do you note any diaphresis? Shortness of breath? Edema? Color, condition, temperature of their skin? Aspirin should not be withheld from a patient who is complaining of chest pain as long as they do not have an allergy it or GI bleed. Aysytole/Pulseless Ele

So we think we are big shots now that we can intubate, right!?!?! Well, think again.... Look at me here on my first day of the job as a paramedic, I knew my drug doses, I knew patients get 0.30 mg of etomidate per kilogram, and 2 mg/kg of succinylcholine for me to do my RSI/intubation, but apparently my supervisor was a little mad at me trying to intubate this patient: If the patient is A&Ox4, GCS15, no signs of decompensating, we are not suppose to intubate. Thankfully I only got reprimanded a little for trying to intubate this one!  I was just told in paramedic school that laughter is not always the key to healthy patients: Why intubate: inability to control the airway GCS < 8 risk of aspiration cardiac arrest swelling of the upper airway prolonged respiratory effort that results in failure or fatigue  Pulmonary Edema (try CPAP first) or Pulmonary Embolism Facial trauma This is just a little list, there could be other reasons to intubate as well, u

Let's go over a very common scenario that many make mistakes on, even myself was prone to this mistake. How to put on a tourniquet: Scenario: MVC with a pole, an ejection patient with a head bleed. The patient is refusing care, does not want to be seen, but you see a lot of hemorrhaging. The patient is arguing with you. The patient finally lets you assess him and the bleeding is so profuse it won't stop with direct pressure, quick clot, or anything. What are we going to do!?!? If you are like me, I know your first thought: But, contrary to popular thought, you are not suppose to use tourniquet's on peoples necks! You see, as I found out the hard way, a tourniquet to someone's neck will cut off blood supply (good! it stops the bleeding), but it will also cut off the oxygen needed to perfuse the brain (bad! it will kill a patient, rest in peace little Jimmy, sigh). Here are some examples of what not to do: You see, a tourniquet around the neck has made this

Hi! Welcome to EMS For Dummies! Here we will go ahead and take a look at common mistakes that are made by paramedics and hopefully correct wrongs for rights, or rights for wrongs, or something of that nature! Either way, we strive to help you, not kill anyone but learning from out mistakes. About Me: Well, I can say I have been a natural in the fire industry and EMS world for the past year. Some people may call me a rookie, or even a "probie" I don't know what that means, but all I can say to them is look at my partner I perform CPR like pro's here: You can see my partner is doing phenomenal compression while I am doing the ole' mouth to mouth. I hope you learn something as much as I do! Enjoy!