Bleeding Control and Wound Packing: Uncover the Facts
When providing trauma treatment, stopping patients from bleeding and using wound packing are paramount. But first, let's dispel some long-standing myths.
EMS pay, do we really deserve better?
I read it all the time: “They need to pay us better.” But do they need to increase EMS pay? Across the board, there is a lack of professionalism in our industry. I spent several years working in the field before moving to the administrative side of the house. It was an eye-opening experience to say the least.
Disruptive behavior disorders are often misunderstood
In a video of a father and son arguing many people left comments placing blame on the parents. But when I watch the video, I do not see a parenting failure. I see a kid suffering from disruptive behavior disorders.
How to implement crew resource management within your agency
Crew resource management includes everyone from dispatch to the emergency room staff. If we use it appropriately, we can improve teamwork, communication and problem solving; promote input from all team members regardless of level of certification or experience; and decrease the likelihood of a sentinel event.
Teen depression: Know the signs and symptoms
An EMT shares his personal experience with suicide and the signs he and his family missed before his son made an attempt. Learn how teen depression differs from adult depression and which clues can alert you to an impending problem.
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.
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.”
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.
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.
Bed bugs!
Bed bugs have become an increasingly alarming issue among EMS around the country. Make sure take care of EMS equipment to stop bed bugs from spreading!