Uncategorized Archives

Terrorism and EMS

Most people in EMS didn’t really think about terrorism before September 11th, but because of my military experience and being sort of a history nerd, it has been a topic that I have worried about since my late teens. Terrorism by definition is any act to create fear or disrupt a society. The motivation for [...]

Career Development and Advancement for EMTs

Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) and Emergency Room Technicians (ERTs) serve as crucial frontline responders in the healthcare system, delivering prehospital and in-hospital emergency care to patients. However, the career paths for both EMTs and ERTs can extend far beyond these initial roles, offering numerous opportunities for growth, specialization, and transition into other healthcare positions. The [...]

NREMT changed their test?!

For the last several months, everyone has been hearing about the dramatic changes coming to the National Registry of EMT (NREMT) testing process for AEMTs and Paramedics. Driven by input from stakeholders and the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA) which is the accrediting agency for NREMT, significant changes have been made to the testing process effective July 1, 2024.

The Circulatory System: The Plumbing of Our Body

In the two previous installments, we talked about the role of cardiac output and blood volume as it pertains to overall perfusion in the human body. Today we will finish up with the circulatory system and how it assists the body not only in day to day maintenance of homeostasis but also how it responds to [...]

OSHA Requirements for Working in Emergency Flood Zones and Severe Weather Conditions

It is crucial to conduct a thorough hazard assessment to identify potential risks and provide comprehensive training on specific hazards and protective measures. Your department should have already identified all potential flood hazards in your response area. If this has not been done, it must be completed, and a detailed Emergency Action Pre-plan should be made a top priority.

Blood Volume: Products

When we think about our blood, most health care providers agree that it is necessary to perfuse our body and losing too much will not be good for our patient. But what is blood and why do we need it? This question has many correct answers. Human blood is not only responsible for providing nourishment and oxygenation to the cells of the body’s organs but it also plays a role in fighting off infection, promoting clotting and regulating body temperature. Human blood is made of four basic components: red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets and plasma. Each of these components play a vital role in maintaining homeostasis within our body. Overall blood volume in relation to body mass is also an important part of discussing the importance of human blood on overall functioning of the body.

The Workhorse of the Human Body: How the Human Heart is a Behind the Scenes Hero

Most of us give little thought to how consistent and reliable the human heart is. Without an effectively pumping heart, the human body ceases to function and can die physiologically within minutes. Some organs can tolerate a lack of blood flow better than others. Vital organs such as the brain, the kidneys, the heart, and the liver are the most rapidly affected by a lack or decrease in blood flow while other organs of the body can tolerate a lack perfusion for a longer period of time. The heart is considered “the pump’ of the circulatory system and without a consistently functioning pump, the human body cannot perform adequately to sustain life.

The EZ-IO You Think You Know Part 4

In the previous articles, we talked about the indications, contraindications, use, landmarking, insertion and maintenance of the EZ-IO vascular access system. In this final installment, we will cover insertion in the pediatric patient, pain control and removal of the device. As stated earlier, this device like all other medical devices, has limitations. No medical device fits [...]

The EZ-IO that you think you know Part 3

In parts 1 and 2 of this series, we have outlined the indications, contraindications, medications that can be infused through and IO, needle size selection and driver characteristics. Now lets unpack how to landmark for EZ-IO insertion. As stated in Part 2, the ends of long bones contain a large amount of red blood cells (RBC) [...]

The need for and proper utilization of specialty teams in the HEMS environment

While many may view HEMS organizations as a specialty unto itself many programs have true specialized teams for certain populations. One can think of HEMS providers as a jack of all trades but generally a master of none. We care for all patient populations a health system can see, from the earliest of premature babies [...]