medicKristina

WOW!!!! Shameless....

I'm sorry? Did you really mean "guess"? Because if so, this is NOT the right line of work for you. Although there are two answers that seem right, one is always MORE correct than another. No guessing. Just knowledge. Have you been practicing for your practical as well? That's another area easy to foul up. Again, knowledge. Not just repitition. Please be sure this is what you have a PASSION for...not just something you WANT to do. You are talking about people's health and welfare where GUESSING is NOT the way to go!

So - I must reply both as a mother of a severe asthmatic and an EMT-P. I was taught up to 3. My protocols and medical director didn't even include it on our rigs. Now, as a mom, I can tell you exactly what works for my son, and that is back to back nebs of albuterol and atrovent, given simultaneously. If he gets to a point that the albuterol isn't working, then obviously, he needs something else to kick in. As a mother who has called for assistance and been turfed, I understand the confusion. Most patients (or guardians of patients....) KNOW what works for their attacks - Although I agree that protocols say what can be done, not what HAS to be done, I think that it might also be a wise decision to ask your patient (or their guardian) what they need to help them. I can't get my son's pediatrician to provide me an atrovent inhaler, because he FIRMLY believes in the one dose methodology, however, he has privileges at the Children's Hospital in town that will give at least 3 back to back doses as a minimum and will KEEP giving if needed. Sometimes I just shrug and remember to be an advocate - it's the best we can do most of the times. Guess where I go when I need to....and no, never has he gotten an IV for re hydration due to these severe attacks and continual use of atrovent.

Thanks, I needed a laugh...

I think this is the main objective of the article - that once again we as a country were caught off guard by a disaster that has horrible fall out. At no point was this serious possibility considered. The mechanism was even called a "fail safe". I consider the oil companies to be egocentric and to have a slight god-complex. I think that President Obama was simply bringing forth a sad truth - that if we all live in our bubbles of "That will never happen to ME" then we will sadly be far behind most disasters and tragedies. Playing "catch-up" is never a great place to maneuver from. For the record, I am NOT pro-Obama, I am pro-USA and whoever can give us the best outcome (i.e. Independent)

As a married woman, I laughed cause it's TRUE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This is VERY different than what you do with the hands on portion. In our class, we wrote out our algorithm and became comfortable running through it from arrival to transport. Our scenarios always stated that the scene was safe, but don't forget that if needed!! An Example for a patient with Stable SVT (based on scenario and strip): Scene Safe Vitals Vagal Manuevers such as bearing down 6mg Adenosine IVP followed by 10ml saline flush If no response, 12mg Adenosine IVP followed by 10ml flush If no response, 12mg Adenosine IVP followed by 10ml flush Prepare pt and begin transport If no response, sedate patient with 5mg Versed IVP Cardiovert patient (use the amount you are told to with biphasic v monophasic) At that point our preceptors would simply change cards during NREMT exams or we would state "Transfer care to hospital and I'm done". We were told to ALWAYS verbalize transport as part of the static It's all about repetition and breaking it down to the basics. Good luck!!

My classes were the same way, from B to P. Speak up! Don't worry what others may think/say - this is about you being the best EMT you can be, and if that means she has to show you, then so be it. I know I am not the kind of person who figures things out from a diagram and a paragraph. Ask for time in your lab to "play". And don't be afraid to use that time, no matter how strange it might feel! Good luck!!!

Ohhhhh.....I want those powers too! I must've missed em when I reached the "P"

See, I have to think that this would be one of those moments you would want to err on the side of caution (did I get that right....) and stand clear. Electricity + me = NOT OK!! However, this quote from the article scares me a little: "This was below several recommended safety standards for leakage current". I don't believe ANY amount should meet safety standards for leakage of current. I may be crazy, but still...not OK with me. It's also important to note that this study, done by AHA, was not with real rescuers. The conclusion is not a definite change in current training, but rather a first impression of what could be feasible: "Conclusions—Rescuers performing chest compressions during biphasic external defibrillation are exposed to low levels of leakage current. The present findings support the feasibility of uninterrupted chest compressions during shock delivery, which may enhance the efficacy of defibrillation and cardiocerebral resuscitation." Again, not me. I will stand clear and make sure everyone I'm working with or around are clear too.

Ummmmm. B*tch slap them? That is seriously not ok. This is looking like possibly a stroke, which they might have been able to ascertain had they done something as simple as take basic vital signs. Yeah. That slap is being warmed up right now...

HAHA!!! That was the best thing I've read in a long time!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yeah. Mine is similar. I was on my internship and I get a call for difficulty breathing. Walk in on a 50 y/o man, tripoding working like crazy and he tells us that he's been using his albuterol like crazy but can't catch his breath. Go to listen to breath sounds and there was NOTHING! The man was moving NO AUDIBLE AIR! We do a load and go and he crashes en route to the hospital (OF COURSE!!!). First internship tube...first unstable/crashing pt....FIRST PUCKER moment EV-VER!

Wow. That sounds a lot like where I was in Medic school - PRACTICE PRACTICE PRACTICE Until you are capable and CAN do it, that confidence is lacking. The first time I ran a code, I was scared poopless. Today, I helped a 60 y/o man down in full arrest on the side of the street and had full scene control and CPR initiated as soon as I could assess the patient then handed patient care to Columbus Fire. I swear to you that in March of 06, I would never have done that. Another big issue that I don't think you will have much say in is the maturity of the person. At 27, I am confident in who I am and the abilities and knowledge I posses. That may take some time for her to come to realize. Good luck and if you know she can do something, help her take that initiative to be the first in the class to try or the first to present a case or essay. In the long run, it will pay off

LMAO!!! That's a good one!

I have to agree - the "normal" deaths were, and are, "un-moving" to me... I'm not saddened by their loss. I feel deeply for the family who now has lost a loved one, but am not affected deeply by the loss of the person. However, I can say that traumatic deaths, unexpected deaths (particularly to younger, healthy people)...now those sting me in the gut. I also have two children, so ANYTHING relating to kids is much more emotional to me than a natural death....+

I HAFTA AGREE!!! I can't even begin to explain how wrong this is on how many different levels. And no, I'm not a COO or CEO of an ambulance company and set up contracts. However, what happened to JUST HELPING and TO DO NO HARM???????

There is no doubt that this is a prime example of things going right! I'm sure thwere were some snags that didn't show up in the blog, regardles, it is an incredible example of what some of us should strive for!

BAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA! God I wish people around the airlines here had this sense of humor...come to think of it i would love to hear the stewardess prepared speech - it's gotta be good too!

As a resident of Columbus, Ohio, this saddens me. This is the kind of research that could redistribute funds to needed hospitals appropriately. Shame....

meh....not really my thing - I think we've all thought about kids artwork, but this one is a little harsh....maybe someone elses cup of joe

JESUS! I laughed so hard, I think I mighta peed myself a bit....