vetlemakt

We had the KED until seven or eight years ago. I was happy to see it go to be honest, we seldomn used it, it took time to "mount" properly, it took up valuable space in the van and we already had a spine board, scoop stretcher and vacuum splints. Nowadays we use spine board for extraction, full body vacuum splints for transportation. For infants and small children we use smaller splints.

We also drive a Sprinter like the one above, it's the most common ambulance around here. On a national basis, Norwegian ambulances are mostly VW T5 Carawelles (top joint) Mercedes Sprinters (split doors), Mercedes E-series (top joint) or Volvo S80s (top joint). I have never heard of them slamming down on anyone, but I have hit my head in them a few times over the years (I'm quite tall though). A problem I have encountered with these doors, especially with cars built with a less rigid composite material, is that you might find the door unable to lock in place if the car is standing sloped sideways. It kind of gets a bit skewed, and the door won't fit the hole.

There are apps available for iphone and android that will provide the necessary information without unlocking the phone first. One such is Appventive's "ICE: In case of emergency" (android @ $4). On a locked screen it will say "click here for contact information", which, when triggered, will show 3 names/numbers and other helpful info (illnesses, meds etc.). If this was a free app I'd install it myself, and if I suffered from anything that could place me in such situations, I'd definately get it. It's not uncommon for people NOT to carry wallets nowadays, in my experience this is especially true with younger people. You really don't need anything but a smart phone and some cash these days, and I anticipate this "trend" will grow as more and more people discover how useful these smart phones are (writing this on one now, and a few of you are probably reading this on one too (by the way: EMT City forums render perfectly on smart phones - though sadly, chat is not yet supported)). I think this discussion is very much needed today, even more so next year. Personally, I would rummage through any thing I find to ascertain the patient's ID, and I wouldn't risk anything doing so. But, then again, I live in Norway where we seldomn need to deal with law suits and bullsh... ox excrements. As for not being able to dig out ICE info from someone's phone, I just won't buy that. If the key lock doesn't call for a code you will be able to find what you are looking for within 30 secs, guaranteed.

I am so sad. The King is dead. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z5O61yKkdr4...player_embedded

Someone inside the EMS saying they're anti-union would be unheard of over here where I live (Norway). It's so bizarre, I can't even imagine how it would be not to have the unions around. That said, I can only give my sympathies to the EMTs on strike over the pond. I do hope you'll pull through, even though you've got your hands tied pretty tight. Don't give up though.

Well, this was an interesting scenario indeed. In my experience the patient would either tell us she'd tried to kill herself upon us making first contact, or else been hesitant and uncooperative, but for the sake of discussion and learning, this is a good way to present scenarios. And I like the detective bit of this scenario, haha! I would have considered provoking her to vomit if it wasn't for the 6 hour period since intake. In such a long time, I will expect the poison to have been fully consumed. Active coal isn't something we've got in our service anymore, I might have to ask for it again. Can't see why we shouldn't be carrying that. In any case, that would also have been useless in this scenario, I fear. Hurried transport, O2, NaCl. And get someone to take care of her husband when he arrives at the hospital, his missus might not have the best prognosis.

It would be interesting to me to discover what the patient is suffering from, but it does not make much difference, really. She should be taken to a doctor or hospital for further examinations. I'd have started transport at this point. Keep her monitored and oxygenated, run the saline easy. 12-lead if that doesn't stress her much. If her situation changes, measures might be considered, but as long as she stays like this, I find her stabile enough for transport.

Any chance of her being pregnant now? Any bowel sounds? Physical examination - pain or tenderness upon palpation anywhere? Blood sugar, please. And a 3-lead. O2 for the lady. And have her lay on the guerney, head end elevated.

Right. Vitals first. AVPU. Breath? Circulation? Is she in pain? If so, what kind, what severity? Allergies and medications? Previous illnesses? What and when did she last eat today, and what has she been doing?

Thank you dearly!

I would think this one is a cerebral case - and would probably stay convinced until proven otherwise by a negative CAT. Sitting on the toilet -> intra cranial pressure (?), drooling, speech problems. Blood sugar levels at 177? Is that a normal figure in the US (normal in Norway: 3,5-6,0)? If he was far from hospital, we'd heli him in. If by car, IV saline, O2 as long as SAT<94%. Paracetamol 1000mg rectally. That's all normal procedure for me, though. Can't see how I would have treated or viewed the pt in any other way. EDIT: EKG? Pupils? I'd administer some Metaklopramid (anti-nausea) as well, as a profylactic.

Last november I skid out of the road doing 90 km/h (not sure what that translates to in your strange measures), flipped round once, close to twice, and very much clipped a lamppost while doing so. Not many signs, though...

I don't know how this works over at yours, but here in Norway, we ask the patient first before taking pictures, and if so, only done with educational purpose. Taking pictures, of anyone, in any setting, is legal as long as you're on public ground. But uniformed, with a job to do? You'd need a reason for spending time taking photos. Making a case against a coworker isn't good enough a reason.