HEMSdaddy23

One thing about GPS receivers are the area you work in. If you are in a city with alot of new streets, residential areas, etc the software in the GPS may not be up-to-date. Example I work in a city and countless times a crew will take the time to put the address into the GPS and depend solely on the turn by turn directions end up being sent through a church parking lot where the gate is locked. Turn back around and you've wasted a minute plus back tracking. Rural areas GPS seems to work better. Personally I am a fan of the good ol map book and not wasting my money on a GPS, map book is cheaper too.<BR><BR>

Dewayne, Yes I believe the comments are for debate and that is why I posed them and posted because I knew ammonia is a VERY debated thing. Now I have been in the EMS field for 10 years and used it maybe 3 times. In the scenario I posted all vitals were WNL, CT negative, narcan already given and ETOH reaking. Yes I knew the pt would come around after getting the ammonia, it was a peace of mind thing for the sending ER physician who never heard of ammonia caps. I like hearing other peoples opinion, respect each opinion and learn from some :-). Good post.

Even a drunk who is passed out will snort at the smell of ammonia; and no I am not one of those who start a 14ga on every drunk either. Example - flew in to pick a pt up and on arrival ER doc frantic that pt needed to be intubated due to ETOH and AMS with possible HI. Ammonia cap and viola we had an alert pt who was A&O x 3, not doing a needless RSI on said pt. CT was negative PTA.

Ammonia is one of those take it or leave it things. Can it hurt somebody, yes if they have a hyper-sensitivity to ammonia like some asthmatics. A drunk pt who is "unresponsive" can benefit from this lovely ammonia bullet though. Have I used it, yes and will I use it again, yes. Personnally I dont like the possum players and would truly like to know if they are unresponsive and rule out OD. just my thoughts, be safe