DFIB

It has been a few years but I used to do both Fire and EMS.  I was in the third world and and hate smoke but Fire was the best way to do high angle rescue. I always volunteered and absolutely love EMS . If you love medicine, go for it,

I know the feeling. I quit posting here about the same time I quit practicing.

I might try posting a little just to see how much I have forgotten.

Enjoy your class friend.

You are not really shifting any weight onto the aortic arch as the arch is in the chest. In a pregnant woman, with a large intraabdominal parasite weighing several pounds, it is easy to collapse the IVC decreasing the blood flow to the heart and subsequently to the vital organs. If that parasite now sits on the left side where the aorta is less significant or has already branched (review the anatomy). A little decreased flow to the legs is no big deal if it allows you to perfuse the brain, heart, lungs and important intraabdominal organs.

EDIT: Wiki has an interesting article. Let's not forget the reason for the LLR position in non-pregnant people. It was used to prevent blockage of the airway in people who were not fully conscious and able to protect their airway.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Recovery_position

Of course, that pesky BLS airway.

Strong Work.

Holy resurrection Batman. If after 4 years anyone is sill around and interested I think that Left lateral recumbent, or any recumbent position will better circulation by increasing venous return, pre-load and therefore stroke volume in absence of pathologies that would deny this mechanism.

Update. http://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local/Trial-Kelly-Thomas-Police-Beating-Ramos-Cicinelli-Fullerton-210669311.html

Richard. Ithink your advce is solid and well thought. I most likely won't go that far up the food chain. In my experience the sharks just get bigger.

I am fixing to board in the trip back after a very successful campagn. Security looked twice at the x-ray but did not even make me open my bag.

I think we are Charlie Mike.

Thanks for all of the input everyone.

I took a leap of faith and put the AED in my carry on. The conversation went like this

Security; What is this?

Me: A Defibrillator

Security: What does it do?

Me: It defibrillates.

Security; I mean what do you use it for?

Me: For people with heart problems.

Security: Let me X-ray it again

After running it through the X-ray and calling a couple of other agents to look at it he turns to me and said "Any liquids in your bag?"

Bingo. Question Answered. AEDs are allowed on airplanes in carry on luggage.

@ MikeEMT. No trauma here. Our team is pretty organized and have worked together for years. I simply do not know the building we will be working in and what will be available when we get there. I always expect there to be less than we will need.

I hope we don't need it, but if we do, It will beat having nothing.

Is an AED even needed in the situation that you will be in? (That isn't meant to be rhetorical) I obviously have no idea what you're doing where, but I think that a lot of time the equipment brought overseas for medical volunteering doesn't line up with the local needs. Is there something else that might be more useful given the trouble that you may experience transporting the AED?

It will be a surgical campaign. I will feel better if we have it. I think I am going to take ArticKat's advice and see how it goes.

I know what you mean Artickat.

I was traveling across the border from Mexico a few years back and had my jump bag with me. A single guy in a car will almost always get directed to secondary so I was not surprised when they tagged me for inspection. The guy ask if I had any medications. Of course I thought "personal" medication like the snowbirds that cross over to score prescription meds so I answered no. I did not even think of the jumpbag until he opened the back.

When he starts going through my stuff I he pops up with my little sewing kit box full of injectables. You know, the usual, adrenaline, hidrocortizone, dex, glucose, D5W, xilocaine, and some other stuff I cant remember.

The guy takes all the meds into the little room and leaves me standing by the car. They let me sweat for about 20 minutes, and I do mean sweat. I was sure they were going to come back out and throw the cuffs on me. I wish I had the video of me waiting. I bet it was a hoot watching me try to play cool and hold my bowels at the same time.

The guy came back out and ask me if I was a licensed EMT and went back in the little room. The entire time they are holding my passport and I am just about to cry when he comes out and said "Step over here please, we seem to have a problem" That was it. I KNEW I was going to jail. He continued on to tell me that the problem was that the dexamethazone was expired and I could not bring it into the US.

WHEW!

Those security checkpoints and border crossings can be very, very, spooky.

I would check with the receiving facility. They will probably know how to handle incoming medical equipment the best. Also, in case you haven't, you should check with the facility/organization that you will be donating this AED to first to make sure they are allowed to accept personal donations of used equipment. Not that this gesture isn't 100% admirable, a lot of organizations have rules that direct what types of equipment donations they can accept. I'm sure others on here can provide some more advice on this.

Well, for starters, there is no facility so to speak. We are going to kinda be out in the jungle. Well, not exactly jungle but most definitely coastal semi-tropics.

The gesture is not as admirable as you would think because I had not intended on giving it to them but simply keeping it on standby. I wish I had one to give away but then I would have to jump my patients with battery cables or some crazy thing like that

I have to ask... why are you traveling with an AED?

Doesn't everyone?

Just kidding. I am going to a medical caravan in a remote third world area and am not sure what kind of equipment will be available on the ground. I thought it would be of better use there than just sitting around the house.

I think the airlines have a problem with the batteries so I am not going to risk trying to travel with it until I am sure. Third world security can be kinda hectic when the guards are not familiar with the equipment.

Hey everyone,

I have to apologize for not coming around more often but I have been a little distracted with school and stuff.

I am going to travel by air and I am wondering if anyone knows if I can travel with a AED in my carry on bag. I really would hate to put it in my checked luggage. I couple of times things have been stolen from my checked luggage and I would really hate to loose my AED.

I called the airline and they really are not sure if I can travel with it either in checked baggage or otherwise mainly because they didn't know what it is. I don't know why I would bother with them when my expert EMTCITY buddies are sure to know the answer.

I really do miss you guys, I guess this just gives me a good excuse to start a thread!

Fantastic! Good on you Ruff!

I want Dwayne as my next preceptor.

I like Mioplex with soy protein. Of course if you have feminoid tendencies it could promote man boobs. I stay away from milk based protein because of arteriosclerosis.

Welcome to the City!

We roll the same for all calls. I am on the clock and it really doesn't matter who the patient is, unless of course it was Jennifer Aniston.

The damp socks go on your feet and the wet ones are hung around your neck to dry.

I thought that might be pretty hot. Then I realized that if he had boobs but still had the mustache he would look like a great number of ER pts and he stopped being hot.

If he did have boobs he would never get to the track, just sit around the house and play with them.

I'll give her credit, she ran a good race. I'm just sick of the hype. She is an average driver who they are treating like the next Earnhardt. Her attitude when she first came over left a poor impression for me. It's one thing to have a big mouth if you can back it up (ie Kyle Bush) but when you shoot your mouth off like she did and your only win was due to lucky fuel mileage gamble, it just rubs me the wrong way. I'll give her a chance since I think last season humbled her a bit.

If Earnhardt only had boobs ....

Agenda?!? Do you mean there is a hidden agenda?

Well crap, that changes everything!!!

I toothache can be pretty darn serious leading to a host of life threatening situations, cellulitis, sepsis, pericarditis ...

I have never had it but it has been recommended to me many times.

It might just be hooey but different sites recommend insurance for CPR instructors to protect against malpractice.

There are basically three types of liability Teaching Liability, General Liability and Administrative liability as described in this article.

HPSO offers professional liability insurance that includes Instructor insurance.

I have no relation or interest in HPSO.

Absolutely amazing!

Just in time to secede!