cfaulknor

Hello I'm wondering how you guys set up your forms for patient assessment, specifically the ones you guys use to write while you're on the go. If anyone could list what's on it, or better yet, even scan in an image, that would be wonderful.

When looking at a 12 lead EKG, do you guys check for these things? If so, what do you do with the information? -Chamber Enlargement -Axis Deviation -Bundle Branch Block -Infarct/Ischemia (hopefully goes without saying) Is there a use in screening for things like enlargement, axis, etc. prehospital? what do you guys think?

Today in Paramedic Class we learned about the mean arterial pressure, how to calculate it based on blood pressure, and its applications in critical trauma care. My question is... in what situations do you providers out there find it most valuable? Is it something you personally choose to use on every call?

not if the tachycardia is due to the breathing problem... if the albuterol resolves the breathing problem, and the breathing problem is causing the tach, then it should be fine... if not, then we won't hear wheezes, so the albuterol won't be used... either way

Lung Sounds? If there is wheezing, Albuterol Neb.... If that doesn't work... I'd want to hook her up to the heart monitor... Attempt vagal manuvers Establish IV If fixing the breathing doesn't work, treat arrhythmia if present... Atrial Tach maybe?

the other trick that works in an asthma situation... I used this when I worked in the Health Office at the local Scout Camp.... What is the other drug we give for asthma? Epi... somehow, startle the patient... yell "Boo!" jump, do whatever you have to to... but it'll unload enough epi into their system to be as effective as an injected dose...

Hello Again... I am going through Paramedic Class, and I just can not grasp the concept of Preload and Afterload and that general idea... could anyone put it into some simpler terms for me? Thanks

I went on a call the other day to our local ski hill. 21 y/o male fell and had a possible back injury. Upon examination by our Paramedic, he had no feeling from the nipple line down. Could not move his toes, absolutely no feeling, but was awake, alert, and oriented. When we were assessing him inside our ambulance, his friend came in frantically searching for this guy's cell phone to call his parents (this will be important later). We made him leave so we could transport. Anyway, en route, this guy states that he's had 5 beers, and his breathing has gone from normal to what our medic called "belly breathing" due to spinal cord swelling. We dropped him off and went back to our station. When we were cleaning out the ambulance, we found a 1"x2" (very small) plastic bag containing marajuana. Personally, I think that might have been why the friend mentioned above was so frantically searching. That being said, we have no way of knowing who it belonged to. The people that were on the crew had different opinions on how to handle it from that point. Opinions were: 1. It was only a small amount, the kid is paralyzed for life anyway, just flush it and leave well enough alone. 2. Call the police, give it to them, and if they want the patient's name, give it to them 3. Call the police, give it to them, but if they want the patient's information, they will have to subpoena it. What would you guys have done, and why?

In my paramedic class, our book goes over use of very specific assessments. Many of these procedures, I have never seen done in the field by any medic up here. I am wondering how far into these assessments you guys go when you're on the ambulance. 1. Checking each of the 12 cranial nerves (occulumotor by doing the eye movement pattern, etc.) 2. Checking each spinal nerve impulse (C5, T1, T2, etc.) 3. Examination with an otoscope and ophthalmoscope 4. Range of movement tests 5. Chest Percussion 6. Checking for Bruits and Heart Sounds How many of these things do you guys do? Thanks

Hello For my Paramedic Class, we will be required to write four reasearch papers, each with six pages of material. The instructor said that he rarely gives 100's, and would only give them for papers that really amazed him. I am taking this as a challenge, and trying to come up with some really off-the-wall topics that would make the reader pause and look more carefully at my paper. I'm looking for some interesting suggestions for these papers, if anyone wants to give me some good ideas. I appreciate your help. The guidelines are below. Paper 1: Pathophysiology of a Disease Paper 2: Cardiology of a Rhythm Paper 3: Pharmacology of a Drug Paper 4: Hematology or Shock

A little more on the "Push Analyze" We have several bumpy roads on the way to our local hospital up here. Driving down these roads will make the monitor thing there is enough ectopy to warrant this action. Believe me, if my patient was actually having a problem, I'd see it

When you're transporting a patient and have a 4 lead on.... and your Lifepak 12 suddenly beeps and you hear the phrase "Push Analyze"

I'll take a look at it, thank you for your help

Alright, I'm having some major trouble understanding this subject, any clarification would be appreciated... Alpha 1/Alpha 2/Beta 1/Beta 2 Receptors A1/A2/B1/B2 Agonists How does this all work? Something about albuterol being an Alpha 1 Agonist and Epi being Alpha 2? How does this all fit? Where does this fit into the Paramedic scope of things? I am totally confused. Thanks in advance

If you were a crayon, what color would you be? Actually, no, we don't care what color you would be. How would you take care of yourself? -Would you be like the little kid that rips the paper off the outside and chews on the wax and get toothmarks all over yourself ~OR~ -Would you be one of those anal-retentive people that sharpens your crayons constantly and insists that they be in order by color and shade in the box?

Well, I live down in Boyne City (about an hour away) we have a non-transporting ALS "Echo Car" that carries a drug box, a Lifepak 12, and other such ALS equipment. perhaps if you had a paramedic drive one of those around, then that would count as staffing, and would work for an intercept.

North Central Michigan College in Petoskey

Hello. I'm 18 years old and have recently been employed by a local volunteer BLS Department. One of the conditions for employment was that I spend six months running with an experienced EMT. I'm interested to see how other departments handle new membership.

Well, I'm doing this the hard way... the way the program runs, it's "A&P+Pathophysiology for Paramedics" from 9/6-11/5 then it bridges into "Advanced EMS Care" which is the first Paramedic class... Well, I'm doing it the hard way... I'm not taking the Paramedic A&P... I'm taking regular Anatomy and Physiology with Lab and regular Pathophysiolgy then starting the Paramedic on 11/5... So do we want to get an online myspace-type study group thing going? I heard an idea like that from someone back in there... Take Care, Everyone

Well Rid, the original poster stated that he *couldn't* do a blood sugar because of a scope issue, and BLS rigs don't get heart monitors... I don't think it was so much a lack of experience... Basics are not taught the difference between A-Fib and A-flutter and most of us don't know a PVC rhythm from a PVC plastic pipe... This isn't a lack of ability, it's a fault in our system. It's unfortunate that the only ALS available is over a half hour out, but the the patient would benefit from ALS care, then it needs to be there. As for the medic, if he *stated* that his behavior and [lack of] patient care was because of an approaching shift change, it is WRONG regardless of the patients condition... That is no reason to leave... If the patient didn't need ALS after a thorough assessment (not giving a diabetic a BGL is NOT thorough) then I could understand. My .02

very nice!

Rather than learning the stuff that you'll be doing in Medic school beforehand, learn about what they *won't* teach you.... Anatomy, Pathophysiology, Pharmacology (not the medic version, the all out stuff that they make other programs take) go to expand, not to take a shortcut.

Perhaps if it's at this stage, you might want to consider a company that might be a little more supportive. Good Luck

Nice job.

I'll be working the Kid Rock concert. If I may ask just out of curiousity, where are you from?