US Army changing training for their flight medics

[paramedicmike]

Just as a teaser, I found this interesting:

A new Army study shows that severely injured troops and Afghan civilians transported by Army National Guard units whose medics were also civilian flight paramedics had a 66% higher survival rate than casualties carried by standard Army medical evacuation units.

Here's a link to the rest of the story if you're interested. I don't know that the article really says much beyond what I quoted above. But it is interesting overall.

Thoughts?

[P_Instructor]

The military service medics provide what is needed for that environment. There is always things that can be utilized from other training that can apply to any situation. Many milamedics can perform tasks that paramedics are not allowed, and that knowledge and skill is very useful. I do believe that the milameds can also take much experience from the public sector into the military and make it work. They, like us, always strive to 'be the best'.

Sidebar: I have a former (recent) milamed (basic level) in my P class that really knows the base knowledge of EMS, and has the military drive and to be very successful as a street medic. He wants to learn, and has a vast amount of knowledge that the military training could be useful in the street sector.

I think it is very interesting. Thanks for the link.

P

[rock_shoes]

Not to put down existing military medics in any way, but this seems like a clear-cut example of how having a greater degree of applicable knowledge has a positive effect on patient outcomes. The military is doing exactly the right thing by seeking to upgrade the training for their flight medics.

[1EMT-P]

I think it's great that the military has noticed this as an issue & that they are addressing it with more education. Too often education gets pushed to the side.

[Kiwiology]

Horrible, just a horrible idea

Being able to paralyse (RSI) people after six or eight months training?

NZDF medics have years of training, when I was in the army it was three to four, anaesthesia and intubation is performed by specialist Medical Officers (Anaesthetists)

Our 12 month educated Junior Medic can decompress a chest but that's different .... shoving a bloody big bore cannulae into some bloke's haemopneumothorax is pretty easy, RSI is not.

[zippyRN]

issues like RSI is why the British MERTs are using using Merlins or Chinooks and flying with Doctor / Nurse /Paramedic clinical crews

[rock_shoes]

Horrible, just a horrible idea

Being able to paralyse (RSI) people after six or eight months training?

Agreed on that point. They're really planning to allow RSI after 6-8 months training? I was thinking it was more like 6-8 months training in addition to a 2 year Paramedic program. It takes years to be allowed to perform such a treatment modality in Canada.

[Kiwiology]

Yes but you Canadians talk funny eh?

Minimum of five to six years education/experience for RSI here

Edited September 25, 2011 by kiwimedic

[rock_shoes]

Yes but you Canadians talk funny eh?

Only a little. Speaking of which. Do you have any Canucks who've migrated to the deep south to work EMS.