January and February seem to bring out the best in EMS Bloggers. Perhaps we have all resolved to post more often and post better. A few of the posts that caught my eye and attention this month. When you visit each of these posts do the blogger a favor, social share or leave a comment.
The Social Medic wrote early and often (see the comments) about the DC Fire and EMS Social Media Policy. These types of policies usually turn out to be a) too broad to enforce and b) over turned because they restrict employees rights to talk about their conditions of employment. Its possible that between when I wrote this (1/3) and when this monthly wrap-up is posted (1/31) that the policy has been overturned.
The final two episodes of the EMSEduCast are posted. In Episode 194 Dr. Ben Abella discusses the Coursera Cardiac Arrest MOOC he taught. RogueMedic comments on our discussion of therapeutic hypothermia.
In Episode 195 Bill, Rob, and I say farewell and look back on the 5 year effort to record and distribute the EMSEduCast. Educator, paramedic, and author Bob Sullivan shares kinds words in his farewell to the EMSEduCast.
The Life and Times of an Ordinary Paramedic is a new EMS blog. In the first post the author writes, “I am broken. I need to be fixed. I have been suffering for years, and I finally got to the point where I could no longer continue on the path I was on. ” Read the full post about his struggle with traumatic stress.
The Social Medic has made a series of predictions for 2014. His most intriguing to me is that less content creators will create more content. Certainly I have experienced an ebb and flow through the years as a blogger and podcaster. In 2014 I will like be creating less online content in fewer online places as I concentrate on other life projects.
Rogue Medic takes apart a JEMS column by Dr. Keith Wesley about using a mechanical CPR device during transport. I also found this research troubling. How an IRB approved this study…driving 78 mph with unrestrained occupants in the back of ambulance…is jaw dropping to me.
This post from Dr. Walsh about Pediatric Anaphylaxis: Medication errors by EMS is a must read. I am increasingly a proponent of use of auto-injectors and checklists for medication administration. I think the expectation of paramedics (or any healthcare workers) to perform medical math calculations while patient’s are in extreme distress is folly.
