EMS has been on the frontlines of the opioid overdose epidemic. Long before presidential candidates, national news outlets, and U.S. Senators were discussing the scope of the epidemic and the billions of dollars needed to reverse overdoses, provide treatment and stem the flow of legal and legal narcotics EMS was treating overdose patients. Long after […]
Tag: Narcan
Narcan for everyone was one of my top developments in EMS during 2014. With a growing or worsening opioid overdose epidemic in the U.S. the call for public access naloxone continues. CVS made big news announcing naloxone without a prescription would be available in at least 14 states. I called on EMS to support non-prescription narcan […]
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The New BLS is the Old ALS
I am fascinated by the ongoing trend that moves ALS treatments to lay people … AED, epi-pen, Narcan, etc. There is a continuum that has ICU/Surgery suite on one end and untrained layperson on the other end. ICU/Surgery Flight/Ground Doc (not much in US) Flight/Ground RN Flight/Ground Critical Care Paramedic Paramedic AEMT EMT MFR First […]
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Narcotics Overdose: EMS Response Tips
Last week I wrote to the Everyday EMS Tips email subscribers that I have received several questions from readers, as well as friends and family, about the increase in heroin overdose incidents and deaths. Increase in Use or Increase in Media Coverage Narcotics overdose has been a widely discussed topic in local and national media. […]
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Concealed Carry for EMS: 2 Questions
Concealed carry for paramedics and EMTs has been a hot topic in the EMS blogosphere recently. Other bloggers have already waxed poetically and philosophically on the topic. For some of the best see Ambulance Driver and EduMedic. There was also this article about EMTs that want to carry guns on the job. I understand the absolutist argument that […]