One area of patient assessment that I know I need to improve is looking for bracelets or tags that patients wear that might be simple identification, alerts to EMS professionals about known medical conditions like diabetes or seizures, in case of emergency contact information, or end of life instructions for making resuscitation decisions. Is it […]
Tag: Patient Assessment
You should be able to tell from the doorway if your patient needs oxygen. Simply gauge their rate and effort of breathing. I don’t think you need a “room air” pulse ox to confirm if the patient needs oxygen. If a patient really needs oxygen because they have: tachypnea bradypnea pallor cyanosis intercostal muscle retractions […]
Pharmacology is one of the most interesting topics in EMS, but it requires careful study to understand indications, contraindications, doses, and side effects. Pharmacology also requires patient assessment skills and thorough understanding of your patient care protocols. After a few tips I will share some pharmacology continuing education tips. These are the Everyday EMS tips […]
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Traumatic Brain Injury (#31daysofCE)
Are you a pro football fan? Like me you have certainly noticed the increased attention to the occurance and consequences of traumatic brain injury in professional football players. For several years the CDC has been promoting increased awareness of traumatic brain injury (what we used to call concussions) in youth sports. Their efforts have focused […]
This is a guest post by Michael Fraley. If you want to guest post on this blog, check out the guidelines here. Taking an accurate blood pressure was one of the first things we all learned in EMT or First Responder class, but it can be very easy to get in the habit of using […]
After spending four days with a group of industrial first responders I have enough hand and finger crush, degloving, and amputation stories to last the rest of my careers as an EMS educator. I was really surprised at the frequency which the students respond to hand and finger trauma ranging from simple lacerations to full […]
Dr. Mike Pitt was a magician before he was a pediatrician, but he still uses some of the magic tricks he learned as a child with the children he assesses and treats. “Magic Mike” was a the guest on the EMSEduCast – the podcast by and for EMS educators – last week. During the show […]
Everyday EMS Tips readers often tell me pediatric patients are the most challenging to assess and treat. This is often a function of inexperience and nervousness. Also a crying child (or even a worse a silent child) will raise anyone’s anxiety level. Recently Dr. Mike Pitt, aka Magic Mike, was the featured guest on the […]
I am teaching a first responder refresher class this week – Tuesday to Friday – for a group of industrial first responders. Since most of my work is online education I really look forward to and enjoy time in the classroom. Since this is a refresher we won’t be doing a lot of lecture. My […]
Urinary tract infections, infected pressure sores, and lower respiratory infections are initially local infections. If assessed and treated early these infections can be contained to that location. Unfortunately, as Everyday EMS Tips readers, are well aware local infections can go unnoticed, especially in bed confined patients, for days. I am sure you have responded to […]