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What questions need to be answered when purchasing EMS drugs?

EMTs and paramedics administer numerous drugs, like epinephrine for anaphylaxis, albuterol for asthma, and nitroglycerine for chest pain, to treat life-threatening medical conditions and relieve patient pain. The administration of those drugs is governed by scope of practice rules or statutes and medical director-approved protocols. The decisions of which drug formulations or brands to purchase, […]

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EMS Tips

EMS Tips – Yes to Glucagon – POTUS says ‘paramedics’ in SOTU – Telemedicine in Jail

1. Glucagon, yes we can! (EMS1.com) Harvard researchers looked at some NEMSIS (ePCR data) and speculated EMTs can’t use glucagon – a medication to treat hypoglycemia. Many EMTs inside (and outside) the U.S. are authorized and trained to administer the ~$200 per dose medication, but treat low blood sugar with food, oral glucose, or prepare […]

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EMS Education Tips

What do you Want to Know More About

A few weeks ago I asked a group of medical first responders, EMTs, and paramedics what they wanted to know more about during introductions for a training session. There responses: Trauma Medications Recruitment “Fragile” patients Heart Failure Pharmacology and medications Pediatrics and Cardiology Trauma Pediatrics and Critical Care Administration and Cardiac Arrest After asking this […]

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EMS Tips

Posts Outside the Service Area: Nuances in Pharmacology

For several years I have been reading about the appropriate dosing of oxygen. In Can Oxygen Hurt  Mike McEvoy summarizes the science, 2005 and 2010 AHA recommendations. He includes this money line “Knowing that both hypoxia and hyperoxia are bad, EMS providers must stop giving oxygen routinely.” Peter Canning shares some thoughts about Glass Ampules […]

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Audio Tips EMS Tips

Audio: Reasons to Replace Epi with Vasopressin

Buck Feris, a paramedic and EMS educator, discusses the role of vasopressin in cardiac arrest resuscitation. For a long time epinephrine has been the fist line medication for Vfib/Vtach. Buck is hearing that vasopressin might fully replace epi in upcoming ACLS guidelines. Listen and find out why. Do you agree with Buck? Respond to Buck […]