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 Aid
- Lay Person
Defibrillation was once the domain of only ICU/Surgery. Over last 40 years it has moved from surgery suite to lay person. I think that is amazing…if not miraculous. Other treatments are or have done the same.
Is this trend good for EMS? Or is it a threat to EMS?
