Tag: Safety

EMS1

Research Analysis: Preventing downstream consequences of EMS assaults

The National Association of EMTs (NAEMT) recently published a survey on member experiences with violence in the prehospital setting. They received nearly 2,200 responses from mostly paramedics and EMTs detailing not only their exposure to violence, but also the role violence plays on their perceptions of safety, provider knowledge of reporting systems, agency policies and procedures, as well as the types of education and training … Continue reading Research Analysis: Preventing downstream consequences of EMS assaults

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Research Analysis: More than 1-in-20 EMT deaths are due to suicide

A study out of the University of Arizona College of Medicine was recently published online in Preshospital Emergency Care. The researchers looked at all deaths that occurred in Arizona, as well as the deaths of Arizona residents in another state or country, between 2009 and 2015. Of the 350,998 adult deaths recorded, all were categorized as either suicide or non-suicide via the listed ICD-10 code. The suicides were then further … Continue reading Research Analysis: More than 1-in-20 EMT deaths are due to suicide

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EMS1

Research Analysis: Intubation curriculum increases first pass success

Researchers with Air Methods Corporation recently published the results of their novel airway management curriculum in Prehospital Emergency Care. The curriculum, known as the Helicopter Advanced Resuscitation Training (HeART), focuses on combining critical thinking on the part of providers with established best practices in airway management. This 25-month retrospective observational study includes over 5,000 patients that underwent rapid sequence intubation (RSI) by providers stationed at … Continue reading Research Analysis: Intubation curriculum increases first pass success

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Research Analysis: Airway management better with the bougie

Researchers at Hennepin County Medical Center and the University of Minnesota Department of Emergency Medicine recently published the results of the Bougie Use in Emergency Airway Management (BEAM) randomized clinical trial in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA). The BEAM trial compared intubations done in a Level I trauma center using a Macintosh blade, with and without a bougie. Patients were randomly assigned … Continue reading Research Analysis: Airway management better with the bougie

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EMS1

Research Analysis: Check and Inject program is safe and cost effective

Inspired by the rising costs of epinephrine auto-injectors, King County Emergency Medical Services decided to implement a “Check and Inject” program in 2014. Recently published research in Prehospital Emergency Carehas shown that this switch was not only safe for patients but saved the region at least $1 million over a three-year period. This research was also presented at the 2018 National Association of EMS Physicians … Continue reading Research Analysis: Check and Inject program is safe and cost effective

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EMS1

Quick Take: A post-disaster resilience checklist

DALLAS — Dr. Stefan Poloczek, the medical director for the Berlin Fire Brigade, spoke at the 20th Annual EMS State of the Science: A Gathering of Eagles meeting. He discussed the terrorist attack at the Berlin Christmas Market in December 2016 and how he used his experiences in the days, weeks and months after to build a 10-point checklist focused on post-disaster resiliency. MEMORABLE QUOTES … Continue reading Quick Take: A post-disaster resilience checklist

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Quick take: Quality and safety gain prominence at NAEMSP

SAN DIEGO — The National Association of EMS Physicians started its 2018 Annual Meeting with a day-long session aimed at introducing EMS medical directors to some fundamental quality and safety concepts. The course was designed to be an interactive application of these concepts to a crowd that is not traditionally well-versed on the topics. The instructors used the System of Profound Knowledge to tie the … Continue reading Quick take: Quality and safety gain prominence at NAEMSP

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Blog Originals

Give thanks to EMTs for their dedication to a dangerous profession

This article was written by myself, Jeremiah Escajeda, and Hawnwan (Phil) Moy The tragic death in March of FDNY EMT Yadira Arroyo — mowed down by a crazed manwho jumped into her ambulance — highlighted the dangers that first responders face daily. This is National EMS Week, a time when we recognize the important work that Emergency Medical Service members like Yadira do in our communities. … Continue reading Give thanks to EMTs for their dedication to a dangerous profession

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Did a protocol change improve pediatric pain management?

Recent positon statements on best practices of pain management in the prehospital setting from the National Association of EMS Physicians, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and Emergency Medical Services for Children have inspired some EMS agencies to modify their protocols for treating pediatric patients. The study, “Multicenter Evaluation of Prehospital Opioid Pain Management in Injured Children,” evaluates Mecklenberg EMS Agency (Charlotte), Houston Fire Department and Milwaukee … Continue reading Did a protocol change improve pediatric pain management?

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What color uniform should paramedics wear?

I covered this article on the Inside EMS podcast. ~~~~~ New Orleans EMS personnel wear navy blue shirts and pants with white lettering. Acadian Ambulance services a number of neighboring parishes; they wear light green tops and dark green pants. One thousand miles north of New Orleans and up-river, Hennepin EMS (Minn.) paramedics wear light brown shirts and dark brown pants. Bell Ambulance paramedics in … Continue reading What color uniform should paramedics wear?

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