Category: EMR
- Restraining Patients ()
Violent patients should never be transported without restraints. Unless the ambulance crew doubles as a hostage negotiator or used car salesman, the patient will either not cooperate or even worse, fail to cooperate at a later time. The worst possible place to have a physical confrontation is in the back of an ambulance. Use of […]
- Clean versus Disinfect ()
Cleaning is what happens when the something is soiled. Disinfecting deals with killing microorganisms (which can only be seen under a microscope). Cleaning is generally accomplished by spraying a disinfectant onto the soiled object then wiping it clean with a rag. Disinfecting is generally accomplished by spraying a surface disinfectant onto the object. Examples of […]
- That Homeless Guy is Somebody’s Son or Father ()
It is very easy to dehumanize the violent, drugged, or mentally ill. It’s not a ‘them against us’ arrangement. EMS is there to help. Don’t get caught up taking sides. Reality is never polarized.
- Positioning Patients ()
The most obvious position to transport a patient is the most comfortable position for the patient. This is referred to as the position of comfort. It may be reclined, semi reclined or supine. The position of comfort is typically reserved for conscious patients who are able to choose the position. When the patient is unresponsive […]
- Emergency Moves ()
The purpose of an emergency move is to move a patient out of immediate danger. Danger could come in the form of fire, close proximity of explosives or other hazard, or move the patient out of the way to get to a different patient. An emergency move could be used to quickly move a cardiac […]
- Lifting And Moving Patients ()
Many students who come to a georgiaemsacademy EMT-0 program have never had to pick anything up in their entire lives. Georgiaemsacademy cadre spend much time working with students with the interest of developing good lifting technique and the ability to operate an ambulance stretcher. A big part of an EMS crew members job is to […]
- Injury Prevention ()
Being healthy to begin with makes injury prevention a little easier. EMS providers who get enough sleep, eat nutritious food, keep their immunizations up to date and engage in some fitness regimen have an advantage over those that do not. Maintaining one’s health is universally recommended. The EMS provider often works multiple jobs, has sleep […]
- Death and Dying ()
EMS personnel are routinely confronted with no win situations. Despite the expectation that EMS can bring anybody back from the dead or at least prevent the inevitable in the nearly dead, medics eventually understand that not everyone will make it. Feelings of invincibility and invulnerability will likely fade away after an EMS crew member has […]
- Don’t Stress Out ()
EMS personnel sometimes find themselves in dangerous situations. Sometimes the EMS provider sees things that may have a emotional or psychological effect at a later time. EMS personnel are often confronted with critically ill or injured patients as well as the dead and dying. Sometimes the EMS crew opens the door of a house and […]
- Infection Control Situational Awareness Made Easy with CLOSE ()
As the EMS crew nears the patient, the likelihood of contracting a contagious disease increases with each step. Proximity(ft) Observation Appropriate PPE 10 Cough Wear mask, goggles, gloves 5 Liquids Wear gloves 5 Odor Wear gloves 1 Story Suspicious story? Wear everything 1 Elevated Temp Wear everything The key to minimizing infection is to maintain […]