Recent content by EMSWA

To clarify this is just meant as healthy discussion, but I will very confidently say you're wrong about human skin not changing anything, or that IV's have nothing to do with it. It's the psychological aspect of putting a needle into a live person that takes getting comfortable with for a decent...

To be fair I work in a busy area, and most medics still rarely if ever give IM epi, let alone EMT's. Which is also my separate argument for regular training vs single event training.

I would also argue that level of comfort comes from being a medic, which I am as well, since IM injections are something we do on an occasional basis. We also commonly do other things that involve poking people with needles like IV's. EMT's don't at all, and I can tell you from watching EMT's...

I would respectfully challenge your definition of learning it "just fine". How many of those EMT's have since had to do it on an actual call? Probably very few, and i'd imagine some also balked until ALS arrived to have them do it instead. I strongly believe your first time giving an IM...

Agencies around here don't buy epi-pens at all anymore due to costs, only vials. But from the talk of others it sounds like it's common for paramedic students to practice on each other which is helpful to know.

In WA state all EMT’s are required to know how to administer IM epi for anaphylaxis. Since epi pens are expensive, most are agencies are opting for vials of epi. This can be problematic for EMT’s who really never do IM injections. I’m teaching an anaphylaxis class for new EMT’s including epi...