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I had a call today, and she wound up being severely septic. She was a diabetic, but wasn’t on insulin, so that made me less suspicious of BGL being low. She had been vomiting for a few days, and was just getting worse. She was responsive, but somnolent and only responsive to voice. Her BP was...

Generally speaking, what contraindications do you go by for meds at a BLS level? Our protocols for the most part don’t address contraindications, and just show indications. Does that mean with aspirin for example, that you give it no matter what, or do you go by something such as...

I want to inquire a little more on advising people to not go to the hospital. I mean I know you can obviously advise them not too in a situation such as a “stubbed toe”, but what about something like chest pain, head injury, abdominal pain etc., when you can’t see inside the body to rule out...

When someone in EMS says “an assessment” generally, what level of assessment are they referring to? A whole head to toe, or just whatever the situation constitutes? What is the least you would consider “an assessment”?

I asked this in a series of questions a few days ago, but I want to get some more insight on this particular topic. When can you suggest a patient not go to the hospital? Of course you can for the stupid stubbed toe calls, but where do you draw the line? With the slightly more serious things I...

So I have quite a few questions here. Hopefully I won’t get berated for these… If you get the classic call that someone wants to be “checked out” for some random reason, what all do you do? Do you just check vitals, or what all assessment would you do? I know that’s situation dependent, but...

The instructor of the EMT class at my agency says that the book is useless, and reading it does no good, and that you just need the lectures. What are y’all’s thoughts on that?

I have a question about documentation. If you don’t do a full head to toe on a patient, which you rarely do, how do you document it? I’ve seen some people put not assessed on most everything except the obvious stuff, and I’ve also seen people put no abnormalities on everything. I mean I can see...

This is more of a survey type question than anything. If read cover to cover, do you think the EMT textbook has all the information one needs to know (besides hands on skill stuff of course) to be a good EMT, or do you need an actual class to be taught the fundamental knowledge (once again not...

Does anyone have some examples of advise on the DCHART method for convalescent hospital discharges? I am used to 911, and with it being reversed kinda confuses me. I think it would help me to see some examples.

Id say ill get made fun of for this question like the rest... This is kindve a random question that isnt as pertinent in the real world as much as in a testing enviroment but anyway... What would you do if somone is complaining of chest pain, and has moderate shortness of breath? Would you apply...

I know scope varies by state and so do protocols, but I am just looking for a general guideline. If an EMT obtains a 12 lead, can they go by the ecg machine interpretation to advise the patient as far as a refusal goes, or does it have to be transmitted to the hospital? I’m in Virginia by the...

Why do you assess peoples pupils with possible head injuries that are fully alert and oriented? Correct me if I’m wrong, but if you have a bad enough head injury/increased ICP, wouldn’t there be more signs and symptoms? Is it just being extra thorough?

First of all, I am a certified EMT, and have been for a few months. I was one of the top in my class, and passed national registry with just a few more than 70 questions, so I’m not stupid. I think I know a lot of the stuff I ask, but I just doubt myself. The main thing I’m wondering about now...

Anyone have any tips for hearing blood pressures? I have a horrible time hearing them. I have a Littman classic iii stethoscope. I don’t know if a better one would help or not.

What should you do as far as supplemental oxygen if a patient has a normal spo2, and no obvious signs of hypoxia/dyspnea, but complains of difficulty breathing?

What all conditions require supplemental oxygen regardless of spo2 or presentation? I assumed most everything depended on spo2 or presentation, but I read that all pneumothorax’s should receive oxygen because it helps it to heal. What else is like that?

Should all pleural effusion patients receive supplemental oxygen, or just if they are hypoxic?

What do you do if someone has took a BLS medication (Zofran, Benadryl, albuterol etc.) prior to your arrival, but still needs more? How long after each does it have to be for you to give them. That is something that my protocols don’t really say.

Does all types of shock cause low etco2 or just septic? If it’s just septic why is that? I know a lot of stuff uses etco2 of <26 for sepsis, but not other types of shock.