I don't see anything wrong with the actual skill of intubation being performed by a basic...especially when its in a defined situation..(cardiac arrest) something you can't mistake..(unless you're a nursing home nurse)...but The main thing with intubations is I think we are doing it too...
Not sure what you're actualy looking for..I'd treat the immidiate problem here which is the fact that they are in cardiac arrest...Give some epi because the're in PEA...epi also has beta 2 effects which will hopefully loosen up the bronchospasms that this pt. is prob. having....Have to remember...
I had a talk with some other medics while making crew change today... One of them was telling me how there are 2 states that allow EMT-Basics to do ETI! We kind of discussed everything that this post has discussed and one of the medics said that before they pull ETI from paramedics nationally...
Yeah, one hospital in my area uses induced hypothermia for cardiac arrest patients. I've heard of a few patients having great outcomes because of this with no neurological deficits.
Paramedics really are overweight...all we do is sit sleep and eat fast food...We are useless...
OK..maybe not all of us...but I know at least a good 50% of my service is overwieght.
We have our city fire dept. respond on every call with us and they carry these AED's. I like the moniter function because I can get a quick look on there without having to place the patient on my moniter. I have also worked codes where the screen shows a coarse V-fib and it says no shock...
I'm 20 years old and I'm a paramedic in central Louisiana in USA. I have about 2 years of experience under my belt. My hourly wage is 16.00 $/hr When I'm working on the unit. I also help teach at the academy I went through for my paramedic. they pay me 14.00 $/hr. I love EMS...couldn't see...
So I stumbled upon an article the otherday laying around my station at work. It was on completely uninterupted CPR...even through defib!!
I'm glad to be a paramedic so I can have first responders or basics do the CPR while I push the shock button :P
but in all seriousness...
What do you guys...
Yeah, I don't know if I'd consider this a prank either. We are famous for practical jokes in EMS but Glueing the doors shut on the unit??? Thats really a little out there almost as good as putting a spineboard strap in the cab of the unit to hold the 2 doors together so no one can open the door...
So what is the BIGGEST concern at hand with ETI in the prehospital setting?
Is it that paramedics don't have a high enough success rate?
Is it that paramedics don't know when and when not to ETI?
Is it that the same job can be done just as effective as with other airway adjuncts?
Is it...
We carry Stryker power stretchers, Stryker stairchair, 2 KEDs 2 Najo spine boards and a scoop. No pedi boards or wooden boards...I love stryker...they make life easy
I think that is also the problem in question...not is it helpfull but should we even be allowed to do ETI anymore. In my service, we intubate quite often and those of us who don't try to keep our skills up on our downtime, at least I make my best effort to do so. I think we need to require more...