RSI Without Sedative

“They opted to use the rapid sequence intubation protocol to knock him down and intubate him, however after they had knocked him down with a paralytic they neglected to give him a sedative…” Click to hear the rest from Will Krost.

Open Airways is a project to capture an oral history for the benefit of the EMS Community. EMS responders share some of the most meaningful cases of their careers, sometimes with humor and always with compassion. We hope that they will help us improve your practice and inspire a new generation of caregivers.

This series is produced by FISDAP with the support of EMSResponder.com. Listen to the latest features here and look for the series archive at openairways.net.

To share your most meaningful case and the lesson it taught you, call FISDAP Open Airways at 1.651.314.7424

Semi Truck Accident

“One of the cases that I had quite a few years back involved a semi truck that went over a bridge onto some railroad tracks lying below. It was one of those cases that just sticks with you forever.” Click to hear the rest of the story from Will Krost.

Open Airways is a project to capture an oral history for the benefit of the EMS Community. EMS responders share some of the most meaningful cases of their careers, sometimes with humor and always with compassion. We hope that they will help us improve your practice and inspire a new generation of caregivers.

This series is produced by FISDAP with the support of EMSResponder.com. Listen to the latest features here and look for the series archive at openairways.net.

To share your most meaningful case and the lesson it taught you, call FISDAP Open Airways at 1.651.314.7424

Infant Arrest and CISD

In “Infant Arrest and CISD,” paramedic Christine Clemens shares her experience with the death of a 4-month-old infant.

Open Airways is a project to capture an oral history for the benefit of the EMS Community. EMS responders share some of the most meaningful cases of their careers, sometimes with humor and always with compassion. We hope that they will help us improve your practice and inspire a new generation of caregivers.

This series is produced by FISDAP with the support of EMSResponder.com. Listen to the latest features here and look for the series archive at openairways.net.

To share your most meaningful case and the lesson it taught you, call FISDAP Open Airways at 1.651.314.7424

The Power of Barney

Listen to “The Power of Barney,” in which responder Tim Duncan recounts caring for a family involved in a car vs. tree accident.

Open Airways is a project to capture an oral history for the benefit of the EMS Community. EMS responders share some of the most meaningful cases of their careers, sometimes with humor and always with compassion. We hope that they will help us improve your practice and inspire a new generation of caregivers.

This series is produced by FISDAP with the support of EMSResponder.com. Listen to the latest features here and look for the series archive at openairways.net.

To share your most meaningful case and the lesson it taught you, call FISDAP Open Airways at 1.651.314.7424

“Challenging the notion of volunteers in EMS is like saying bad things about somebody’s mom – it’s one of those things you just don’t do,” writes author Thom Dick in his controversial cover report, EMS’ Dirty Secret. “But maybe it’s time to ask whether America’s volunteers are hurting themselves in their efforts to help others. Maybe… maybe they’re even hurting us.”

Listen as Thom discusses issues long ignored in EMS regarding the health and safety of its providers, as well as the health of the industry. Thom also explains that the article came about as a result of feedback to EMS Magazine editor Nancy Perry’s Oct. 2007 editorial entitled EMS’ Dirty Secret: Are You Paying the Price for Being In EMS?

Look for Thom’s article in your Feb. issue of EMS Magazine or online. To discuss Thom’s article visit our forums.

Thom Dick has been involved in EMS for 37 years, 23 of them as a full-time EMT and paramedic in San Diego County. He is the quality care coordinator for Platte Valley Ambulance Service, a community-owned, hospital-based 9-1-1 provider in Brighton, CO. Thom is also a member of EMS Magazine’s editorial advisory board. Reach him at boxcar_414@yahoo.com.

Secondary accidents at MVAs are unfortunately common. In an informal poll on EMSResponder.com, the majority of respondents say they’ve had close calls, and more than a quarter say they’ve experienced secondary accidents on scene. In light of two such incidents that recently resulted in the tragic deaths of a Kentucky EMS supervisor and a Michigan EMT, we sought the safety advice of expert Rick Patrick.

In this podcast Rick explains safe staging techniques that can save lives without costing a thing. Also look for the Safe Staging podcast with Dave Long and his online handout, Freeway Operations and Roadway Safety.

This January saw two tragic, traffic-related EMS responder deaths; one to an EMS supervisor and mother in Kentucky, and one to a promising young EMT in Michigan. Both women were killed by passing vehicles while working the scenes of prior motor vehicle accidents. We hope that with memories of these providers in mind, our listeners will take a renewed interest in the principles of safe staging and safe operations at MVAs.

In this podcast safety expert Dave Long provides his advice and emphasizes the prevalence of distracted drivers. Also look for Dave’s handout of top safety tips titled Freeway Operations and Roadway Safety, as well as our Safe Staging at MVAs podcast with safety expert Rick Patrick.

“Before you start breathing for a newborn, take a deep breath for yourself,” Scott says.

Scott DeBoer, RN, MSN, CEN, CCRN, CFRN, is a flight nurse at the University of Chicago Hospitals, a transport nurse with Superior Ambulance Service in Elmhurst, IL, and founder of Peds-R-Us Medical Education. Listen as he discusses why two of the main issues in breathing for babies are managing your own stress and using the most appropriate equipment available. “If it’s baby equipment, use it,” Scott writes in his January EMS Magazine article Breathing for Babies. “If not, get it.”

Breathing for Babies was written by Scott DeBoer in conjunction with Debbie Andrews, RN, RM, MN, a clinical nurse consultant for NSW Newborn & Paediatric Emergency Transport Service in Sydney, Australia and with Michael Seaver, RN, BA, a senior consultant with ACS HealthCare Solutions in Dearborn, MI. Read the full article in your January 2008 issue of EMS Magazine or online.

Also, look for Scott’s training DVD “Expressway & Elevator Deliveries” and his EMS/ER newborn resuscitation book, “Emergency Newborn Care: The First Moments of Life” available at www.peds-r-us.com. Contact Scott at scott@peds-r-us.com.