Pain relief and EMS

[FireMedic65]

I think doctors and Paramedics that with hold pain meds for no scientifically sound reason should be made to suffer. Then they would be quicker to consider patients comfort.

Couldn't agree more. We are healthcare providers. It's pretty damn cruel to watch a person in pain suffer, no matter the reason they are in that pain. Those who let a person suffer, are just as bad as the person who is in pain who committed whatever crime it was, or for what other reason they are suffering.

[Just Plain Ruff]

our protocols allow for the following - we don't need to call for orders unless giving more than the protocols guide

10mg morphine for traumatic injuries

100mcg fentanyl for the same

It's one or the other

up to 10mg of MS for chest pain

Anything above the above doses gets a call to med control but they are pretty lenient on pain meds.

One person said that they don't give pain meds out readily to the drug seekers - I don't either but if I have a suspicion I will put them in the ambulance and be going down the road and then give the pain med.

I did have one patient a while ago who agreed to go to the ER, they got on the cot, in the ambulance and down the road and I gave them 4mg of morphine. The patient got beligerent and asked to be let out of the ambulance. So I said ok, we can do that but I need to remove your IV. I gave 2mg of Narcan and then a flush of saline. The narcotic effect went away and the patient was pissed. The doctor told me "good idea"

Edited May 29, 2009 by Ruffems

[FireMedic65]

Our protocols are similar. Anything more, we need medical command.

Morphine 5mg though

Fentanyl 100mcg

(for pain)

I am cautious with the drug seekers as well. If they are truley in pain, I will not withhold treatment though. It's hard to tell if they are faking it or not, but there are ways of course. Once time had a patient (while doing clinical) we had a drug seeker crying in pain, wanting morphine (nothing else works... this is usually a sure sign of drug seekers). We gave him 5mg of NSS. He said thanks and felt a lot better.

[theotherphil]

Paracetamol

Methoxyflurane

IN Fentanyl (paed and adults but no max dosage for adults)

Morphine (paed and adults) 0.5mg/kg max, can be repeated after every 30 mins as required

Midazolam can be added to Morphine if required.

[aussiephil]

Bushy you got a stop this man. You're the best salesman for Australia a medic's ever seen. Good standards and scope, excellent education, non-death trap ambulances, respected by the public. If I move there to be a medic my fiance will kill me! <img src="http://www.emtcity.com/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="" border="0" alt="biggrin.gif" />

You know the best part of Aussieland - NO COMBINED SERVICES. Yes kids, we do not share with fire, we are independent of fire. A seperate service. We have no Medical Control to try to dictate what we do we are autonomous.

Bugger me. Maybe there are better options on offer than just what is un the good ole USA.

[Kiwiology]

BLS here has entonox, methoxyflurane and acetaminophen

ILS has morphine (coming soon: fentanyl)

ALS has ketamine and midazolam

[Jwade]

Pain Relief in Arizona in the order I reach for it.

Fentanyl

Morphine

and they keep getting it until they are pain free or not breathing.

JW

[scubanurse]

and they keep getting it until they are pain free or not breathing.

JW

I like!

[Kiwiology]

I like!

Sounds good to me!