What can your EMT-B's do??

[PRPGfirerescuetech]

Again, another point for rationale of knowing what you are measuring, and what it means, more than "using the equipment. I would estimate >90% of EMS personal, does not know much about pulse oximetry, EtC02 capnography and the fundamentals of what, how and the significance of the device.

If one was to really study outcome base criteria on use of equipment, very few medics (over-all) would pass the grade.

R/r 911

Correct. Is capnography included in ALS programs? Or is it still too new in the EMS setting...?

Either way, another illustration of how all EMS issues come back to education.

[Ridryder 911]

It should be..or at lest you would think it would be. But, I digress, I don't think it is. I just lectured some EMS Instructors on EtCo2 the other day, and they knew nothing about it other than some simple articles from JEMS etc..

Again, sometimes the blind leading the blind.....

I feel like EMS is sometime like a dog chasing its own tail.... very queasy feeling and getting no where...

Be safe,

R/r 911

[PRPGfirerescuetech]

It should be..or at lest you would think it would be. But, I digress, I don't think it is. I just lectured some EMS Instructors on EtCo2 the other day, and they knew nothing about it other than some simple articles from JEMS etc..

Again, sometimes the blind leading the blind.....

I feel like EMS is sometime like a dog chasing its own tail.... very queasy feeling and getting no where...

Be safe,

R/r 911

Thought not. God EMS scres me these days...

[emtjennings]

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I HAVE WORKED IN TEXAS FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS AND HAVE SEEN THE MANY LIMITS THAT ARE PUT ON BASICS MOST OF OUR SERVICES DOWN HERE THE BASICS ARE JUST DRIVERS AND GOPHERS I HAVE RECENTLY GONE ON TO A NEW SERVICE AND WE AS BASICS ARE DOING EVERYTHING FROM VITALS TO PUSHING FIRST LINE DRUGS THE ONLY THINGS I DON'T DO IS SEDATE, NARCS, SURGICAL AIRWAY, RSI MEDS... BUT WITH ALL THAT, WE GO THRU SOME VERY RIGOROUS TRAINING WHICH COMES UP TO BE ABOUT 9 MONTHS.... SO AS A BASIC IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO KNOW WHAT YOU ARE DOING AND INSIST ON BEING EDUCATED ABOUT THE EQUIPMENT WE ALL USE... PLUS ONE DAY YOU MIGHT BE IN THAT PARAMEDICS SHOES AND THEN WONDER WHY YOU NEVER TOOK THE TIME TO LEARN WHAT IS WHAT AND HOW IS IT USED, BESIDES MY RULE IS IF YOU DON'T KNOW HOW TO USE IT, THEN DON'T USE IT... :wink:

[Ridryder 911]

[/font:4e303d559d]

I, BESIDES MY RULE IS IF YOU DON'T KNOW HOW TO USE IT, THEN DON'T USE IT... :wink:

First Welcome to the City !

Second, your rule should be basics should not administering medications.. short & simple. If you are able to "push medications" as you elude, you should be at an advanced level. " Pushing the medication" is not the hard part..knowing what it is doing the moment you have it in the bloodstream, at the cellular level is more complex.. life would not be so difficult if all it involved was the skill area...

I didn't know Texas allowed basics to administer IV medications ?.. hmmm

p.s. we welcome you again, but it is courtesy not to use ALL CAPS...

R/r 911

[Dustdevil]

I didn't know Texas allowed basics to administer IV medications ?.. hmmm

Texas allows local medical directors to determine scope of practice, so it may well be happening some places where they suckered some old fart GP with OBS to sign off on protocols. I can guarantee you it is not happening at Beaumont EMS, which is one of the best in the state. The director and clinical coordinators there are two very, very sharp professionals whom I have the utmost respect for. Must be a podunk rural service or a transfer service that is jumping runs.

[Ace844]

There have also been quite a few threads here on this topic so please do a search as well. This will yield an idea of whats done and what the opinions are here...

out here,

ACE844

[kevkei]

Is capnography included in ALS programs? Or is it still too new in the EMS setting...?

Either way, another illustration of how all EMS issues come back to education.

Yes, it is in the standards for Paramedics. Not only that, but also tailoring and treating to qualitative benchmarks dependent on underlying factors and pathophysiology.

[Spock]

It is a shame that we have such variability in the scope of practice from state to state and even within the same state. Wouldn't it be nice if an EMT (or EMT-I or EMT-P) in Florida was the same as in New York or Colorado or any of the other states or Canada? EMS is sometimes its own worst enemy.

Live long and prosper.

Spock

[Dustdevil]

Wouldn't it be nice if an EMT (or EMT-I or EMT-P) in Florida was the same as in New York or Colorado or any of the other states or Canada?

No. It would be horrible. Because then EMS would be even farther dumbed down to the lowest common denominator and restrict those progressive systems from excelling. I believe the word is socialism.