Tips

The simple answer is: "when it is incapable of restraining the patient".  What is not made abundantly clear is that the straps sold to you (the EMS Provider) with your cot were specifically designed to hold your patient safely, in conjunction with the floor mount, in the event of a motor vehicular accident.  The only way [...]

What do you use to acquire a patient's temperature on a routine call?  This question comes up frequently in my discussions with EMS providers.  Thermometers vary widely in their type and usefulness in EMS.  I would like to take a moment to discuss these types and their operating characteristics.
The Oral Thermometer.  With the elimination of  the [...]

It is becoming a common occurence to hear "What brand of tape do you sell?"  Our most common response is "Why do you ask?".  Our customer then say "Because the stuff made in Durkastan doesn't stick".   Apparently, in a world where so many products come out of other countries (China?), we succumb to the lure of price [...]

In the battle of the Latex vs the Nitrile Glove one basic fact is indisputable.  Latex is inherently stretchy and Nitrile is not.  The debate over which glove is best for EMS will rage on as long as glove-wearing is a universal precaution however, understanding what to look for in a glove will lead to [...]

Recently someone asked me about getting Tourniquets for their service to stay compliant with the new protocols set up by New York State Department of Health.  They wanted to know if they could buy the "little stretchy ones" the medics use to start an I.V.  I realized at that point that we have been using the wrong [...]

Q: why do all portable suction units crap-out during cardiac arrests?
A: they don't.  They actually failed weeks ago and nobody noticed !!!!.
Something that hospitals learned many years ago is that electronic
equipment require a technician to check and maintain them so they
will work when called upon.  many EMS systems spend endless money
on maintaining their expensive defibrillators [...]

Spina Bifida (a developmental defect of the spine) is a factor related to a high incidence of latex allergies (especially in children and infants).
Before treating a child, try to elicit a history from the parent or caretaker paying special attention to any reference that is made to spinal deformities.  If in doubt, use only latex-free [...]

Things that keep us safe are always worth reviewing.
Misuse of tank-to-regulator washers accounted for a number of incidents where leaking oxygen caused fire or explosions.
In a nutshell - NIOSH (National Institute for Occupational Safety & Health) states: Do not reuse the "crush" washers that usually come free with each refilled O2 tank. Whenever possible [...]

Agencies should consider the storage temperature requirements of common medications (as stated by the manufacturers).

Albuterol Sulfate, for example, should be stored between 36 and 77 degrees Farenheit. Epi-Pens are even more restrictive; the manufacturer requires storage at 77 degrees with temporary variances from 59-86 degrees allowable.

While some agencies probably cannot guarantee these temperatures exactly, they [...]