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Can you tell how deep that knife went? Or what it hit inside the abdominal cavity? If the answer is no (and in a stabbing that's more than likely the case), then you should immobilize this patient. Anything less isn't really acceptable. Shane NREMT-P

I only give D50 when I feel that I've exhausted my opportunity for an IV. Glucagon is slow acting, but it's also a hormone that releases the bodies own natural stores. In a patient that might have recurrent episodes of hypoglycemia, it can cause a problem since it will leave them without a...

If you're one of the ones who uses the lights responsibly, then you're probably not really saving much (if any) time in your response while taking an extra risk and liability. Leave emergency lights for emergency vehicles during emergency response. Otherwise, you can only go with the flow of...

A great demonstration of why POV's don't need emergency lights. Shane NREMT-P

+1. I agree that the dog was doing his job. As far as treatment goes for this, a saline rinse, clean bandages and immobilization. If he weren't doing something stupid in the first place, he wouldn't have lost some of the use of his leg. Guess he'll have a good reminder why it's important to...

Hey guys...I just wanted to pass along something that might be of interest to some of you. My wife & I recently switched away from Nextel. But we have our "old" phones that we're willing to sell pretty cheaply if anyone's interested. I have a Nextel i580. It's the most recent (to my...

I agree. I wouldn't have stopped. I don't typically stop when I'm not at work and it doesn't matter if I'm wearing my uniform (while driving) or not. I don't want to incur any additional liability. I would have called 911 and let them send the proper response. Shane NREMT-P

If they're acting as first responders, they have an obligation to wait until they can transfer care to the transporting providers. As far as a patient giving "consent" for them to leave, that's a fine line. It's not one that I'd want to justify if the patient took the issue to a legal battle...

I don't feel a thing when I do them. We use the IO drill so it takes only a second to have an IO placed in an adult or a pedi. We use them from line in cardiac arrest, and we can use them after two or three failed attempts in a critical patient. Shane NREMT-P

I use a KED often for hip fractures with great results. It provides a good support for the injury while allowing for a decent way to grab the patient. It's my preferred method for these calls actually. Shane NREMT-P

Many areas will let an RN challenge the paramedic exam, but I don't feel that this is the best way to go. The thought processes differ in terms of critical thinking. If you want to be a nurse, go to nursing school. If you want to be a medic, go to medic school. Even as an RN, if you're...

Just know your cardiology. ACLS and PALS aren't that difficult. Especially in their new "friendly" format. It's all group work and a "feel good" class that is next to impossible to fail. I wish they'd bring back the old ACLS and PALS where if someone didn't know what to do, they failed. But...

On a BLS level, you're limited. It's a matter of proper spinal immobilization and packaging and transporting to the hospital. I'd bring the halo with you to the hospital so that they can see it and tell if it was damaged in the removal process. Monitor neuro's often and look for signs of...

I still say if you're going to pursue this type of training, it should be after you've covered all the other additional training that will have a day to day impact. Tactical involvement is not a daily occurrence for 99% of the providers out there. Training dollars should be spent to maximize...

The test isn't as hard as it should be, but then again the class isn't that difficult to begin with. The key to passing is to actually do the reading before class and pay attention in class. That way you know what areas you're not completely grasping and can get them clarified in class. The...

Sending drugs down the tube has fallen heavily out of favor. It continues to fall farther out of favor with the introduction of IO devices that speed time to access. I have given drugs down the tube in my career, but not in the past couple of years. Shane NREMT-P

I ride...and it just doesn't bother me. Bad things happen to people. It's not always fair, but that's how it is. You can't spend too much time in the field and not see things. I've seen people who don't take care of themselves at all live to a ripe old age, and I've seen young people who are...

Just responding with the SWAT team is not sufficient enough to warrant a tactical course. I think a tactical course is only needed if you're part of the entry team. Otherwise, all of the patient care should occur in a safe zone with extraction performed by the entry team. Otherwise, it's just...

Any program that will increase a knowledge base to provide more thorough assessments. Anatomy & physiology are huge towards providing care. Vehicle operations are a large area that we lack safety as a profession. A class on writing run forms is good, since that's a large liability to any...

No more than 500 cc per hour. For a 10 drop set, that's no more than 83 drops per minute. For a 15 drop set, that's no more than 125 drops per minutes. And for a 60 drop set, that's no more than 500 drops per minute. 20 mEq in 1000 cc would be 10 mEq in 500cc which is your max per hour, so...