mycrofft
Still crazy but elsewhere
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- 48
EMS needs its version of "Notebooks of Lazarus Long" or a serious "Murphy's Laws of Commonsense EMS" or some such. Things like:
1. Don't drive or ride with a co-worker who is high, drunk, or acting like they are. (It isn't a matter of HOW impaired; if they are acting impaired, just say no). By the same token, if it is anywhere NEAR a work shift, ABSTAIN.
2. If you are hurt, say so, don't keep working.
3. Don't work for a horse's ***, because when trouble comes, he/she/they will throw you under the legal bus.
4. If your assessment does not indicate a treatment, don't do it.
5. If you assessment does indicate a treatment, do it.
6. Keep reassessing and documenting.
7. If you have a selection of treatments, do what is needed to keep the patient alive right now, then consider how long you will be in transit versus the benefit of anything else you "want" to do. (See #4 above).
8. Remember, no one was ever discharged from a hospital to an ambulance for superior or equal care. The hospital has more tricks and doctors than you.
9. Don't get so busy doing things on scene before you can load that the patient runs out of time. That's called "Target fixation" or "getting into the 'coffin corner' ". (See #8 above).
10. Data gathering which does not support your immediate treatment or greatly improve hospital treatment distracts you from thorough assessment and immediate measures. Patients die while practitioners watch the monitors. Treat the patient. (See #9 above).
Seriously, anyone else have any contributions?
1. Don't drive or ride with a co-worker who is high, drunk, or acting like they are. (It isn't a matter of HOW impaired; if they are acting impaired, just say no). By the same token, if it is anywhere NEAR a work shift, ABSTAIN.
2. If you are hurt, say so, don't keep working.
3. Don't work for a horse's ***, because when trouble comes, he/she/they will throw you under the legal bus.
4. If your assessment does not indicate a treatment, don't do it.
5. If you assessment does indicate a treatment, do it.
6. Keep reassessing and documenting.
7. If you have a selection of treatments, do what is needed to keep the patient alive right now, then consider how long you will be in transit versus the benefit of anything else you "want" to do. (See #4 above).
8. Remember, no one was ever discharged from a hospital to an ambulance for superior or equal care. The hospital has more tricks and doctors than you.
9. Don't get so busy doing things on scene before you can load that the patient runs out of time. That's called "Target fixation" or "getting into the 'coffin corner' ". (See #8 above).
10. Data gathering which does not support your immediate treatment or greatly improve hospital treatment distracts you from thorough assessment and immediate measures. Patients die while practitioners watch the monitors. Treat the patient. (See #9 above).
Seriously, anyone else have any contributions?
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