Recent content by benasack2000

Hi All - I was told by a guest instructor to my EMR class that for the NREMT medical assessment practical test - we had to evaluate every single body system to get full points and "cover all the bases". Is this true? For a chest pain patient, I would be apparently required to evaluate...

Even in the primary assessment (which is for assessing/correcting life threatening conditions), I was taught that during A/B - you treat life-threatening conditions related to airway and breathing. If they are showing hives, are having difficulty breathing, have a previous history of anaphylaxis...

Hey everyone, I'm an almost 16 year old EMR. I can't work as a lifeguard until next summer and the only thing that I'm really involved in is Community Emergency Response Team/Medical Reserve Corps volunteering. We rarely do first aid standbys at events, there's rarely an SAR type thing we...

No. I am only state certified.

Two medics showed up first. Then an Engine with 5.

The kid was four and got pronounced at the hospital. They think he was floating too long and the mother wasn't watching him.

Can't believe this just actually happened. I was just at the same beach when a child was found floating face down. Some other guy runs in and grabs the kid and I go in a few seconds later. We carry out the kid and lay him down. I check for responsiveness to find him unconscious. I check for...

This is correct in a real life situation right? I check responsiveness and check for a pulse. If I don't find a pulse, I go straight into CPR. If I do find a pulse, I manually open the airway (adjunct and suction maybe), check the approximate rate and quality of breathing, and then check the...

And that includes taking the time to open the airway, check breathing, and check for a pulse before beginning compressions. Wouldn't this be going against the AHA guidelines? Would you just check the pulse before even going into the ABCs to determine if compressions are necessary in an...

The AHA guidelines for CPR don't include opening the airway before checking for breathing and a carotid pulse. In real life, would I would open the airway BEFORE I check breathing? Why doesn't the AHA include opening the airway first?

And you would also ascertain the presence of breathing or agonal gasps while you were checking the pulse?

Hey everyone. For any unresponsive patient (medical or trauma), would you check for the presence of a pulse before moving on to the ABCs? I think I recall my instructor saying that but my textbook says otherwise. I'm not sure. Is CAB the steps of assessment for an unresponsive pt. OR just the...

"Whoa look at that mechanism of injury". "Why isn't she C-Spined yet?"

It is true that a lot of what is covered in CERT training is common sense. However, is cribbing common sense? Search patterns for search and rescue? Use of standpipes? Triage in an MCI? HAZMAT identification? You get the idea. In CERT, you get to learn a lot of great stuff and practice it too...

Hey Man! I'm 14 as well and I'm really into EMS and Emergency Medicine. I'm already certified ARC FA/CPR/AED as well as Healthcare Provider CPR from the AHA. My EMR class finishes up in a few weeks. It's a great course and I highly recommend it. It's a great foundational course that talks about...