Use a hemostat in the field to "stop a bleeder". Twice, on a bad bleeder that would not stop from a trach and on a bad femoral partial amputation, We carried sterile clamps in our surgical airway kit. On the latter clamp a physician was on the scene.
Have you witnessed the innominate artery blow? That is truly one of the more frightening things that can happen and yet I have only seen this 3x personally in 30 years. That is more than enough to make a believer out of me for supreme beings (Doctors and whatever higher power one worships). Yes, if hemostats can get to it by all means use them although they are very useful for establishing another airway by grabbing the opening especially on a fresh trach. Also hemostats would be handy if you botched the cric procedure which I have seen them used in the ED trying to stabilize the fields attempts.
As well, ED doctors and microsurgeons may use the hemostats for specific artery rather than a tourniquet for replantation evaluation. So, yes I have seen it used many times there. In the field, I have primarily done pressure points, direct pressure, compresses and tourniquets if absolutely necessary.
I have done done a cric a few times in 30 years. Since I have been on Flight, more meds and better airway alternatives provide more options. However, a couple of crics were needed from messed up airway attempts by ground EMS. In the ED we can use the fiberoptic scope to establish an airway due to damage from either the initial trauma or that of a botched ETI. But, that doesn't mean a trach won't be in their immediate future. We can also do a fairly quick perc trach at bedside in the ED.
Precardial thump: many times over the years, both in and out of the hospital, when appropriate on witnessed rhythms.
MAST: I think every patient was placed in these during the 80s.
2 poles and a blanket: We use canvas litters for hurricane evacuations.
Eyewash: If you want to do it properly, you do what it takes or until the hospital takes over where it may be continued there.
For other procedures that I know the "old timers" (Rid) were taught and probably did utilize in the field because there were not trauma centers and helicopters on every corner as there are today:
Chest tubes: I have done more of these on Neo/Peds specialty transports as an RRT than I have as a Paramedic although many Flight teams can insert them per their protocols and do include them for their competencies.
Pericardiocentesis: Maybe a total of 5 in 30 years. Still in the protocols for many Flight/Specialty teams as well as a few remote ALS trucks.
Central Lines including the subclavian: A "must know" back in the late 70s and early 80s. Thy are in the protocols for Flight/Specialty and still in some ground ALS protocols.
Intracardiac epi: once was thought to be a great route during codes.
