Introductions and Airway Case Review
Summary:
Steve and Dan review their goals for this new podcast and how you can obtain your CE hours through EMT-CE.com. After the introductions themselves and their backgrounds in EMS, Steve and Dan dive into some interesting case reviews regarding airway management and trauma. Dan discusses mistakes he has made that have ultiamtely made him a better provider, and what new or existing providers can do to ensure they provide the best possible care for their patients.
Learning Points:
- Unconscious bias can influence important decisions prior to arriving on scene. Always weigh the pros and cons of each decision carefully
- Always conduct your initial scene assessment, followed by a primary assessment of the patient
- Hospital distance, patient presentation, and resource availability all influence whether a provider should stay and play or load and go
- Hypotension, oxygenation and pH must be managed prior to intubation or cardiac arrest can occur
- Ketamine can be beneficial prior to intubation to facilitate airway management, along with managing combative patients
- Auscultate over the stomach and both lungs, and then use end tidal to confirm tube placement
- Hypercarbia can be managed by increasing ventilations, while hypocarbia can be managed by decreasing ventilations
- Tunnel vision can cause problems appropriately managing a patient, remember to look at overall patient presentation
- Do what is best for your patient, not your ego
- Always do a thorough primary and secondary trauma assessment to ensure critical issues are not overlooked
- Recognizing and learning from mistakes is one of the most important things a medical provider can do throughout their career in medicine.
Content Creator: Steve Williams
CAPCE Course Number: 20-EMTP-F3-3801
Total CE Hours: 1
Level: Advanced
