Sepsis is a progressive chain reaction that turns a localized problem into a system-wide failure. Understanding this cascade helps EMS providers recognize severity early and act quickly. Step 1: Local Infection Every case of sepsis starts with a localized infection. Common sources include urinary tract infections, pneumonia, abdominal infections, and skin and soft tissue infections. […]
The oxygen-hemoglobin dissociation curve can feel abstract until you connect it to real patients. For EMS providers, the curve matters because it explains a simple but critical question: how easily does hemoglobin pick up oxygen, and how easily does it let that oxygen go at the tissue level? That is the difference between a left shift and […]
EMS documentation does more than record what happened on a call. A well-written patient care report supports continuity of care, legally protects providers, and helps agencies improve clinical performance through quality review and data reporting. The narrative report is where the story of the call comes together. Vital signs, procedures, and medications appear in structured […]
Burn injuries can range from minor to life-threatening. For EMS clinicians, the ability to quickly assess burn severity in the field directly influences airway management, fluid resuscitation, destination decisions, and overall patient outcomes. A strong burn assessment focuses on three core factors: Burn depth Total body surface area (TBSA) involved High-risk features that require specialty […]
End-tidal carbon dioxide (ETCO2) gives EMS providers more than a respiratory number. It provides a real-time window into ventilation, perfusion, and metabolism, making capnography one of the most valuable monitoring tools in prehospital care. Every time a patient exhales, ETCO2 shows how effectively carbon dioxide moves from the tissues to the lungs and out of the […]
Effective ventilation saves lives. Poor ventilation harms patients. EMS clinicians manage airways in uncontrolled environments. Providers perform cardiac arrest resuscitations in tight spaces, ventilate trauma patients in moving ambulances, and support respiratory failure before definitive care. Technique matters. This guide explains how to deliver safe, evidence-based prehospital ventilation and avoid one of the most common […]
Most EMS calls follow a familiar pattern: assess, stabilize, transport. Even high-acuity calls usually fall within well-practiced routines. Occasionally, however, providers encounter situations where the only path to patient survival involves procedures they studied in training and hoped to never encounter in real life. This is the story of one of those calls: a field […]
