The use of neuromuscular blocking agents (NMBA) during rapid sequence intubation (RSI) is arguably the cornerstone of the procedure. NMBA paralytics prevent gagging when utilizing a laryngoscope during intubation and allow for a more complete view of the glottis versus sedatives alone (Caro, 2020). NMBAs used in RSI can be categorized into two different types: […]
Ventilator management strategies are all that glitters in the EMS community right now. ???? All the cool podcasters are talking about it; the bloggers are bloggin’ blogs about recruitment maneuvers and pronation of intubated patients. Vent management is the skinny jeans of EMS education. But I’m kinda dorky, and I take great care to not […]
Stay and Play We’ve all had those critical patients: the ones circling the drain when we show up who bring the “pucker factor.” As EMTs and paramedics, our first reaction is to “grab and go” and get that patient to the familiar environment of our ambulance. It makes sense, right? That’s our office, all of […]
By Jaren Jarrell You’re 8 hours into your 24-hour shift. It’s been a grueling day and you have hit your critical thinking max. There it is…the tones drop once again! “EMS base, truck 12 respond to a 3-month-old male, reference patient not breathing.” The initial anxiety of a pediatric call hits you. This is not […]
So, as you all know we have had the opportunity to have Dr. Peter Antevy join us a couple of times and talk about pediatrics. When it comes to kids let’s face it, we all tend to get scared, our nerves shoot through the roof and it becomes the most stressful call of our career. […]
Joshua Fountain, ASN, CFRN, CCRN, TCRN Like Batman, Ketamine is a kick-ass kind of drug that not only is an upscale, suave, pain management drug by day, but also a swift, bat-like induction agent by night. Ketamine also has a boy wonder paralytic sidekick named Rocuronium. Ketamine and Roc are the dynamic duo of rapid […]
By, Jaren Jarrell FP-C, NRP How many times has a physician or respiratory therapist looked at you curiously while clamping an ETT? I can honestly say for myself, every single time. Then on the other hand the respiratory therapist is rushing to swap circuits so fast, theirs is off before I can turn the ventilator […]
After coming home from a long shift, but still having to do a lot of work on the farm, you decide to make a well-earned mojito and luckily, you even have some fresh limes on hand! As you are sipping your well-earned drink and walking to the field, you trip, spilling your drink on your […]
You had a great first date. Things are progressing nicely, but then gosh dang COVID-19 hit and made life hard for everyone. Your new girlfriend is feeling the pressure. She’s working more hours than usual at Five Guys, there is a national shortage of ground beef which further complicates her job, and she tells you […]
(Disclaimer: the following series is meant to be a light-hearted, silly way to learn about the right ventricle while poking fun at the awkwardness of dating. There will be goofy generalizations made about men AND women; none of them are meant to be offensive. Please laugh at my jokes. And learn, but mostly just laugh.) […]
