In a few words

15. Removing a motorcycle helmet – April 2015 Helmets are worn to protect the head in an impact. The most common will be motorcycle helmets but there may be other situations where a helmet is worn and has to be […]

10. Cooling the heat emergency – April 2015 Heat stroke is a life threatening problem. Body temperature is raised over 40°C by the environment or by exertion. Thermoregulation fails and life threatening muscle and organ failure follows. Cooling must occur […]

22. The intraosseous needle – April 2015 Administration of fluids and pharmacological agents in acute pre-hospital emergencies is a mainstay of modern practice. Most of these agents will have to work quickly but without causing problems. There are numerous routes […]

21: Pupil and eye assessment – March 2015 The assessment of pupils is a routine element of any patient physical assessment. It is commonly considered part of the conscious state assessment though it is in fact not. Changes to pupils […]

In a few words 9: The supraglottic airway – March 2015 To be able to follow the emergency mantra 101 to maintain a patent airway, a knowledge of all the adjuncts available is important. Where airway reflexes and consciousness are […]

20: Pre-oxygenation before airway procedures – March 2015 The airway is simply a pipe to allow air flow in and out between the mouth/nose and the alveoli. Airway and breathing/ventilation usually go hand in hand together. As such, any airway […]

19. Assessing urgency of trauma – March 2015 Trauma is arguably the dramatic and exciting part of pre-hospital responding. It varies from a cut finger through to gruesome fatality. At one end minimally injured patients are usually obvious as are […]

In a few words 8: The pharyngeal airway Jeff Kenneally – www.Prehemt.com Clinical guidelines for managing emergency medical and traumatic problems begin with ‘ensure patent airway’. Patent means the airway ‘pipe’ is open to allow air to move in and […]

In a few words 4: Cricoid pressure or BURP Jeff Kenneally – www.Prehemt.com Gastric content aspiration is a risk for many patients. Methods to reduce this risk are valuable with intubation arguably the most comprehensive. Cricoid pressure and laryngeal manipulation […]

In a few words 5: Tympanic temperature Jeff Kenneally – www.Prehemt.com Evaluating body temperature is a critical part of the vital signs. Body temperature is unreliable to assess through touch alone. Patients who feel hot or cold may have normal […]

In a few words 11: Bronchodilators and left heart failure Acute left ventricular failure (LVF) involves increased capillary hydrostatic pressure encouraging a net fluid shift from circulation to interstitium.  Colloidal oncotic pressure and lymphatic drainage cannot draw this fluid away […]

  In a few words 7: Cooling and dressing a burn Jeff Kenneally – www.Prehemt.com It is arguable that few injuries are worse than severe burns. There are a few rules when managing acute burns. The core mantra is to […]