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By Miguel
"This is why people fail exams and/or lose their certifications"
Rule #1: BLS before ALS.
Rule #2: Treat your patient not the monitor.
Rule #3: An ‘excellent’ EMT = a ‘good’ medic.
Rule #4: Protocols are guidelines, not set in stone.
Rule #5: Refrain from getting tunnel vision.
Never forget:
1) ABC DEFG (airway, breathing, circulation, disabilities, extremities, full vitals, GO).
2) IPASSO (inspect, palpate, auscultate, stabilize, seal, O2).
3) OPQRSTI (onset, provocations, quality, radiation, severity, time, interventions).
4) SAMPLE (signs/symptoms, allergies, medications, past hx, last intake, events).
5) Pertinent questions regarding call: ex: weight, LMP, PARA, Gravada, drug consumption, Etoh, smoking, etc.
* Head to toe assessment *
** approximately 40 questions before you begin ALS, unless the call is obvious **
Rookie Mistakes:
#1 Uses monitor for everything.
#2 Every call becomes ALS.
#3 Every chest pain is cardiac.
#4 Every patient gets an IV.
** don’t go by what the EMT’s tell you **
***Become a Clinician***
