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***