EKG

texas — Tue, 28 Dec 2010 07:38:31 +0000

There are many different kind of EKG problems that can be associated with a person who is in cardiac arrest. Doctors have tried many times to help those individuals prior to them dying. These victims of sudden cardiac arrest would greatly benefit from advanced cardiac life support. Due to the high demand, paramedics rarely have time to render care in the pre-hospital care environment. No one should delay early CPR or defibrillation to obtain an EKG or to start an I.V. for medication therapy. Everyone should remain calm and call 911.

Opiates Signs and Symptoms

texas — Sat, 11 Sep 2010 15:59:06 +0000

Many paramedics, nurses and physicians are faced with the challenges of a patient that has experienced an Opiate overdose. Efforts are being made to help educate the public about the signs of a drug overdose and how to ensure that the patient survives. Consider taking an ACLS course and become certified in advanced techniques to save lives of adults. It is imperative that 911 be called immediately for a person that has taken an overdose of drugs, whether they are conscious or unconscious.

A person that may be experiencing a drug overdose, especially an opiate including Vicodin, Lortab, etc. may be lethargic, shallow respiration, breathing less than 10 times per minute, pupils may be constricted or dilated, decrease in movement, or unresponsive, bluish color of the lips, skin color may be gray appearance for Caucasian or dusky for other skin tones, respiratory rates have stopped. Immediately call 911, the paramedics have taken the PALS course and are trained in the techniques to save an adult life.

Never assume that a person will recover or “be alright”. Chances are they will die. Intervening early is the only way that person will have a chance at full recovery. Without oxygen, the brain dies and the damage that is done is irreversible. Encourage some one to seek help if they have an addiction. Let them know how everyone’s life will be effected in the event of their death. Many deaths could have been prevented had someone taken the time to call at the first sign of an overdose. Loud snoring respiration are not indicative of an opiate overdose. The respiratory drive center in the brain is decreased and therefore, there is no need to struggle to breath. Usually loud snoring sounds made when someone is breathing is because the tongue is occluding the airway, for instance during a seizure. Either way emergency help should be called upon, as they have received certification from attending an ACLS certification and are knowledgeable in how to handle adult emergencies.

Emergency Medicine

texas — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 20:24:36 +0000

Doctors use emergency medicine when patient comes with some serious injury and problems that can cost his or her life. Use of emergency medicine is not an easy task. Doctors who use PALS Certification take special care in using this level of treatment.Doctors that gives emergency medicine to their patients must have multiple skill. Because only single dose of improper emergency medicine can be a threat to life. Normally hospitals rotate their emergency staff. Hospital do it because they understand the role and importance of emergency medicine. Basically the importance of emergency medical comes at a time of war. When a soldier gets wound then they need a quick help and accurate dose of emergency medicine.

Army use the emergency medicine more then any hospital use. Army always appoint a specialist doctors for it. Giving emergency medicine at a time of war is not a simple so army prepares its doctors in a manner so they can handle the patient without losing their concentration and save as much liver s as they can. Whenever an army doctors gives a emergency medicine they face sometime horrible condition because a high number of patient make huge crowd.

Major hospitals around the world run their own emergency medicine department and provide ACLS certification to all their allied health care providers. For example All Indian institute of medical sciences is starting a new specialized course on emergency medicine. Specialization in this subject will help the doctors to have knowledge about several branches of medicine. This is a forward step to make the students skill full and develop a large amount of human resource that can properly use the emergency medicine in emergency cases.

Now a day every country is facing a critical problem of human resource who can use the emergency medicine properly. There is a international body name “international federation for emergency is taking some steps .Main problem is that there is no international standard of curriculum for emergency medicine. For solving this major problem “international federation for emergency called a meeting of professionals and emergency medical experts to draw a world wide recognized curriculum for emergency medicine. This curriculum focus on a basic emergency medicine things which should used by medical institute to teach their student at time of undergraduate training.

Specialty in emergency medicine is new. In the emergency medicine only to train the doctors is not enough, whole staff including every one need a special training.The job related to emergency medicine also need a attention for every time in a day. Emergency medicine cases are not similar to first aid cases. Emergency medicine mainly focus on to preserve life and to promote recovery.

The most critical part of emergency medicine that students or doctor who go under the program of specialty in emergency medicine that they do not get a clear idea about the right way of emergency medicine teaching practices.

Children and PALS

texas — Sun, 05 Sep 2010 13:41:58 +0000

Most parents are aware that children can get into anything relatively “QUICK” before you can even blink an eye. They are extremely curious and once they are walking on their own, look out, because they tend to rummage through everything they can reach. It seems that even things that can taste so terrible, toddlers still place things in their mouths and swallow them. If you are a health care professional and provide care to the pediatric population, consider a PALS certification and become certified in advance techniques that can save a child’s life.

Medication Safety

texas — Sat, 04 Sep 2010 02:36:18 +0000

Educating children are always a great idea too. But if the child is not able to comprehend the importance, for instance a 1 or 2 year old, then you will be the one that has to take precautions to keep them safe from medication that is intended for an adult. To small children some of the medications may appear to be like candy and therefore is very tempting for the child to consume. If at anytime you suspect that a child has taken medication that belongs to someone else or an adult, seek emergency medical treatment immediately. Physicians and nurses in the emergency room have also been trained from attending a PALS course that provides much needed knowledge to save a child’s life.

AHA PALS Course

texas — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 17:13:35 +0000

When it comes to medication safety, it is best to keep the bottles out of reach and preferably have a cap that locks when placed back on the bottle. There are many devices that are available today that can secure cabinet doors. Do not put medications in a purse that does not have a cap that is locked. The containers that provide 7 days of medications should never be within a child’s reach. The majority of the time these will have numerous medications in each compartment and a child definitely does not need to ingest the different types and quantities of medicine. If you ever suspect that a child has taken any medication that is prescribed to an adult it is best to call 911, as the paramedics have been trained in providing life saving measures that were taught in a PALS course and they are required to be certified.

How To Care For an Unconscious Adult

texas — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 02:45:18 +0000

Today it seems that there are more people out and about than many years ago. Shopping, working, increase in traffic, etc. Would you know what to do if a person were suddenly unconscious right before your eyes? There are many medical television shows that are real and portrayed, and they are trying to save lives. The medical community for the last few years has been raising awareness about people attending a CPR course and becoming certified.

The CPR course will help you in providing life saving measures for a person that becomes unconscious. An unconscious person is in dire need of intervention for respiratory support or cardiology support or both. It may be a victim of a drowning that needs respiratory support. It may be a person that is suffering a major heart attack that needs chest compressions and respiration.

For an adult that becomes unconscious, always call 911. After shaking the person’s arm and shouting “Hey are you OK”, and they do not respond, place your head close to the nose and look at the chest for rise and fall, and feel with the side of your face for any air that may be coming from their nose or mouth. Then feel for a pulse. It is recommended to check the carotid artery, located just across from the Adam apple of the throat. If no pulse is felt and there is no respiration, you will need to start CPR. It is important to take a CPR course to enhance your knowledge and techniques of CPR. You will learn to use an AED, that is able to analyze heart rhythms and shock if needed, until paramedics arrive.

Medical Professional

texas — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 02:29:38 +0000

As a medical professional it is our duty to educate the patient and family members about the medications they are receiving. Especially what the medication is used for, how it will benefit them, and signs and symptoms to report. Most importantly the patient should notify the nurse or physician when they are experiencing an allergic reaction to any medication. Symptoms to report are swelling of the mouth, lips or throat, itching, skin rash or difficulty breathing. The medical professional should follow hospital protocol for anaphylactic reactions. One of the side effects that the patient should know about when receiving Nitroglycerin is that they will experience a headache. If the physician orders Tylenol or pain medication, the patient may receive it to help with the headache. If the patient is aware that this medication will cause a headache, they are less likely to be anxious when starting the medication. The headache is caused by the vasodilation effect of the Nitroglycerin.

Knowing how Nitroglycerin works in the body, decreasing preload and after load, dilating the arteries in the body, etc. It is plain and clear to see why Nitroglycerin should NEVER be used DURING Cardiac Arrest. Everyday in the medical profession we are ever learning new things and that drugs can be used for multiple conditions. If you are ever unfamiliar with the medicine, take the time to know it’s properties and how it could or could not be beneficial to the condition.

Blood Pressure

texas — Sun, 22 Aug 2010 21:16:27 +0000

When using Nitroglycerin IV, it is important to monitor ECG, Blood pressure, pulse, heart rate, MAP, and document how the patient is or is not tolerating Nitroglycerin and the effects of the titration. Anytime there is a change in the drip rate, always document the current drip rate in mcg/min and the ml/hr, and what the changed drip rate will be whether up or down and why you changed the drip rate of Nitroglycerin. Document vital signs and ECG rhythm and what occurred for the rate to increase or decrease. For example, patient has chest pain 8 out of 10 on the pain scale, “crushing, stabbing, sharp pain in middle of chest, Nitroglycerin drip currently at 10mcg/min, will increase to 20mcg/min and re-assess pain level, vital signs stable, heart rate 78, Sinus Rhythm with first degree block, no ectopy noted. The ACLS certification course offers different scenarios to help increase the knowledge of medical professionals during emergency situations dealing with the heart.

Medication

texas — Sat, 21 Aug 2010 01:11:06 +0000

In reviewing the medication section for the Asystole algorithm, Nitroglycerin IV is NOT even mentioned or added to this arrhythmia. Nitroglycerin is an Anti-anginal and Nitrate. Nitroglycerin relaxes vascular smooth muscle with a resultant decrease in venous return and decrease in aterial blood pressure, which reduces left ventricular workload and decreases myocardial oxygen consumption per Lippincott’s Nursing Drug Guide 2003. Nitroglycerin is indicated for angina, CHF and PALS that is associated with a myocardial infarction, perioperative hypertension and to produce controlled hypertension during surgery. Nitroglycerin vaso-dilates the vessels and blood is able to flow easier especially patients that have coronary artery disease and are symptomatic with chest pain/discomfort. Titration is used for comfort and based on stable vital signs. Nitroglycerin IV is titrated using MCG/MIN. Follow physician orders when starting the Nitroglycerin drip.