Bob Sullivan EMS1.com Columnists An unconscious patient, with absent or ineffective breathing, may be in sudden cardiac arrest or have overdosed on an opioid; here’s how to assess and treat the patient Death from sudden cardiac arrest and opioid overdose are both major public health problems in the United States. Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, where there…

EMS1.com Columnists Use ETCO2 monitoring to avoid inappropriate hyperventilation, recognize abnormal respiratory patterns and guide care By Kelly Grayson Traumatic brain injury, hemorrhagic stroke and spinal cord injury are three pathologies that can result in devastating neurological injury. While we can do little in the prehospital environment to treat them, careful assessment of the patient, including…

EMS1 Sponsored We asked EMS1 readers to share their knowledge and use of capnography during patient care By EMS1 Staff Capnography is increasingly available to EMTs and paramedics for patient assessment and monitoring. Capnography is indicated for patients with traumatic injury, cardiac arrest, sepsis and respiratory compromise. It is also a critical tool to confirm…

Kenny Navarro EMS1.com Columnists A single prehospital treatment protocol for respiratory distress from asthma or COPD is reasonable Medic 23 and Engine 16 respond to a private residence for shortness of breath. Both arrive to find a 59-year-old female who says she is having difficulty breathing, which she attributes to a bad cold. Although she…

EMS1.com Staff News The Indiana EMS Commission approved statewide changes to the skills EMTs can use in the field, which will go into effect on March 1 By Laura French INDIANAPOLIS — EMTs across Indiana will soon be able to use more skills and procedures when treating patients after the state EMS commission approved scope…

Greg Friese, MS, NRP EMS1 Staff Originals Everyone likes new equipment. But before you run to your boss to make your case, ask yourself these questions. If you are like me, you walk out of a trade show with an arm full of brochures, a bag full of snacks and candy, and a mental list…

Steve Whitehead EMS1.com Columnists In this episode, Steve Whitehead details two additional uses for the nasal cannula that many providers may not use while engaged in patient care.  Share Your Capno Story With Us Do you have a story about how capnography made a difference? Share your story with us and we may publish it…

Bob Sullivan EMS1.com Columnists Understand the role of pulse oximetry and waveform capnography to assess and treat patients who are hyperventilating Hyperventilation syndrome is a challenging and often misunderstood condition that is frequently encountered in EMS. When triggered by anxiety, hyperventilation causes patients to feel like they are suffocating, but it eventually self-corrects and is…

Brought to you by Pulsara Review the three indications that a patient needs their airway managed in this episode of Progressive Paramedicine, an EMS1 original video series. Learn more about Pulsara here. Share Your Capno Story With Us Do you have a story about how capnography made a difference? Share your story with us and…

EMS1.com Columnists Careful diagnosis of respiratory and circulatory compromise will help you choose the most appropriate treatment and destination for patients with suspected pulmonary embolism By Bob Sullivan Pulmonary embolism can strike people at any age and any baseline health status. It is the second leading cause of sudden death in the United States and…