Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) is characterized by severe shortness of breath and a rapid heart rate, often accompanied by cough, fever, chest pain and bluish lips or fingernails caused by low O2 levels.
ARDS can be triggered by direct injuries to the lung such as pneumonia, aspiration, smoke inhalation or blunt...
Opioid-induced Respiratory Depression (OIRD), usually caused by opioid use or post-operative complications from anesthesia, occurs when the opioids desensitize the brain stem to rises in CO2, which can rapidly lead to full-blown respiratory failure. Given the growing number of 911 calls due to opioid abuse and subsequent respiratory...
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is an umbrella term for progressive, obstructive lung diseases, including emphysema and chronic bronchitis, that are characterized by chronically poor airflow. Cigarette smoking is the most common cause of COPD, but heredity and exposure to air pollution and particulates are also...
Have you ever wondered, “Is my ET tube in the right place?” “Are those really epigastric sounds or just the sound of the engine?” “Is there a way to continually monitor my patient’s condition without taking vital signs every minute?”
In this webinar, we have a panel of experts who engage in a lively discussion on why and...
Rom DuckworthEMS1.com ColumnistsThrough the EPIC treatment, EMS providers are taught to focus on the three H-bombs to prevent further damage to head injuriesTraumatic head injuries account for 2.5 million emergency department visits annually in the United States. More than 10 percent of these head injuries are hospitalized, from which...
EMS1.com Staff News“From March 11 to 17, we are emphasizing that safety in the delivery of healthcare is the highest priority all the time,” CPS executive director Alex Christgen said By EMS1 Staff
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — Patient Safety Awareness Week is being promoted by an organization to highlight important issues and spread...
Bob SullivanEMS1.com ColumnistsUnderstand the importance of realistic training on specific devices and using capnography to assess for effective ventilation through supraglottic airways
Supraglottic airway devices have emerged as valuable tools for airway management, particularly in cardiac arrest. When compared to endotracheal...
Kenny NavarroEMS1 SponsoredVideo laryngoscopy may improve overall and first-pass success rates for ET intubation by paramedics
Medic 14 and Engine 27 respond to a report of breathing difficulty at a private residence. The engine arrives first to find a 68-year-old male experiencing severe shortness of breath. The patient’s wife states...
EMS1.com ColumnistsHow much do you really know about supraglottic airway management uses, contraindications and techniques?By Michael Fraley, EMS1 Contributor
The EMS industry has seen significant changes in the available airways for patients needing positive pressure ventilation. For many years, the only option was to have an advanced...
EMS1.com ColumnistsHow well do you know the conditions associated with pH imbalances?By Sean Hulsman
The human body must maintain itself within a very small pH window in order to properly function. It does so by utilizing an amazing acid/base buffering system which, when well understood by EMS providers, can help us better treat...