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Out-of-Hours
Published in James Sherifi, General Practice Under the NHS, 2023
In addition to routine patient off-site care, a significant number of selfless doctors also provided emergency cover in liaison with the ambulance service. They acted as an enhanced ‘first responder,’ attending road traffic accidents in their locality, frequently arriving at the scene before an ambulance. They were highly trained, comprehensively equipped, and skilled in enacting procedures, such as tracheal intubation and deep vein cannulation.
When the Classroom is the Workplace
Published in Michael J. Madson, Teaching Writing in the Health Professions, 2021
In most areas of the health professions, providers develop many essential, lifesaving skills, such as intubating patients, suturing, and performing a physical assessment. As first responders, EMS providers learn these skills and earn their training and licensure through accredited programs offered through fire departments, private EMS agencies, community and technical colleges, or 4-year colleges and universities. Depending on the program structure and licensure level offered, the programs last between 3 months to 4 years. Basic EMS training covers foundational elements of prehospital medical care, such as anatomy and physiology, patient and scene assessments, and trauma and medical care. Advanced EMS training at the paramedic level covers more complex medical skills and decision-making, such as pharmacology and advanced airway management. Regardless of training level, all EMS providers are required to take state exams to earn their licensure. Some providers complete national-level exams to earn national licensure, allowing them to practice EMS outside their home state.
Recognition and management of cardiopulmonary arrest
Published in Peate Ian, Dutton Helen, Acute Nursing Care, 2020
Check that the area around the patient is safe. Although there are relatively few documented cases of first responders to a cardiac arrest suffering adverse effects, your safety and that of the other members of the team is always the first priority.
Health and well-being of first responders: The role of psychological capital, self-compassion, social support, relationship satisfaction, and physical activity
Published in Journal of Workplace Behavioral Health, 2022
Alexandra Lowery, Tony Cassidy
First responders are broadly defined as individuals who are first to arrive on the scene of an emergency, accident, or disaster, facing dangerous, challenging, and cumbersome situations to preserve and protect life, environment, and property (Arble & Arnetz, 2017; Marmar et al., 2006). They are further responsible for immediately reaching out to the survivors of disasters and providing not only physical but also emotional support (Kleim & Westphal, 2011). Historically, first responders include firefighters, search and rescue teams, police, and emergency medical personnel (Geronazzo-Alman et al., 2017). They are essential in ensuring the safety of the community following a disaster and maintaining critical public functions. While these duties are indispensable for the entire community, they are strenuous and taxing to first responders, putting them at risk for experiencing several physical and mental health consequences (Benedek, Fullerton, & Ursano, 2007; Fullerton, Ursano, & Wang, 2004).
Emergency Medical Services Personnel’s Pandemic Influenza Training Received and Willingness to Work during a Future Pandemic
Published in Prehospital Emergency Care, 2020
T. Rebmann, R. L. Charney, T. M. Loux, J. A. Turner, Y. S. Abbyad, M. Silvestros
Between July, 2018 and February, 2019, first responders working in two emergency response agencies in a Midwestern greater metropolitan region were recruited to complete an anonymous survey regarding their willingness to respond during an influenza pandemic, as well as pandemic training they had received. One of the participating first responder agencies provides all of the emergency medical services for an entire urban area of a large major Midwestern metropolitan region, spanning more than 60 square miles from 30 stations. Staff at this agency consisted of paramedics and firefighters who are all emergency medical technicians (EMTs). The second agency was a large suburban-based agency from the same metropolitan region, spanning over 590 square miles from 18 stations. All participants at the second agency were EMS professionals consisting of paramedics. Both agencies have both 911 and transportation capabilities and are employed by municipalities (versus being a private entity). These agencies were selected due to their extensive coverage within the involved metropolitan region in terms of miles covered and number of citizens within those districts. For the purposes of this study, all participating first responders will be referred to as EMS personnel. Recruitment was conducted face-to-face at educational workshops and during on-site recruitment sessions at the two participating agencies; one agency also used email recruitment. The instrument was administered via Qualtrics, an online survey platform, and was also available on paper.
Characteristics of Prehospital Electrocardiogram Use in North Carolina Using a Novel Linkage of Emergency Medical Services and Emergency Department Data
Published in Prehospital Emergency Care, 2019
Jessica K. Zègre-Hemsey, Josephine Asafu-Adjei, Antonio Fernandez, Jane Brice
Importantly, we found that compared to patients in urban areas, patients in rural NC received significantly fewer prehospital ECGs. This suggests that disparities persist among rural communities, despite efforts to integrate prehospital ECGs across communities. This disparity may be related to EMS levels of care, which vary by community and resources. Emergency medical technicians (EMTs) are trained to several competency levels (first responder; EMT- basic; EMT-intermediate, EMT-paramedic); yet rural areas are often staffed with first responders or EMT-basic level who generally are not trained for prehospital ECGs acquisition. The decision for EMS providers to obtain a prehospital ECG is largely protocol-driven, but EMS protocols vary widely by local agencies and resources (8). Current NC EMS protocols include both EMT-basic and EMT-intermediate providers for prehospital ECG acquisition (https://www.ncems.org/nccep.html), but our results suggest this may not yet be routine practice in rural communities. In a recent review of the literature, Powell et al. suggested prehospital ECG acquisition and transmission by EMS providers without advanced training is safe and feasible (26). Prehospital ECG use in rural areas is associated with reduced time from first medical contact to reperfusion and improved 1-year mortality (26, 27). Future research is needed to explore further potential barriers to prehospital ECG use among rural communities.