the doctors out, but i know something!

I was given this Beets BLU to review by my Papi, Chris from FaithHack . He had received them as a sample to test/review for BeetsBLU . First impression: When I first got it i though it was decent looking, it's small and unobtrusive. Wearing it the first time was different and it took a couple tries to get it sized just right.  On the inside of the chest band are the two electrodes to pick up the hearts electrical signals. I've found placing it just below the breast line in the 5th rib space sits well and gets good pickup.  Set up: BeetsBlu uses Bluetooth smart  which means it doesn't connect through the traditional Bluetooth functions. You must connect it from one of their approved apps (I use RunKeeper and the BeetsBLU app), as soon as you figure out you have to use the app first it is easy to setup.  Running: Running with BLU was easy. It took maybe another 20 seconds to get it turned on and set up. While running I found it was relatively accurate. Wh...

#AAEM15 Winters: 18% Inc in mortality per 5 seconds of pause during CPR. http://t.co/QpVVdvYx7F — San Antonio EM (@SanAntonioEM) March 2, 2015 Excuse me? you said what? "In patients with cardiac arrest presenting in a shockable rhythm during the ROC PRIMED trial, shorter pre- and peri-shock pauses were significantly associated with higher odds of survival. Future cardiopulmonary education and technology should focus on minimizing all peri-shock pauses." (Cheskes et all., 2013) Decreasing peri-shock pauses is a good thing.  Fig. 2. Cheskes et all., 2013 The less time we are squeezing the chest, the less time the victim is perfusing and the less their chances of survival.  To  maximize perfusion, the 2010 AHA Guidelines for CPR and  ECC recommend minimizing pauses in chest compressions.  Expert consensus is that a Chest Compression Fraction (CCF) of 80% is achievable in a variety  of settings. ( Meaney et all., 2013) A viable...

 Have you just started at a service that doesn't have cable? Did your service rip the carpet out from under the feet of  Abby and Gibbs ? Don't know where to go without DiNozzo? Is your service trying to shield you from the Illuminati grasp on cable media? Well here's some advise for you. Keep Calm and read FOAM.      But what is FOAM?  Well it's  Free Open Access Meducation  says the amazing folks over at  Life in the Fastlane . It's a fantastic tool to learn, teach, and grow as a person who providers medical care. It isn't just residents or doctors who use it. Nurses, respiratory therapist, medical assistants, paramedics, and ALL Allied health providers can benefit. FOAM has been facilitating collaboration across the world. In my little services we find it hard to talk to our neighbors, much less work with people in other countries. With social media connecting people on opposite sides of the world, it amazing to see d...

"Ooh, Ooh, Ooh, to touch a female vagina, gives Victor a hardon." Patrick J. Lynch, medical illustrator See, I said it. Vagina, hard on, and I'll just go ahead and add penis to this sentence. However, It worked for it's purpose. Remembering the 12 Cranial nerves. I – Olfactory II – Optic III – Oculomotor IV – Trochlear V (1,2,3) – Trigeminal VI – Abducens VII – Facial VIII – Vestibulocochlear IX – Glossopharyngeal X – Vagus XI – Accessory XII – Hypoglossal  - ( Via Wikipedia ) (Yes, I'm using Wikipedia as a source. No this isn't a scholarly or even very intelligent post, it's okay.) Sooo, I was suppose to memorize the 12 cranial nerves and their function (sensory, motor, or both) for a test this semester. I didn't, the test didn't go well. this is the point of test (or is how I use them at least). They are to show you what you need to learn! Within hours of that class ending, the tale of Victors sexual adv...

(Please comment! If you want to comment on the paper in Google docs then I will happily share the link! Thank you!) Helicopter based emergency medical services (HEMS) are an essential part to any EMS system.  The first benefit noted with HEMS is that it gives prehospital providers access to rapid transport without the difficulties of traffic or terrain. HEMS utilizes staff ranging from a critical care paramedic to a physician led team. Working under an expanded scope of practice compared to the traditional ground ambulance. However, HEMS can be misused and abused like the rest of the EMS and emergency response system. According to Taylor, C. B. (2010) annual cost range from $115,777 to $5,571,578.  The LifeFlight Foundation annual report states that in 2013 alone Maine’s very own “Green Angels” had expenses equalling $9,109,732 (2013, p. 22). That cost can be placed with the patients and insurance or absorbed by the government and citizens. No matter where the funding co...

What type of organism is involved in spreading this pathogen (bacteria, virus, etc.)?  Identify the name of the organism (if any).  If you have been provided with an organism/pathogen what disease does it cause? Clostridium tetani spores Anaerobic gram-positive, spore-forming bacteria Spores found in soil, animal feces; may persist for months to years They can survive autoclaving at 249.8°F (121°C) for 10–15 minutes. The spores are also relatively resistant to phenol and other chemical agents. Tetanospasmin estimated human lethal dose = 2.5 ng/kg Causes Tetanus (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2012, p. 291). What is the common route of infection (air, blood, etc.)?  Identify what would be the most likely way a paramedic would be exposed. Spores usually enters the body through a wound or breach in the skin. Toxins are produced and disseminated via bloodstream and lymphatic system (Centers for Disease Control and Prevent...

Into the Water — The Clinical Clerkships — NEJM Something that I have a hard time with and work equally hard at is understanding that I think, I make the world around me. I get so focused on trying to be "the best I can be" and all the silly ideas that come with that. I focus on the best I can be, which turns into just focusing on me, which turns into not thinking outside my own head. So it's good to hear I'm not alone in that thought. It's better to know that I can change it. I hope that as my education and understanding of the world around me gets better I'll remember to think more. Now I've been in EMS for 2 years, which is a small chunk of time in the scheme of things but I do understand how the clinical clerkship can affect providers. Tuesday night I had an elderly lady with chest pain. A man in his 50s who was having a STEMI.  98% occlusions of the circumflex was the cath lab report when we got back. A post arrest, vented Pt who was bucking the ...