Hot Zone
The official word is things are getting better in Connecticut as far as COVID goes. We continue to slowly decline from our December high. The governor has lifted the sports pause so my daughter is back having full scrimmages with her regional basketball team, although her middle school has cancelled their basketball season. My wife […]
EMS Harm Reduction
I am thrilled that American Medical Response-Hartford and Aetna Ambulance are partnering with the Greater Hartford Harm Reduction Coalition to deputize the city’s EMS responders into the Harm Reduction army. Crews will provide information cards to overdose patients and their families on where they can obtain everything from rehabilitation services to naloxone and clean needles […]
Vaccinator
Connecticut has approved paramedics to administer COVID-19 vaccines. They have also approved any EMT who has been trained in IM injection as part of the state’s epinephrine program. Nurses are also able to administer the vaccine. Paramedics and EMTs, however have to complete a state-approved training course in order to administer the vaccine, while nurses […]
The Door
When I am in the rapid response paramedic fly car, I usually always arrive on scene, before the fire department, before the police, before the ambulance. (Unless, I am requested to stage for a violent psych or an assault if the assailant is still believed to be on scene). I carry with me my paramedic […]
Severe Outbreak Again?
Connecticut is back in a severe outbreak according to COVID ACT Now. The upgrade seems to be largely based on the daily new cases per 100K population. For me, I think the daily hospitalizations is a far better measure of the state of the epidemic. Source: University of Minnesota COVID-19 Hospitalization Tracking The cases chart shows […]
The Future of EMS Education
EMS continuing education has been changed forever over the course of the last year. At UConn John Dempsey Hospital where I am the EMS coordinator, we hold EMS CMES monthly. For years we held them in person. Over the years we bounced around from venue to the next dealing with issues like parking (for attendees […]
2nd Dose
My first Pfizer shot was great. Didn’t even feel the needle go in. No side effects. Shoveled my driveway the next day with no fatigue. Yesterday at 10:30 A.M., I had my second shot. Went to bed at 9:30 P.M. feeling fine. Woke up at 11:00 P.M. feverish, chills, body aches, joint aches, bone aches, […]
Pediatric Cardiac Arrest-Stay and Play
I just watched a fantastic and very thoughtful lecture of pediatric cardiac arrest given by Dr. Peter Antevy as part of the Refresh2021 free national registry program, which I encourage everyone in EMS to sign up for. Register for Refresh 2021 When I precepted as a paramedic in 1995, my preceptor told me when we […]
Christmas – Winter’s Fuel
These are two old Christmas posts I wrote years ago, reposted now. *** Fifteen on the Scale It’s Christmas eve. We get called to one of the local nursing homes for rib pain. The room number sounds familiar. As we wheel our stretcher through the lobby, “Good King Wencelous” plays through the speakers. Gently shone […]
Peter Canning
Assassin
As cases have risen in recent weeks, Officials should have given warning residents to be particularly cautious over their Thanksgiving breaks this week as families gather to celebrate.
2020-11-25 06:06:17
Passengers
Breathtaking to read. I can not imagine what you are going through night after night. Stay strong and thank you for your service.
2020-11-25 06:02:17
EMS Drugs
In the calls that I have seen Narcan, Oxygen, Nitro, Dextrose are the top 4.
2020-11-07 00:32:28
Help is Always Right
I was inducted into street work in the late 80s by a Catholic Worker whose brother was an addict. He died on the street here in Austin in the mid-90s and that's where she got her bias against giving money, which she inculcated into me. My policy still to this day, but you have given…
2020-10-20 01:26:41
Maps
