Annals of emergency medicine
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The development of modern cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is an exciting and surprising history to modern health professionals who rarely are aware of how new CPR really is. Artificial respiration began in the 16th century with Vesalius's work on living animals; progressed with the rise and fall of mouth-to-mouth, manual, and positive pressure ventilation methods of the 18th and 19th centuries; and culminated in 1958 with demonstration of the superiority of the mouth-to-mouth technique. ⋯ The technique was applied to man internally in 1947 and externally in 1956. The simultaneous use of all these modern CPR methods dates back only 20 years.
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Photography is a rapid, relatively simple, and inexpensive means of documenting patient care and enhancing medical education. Because of its use in medical records, photography affords the physician added defense against claims of medical malpractice. The emergency physician should have ready access to a photographic system as well as a basic knowledge of camera operation, filming procedures, picture composition, and medico-legal implications. These topics are discussed and specific recommendations are offered concerning the purchase of essential photographic equipment.
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The retention of knowledge and skill proficiency was evaluated for emergency care attendants (ECAs), emergency medical technicians (EMT-As) and paramedics (EMT-Ps). The sample represented 4.1% of the total number of individuals trained and certified in these positions in Texas. The average loss of didactic knowledge did not exceed 10% over a two-year period. ⋯ Participants in continuing education programs experienced an 11% better retention average for skill than did nonparticipants. The employees of privately operated ambulance services retained their basic skills better than did members of other types of services. The rate of knowledge deterioration for the sample evaluated was not correlated (R = 0.08) to the original written score.