Prehospital and disaster medicine
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Prehosp Disaster Med · Jul 1996
An analysis of Michigan EMT licensure examination results as a predictor of paramedic licensure examination success.
Predicting paramedic candidate performance on the written licensure examination is of considerable importance to educators, students, employers, and state regulators. There has been little investigation of the available statistical data regarding examinee pass rate and examination score. No studies have measured an examinee's sequential success pattern on the basic emergency medical technician (EMT) or paramedic examinations. There has been no analysis of the relationship between the number of examinations required for successful paramedic licensure and examination score. ⋯ Paramedic examinees who pass their EMT licensure examination on the first attempt have a significantly better chance of passing the paramedic licensure examination. Paramedic licensure examinees who pass the paramedic examination on the first attempt score significantly higher than do examinees who require additional attempts. Paramedic programs should incorporate EMT examination performance into their student selection criteria. Further study of variables predictive of success is needed.
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Prehosp Disaster Med · Jul 1996
Comparative Study Clinical Trial Controlled Clinical TrialComparison of high-dose epinephrine versus standard-dose epinephrine in adult cardiac arrest in the prehospital setting.
To compare the efficacy of high-dose epinephrine (HDE) with standard-dose epinephrine (SDE) in the management of cardiac arrest in adults in the prehospital setting. ⋯ There was no statistically significant difference in overall rate of survival to hospital admission or discharge between patients treated with SDE and those treated with HDE, regardless of the initial rhythm.
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Prehosp Disaster Med · Jul 1996
Clinical Trial Controlled Clinical TrialDoes ambulance crew size affect on-scene time or number of prehospital interventions?
While large cities typically staff ambulances with two emergency medical services (EMS) professionals, some EMS agencies use three people for ambulance crews. The Greenville, North Carolina, EMS agency converted from three-person to two-person EMS crews in July 1993. There are no published reports investigating the best crew size for out-of-hospital emergency care. ⋯ Two-person EMS crews perform the same number of procedures as do three-person EMS crews. However, without the assistance of additional responders, two-person EMS crews may have statistically significantly longer on-scene times than three-person EMS crews.
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Prehosp Disaster Med · Jul 1996
Clinical TrialPrehospital use of a prototype esophageal detection device: a word of caution!
To determine the effectiveness of a prototype esophageal detection device (EDD) during use in the prehospital setting. ⋯ This prototype EDD adequately identifies esophageally placed endotracheal tubes. Correct identification of endotracheally placed tubes was less sensitive. Much work needs to be done regarding the use of negative aspiration devices to identify placement of endotracheal tubes.
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To assess the characteristics of rural emergency medical services providers involved in the prehospital care of victims of agricultural injuries and determine which aspects of an agricultural rescue course were perceived as most useful. ⋯ Respondents to an evaluation of an agricultural rescue course primarily were rural, basic providers. Future development of courses for emergency medical technicians involved in agriculture rescue must account for this level of training. Such courses should be short and modular with an emphasis on continuing education, practice, and focus on the identified needs of the participants.