Updated Class Schedule

Candidates, All - 

Note changes to remaining class schedule.  Same dates & times, updated topics.  

See the full schedule on the link above.  Remaining classes are:

Keep Your Skills Fresh!

  

As we get into more complicated scenarios & treatment protocols, it's common for baseline skills to tail off a bit.

Keep 'em fresh.

As we discussed, practice them often, on any willing "patients".

(Thanks Chris &  Anna for the great example!)

Interesting (Useful?) EMS Social Media Sites

A selection that I follow. Some informative, some entertaining, some both:

https://www.instagram.com/nardoctor/

https://www.instagram.com/northamericanrescue/

https://www.instagram.com/northamericanrescue2.0/

https://www.instagram.com/firedepartmentchronicles/

https://www.instagram.com/whats.good.media/

https://www.instagram.com/theparamediccoach/

https://www.youtube.com/@PrepMedic

https://www.instagram.com/the_resuscitationist/

https://www.instagram.com/prolonged_field_care/

https://www.youtube.com/@BrianSuttererMD

https://www.youtube.com/@Medcram

https://www.instagram.com/the_anatomylab/

https://www.youtube.com/@TheAnatomyLab

https://www.youtube.com/@StanfordMedicine25/videos

https://www.youtube.com/@Anatomyzone

https://www.youtube.com/@EMin5

https://www.youtube.com/@StrongMed

https://www.youtube.com/@FirstLookMRI

Ski Season Fitness: Ski Season and Your Candidate Year, Approaches

As Lucy noted in class, the better shape you're in, the better your candidate year will go.  There are, of course, a huge number of programs to help you get ski-fit.  

Here's a good one from CMH Heliski.  Link to article here.

Another one from Wagner Skis here.  

Our advice - Start now.  Find a good program.  Hit it hard.  Now.

Blood Pressure Measurement

Candidates - 

As part of your training, we want you to know how to take a patient's blood pressure - manually, using a BP cuff (aka sphygmomanometer).  

You won't likely be doing this on the hill, but may well do so in the First Aid room. We'll cover this in class, and get hands-on time with the stethoscopes & cuffs.  

In preparation, here's a good video to review.  Be sure to do so.

Here's the key:

Mass Casualty Simulation Event - Thursday, Nov. 2 - Need Volunteers!

The culmination of our class, mass casualty simulation night, has proven to be the most engaging, most instructive, and probably the most fun class of the entire course.  Great fun for patroller candidates & volunteers alike.

What's Mass Casualty Night?

We simulate an event where we have multiple patients in need of care.  Each patient acts out a unique injury.  The patroller candidates assess each patient and then provide the appropriate care by themselves or by leading a team to do so.   Pictures from previous year's event below.

Why is it unique?

The event is unique in that it requires the candidates to bring to bear all the skills they've learned in class, and do so in a stressful environment that we create.  It's also a great opportunity for friends, family and others interested to see what this Outdoor Emergency Care is all about.

We need your help

To make this happen, we need a large number of volunteers.  This year, we're looking for around 40.  Young and old, we want and welcome all.  We'll provide you some coaching on your "injury".  In some cases, we'll also apply some moulage to better simulate the injury.   And you'll get to act it out as you like, being as high or low maintenance as you like to your patroller-rescuer and their team.

Location

This year, our Mass Causality Simulation will take place at Putnam Mazda, Burlingame. located here.

How to Sign-up

If you're joining us, please sign-up. To do so, click on the link below and go to Nov 2. Sign up as a "MCI Night Patient Volunteer". Link here:  https://teamup.com/ksbbcadac8c015e175

No doubt this year will once again prove to be very instructive to candidates, and very fun for the volunteers. 

Thanks in advance for your support!

Lower Extremity Splint Selection

 

Sager Splint Process

  

Head Trauma

 We discussed this in class.  Here's a great visual that captures the mechanics:

Heart Attack: Male & Female Symptoms

Last week we discussed heart attacks, and reviewed the different symptoms male/female.  Thanks to Mike Nealon who pointed out this instructive article on the topic.  Thanks Mike.

Link here.

Airway Adjuncts: OPA & NPA Videos

 Candidates -

Here are two videos you may find helpful.  Plus the usual disclaimer - stay in your scope of training/practice & always follow the instructions in the OEC protocols & book...


NPA: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YZ-fahKPOvc

Update: Above video may not be available.  If not, try this one: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6UF-VaUKmvg

OPA: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3a00BMlI03s

Glacow Coma Scale

Candidates - 

As we discussed in class, the GCS is commonly used in trauma (and many other medical) situations.  It is good to know for communicating with other medical personnel.  Here's a good video that is worth your time to review.  

Thanks Dave R for sorting through the many videos on this topic and finding this one.