Non-Invasive Positive Pressure Ventilations: Prehospital Use of CPAP and BiPAP
Fortunately, for EMS providers and their respiratory distress patients, non-invasive positive pressure ventilation (NiPPV) treatments are becoming widely adopted. NiPPV comes in two forms, C-PAP and Bi-PAP, and has been shown to be a safe and effective prehospital treatment that greatly improves patient vital signs and comfort by emergency department arrival. In this lesson for CentreLearn and RapidCE.com users learn about relevant physiology, indications, contraindications, benefits, application steps, and adjunctive therapies.

Non-Visualized Airways Part 2: Anatomy, Difficult Airways, and King LT and LMA insertion
In this two part lesson we review the indications and insertion techniques for three non-visualized airways – the Combitube, laryngeal mask airway, and the King LT. Part one reviews airway anatomy and explores difficult airway situations. Part 2 is mostly focused on the indications, contraindications, and insertion of the King LT and LMA. Learn more at RapidCE.com.

Non-Visualized Airways Part 1: Anatomy, Difficult Airways, and Combitube
In this two part lesson for RapidCE.com and CentreLearn users we review the indications and insertion techniques for three non-visualized airways – the Combitube, laryngeal mask airway, and the King LT. Part one reviews airway anatomy and explores difficult airway situations. It focuses on the indications, contraindications, and insertion of the Combitube.

Non-Visualized Airways Part 1
1. Review airway anatomy
2. Explore difficult airway situations
3. Describe indications, contraindications, and insertion of the Combitube

Visualized Airways Part 2
1. Review airway anatomy
2. Explore difficult airway situations
3. Describe indications, contraindications, and insertion of the King L-T and Laryngeal Mask Airway

Non-Invasive Positive Pressure Ventilation
1. Describe Non-invasive Positive Pressure Ventilations and their physiology
2. Identify the indications, contraindications and benefits of non-invasive positive pressure ventilations
3. Explain the steps to applying NiPPV and how to adjust its settings
4. Discuss adjunctive therapies and ongoing monitoring for patients on NiPPV

A BLS and ALS version is available for each of these EMT and paramedic continuing education lessons. To learn more browse to RapidCE.com or CentreLearn.com.

EPS also designed and produced three lessons on fire inspection.
High Rise Fire and Life Safety Inspection
1. Review inspection process
2. Review historical fires and impact on codes
3. Identify common hazards
4. Develop effective corrective action statements

Assembly Occupancy Fire and Life Safety Inspection
1. Review inspection process
2. Review historical fires and impact on codes
3. Identify common hazards
4. Develop effective corrective action statements

School Fire and Life Safety Inspection
1. Review inspection process
2. Review historical fires and impact on codes
3. Identify common hazards
4. Develop effective corrective action statements

March 15-19 I am co-instructing a 5 day Wilderness First Responder (WFR) course at Camp Manito-wish YMCA. In my opinion Manito-wish is an ideal place to take a wilderness medicine course. The classroom space is modern and comfortable and we have immediate access to outdoor space for scenarios and simulations.

To sign-up for this course or learn about other courses visit the WMA website.

I will also be the lead instructor for a Wilderness First Aid course April 17-18 in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin. Learn more about WFA training.

What organizations are you passionate about that might benefit from your experience as an online and classroom educator?

I think you are indispensable so take a few minutes to read why.

While wrestling through a written test recently I had this idea. Each student takes the test on their own and submits their answers for grading. Then in groups of two or three – just like a real patient contact – students answer the same set of questions. While reading the test questions I had occasions, again just like a real call, I would want to say to another paramedic:

• “What do you think is going on here?”
• “Should we do A or B?”
• “When would it make sense to do C?”

Do you allow students to collaborate on test taking?

For online education one of the frequent complaints is cheating. Well why not require students to take the test with a partner.

What do you think?

Book Review: Saber’s Edge – a combat medic in Ramadi Iraq. Saber’s Edge: A Combat Medic in Ramadi, Iraq is Tom Middleton’s chronicle of his experiences as a Firefighter/Paramedic/Nurse in Ramidi Iraq in 2005.

Event Review: Arrowhead EMS Association Conference Review of the 30th annual Arrowhead EMS Association conference in Duluth, Minnesota.

Office Hours: Live Call-In for EMS Students and Professionals.  Episode 2 of EMS Office Hours Jim Hoffman and I talk about: EMS Boot Camp – we just completed our newest session on IV insertion tips and tricks right before this call in.

Office Hours: Presenting at EMS Conferences Episode 3 In Episode 3 of EMS Office Hours I talk about the ins and outs of becoming a conference speaker.

Press Release: iPhone Scheduling App for EMS Professionals. Brice Bingman, a Computer Programmer with Northrop Grumman Corp., recently teamed up with San Diego Paramedic Jason Friesen to develop a Kelly/Platoon Schedule application for the iPhone. Emergency Calendar (eCal) is a simple, user-friendly iPhone application.

Top 5: CE Lessons for EMS professionals (#31daysofCE). I produce and design online education lessons for RapidCE.com. Since 2004 me and my team of physicians, nurses, and paramedics have produced more than 125 lessons in categories of medial emergencies, trauma, environmental emergencies, patient assessment, pediatrics, geriatrics, and workplace health. This is a list of my 5 favorite lessons.

Essential #EMS Feeds for your Blog Reader. Last week I asked, “How do you read blogs?” Many Everyday EMS Tips readers told me they use a feed reader, like Google Reader, to stay up to date on EMS and connected with their favorite bloggers. These are essential feeds for EMS Professionals.

Video: Surviving Cardiac Arrest with Dr. Mickey Eisenberg Dr. Mickey Eisenberg is the guest for the January 20 episode of the EMSEduCast. We are looking forward to Dr. Eisenberg’s second visit on the EMSEduCast to discuss factors associated with survival from sudden cardiac arrest.

I am assembling a Smartphone Apps Review Team to suggest apps for review, write app reviews, and recommend apps to other EMS professionals. App reviews could be posted at EverydayEMSTips.com, on the reviewer’s blog or website, and submitted for publication in EMS industry magazines and websites.

App Reviewer Benefits

• Content for your blog
• Links back to your blog or affiliate sites from EverydayEMSTips.com
• Publication credits
• More Smartphone apps

If there is a paid app a team member wants to review I will ask the developer for a reviewer copy.

Guidelines for app reviews:

• 200 to 500 words
• Describe the problem the app solves. What does it do?
• Explain how and when the app is used.
• Recommend best uses for the app.
• Check the EverydayEMSTips.com product review guidelines for additional information.
• Screenshots or screencasts that show how the app functions would be a great addition to the app review.

To join the Smarthphone EMS Apps Review Team:

Email greg.friese@everydayemstips.com with your suggestions for apps you would like to review. Ideally, include a review of an app – EMS or non-EMS related, that you are already using.