Category Archives:

The Normal Saline Shortage and the ALS Mindset
April 14, 2014 | Administration & Leadership, Als, Ambulance, crisis, Emergency Medical Services, EMS, ems 2.0, EMS Management, EMS protocols, EMS Topics, new perspective, Paramedic, paramedic education, Patient Management, SMG, SMO | Ckemtp | 12 Comments
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In case you haven’t heard, the United States is running short of slightly salty water. Specifically we’re having an unprecedented shortage of 0.9% normal saline solution, the kind that is used as the most common intravenous fluid in every form of healthcare that puts needles into people’s veins. I don’t really know the reasons why […]

Rural EMS – A Fictional Letter to the Small Town Community
June 10, 2010 | Ambulance, crisis, Emergency Medical Services, EMS, EMS ethics, EMS Topics, Funding & Staffing, inside the mind of a paramedic, Paramedic, paramedic salary, politics, rural ems, Uncategorized | Ckemtp | 15 Comments
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Rural EMS has it’s challenges, not the least of which are the low pay and long hours. I believe that the lives of those in the sticks are just as important as the lives of those in the city and that rural folk need paramedics too. This is a fictional letter with a very real message.

Advances in Prehospital Analgesia and Conscious Sedation
April 1, 2010 | 911 fail, Als, Ambulance, crisis, Emergency Medical Services, EMS, EMS Health & Safety, EMS Humor, EMS Topics, Fire Rescue Topics, funny, humor, Paramedic, paramedic education, Uncategorized | Ckemtp | 6 Comments

From the Plover, WI Polytechnic Institute of Cosmetology and Cheese Making comes these handy tips for prehospital analgesia and anesthesia. Control all complaints of pain and induce sedation for RSI easily and cheaply.

Guest Post – An Open Letter to Wisconsin Physicians Concerning Do-Not-Resucitate Orders
December 3, 2009 | 911 fail, cpr, cpr fail, crisis, DNR, Do Not Resuscitate Order, Emergency Medical Services, emotions, EMS, ems 2.0, EMS ethics, EMS rant, EMS Topics, EMT, EMT-Intermediate, EMT-Paramedic Specialist, Fire Rescue Topics, medical ethics, Paramedic, patient care, Patient Management, physician, professionalism, rant, southern wisconsin | Ckemtp | 32 Comments

Do-Not-Resuscitate, or DNR orders, can be wonderful tools. However, physicians must provide the proper input and patient education in order to prevent tragic consequences – This is an open letter to Wisconsin Physicians written by a long-time paramedic.

Dear State of Illinois EMS…
October 28, 2009 | 911 fail, Administration & Leadership, change, ckemtp rants, Command & Leadership, crisis, edemse, Emergency Medical Services, EMS, ems 2.0, EMS ethics, EMS Management, EMS protocols, EMS system, EMS Topics, idph, illinois, Iowa, Iowa EMS, new perspective, northern illinois, Protocol development, southern wisconsin, wisconsin | Ckemtp | 13 Comments

State of Illinois EMS… We have to have a little talk. Can we save our relationship?

The Current US Economy and EMS: An In-depth look at how this mess will affect 911 in your community
July 13, 2009 | Ambulance, crisis, Emergency Medical Services, EMS paramedics, EMT, new perspective, us, US economy | Ckemtp | 2 Comments

The Emergency Medical Services industry is a plucky, hard-driven lot these days. We’re the healthcare safety net for every socioeconomic class. When the normal points of entry into the healthcare system fail to catch a disease process or when the unthinkable happens, calling 911 for an ambulance is the best option for most people. In […]