BLS Case Studies in Emergency Care

by Limmer, Daniel J., EMT-P

• ISBN13: 9780835953894
• ISBN10: 0835953890
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2005-02-18
• Publisher: Pearson

Summary

A case-based approach brings "real-life" scenarios into EMT-Basic response refresher training.This book covers the DOT curriculum for the EMT-B Refresher course and takes into account the prior experience of a practicing EMTB. Contains a wealth of full color photos and illustrations.EMT-Basic level responders.

Author Biography

Dan Limmer, EMT P, has been involved in EMS for over 25 years. He remains active as a paramedic with Kennebunk Fire Rescue in Kennebunk, Maine, and the Kennebunkport EMS (KEMS) in Kennebunkport, Maine. A passionate educator, Dan teaches EMT and paramedic courses at the Southern Maine Community College in South Portland, Maine, and has taught at The George Washington University in Washington, DC, and the Hudson Valley Community College in Troy, New York. He is a charter member of the National Association of EMS Educators and a member of the National Association of EMTs (NAEMT), for which he serves on the Advanced Medical Life Support Committee.

Dan was formerly involved in law enforcement, beginning as a dispatcher and retiring as a police officer in Colonie, New York, where he received three command recognition awards as well as the distinguished service award (Officer of the Year) in 1987. During his 20-year law enforcement career he served in the communications, patrol, juvenile, narcotics, and training units.

In addition to authoring several EMS journal articles, Dan is co-author of a number of EMS textbooks for Brady including First Responder: A Skills Approach, Essentials of Emergency Care, Advanced Medical Life Support, the military and fire service editions of Emergency Care, and others. He speaks frequently at regional, state, and national EMS conferences.

Table of Contents

Preface	vii
Acknowledgments	ix
About the Author	xi
My Mother Is Gone	1	(5)
She Is Having a Seizure	6	(4)
Uh Oh!	10	(4)
I Can't Breathe	14	(6)
Difficulty Breathing	20	(6)
It Is Hard to Breathe	26	(6)
Unconscious Male	32	(6)
I Think He Is Dead	38	(4)
My Heart Is Skipping Beats	42	(6)
I Have Pain in My Chest	48	(5)
Possible Stroke	53	(6)
Man Down	59	(5)
My Son Had a Convulsion	64	(5)
My Husband Is Acting Bizarrely	69	(6)
I Am So Tired	75	(6)
Unconscious Female	81	(6)
My Daughter Ate My Meds	87	(6)
I Think We Have the Flu	93	(5)
Dizzy and Weak	98	(5)
Feeling Weak at a Nursing Home	103	(5)
I Am Having Problems Swallowing	108	(6)
My Husband Was Stung by a Bee	114	(6)
Attempted Suicide at the Jail	120	(5)
My Stomach Hurts	125	(6)
I'm Having a Baby	131	(6)
Pregnant and Bleeding	137	(6)
I Am about to Have This Baby	143	(7)
Amputation	150	(6)
I Cut My Hand	156	(5)
I've Burned Myself	161	(6)
I've Cut My Arm with a Saw	167	(6)
My Arm Is Broken	173	(5)
My Aunt Has Fallen	178	(6)
A Fall at a Construction Site	184	(6)
Man Struck by a Car	190	(6)
She Fell Sometime Last Night	196	(5)
I Think I Broke My Ankle	201	(5)
He Was Hit in the Head	206	(5)
My Baby Can't Breathe	211	(6)
Child with Trouble Breathing	217	(6)
He Broke His Arm Again	223	(5)
Child Struck by a Car	228	(5)
My Child Had an Accident	233	(6)
Young Child Fell into the Pool	239	(6)
Appendix Answers to Chapter Review Questions	245

Excerpts

Initial education for the EMT often consists of frenzied learning of facts and skills in preparation for an examination that will determine whether you will obtain your license or certification. This provides you a significant amount of knowledge and an equally significant lack of street experience to apply what you have learned.It would be quite convenient if patients always demonstrated the exact symptoms listed in your textbook (in the same order as the bullet points). Unfortunately, this is rarely the case. You are faced with the daunting task of linking your classroom and skill learning with the street. This is the main purpose of this book-to bring together classroom knowledge and street skills. These case studies answer three questions that will be valuable to the new or experienced EMT: How, Why, and Application.How--How real patients present on real calls. These cases are culled from the experience of EMS practitioners and educators to provide a realistic look at how you will find real patients and problems.Why--Why do patients present as they do? Why does one condition mimic another? These cases will take you on a practical exploration of common and not-so-common calls. The Patient Outcome/Pathophysiology section at the end of each case offers an explanation of the events of the call, the patient outcome, and how the medical or traumatic condition affected the patient.Application--You will apply your knowledge to real-life situations. You will be given information, observations, complaints, and physical assessment findings and be asked to make decisions based on this information-just as on a real call. USING THIS TEXTEach of the 44 cases presented in this book describes a real-life situation. You will begin each case with scene size-up and initial impression. This sets the foundation for a call. Are there dangers? Is the patient critical? You will decide.During the assessment and care for the patient section of each case, you will be asked important questions. Try to consider these questions yourself without looking forward to the answer provided in the text. The material you have read plus the answer sets the foundation for the next portion of the scenario. You will transport and hand-off your patient to the emergency department staff.There is more to EMS than hands-on patient care, and this book covers all of the angles. You will be exposed to medication errors, partner conflicts, and some curves thrown into what appear to be routine calls--much like what actually occurs in the street. The need to take exams and apply information on your exams is not neglected. Each scenario ends with 10 multiple-choice questions to help you synthesize your knowledge and test what you have learned.For additional resources, please visit www.bradybooks.com.