Femur fractures can be successfully immobilized using a traction splint. A femur fracture is complicated due to the amount of bleeding that can occur from the broken bone. In addition, the thigh muscles will contract and pull the fractured ends so they overlap or pass each other. This increases the size of the thigh, which leads to more blood loss, pain and internal soft tissue injury.
Traction splints provide a counter-pull to reduce the size of the thigh and realign the fractured femur. This helps reduce blood loss, alleviate pain and minimize further injury. The most common traction splints you’ll see in the field are the Hare (bipolar) and the Sager (unipolar).
The Hare is a bipolar traction splint, which means it uses two external poles to support the injured leg.
Indications
Contraindications
How to Apply
For unresponsive patients, apply mechanical traction until the injured leg is the same length as the uninjured leg.
The Sager is a unipolar traction splint, which means it uses one external pole to support the injured leg.
Indications
Contraindications
How to Apply
Remember, you don't have to be certain the patient has a femur fracture. If the thigh is painful, swollen or deformed you should assume it's fractured and splint accordingly.]]>
The oropharyngeal airway (OPA) and nasopharyngeal airway (NPA) are basic airway adjuncts. They are designed to secure the airway once it has been opened by either a head-tilt, chin-lift or jaw-thrust manuever, and any objects or secretions have been removed by suctioning. The OPA and NPA keep the tongue from occluding the airway and extend to, but do not pass the larynx.
The OPA comes in two forms: one is tubular with a hollow center and the other has channeled sides. Both types of OPA’s allow for suctioning and come in various sizes for infants, children and adults.
Indications
Contraindications
How to Insert
Remove the OPA immediately if the patient becomes responsive or begins to gag.
The NPA comes in various sizes based on the diameter of the tube and allows for suctioning as well.
Indications
Contraindications
How to Insert
A head-tilt, chin-lift or jaw-thrust maneuver must still be maintained, even when an OPA or NPA is inserted.]]>
Are you interested in becoming an EMT? As an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT), your primary responsibility is to provide care for medically ill and traumatically injured patients in both emergency and non-emergency situations. A career as an EMT can be very rewarding and allows you to work in various settings. For instance, EMT’s can work on an ambulance, as a firefighter, in the hospital, or even for a company that provides first aid services at events. The steps below outline the entire process on how to become an EMT. Please note, there might be some variations depending on the state in which you live.
As a first step, you’ll need to obtain your CPR certification. This is a requirement for the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT) and might also be a prerequisite for your EMT class. There are a few levels of CPR certification and it’s extremely important you select the correct one. For instance, you need to be trained at the level of basic life support (BLS) or healthcare provider (sometimes referred to as professional rescuer).
It is recommended you obtain your CPR certification through one of the following agencies:
EMT Courses are typically offered at most junior colleges and take approximately one semester to complete. Some colleges or businesses offer accelerated programs; however, this is not recommended. You want to ensure you have enough time to thoroughly understand all of the concepts and skills. EMT Courses consist of a didactic (classroom) portion, clinical rotations and practical skill labs. The classroom portion is a minimum of 110 instructional hours with the following curriculum:
The clinical rotations are typically one ride-along with either an ambulance or fire department and one shift in an emergency room. At the end of the course, you’ll need to successfully pass a psychomotor exam, which consists of 10 practical skills.
Once you have your EMT course completion certificate you can apply for the NREMT. In most cases, the place where you completed your EMT certification will help you start the application process. The NREMT has specific entry requirements, but primarily you’ll need to provide proof that you’re CPR certified and completed a state-approved EMT course and psychomotor exam. Once your application has been approved, the NREMT will send you instructions on how to schedule an appointment to take their cognitive exam. After successfully completing the cognitive exam, the NREMT will send you a certificate and you’re now registered as an EMT at the national level.
After receiving your NREMT certificate you need to register with your state EMS agency to work as an EMT. You should also check with your city or county if you need to register with them as well. If so, you might need to provide proof of your NREMT certification and pay a registration fee.
]]>Vital signs can vary between a patient’s age and gender, so it’s important to know the difference in values. Below is a list of normal vital signs for each age range and gender.