In this week's podcast, you will learn

1.  The pathophysiology behind an asthma attack

2.  The three types of asthma attacks

3.  The role of bronchodilators and corticosterioids in the treatment of asthma.

Additional Resources for Students

The Pathophysiology of Asthma-The Khan Academy

What is Asthma-Dr. Alex Thomas

Paramedic Student Review Questions:

Of the following, which would be considered an extrinsic trigger for an atopic asthma attack?

A.  Viral infection

B.  Bacterial infection

C.  Stress

D. None of the above

The correct answer is C. Stress. The other responses indicate nonatopic asthma triggers and all of them are instrinsic.

Why might your bronchodilator not be effective in the status asthmaticus patient?

A.  Medicine is out of date

B.  Severity of the bronchospasm

C.  Rapidity of respiratory rate

D.  Poor cardiac output

The correct answer is B.  Because the bronchospasm is so severe, there may be difficulty in getting the medicine down to the lower bronchioles. 

Trauma has become the most frequent cause of death of the OB patient in the United States. Although maternal mortality due to other causes such as infection, hemorrhage, hypertension, and thromboembolism, has declined over the years, the number of maternal deaths due to penetrating trauma, suicide, homicide and motor vehicle accidents has risen steadily. Accidental injuries occur in 6 to 7 % of all pregnant patients. Penetrating trauma accounts for as many as 36 % of maternal deaths.  In this podcast the student will:

1.  review the statistics that deal with death of mother an baby after trauma;

2.  understand the importance of aggressive resuscitation of the mother as a treatment modality;

3.  grasp the role of IV infusion and its effect on the secretion of oxytocin.

Additional Resources

This is the second part of our Autism and What EMS Needs to Know series.    My guests are Dustin Young, Licensed Clinical Social Worker with the Tillamook Family Counseling Corporation and Nick Watts, Community Paramedic with Tillamook County EMS.  In this week’s presentation the student will

1. Identify the changes in autism as a child transitions into an adult.
2. How autistic patients learn how to self-regulatef their behavior.
3. What EMS should know to minimize confrontations with autistic patients.
4. When to and when not to restrain autistic patients.

Some resources that you might find helpful in learning more about autism include:

Auggies Hope-The idea of Auggie’s Hope is to advocate for Autism. A lot has changed in the past few years but their core belief of advocating for special needs has not. They have grown and continue to focus our mission training first responders on how to help a special needs family in crisis.

Autism Risk Management- Are you searching for autism training curriculum for police and law enforcement? Dennis Debbaudt develops current, relevant, sustainable and memorable autism and law enforcement curriculum and digital video content. Debbaudt has over two decades of experience in autism and law enforcement curriculum development.

National Autism Association-Toolbox of resources for interactions between first responders and patients with autism. 

This week’s podcast will be a two parter!  Recently I was with the paramedic students at Arkansas State University and they requested a podcast on the EMS response to autism.  In response to their request, I’ve changed the format just a bit from that of a monologue to an interview.  My guests are Dustin Young, Licensed Clinical Social Worker with the Tillamook Family Counseling Corporation and Nick Watts, Community Paramedic with Tillamook County EMS.  In this weeks presentation the student will

1. Learn what autism is
2. How the autistic patient may present
3. Learn what some of the telling rituals that the autistic patient may do.

Some resources that you might find helpful in learning more about autism include:

Auggies Hope-The idea of Auggie’s Hope is to advocate for Autism. A lot has changed in the past few years but their core belief of advocating for special needs has not. They have grown and continue to focus our mission training first responders on how to help a special needs family in crisis.

Autism Speaks-For people with autism, learning to interact with first responders is critical. On the other hand, it is just as essential for first responders to understand autism and be prepared to respond effectively and safely to situations that arise involving individuals on the spectrum.

Autism Society-Tips for First Responders-Great information for interactions between EMS and patients with autism. 

In this episode of the Ten Minute Medic, we take a look at the ability of your patient to make competent decisions.  At the end of this podcast, the student will

1.  Understand the difference between competency and capacity

2.  Understand the legal ramifications of failing to recognize competency

3.  Understand the ASSET method of assessing competency.

In the podcast, I reference an article entitled, "EMS, Capacity and Competence".  That full article can be found at this link:  https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK470178/

In this episode, the paramedic student will:

1.  Understand the pathophysiology behind the cellular immune response

2.  Be able to recognize the differences between anaphylaxis and a localized allergic reaction

3.  Understand the role of epinephrine and diphenhydramine in the treatment of anaphylaxis.

It's that time of the year when EMS students begin to sign up for their NREMT exams.  In this podcast, we take a look a couple of urban legends regarding the exam, how the exam is constructed and what you can do to give yourself that added edge when you are sitting in front of that computer in the testing center.

In this episode of the Ten Minute Medic the listener will:

1.  understand the pathophysiology behind the development and destruction of clots after trauma;

2.  learn the findings of the CRASH 2 study regarding TXA administration;

3.  review one potential protocol for the administration of TXA.

 At the end of this podcast the paramedic student will:

1.  understand the signs and symptoms of hypoglycemia

2.  understand the treatment of hypoglycemia

3.  be able to differentiate the different levels of hyperglycemia

4.  verbalize the treatment approaches for hyperglycemia

Please consider leaving us a rating with your favorite podcast delivery service.  Doing so will help us to reach more paramedic students!

Some forms of diabetes have been called a disease of lifestyle.  There is no doubt that, in western culture, it is increasing.  In this two part podcast we will :

1.  review the anatomy and physiology of the pancreatic system

2.  understand the role that insulin, glucose and glycogen play in homeostasis

Thanks for listening!