EMS

While tragedy can befall anyone, what is frequently considered once-in-a-lifetime events for most, are routine occurrences for first responders. Repeated exposure forms “thick skin” but insufficiently protects against burnout, emotional exhaustion, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). First responders have a 10% increased risk of developing behavioral health conditions such as depression compared to the general […]

1 in 5 EMS providers experience PTSD symptoms, but researchers estimate it is more pervasive due to underreporting. A culture of toughness encourages sufferers to suppress emotions, deterring them from seeking help. Unfortunately, EMS preferred coping strategies like avoidance increases, instead of decreasing, traumatic stress symptoms. Untreated mental distress evolves into chronic behavioral health conditions […]

Emergency response can be physically demanding and requires a high level of fitness. When designing a nutrition program to support your fitness goals, effectively incorporating protein can be the difference between maxing out and burning out.

This article discusses how learning management systems can improve patient outcomes within the emergency and healthcare setting by exploring the benefits of learning management systems, how those benefits can solve current challenges in the healthcare industry, and what criteria emergency and healthcare leaders should look for in a learning management system.

LVAD results in longer life expectancy for patients living with severe heart failure. But how does it impact quality of life for patients and their families?

Researchers have concluded that socio-demographics and clinical factors play a significant role in the delay of definitive care for emergency room visits and requests for pre-hospital care, which impacts a large number of minorities.

Healthcare providers need a multifaceted educational solution that matches learning objectives with the appropriate educational modalities (methods of learning) and technologies to make training both effective and accessible.

Effective training that can improve community outcomes should focus on evidence-based education geared at quality improvement. Emerging online technologies provide new avenues to make this level of training more accessible and adaptable than ever before.

Healthcare professionals, administrators, and policymakers can work together to change the current healthcare climate and improve patient safety and outcomes. Current research demonstrates that quality improvement training saves resources, reduces error, and improves patient outcomes.

Capnography is becoming increasingly popular in EMS care. Its benefits include receiving real-time information about ventilatory status and, in turn, perfusion status.

Doing what is right for patients is not always a straightforward concept. Between terminal patients with suicidal ideations, injured domestic abusers, or those who lack the capacity for self-determination, EMS personnel are constantly functioning within a grey area.

The primary assessment is meant to do one thing and one thing only: detect and correct immediate or imminent life threats. The long-standing process has been to assess the patient’s mental status as well as their ABCs, fixing the aforementioned threats as they are found.

Once threats to the patient’s ability to maintain effective perfusion have been mitigated, our focus should then turn to obtaining vital signs, understanding the patient’s medical history, addressing any secondary complaints, providing ongoing interventions, and reassessing said interventions and information obtained during the primary assessment. This brings us to the comprehensive secondary assessment. Here we will look at all of the aspects involved in this portion of the patient care experience.

Learn about the latest research on factors that determine an individual’s optimum protein intake along with the best sources of protein, especially as it relates to the goals of firefighters and other emergency responders.

Only 7-13% of EMS calls involve pediatric patients, and those requiring airway management are infrequent. Learn more about the challenges of pediatric intubation.

COVID19 has changed the way we operate and the way we think about infectious diseases. Suddenly, infectious diseases have become the most interesting topic in our lives.

Set up your current career trajectory for success with EMS online education and CE opportunities that will keep you at your best.

Virtual reality (VR) technology is an exciting development in EMS education that allows personnel to gain realistic, deliberate practice in a safe environment.

Online EMS training comes with extra perks and resources. Check out how you can supplement your annual training and improve your career.

Case studies have a rich history in medicine as an educational tool. They nurture deep learning by building upon prior knowledge gained from personal experience and education to achieve optimal patient outcomes

Want to get more from your continuing education while putting in fewer hours? Follow these simple tips and enjoy the convenience and flexibility of online EMS training.

Taking EMT refresher courses online will help you save lives and expand your network, too. Get your EMT recertification with CareerCert by enrolling today!

From healthy eating to reporting fatigue, here are a few best practices for EMS providers on a long haul.

As a leader in an industry devoted to serving the public, it can be easy to neglect self-care. Here are 4 areas of health you should focus on to better care for yourself and those you serve.

Getting recertified? Check out the current EMT career projections and see how your EMT certification can help you in another career.

If you ask any emergency medical provider, “What is the first thing you learned as an EMT?” I bet they would respond, “Scene safe, BSI.” We all learned quickly that if we become a victim ourselves, we cannot help the patient and other first responders. But how do we dive deeper into gaining situational awareness?

How is virtual training shaping the future of healthare education? Review the latest research and experience this cutting-edge training for yourself.

Emotional intelligence is crucial to your success as a leader. Learn about 4 specific skills that will help you keep your own and others’ emotions from hijacking situations.

People with average IQs outperform those with high IQs 70% of the time in the workplace. Why does this happen? Because of emotional intelligence.

From immersive learning environments to building critical thinking skills, scenario-based education has many proven benefits. Learn how can this interactive learning modality impact EMS education and help providers improve patient outcomes.

Building awareness in your organization is a critical component of successful leadership. Learn how to avoid common leadership pitfalls when building a culture of awareness in your organization.

How do leaders demonstrate stewardship in their organization?  Here are 4 specific principles that will help you find greater success for yourself, your constituents, and your department.

How can you lower turnover rates in your department and the costly expenses that come with them? Here are 3 tips to make your department a place where firefighters will want to stay.

All too often when responding to a call, EMTs are alerted to additional needs beyond the initial emergency. How do we best proceed in these situations? How can we guarantee we help provide the most comprehensive care possible?

If we learn how to accept failure, properly process our emotions, and grow from our experiences, we can become better EMTs. Learn how to build resilience and learn from past mistakes as a first responder.

Thinking of transferring as an EMT? Discover important items you’ll need to consider before transferring to a new state or department.

Imposter syndrome is a common struggle first responders face. Here’s what you need to know to recognize and overcome imposter syndrome and build confidence in your competence.

During the COVID-19 crisis, healthcare workers are top of mind for the entire nation. While much is still uncertain about how this pandemic will impact the EMS industry, here is a brief overview of the paramedic, AEMT, and EMT job market.

Incidents of paramedic assault and injury in the United States are rising. Here is a brief overview of patient transport safety best practices to help keep you, your partner, and your patient safe.

What complications might EMS providers see when taking care of obstetric patients? Learn more about the special dietary needs of these patients and what you should look for as a provider.

As leaders, we need to take the time to actively listen. This will help our constituents feel valued and facilitate healthy, successful department cultures.

Here are training resources and free CE hours to help EMS and fire departments simplify their life and access the life-saving training they need during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The overall goal of the EMS provider should be to learn how to recognize signs of human trafficking and know how to effectively report it when you suspect your patient may be a victim. With appropriate training and awareness, an emergency medical provider can become an integral part of the support system these victims need to escape their abusive situation.

Explore a few additional light-weight tools you can carry with you on the job as an EMT that can make a difference when it counts most.

How can you play a crucial role in combatting the opioid crisis as a first responder? Learn more about the resources available to you.

Here’s a review of crucial information and best practices if you are exposed to bodily fluids while on duty as an EMS provider.

One of the worst things we can hear as a responder is “man down.” But what do we do when we are the one “down”? Here are important tips regarding your safety, finances, and long-term recovery when you are injured on the job.

Here are a few simple meal hacks that even the busiest emergency and healthcare professional can use to improve their diet and overall health.

Here’s a quick guide of some of the grants, loans, and programs available for emergency agencies during the COVID-19 pandemic.

With today’s current medical and emergency climate, the flexibility of online education provides an affordable and viable solution. What does this future of online learning look like? We interviewed industry experts and educators about the potential of online education to shape the medical and emergency industries and improve outcomes.

In the face of employee turnover, accelerating medical knowledge, increasing 911 calls, and national emergencies, online education and training has become a convenient and intuitive solution for first responders and medical providers tasked with taking care of more patients with less downtime than ever before.

Eating healthy in the workplace can be challenging, especially for healthcare and emergency professionals. Here are some easy meal options to help you build a healthier, happier life.

Effective desensitization and compartmentalization strategies can help you emotionally process what you experience as an EMT in a healthy manner. Learn more about how to build resilience and better manage traumatic work experiences.

Here’s what EMS professionals should know about dual dispatch emergencies and how to work together across agencies for the best patient outcomes.

How do we, as EMS educators, make recertification fun, stress-free, and interesting? Here are 6 important insights that will help you engage your students and promote better outcomes.

Learn how you can stay on top of your EMS recertifications and how the NREMT modifications will impact your refreshers in 2020.

Cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death in the US. Following a cardio-protective diet is important for anyone and may be especially important if you’re a shift worker. Learn how you can decrease inflammation and increase heart health with these dietary strategies.

With increasing demands on departments, practices, providers, and personnel, the emergency and healthcare industries need training solutions that fit their specific needs. Because the truth is when an emergency hits, it’s difficult to respond if you are stuck in a classroom.

Learn how virtual instructor-led training and scenario-based courses are transforming EMS online education and how they can help improve your career.

Technologies are evolving, knowledge is expanding, best practices are changing, and calls are increasing faster than ever before. How can we best prepare ourselves and our teams for the critical situations we face day in and day out?

Technology is transforming the future of online EMS education. Learn about how virtual instructor-led training and scenario-based learning can benefit you.

Many shift workers use dietary supplements to boost energy during their shift and sleep better during the day. Learn more about supplements proven to help you perform at your best.

Build confidence, advance your career, and learn how to bridge the gap between training and field emergencies with EMT and paramedic continuing education.

Today, in our industry, “safety” has become a keyword and catchphrase in every aspect of providing service to the public. From personal safety to vehicle safety to scene safety to patient safety, all of these require a high degree of situational awareness.

A textbook is not a novel and should not be read like one. When an EMT student comes to realize that and learns to use the textbook as it was designed to be used, they will do better in their EMT class and will learn the skills they need to provide better care in their communities.

Just as technology is transforming the growth of medical knowledge, it’s also providing solutions to disseminate it in digestible ways. Virtual instructor-led training courses (VILT courses) have been revolutionizing the fire, medical, and EMS communities by providing training that is accessible, engaging, up to date, cost-effective, and, most importantly, improves outcomes.

EMS, fire, and law enforcement are all dispatched to a local interstate for a report of a tour bus explosion with no further information available. You arrive on scene where command has already been established and fire suppression is underway. You are directed to the role of EMS command and are directed to where the patients are on the side of the highway. All 54 passengers escaped the bus before flames engulfed it and are now located roadside. Some are walking and uninjured. Others have critical injuries. You instantly realize there are many more resources needed than what you have, and at the same time, you realize this is the largest incident of your career. This is “the one.” Can you handle it?

I’ve worked nights both as a CNA at a hospital as well as a military service member at tactical operations centers or guard posts. Currently, I’m a dietitian. While I don’t work nights anymore, there are some key dietary strategies I wish I would have known and implemented when I was a shift worker. 

Emergency personnel have a physically and emotionally demanding job. See how continuing your training and education online can help mitigate some effects of burnout.

With new knowledge and procedures constantly becoming available, continuing education is becoming more vital for EMS providers. Here are a few ways continuing education improves the lives of EMS providers, their patients, and their communities.