Toxicology and the Benadryl Challenge
In this webinar, CareerCert and University of Texas Southwestern explore the “Benadryl Challenge.” This social media stunt created an uproar and resulted in medical emergencies not often seen. The team of expert panelists will explore this condition, the toxidrome that results, and the critical actions EMS must institute to assist these patients.
About the Presenters
Megan Dahmer completed her paramedic training at UT Southwestern in 2015 and is currently licensed through the Texas Department of Health as a paramedic. She then pursued a bachelor’s in nursing at Texas A&M Commerce, graduating in 2016. Megan currently works in the ER at Parkland Hospital as an RN II. Megan and her husband are the proud parents of two boys.
Dr. Paul Rosenberger has over 30 years of EMS experience, with over 20 years of adult education instruction. He has performed ground and flight paramedic duties and leadership in town administration during his service. He has served as a faculty member and assistant program director for UT Southwestern. Currently, Dr. Rosenberger is the associate director of the EMS continuing education program at UT Southwestern and an adjunct faculty member for the Emergency Services Administration BAAS program at the University North Texas – Dallas. He is also the co-chair for the National EMS Education Standards Developmental/Revision Team.
Dr. Gil Salazar is an associate professor of Emergency Medicine at UT Southwestern. He serves as the medical director of EMS education and oversees both initial and continuing education of area EMS professionals. He practices clinically at Parkland Hospital Emergency Department. Dr. Salazar is dually board-certified in Emergency Medicine and EMS and serves as core faculty for the Emergency Medicine Residency and the EMS Fellowship programs of UT Southwestern Medical Center. He is the creator of Campus Emergency Preparedness and Survival Training (Campus EPAST)SM. His main goal is to improve the quality of education in the management of natural and human-made disasters.
Virginia Smith is a licensed paramedic for Cypress Creek EMS in Spring, Texas, which utilizes aggressive emergency protocols, including whole blood in the field. She is currently completing training to serve as the in-charge paramedic position in ambulance teams responding to 911 calls. Virginia received her bachelor’s in biology from Texas A&M and her master’s in biomedical sciences from the University of Incarnate Word School of Osteopathic Medicine. Virginia is a medical school applicant and hopes to be accepted and start medical school fall of 2021. Virginia’s training has included medical care in wilderness settings and rural poverty in Latin America where medical resources are limited.
Chris Thompson has worked in the EMS industry for more than 25 years. He started working full-time in 1993 and became a licensed paramedic in 1995. He received his BAAS from the University of North Texas and has worked as an EMS educator since 2010, serving as the director of EMS education at El Centro College for 4 years and as faculty at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center. In addition, Chris has worked part-time for BioTel Medical Control since 1998. Chris is passionate about innovative EMS education that builds field readiness.
