Posted in Roy on Rescue • AED • CPR for Instructors • CPR for Providers

What’s an AED?

Comments:

In this episode of RoyOnRescue, I answer a question from a viewer who asked me to explain what an AED is. The area of cardiology is an extremely interesting subject and electrical therapies are really fun to explain but how to do it in a short amount of time? I thought I’d give it a try and explain how AED’s work and how they can help a heart beat normally again all in a fraction of the time I usually take to explain it. I hope it makes sense and sheds a bit of light on the life saving gift called an AED.

Be sure to keep the questions coming and send them to:
royonrescue@gmail.com

Best wishes and keep on rescuing!

Roy

Posted in Roy on Rescue • Broken Ribs • Trauma • CPR for Instructors • CPR for Providers

Chest Truama and CPR. To Do, Or Not To Do?

Comments:

This week Roy answers a question that came all the way from France where a student asked a great question about how to perform CPR if a person has had major trauma to their chest after a motor vehicle accident. You know, starting CPR on a victim can be a difficult decision to make in any normal situation, then add the complication of internal or external truama and without guidance,  it may be a temptation to avoid providing CPR all together. On this episode of RoyOnRescue, Roy Shaw, EMT-Paramedic and Trainer sheds some light on why it’s okay to perform CPR on a person with a chest injury  or on someone who has recently had thoracic surgery and what to consider while providing this life saving skill.

 

Be sure to keep the questions coming and send them to:

royonrescue@gmail.com


Posted in Roy on Rescue • Weather Related • Environmental • Drownings • Outdoor Emergencies

How To Survive a Flash Flood

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Ahhh…Spring is in the air. What a lovely time of year. The air becomes warmer, birds begin singing and the snow begins to melt. Now, just add some strong spring rains and…you’ve got floods! Right now, the National Weather Service has issued flood warnings for the North Central U.S. In this episode of RoyOnRescue, we take a look at flash floods, how to be on guard and how to survive one if you are ever caught off guard.
Don’t miss this episode of RoyOnRescue and get ready to be safe and help others be safe that might be at risk for flash flood emergencies.

Best Wishes,
Roy, RoyOnRescue
royonrescue@gmail.com

Posted in Roy on Rescue • Sports Related • Broken Bones • Sprains • CPR for Providers

How Do I Know If It’s A Fracture or A Sprain?

Comments:

Hello Again,

A great question came in about how to tell if an injury is a fracture or a sprain or strain. This is a great question. In some cases it’s very easy to tell that a fracture is present. Like… bone sticking out of the skin! But if it’s not and there isn’t any deformity, it can be tricky. Check out this video blog for a more in-depth look on how to tell if the injury is something that needs medical attention or if it’s minor and can be managed right at home.

To read a bit more about the specifics, feel free to browse this link.
Fractures Vs. Sprains and Strains

Best Wishes,

Roy, RoyOnRescue.com


royonrescue@gmail.com

Posted in Preparedness • Roy on Rescue • Weather Related • Cold Related • Disaster • Environmental • Outdoor Emergencies

Staying Safe In the Winter Storm of 2011!

Comments:

Hello Everyone,

Most of us know what to do to prepare for a bad winter storm, but because we all can use reminders from time to time, I thought I’d post a video blog that just highlights some of the things to think about.  From generators to alternative heat sources, driving safety measures to foods that are easy to store, to ways to safely remove snow from our roofs, this video blog tries to highlight some important things to remember while weathering a winter storm.

Hope it helps in time.

Best Wishes,

Roy, RoyOnRescue.com

Posted in Roy on Rescue • Training Questions • Airway • CPR for Providers • Respiratory

Isn’t “Not Breathing Normally” Still Breathing? Maybe Not.

Comments:1 Comment

ConfusedHello Everyone,

I had a great comment come through the student comment section this week and thought it might help others if I shared my response.

So, the student asked,
” Some questions on your test seemed to give incomplete or misleading information, in my opinion. Such as the one referring to a man who is unresponsive and not breathing normally. The answer to pass was to give them 30 chest compressions yet if someone is not breathing NORMALLY it leads me to believe that they are breathing and the first thing I would want to do is try and figure out why the breathing is not normal. Not give them chest compressions. Have I checked for a heartbeat? I wouldn’t give chest compressions unless I couldn’t detect a pulse.”
-ProFirstAid.com Student

Here was my response. I hope it helps.

Dear “Student”,

There were a couple of changes in this 2010 ECC/ILCOR and American Heart Association release from the guidelines of 2005. One was that if the person is unresponsive and not breathing “normally” we begin chest compressions. Pretty aggressive I know but this is what the guidelines suggest as best practice. Secondly, basic first aid providers no longer check for pulses in the unresponsive victim. Now, when a lay-rescuer comes upon a person who is unconscious, not breathing or not breathing “normally”, they are to activate EMS(call 911) and begin chest compressions at a rate of at least 100 per minute and at least 2 inches deep. This is to continue for 30 compressions only interrupted long enough to give two full breaths after the head tilt chin lift and then back to the chest compressions. The rescuer is not to stop this process unless the patient begins to respond and become conscious, begins breathing normally again, an AED is available, or if EMS arrives and takes over. CPR is to be provided fast and hard with as few interruptions as possible. So there you have it as stated by the new and latest ECC/ILCOR guidelines.

Now, for my subjective slant on the whole deal. I say, don’t feel bad if you’re a little frustrated. As a licensed paramedic, instructor trainer for CPR, First Aid, ACLS and PALS, it still a bit hard for me to watch the latest recommendations and guidelines put forth by the International Liaison Committee On Resuscitation”. It was hard to watch them throw the proverbial “baby out with the bath water” if you will. I for one believe that people can learn how to perform effective and more advanced assessment if given the correct learning mechanisms by which to learn and retain the information in order to use it well during a real rescue situation. I believe that people are more than capable of providing optimal CPR and First Aid which would include pulse checks. I think that there can be times, though maybe rare, where checking for pulses would be helpful in determining the correct next steps especially when dealing with patients suffering from low blood sugar, or a hard hit to the head which temporarily knocks them unconscious and they stop breathing for some time. I also wonder about the person who has been in cardiac arrest for some time. The person is certainly permanently dead and any resuscitation efforts will not change the patients status because they’ve been dead for more than half an hour or longer. Does the rescuer still perform CPR and Rescue Breathing because the person is not moving, not breathing or not breathing normally? Very difficult for me to believe that a rescuer would have to perform CPR on a person with rigor mortis while waiting for the EMS providers to arrive and confirm time of death.

But, the ECC/ILCOR recommendations were based on some evidence, though from my findings I admit not much, that more people would benefit from these simplified procedures than would suffer any ill consequence. So they made the change.

What helps me to deal with the changes when I don’t agree with them, is that the changes were made by the ILCOR group to “simplify” the procedures of CPR and to hopefully encourage more people trained or not, to get involved and hopefully make a difference in saving more lives. If this is indeed the case and we’ll know in a few years, than I guess it’s worth the bit of frustration that some of us must suffer.

I hope this helped. Please let me know if you have any further questions.

Best Wishes,

Roy
royonrescue@gmail.com

Posted in Roy on Rescue • RoyOnRescue Updates • CPR for Instructors • CPR for Providers

What’s Been Going On With RoyOnRescue?

Comments:

Hello Everyone,

Well, it’s been crazy in the ProTrainings.com camp, but it’s all been great!   Updating all of the 2010 CPR and First Aid manuals and workbooks, creating the new ProTrainings Instructor program and expanding further into the UK market.  All very exciting.  I’m hoping to bring some new subject matter into the RoyOnRescue.com program and maybe even implement a USTREAM.com RoyOnRescue live program.  All to be seen but I can tell you, your comments regarding it would be really helpful. Let me know if a live show where you could call in, chat live, email questions and interact while I’m hosting the show would be helpful, fun or just a waste of time.  Let me know what time of day and on what day would work best too.  Tuesdays -Thursdays or Fridays between 8am and 3pm EST.  Let me know what kind of topics you’d like me to cover too.  Would you like to see more interviews with victims, rescuers or both?  And regarding the video shoot today, sorry to record while cruising down the highway to my next meeting but I wanted to let everyone know where I’ve been and what’s been going on.  Time is a very expensive commodity but I didn’t want to miss another week.  P.S.  When ever you get a video capture while I’m driving, please note that safety measures are in place to ensure there is no danger while recording to me or to anyone else.

Best Wishes,

Roy

RoyOnRescue.com

Posted in Medical • Illness • Roy on Rescue • Child Emergencies

Blast That Thrush!

Comments:3 Comments

I just recently had a question that isn’t really within my expertise as a paramedic, but ironically ranks high with me because it’s so common with people who use inhaled steroids or take antibiotics. You guessed it Thrush.   Thrush is the more common name for a more technical problem called Candida or Yeast infection on the tongue. It’s painful, it’s unsightly and it’s a pain in the neck. Oh sure, you can get medicine from the physician for it, but it was probably a visit to the physician and their prescription for antibiotics or an inhaled steroid that go this nice little complication. Not because you wouldn’t want to go back to the doctor for their help, it’s just that you may not want a piggyback bill. So, one of the readers emailed in a question regarding their 82 year old relative that has inhalers and developed “Thrush”. They asked if there were any home remedies that might help heal this without a prescription. I gave my advice below.

Hello,

Oral Thrush

Thrush has got to rank as one of the most aggravating and painful side effects I’ve encountered when dealing with something as sensitive as the tongue. It’s unfortunate that some of the life saving medications like inhaled steroids can cause this frustrating and painful complication. I agree with you regarding the spacer. I think it’s wise not only for getting more of the medication off the back of the patients tongue but also getting more of the medication into the patients lungs where we really want it to go anyway. I’ve found that spacers become one of those important items that are not used due to the terrible cost. I’ve encountered prices close to $100 just for the spacer. Crazy!

Anyway…regarding natural remedies for thrush(Candida). There is a lot of natural ideas but of course none of them have been tested in a non-bias lab or do they carry the FDA approval. I also want to re-instate that I’m a licensed paramedic and not a licensed homeopathic expert. That being said, there’s at least three of my own family members that struggle with thrush or yeast complications from time to time and I’ve found a couple of ideas pretty useful.

The first would be liquid Acidophilus with Bulgaricus and Bifidus. This is usually located in health food stores and would be located in the refrigerator section. I personally believe that this keeps the cultures alive longer and therefore more effective. The flavors are nothing to report to the press about but it tastes a little better than good old fashioned organic plain yogurt. We like strawberry or blueberry. I have the kids take a tablespoon or two several times per day and then again just before bed time. I make sure that they do it after they brush and drink so that they will leave the film coating in their mouth. This usually heals the condition within a couple of days and begins showing relief sometimes as early as 24 hours just from my experience.

Secondly, though I’ve known about the benefits of virgin, non processed coconut oil for health purposes, I’ve only recently heard about it’s ability to promote a healthy immune system and it’s natural properties(caprylic acid) for anti fungal assistance. This tropical oil can be melted over vegetables, spread on toast instead of butter or mixed into smoothies where you really don’t notice much of it at all. Because coconut oil melts at around room temperature, a 98.6 degree mouth melts the oil quite quickly. Just a quarter or half a teaspoon melted in the mouth might be an aid to help get rid of the thrush/yeast and give some soothing relief to your sweet relative. Again, I’m no expert in this area and nothing I’ve said is meant to be a prescription or a diagnosis, but I have used the Acidophilus before with great results.
Regarding the Tea Tree Oil, I’ve read several sources that voice some health concerns when using tea tree oil in or outside the body. I would take a look at this website (LiveStrong.com) and then do your own study. Then if you are still planning on using it, I would consult your relatives physician prior to administering any of the oil.

Best wishes in your quest to find a home remedy that’s effective and safe. I hope that what I’ve shared with you will help in some way.

Roy Shaw, RoyOnRescue.com
royonrescue@gmail.com

Posted in Roy on Rescue • CPR for Instructors • CPR for Providers

Professional Rescuers and The Good Samaritan Law

Comments:

In this episode of RoyOnRescue, a newly licensed Medical First Responder asked if they might be at a higher risk when they try to help a citizen now that they are licensed.  Though this can be a scary and ever present problem in the world of professional medicine, it’s very rare for anyone to get sued or especially lose a lawsuit when it comes to helping people who have medical needs.  In this episode, Roy sheds some light on how most Good Samaritan Laws work and how any rescuer regardless of their level of training and license can help others while staying well within the guidelines of the Good Samaritan Law.

Best Wishes and a Blessed New Year From Roy and The Whole RoyOnRescue Team!

Minnesota Good Samaritan Law

Posted in Roy on Rescue • Training Questions • CPR for Instructors • CPR for Providers • Respiratory

RoyOnRescue Answers Question About Assessing Breathing

Comments:3 Comments

In this post, I answer a question from a professional who has been training lay rescuers and wants to update their students to the new 2010 suggested guidelines.

The following excerpt is taken from the original email.
Greetings from India,


“We teach first aid and CPR (to the layperson/non medical person)in New Delhi, India and are reading the new guidelines so that they can be incorporated in the new year.  I know the handbooks will be out in the first quarter but would like to start adding the 2010 guidelines sooner.
A couple of questions- your input would be appreciated.
1. Do we carry on with AVPU
2. As checking for breathing is being de-emphasized – how are first aiders to tell if breathing is present or not. From what i can figure out- look, listen feel is not to be used now.”


Merry Christmas and Happy New year.

Kind Regards,

New Delhi

The following is my response:

Hello Student,

Thank you for reaching out as I hope to be of assistance.  Regarding the new updates for 2010 and how it relates to training the lay public.

1.  Q:  “Do we carry on with AVPU?”
A:  Yes and No.  Yes in so much as we are always kind of asking ourselves, “Is this person awake? Are they Verbal? Do they respond to pain(not that we should be causing any pain)? Are they unresponsive?  But I have to say no, because we are checking to see if the person appears to be breathing or breathing normally?  This does not fit in the AVPU scale for a level of consciousness.  We must also remember that AVPU is an advanced medical training and the ECC/ILCOR recommendations do not teach lay rescuers to use AVPU anywhere in the curriculum.

2.  Q: With assessment for breathing being de-emphasized and the elimination of the “Look, Listen, and Feel” part of assessment, what is the best way to train lay rescuers to assess for breathing?
A:  This is a great question.  Under the new guidelines, assessment for breathing is performed by looking for the following:  Is the persons chest moving like in breathing?  Does the person appear to be breathing normally?   If the person is not breathing normally, and the chest is not rising and falling, the rescuer will initial emergency medical services and begin CPR starting with 30 chest compressions at least 2 inches deep and at a rate of at least 100 per minute.

The simplification of assessment for breathing was brought by confusion of agonal respirations vs. regular gas exchanging breathing.  The hope is that if a rescuer notices that the person is not breathing normally, help will be called and initiation of CPR will not be delayed.

For those of us who worry that too many victims will receive CPR when it is not necessary and thereby suffer unnecessary injuries, one must be aware of the scientific studies that show that “only two percent of people receiving CPR suffered any injury at all from CPR when it was not needed.  But the advantages of early initiation of CPR without delay, has been shown to improve survival with minimal risk of injury but with great increase of benefit.( http://circ.ahajournals.org/cgi/content/short/121/1/91)

Please note that all update training is available for free at:  http://www.profirstaid.com

Thank you for your email and please let me know if you need any further assistance.

Best Wishes and Merry Christmas!

Roy Shaw, EMT-Paramedic
roy.shaw@procpr.org
royonrescue@gmail.com