EMS Week Articles
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In order to improve the quality of National Collegiate EMS Week for the future, we are interested in getting feedback from organizations that participated.
In addition, please send any photos, newspaper clippings, etc. of your organization’s National Collegiate EMS Week activities for possible inclusion in next year’s packet to
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Be prepared
Post emergency telephone numbers for your area on or by each phone. Businesses should include the location (Street address and/or floor and suite #, as well as any special dialing prefixes.) Show your children where the numbers are located and teach them how to make emergency calls. Make sure your business or house numbers are at least four inches tall and are clear and visible from the street.
If you need emergency services at night, turn on your outside lights to help EMS responders find your location. If possible, have someone direct EMS personnel to where they are needed.
Know how to spot an emergency
- If you think someone could suffer significant harm or die unless prompt care is received, that situation is an emergency
- Someone who has fallen and can’t get up
- Someone experiencing chest pain lasting two minutes or more
- Uncontrolled bleeding or a fracture
- A traffic accident
- Debris along the roadway, skid- marks, or other clues there has been an accident
Know how to contact your local emergency services
Dial 9-1-1 to connect to emergency dispatchers for medical, fire, or police help. (Note: not all areas have 9-1-1. In those areas, there are different numbers to call for medical, police, or fire emergency. Find out what those numbers are and P.L.A.N.—Post Lists of All Emergency Numbers on or by each telephone in your home.)
Give name, address, phone number, location of the victim (such as upstairs bedroom), and nature of the problem.
Be prepared to tell what has happened, where it has happened, and your phone number.
When the dispatcher answers the call, answer all of his or her questions as best you can.
Stay on the line until the dispatcher instructs you to hang up.
Waiting for help to arrive—quick first aid
Do not move the victim unless his or her location poses an immediate threat, e.g. victim is in water, a fire is burning in the building or vehicle, or there is no way to protect the victim from harm in his or her current location.
Do not give the victim anything to eat or drink.
Protect victim from the environment by keeping him or her covered.
If victim is bleeding, apply a clean cloth or sterile bandage. If bleeding continues, apply additional dressings over the existing bandage. If possible, elevate the injury and apply direct pressure to the wound.
If the victim is not breathing or does not have a pulse, begin rescue breathing or CPR
When help arrives
Stand to the side of the road, well out of the way of ambulances and other emergency vehicles.
Answer EMS personnel questions promptly and clearly.
If you know the victim, provide EMS personnel with any pertinent medical information, e.g., diabetic, allergies, pacemaker, etc.
If you accompany the victim to the ED, try and answer staff questions completely.
What to expect in the ED
In the ED, the most seriously ill or injured patients are treated first.
A triage nurse will check the victim’s vital signs - temperature, heart rate, blood pressure, and breathing. The nurse also will ask questions concerning the victim’s symptoms and the name of his or her regular physician.
Unless the victim requires treatment right away, the triage nurse will direct you to a registration area where the victim will he asked to give name, age, address, and the name of his or her health insurance company.
If the victim’s condition is not life- or limb-threatening, he or she may be asked to wait; if the victim’s condition worsens while waiting, let the triage nurse know.
Tips to help you respond more effectively in an emergency situation
Do not move anyone who has been involved in a car accident, serious fall, or is found unconscious unless he or she is in immediate danger of further injury... movement could cause additional injury.
Learn the warning signs for heat- and cold-related problems, and those for strokes and heart attacks. Get help fast when those warning signs are seen.
If there has been an accident resulting in vehicle fire, get yourself and others out of the way of the vehicle immediately; call EMS; remain away from the vehicle (do not attempt to retrieve personal possessions); never put yourself in danger using a fire extinguisher; and do not open the hood or trunk if you suspect a fire, as air could rush in, enlarging the fire and leading to injury.
Do not use ice, butter, or petroleum jelly on burn injuries. For minor burns without blisters, place the burned area into cold water until the pain is gone. Bums with blisters need a doctor’s attention, and for large or deep burns, an immediate call to EMS is needed.
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When to Call an Ambulance
When should you call an ambulance instead of driving to the emergency department? Ask yourself the following questions:
- Is the victim’s condition life-threatening?
- Could the victim’s condition worsen and become life threatening on the way to the hospital?
- Could moving the victim cause further injury?
- Does the victim need the skills or equipment of paramedics or emergency medical technicians?
- Would distance or traffic conditions cause a delay in getting the victim to the hospital?
If the answer to any of these questions is “yes,” or if you are unsure, it’s best to call an ambulance. This is true even though you can sometimes get to the hospital faster by driving than by calling an ambulance. Paramedics and emergency medical technicians communicate with the physician in the emergency department by radio. They are trained to begin medical treatment on the way to the hospital. This prevents any delay that could occur if the patient is driven to the emergency department. The ambulance can also alert the emergency department of the patient’s condition in advance. If you live in an area with a single emergency number, calling for help is easy. Just dial 9-1-1. If your community does not have the 9-1- 1 emergency number, keep the numbers of the fire, police, and emergency medical services near your telephone.
When you call for help, speak calmly and clearly. Give your name, the address, phone number, location of victim (such as upstairs in the bedroom), and the nature of the problem. Don’t hang up until the dispatcher tells you to. They may need additional information or need to give you instructions.
Recognizing Emergencies
How do you tell the difference between a true emergency and a minor problem? Certain symptoms are so alarming that the need for emergency care - or even an ambulance - is obvious. But what should you do about more common illnesses and injuries?
Only a doctor can diagnose medical problems. But, you can protect the health of those around you by learning to recognize certain symptoms.
Know which symptoms to watch for. According to the American College of Emergency Physicians, the following are warning signs of a medical emergency:
- Difficulty breathing
- Chest or upper abdominal pain or pressure
- Fainting or sudden collapse
- Sudden dizziness, weakness or change in vision
- Change in mental status (such as unusual behavior, confusion, difficulty arousing)
- Severe burns
- Sudden, severe pain anywhere in the body
- Bleeding that won’t stop
- Emergency childbirth
- Severe or persistent vomiting
- Coughing up or vomiting blood
- Suicidal or homicidal feelings
- Drowning
You should also be familiar with the symptoms of common illnesses and injuries.
Talk to your doctor before you have an emergency. Ask what you should do if you think someone you know needs emergency care. Should you call the doctor’s office first? Should you go straight to the emergency department? What should you do when the doctor’s office is closed?
Trust your instincts. People are usually very good at recognizing signs of unusual behavior or other symptoms that indicate an emergency. Many other factors, including the time of day, other medical problems, or state of mind, can make an otherwise minor medical problem an “emergency.”
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It’s no secret that alcohol and drugs are a tremendous problem in this country. An estimated 10 million Americans are alcoholics or problem drinkers, and many of them are teens. Drug-related accidents and injuries claim more than 3,500 lives every year, as many of our emergency physicians can tell you. This program is good for the community because it focuses not only on the problems of alcohol and drug abuse, but on how to help yourself or someone else in an accident or overdose situation. You’ll find it interests both teens and adults.
How to put on the program
Contact your public or community relations staff to help plan and publicize the program. Determine the date, location, hours, and a creative name for the event and what kind of experts you’ll need to present a thorough program. Check to make sure the location has enough parking to accommodate participants. This might make a good evening program for EMS Week.
In addition to EMS professionals, recruit speakers from your local Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse, and perhaps Alcoholics Anonymous, and a drug abuse counseling center. Contact them at least two or three months before the program to allow planning time.
After presenters are confirmed, call a meeting and “brainstorm” with these experts on the length, tone, and agenda of the program. An informational approach to the subject works best—avoid “preaching” at all costs. Determine whether you want the agenda to include longterm treatment and rehabilitation information or just the short-term medical information necessary during the accident or overdose crisis. Encourage speakers to look for exciting ways to present or demonstrate their material. Allow time for questions and answers at the end. A paneltype presentation often is best for this. Suggestions for an agenda may include:
- The Facts on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse
- What You Can Do When Someone Has Drunk Too Much.
- What You Can Do in a Drug Overdose Situation
- What You Can Do in an Alcohol or Drug Related Accident
- Accessing the Emergency Medical System
- Getting Help for Alcohol Addition
- Getting Off Drugs
- How You Can Help a Family Member or Friend
Reserve the location for your program and make arrangements for any audio-visual equipment you’ll need. Ask if the alcohol and drug abuse organizations in your community have literature you can use for handouts, or make your own alcohol and drug abuse medical emergency handout with the help of your EMS personnel.
It is critical to get advance coverage from the media for this event. A feature article on one of your EMS personnel, or an interview about alcohol and drug abuse with one of your speakers, could mention your upcoming information program. Two or three weeks before the event, send a media memo (see sample) to your local newspapers and announcements to your radio stations.
Start about a month in advance working with your high school principals to publicize the event to students. Ask ifyour high school teachers could distribute the flyers to grades 10 through 12 and have them posted on bulletin boards.
A week before the program, hold a final meeting with your presenters. Review the agenda and remind presenters to wear their uniforms when applicable. Confirm all of the audio-visual and other equipment that each presenter will need, and that your handouts are printed and ready. On the day of the event, place signs in various locations around the event telling the participants where to go and where to park.
Dangers of Alcohol: Information for education and organizations that can help
Interactions With Medications
Alcohol interacts negatively with more than 150 medications. For example, if you are taking antihistamines for a cold or allergy and drink alcohol, the alcohol will increase the drowsiness that the medication alone can cause, making driving or operating machinery even more hazardous. And if you are taking large doses of the painkiller acetaminophen and drinking alcohol, you are risking serious liver damage. Check with your doctor or pharmacist before drinking any amount of alcohol if you are taking any over-the-counter or prescription medications.
Interpersonal Problems
The more heavily you drink, the greater the potential for problems at home, at work, with friends, and even with strangers. These problems may include:
- Arguments with or estrangement from your significant other or family members;
- Strained relationships with fellow students;
- Absence from or lateness to class with increasing frequency;
- Deterioration of grades due to decreased productivity.
- Committing or being the victim of violence.
Long-Term Health Problems
Some problems, like those mentioned above, can occur after drinking over a relatively short period of time. But other problems--such as liver disease, heart disease, certain forms of cancer, and pancreatitis--often develop more gradually and may become evident only after long-term heavy drinking. Women may develop alcohol-related health problems after consuming less alcohol than men do over a shorter period of time. Because alcohol affects many organs in the body, longterm heavy drinking puts you at risk for developing serious health problems. If you or someone you know has been drinking heavily, there is a risk of developing serious health problems. Because some of these health problems are both reversible and treatable, it is important to see your doctor for help. Your campus health center will be able to advise you about both your health and your drinking.
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The American College of Emergency Physicians has compiled a list of items it believes should be in every first aid kit. This kit should be kept together in one place, and everyone should know where it is, as well as how to use each item in the kit. This list will provide you with the necessary “tools” to handle many medical emergencies while at school. All items are readily available from your local pharmacy. For the kit itself, a small tote bag is recommended because it is large enough to hold all items listed, it is easily transported (even on vacation), and it is big enough to be visible wherever it is kept.
Contents:
- Acetaminophen, Ibuprofen, and aspirin tablets: For headaches, pain, fever, and simple sprains or strains of the body. (Aspirin should not be used for relief of flu symptoms nor given to children)
- Elastic Wraps: For wrapping wrist, ankle, knee, and elbow injuries.
- Triangular Bandage: For wrapping injuries and making an arm sling.
- Scissors with rounded tips
- Adhesive tape and 2” gauze: For dressing wounds.
- Disposable, instant-activating ice bags: For icing injuries and treating high fevers.
- Bandages of assorted sizes: For covering minor cuts and scrapes.
- Antibiotic ointment: For cuts and scrapes.
- Gauze in rolls and in 2” and 4” pads: For dressing wounds. Bandage
- closures, ¼” and 1”: For taping cut edges together.
- Tweezers: To remove small splinters and ticks.
- Safety pins: To fasten splints and bandages.
- Gloves: (preferably nitrile or vinyl – avoid latex gloves due to possible allergies) to protect your hands and reduce the risk of infection when treating open wounds.
- First Aid Manual
- List of emergency phone numbers