Page 12 - EMS Handbook

​i.​ ​Cool, clammy, pale, or ashen skin.
​ii.​ ​Rapid pulse or breathing.
​ii.​ ​Nausea or vomiting.
​iv.​ ​Enlarged pupils.
​v.​ ​Weakness, fatigue, dizziness, or fainting.
vi.​ ​Change in mental state or behaviors such as anxiousness or agitation.
vii.​ ​Uncontrolled trembling or shaking.

Deciding Transportation:
1.​ ​After assessing your patient and applying any ​C-Collars​, ​Air Casts​, or ​Tourniquets​ ​as needed
it's time to decide mode of transportation.
2.​ ​Critical​ patients always ​take priority​ over the stable.
a.​ ​If all patients are stable, the more severely injured take priority.
3.​ ​Patients should be moved onto the stretcher before lifting them into the ambulance for
transport.
a.​ ​There are a few acceptations to this, such as when the injuries are very minor they
may enter under their own power for a more thorough examination and treatment.
4.​ ​If the stretcher cannot be brought to the patient, then a ​Backboard (also called a spine board)
will be needed.
a.​ ​You will also use a ​Backboard​ ​to move them onto the stretcher if the patient has a
C-Collar​ on.
5.​ ​Once the patient is secured to the stretcher and lifted into the ambulance a more focused
physical exam will begin.
6.​ ​Patients who sustain​ critical life threatening injuries​ may have to be ​Medicaved​ ​via ​Air Lift​ to
the Hospital as time will be of the essence.
a.​ ​Place a​ ​C-Collar​ on the patient and slide them onto a ​Backboard​.
​i.​ ​Roll the patient onto their side and slide the ​Backboard​ ​under them.
​ii.​ ​Gently lay the patient back down so their back is on the board.
​iii.​ ​Secure them to it using the boards straps.
b.​ ​Police, Fire department, and EMS members​ will ​ALWAYS​ be ​Air Lifted​ to a hospital.
​i.​ ​They also take priority over all others, unless there is a more critically injured
patient.

Detailed Physical Exam and Medical History:
1.​ ​At this point in time you should be in the ambulance with ​one patient​, while your partner
drives you to the nearest Hospital.
a.​ ​A member of the ​patient's family​ is ​allowed​ to ride along ​up front​ so long as they are
compliant with letting you do your job, and do not interfere or agitate your patient further.
b.​ ​Only one ride along is allowed​.
2.​ ​When the driver of the ambulance pulls away from the scene they should radio into ​Dispatch
letting them know you are en-route with a patient.