The Utah Emergency Medical Training Council (UEMTC) is excited to announce the launch of the Shockingly Simple … to ReStart a Heart Campaign in February. This campaign was  originally launched by the Emergency Medical Services, Public Health – Seattle and King County and we are grateful for their permission and cooperation in allowing us to bring this great program and resource to the good people of Utah. For more information on the Seattle program you can find them on the web at www.kingcounty.gov/aed.

With your support and financial contributions we hope to train over 10,000 people in Utah on how to use an AED, for free. There are several opportunities for businesses, foundations and individuals to participate in the campaign. We promise to deliver an extraordinary educational experience designed to save lives and hope you will join us in the fight to reduce the number of deaths related to Sudden Cardiac Arrest.

How to Donate – Sponsorship Levels

(In kind donations considered)

Hero ($2,500)

• Sponsor Logo on all television, billboard, and print advertising Name listed in press release and at donation events (We donate one AED a month to a non-profit and it will be done in your name)
• A Safety Party for your customers during the year
• Sponsor Logo on Ambulance, all promotional materials, and newsletters
• Sponsor Logo on website, and a robust description of your business, contact information for your business, coupons or specials posted monthly on the Sponsorship webpage of the UEMTC
• Up to 20 Sponsorship T-Shirts and a Hero’s Plague for your office or business.
• Up to 5 volunteers to host your AED Event

Benefactor: ($1,500)

• A Safety Party for your customers during the year
• Sponsor Logo on Ambulance, all promotional materials, and newsletters
• Sponsor Logo on website, and a robust description of your business, contact information for your business, coupons or specials posted monthly on the Sponsorship webpage of the UEMTC
• Up to 10 Sponsorship T-Shirts and a Hero’s Plague for your office or business.
• Up to 2 volunteers to host your AED Event

Friend: ($1,000)

• A Safety Party for your customers during the year
• Sponsor Logo on Ambulance, all promotional materials, and newsletters
• Sponsor Logo on website, and a robust description of your business, contact information for your business, coupons or specials posted monthly on the Sponsorship webpage of the UEMTC
• Up to 5 Sponsorship T-Shirts and a Hero’s Plague for your office or business.

Participant: ($500)

• A Safety Party for your customers during the year
• Sponsor Logo on website, and a robust description of your business, contact information for your business, coupons or specials posted monthly on the Sponsorship webpage of the UEMTC
• Up to 5 Sponsorship T-Shirts and a Hero’s Plague for your office or business.

Individual: ($100)

• Sponsorship T-shirt
• Name or logo on website

Anyone can donate to the cause – go to our website at www.uemtc.org and make a donation today – every dollar donated to this campaign will be used to train citizens in the use of an AED – together we can save thousands of lives. Thanks

Your donation is 100% Tax Deductible and will serve our community well by making AED’s more widely available and by increasing much needed training in the use of an AED and follow up CPR. Please consider donating today.

As a bystander, don’t be afraid. Your actions can only help. By performing Hands-Only™ CPR you can double, or even triple, a victim’s chance of survival. Learn the two easy steps to save a life at www.heart.org/handsonlycpr. 

Remember disco? The American Heart Association and comedic actress Jennifer Coolidge are pumping new life into a 70′s disco classic to help save lives.
Watch our new public service announcement here.

Summer Exercise Tips: You’ve been exercising regularly, but now it’s summer – and hot. Sometimes even dangerously hot, and seemingly too hot to work out. But don’t decide that this is the time for a little summer break from fitness. Learn to be smart in the heat.

Featured Recipe: Cooking at home has never been easier. Download our free, heart-healthy recipes that your family will love. Each recipe is easy to prepare and has a video tutorial to assist you in getting started. Quick Chicken Chili

In 1996, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) published the consensus document titled EMS Agenda for the Future. The intent of the Agenda was to create a common vision for the future of EMS and was designed for use by government and private organizations at the national, state and local levels to help guide planning, decision making, and policy regarding EMS. In 2000, this document was followed by the EMS Education Agenda for the Future: A Systems Approach. The purpose of the Education Agenda is to establish a system of EMS education that more closely parallels that of other health care professions. The Core Content, Scope of Practice, and Education Standards have been completed. In 2007, the agenda began to be implemented across the states. (For additional information see www.naemso.org)

EMS Levels

So what does this mean for Utah and EMT students and providers? The Utah BEMS recently announced that they are ready to implement these new guidelines and levels of certification.  There are now four levels of certification. EMR (Emergency Medical Responder), EMT (Emergency Medical Technician), AEMT (Advanced Emergency Medical Technician), and Paramedic. These new levels of certification are now recognized nationwide. Not only will certifications transfer from state to state, but more importantly, the level of patient care will be greatly enhanced due to the responders’ abilities to provide additional procedures and care.   Testing for these new levels of certification will begin as follows:

• EMR- Current
• EMT- December of 2011
• AEMT- October of 2011
• Paramedic- December 2012 (NREMT testing)

The new levels of certification are primarily ‘competencies based’ rather then hourly based. The new recommended numbers of hours for each course are:

• §  EMR 60 hours
• §  EMT 150 hours
• §  AEMT 150-250 hours
• §  Paramedic  approximately 1400 hours

Again this is based on the students’ ability to achieve competency. If the student fails to reach competency during the recommended number of hours, the student will need to continue training until competency is met. Medical Directors, Course Coordinators and Instructors will decide if the student is competent to test.

Testing

Here is the best part. All new students will be required to go through initial testing which includes both written and practical evaluations. Once initial testing has been completed, it will be up to the individual to maintain their level of certification by attending, participating and tracking continuing education units. Our partner, Cole Holland Training Center is  working towards implementing a program that will deliver state recognized continuing education units to its students. They are currently in a national accreditation process that is reviewing meticulously their EMT programs; we have submitted our workshops to CECBEMS (Continuing Education Coordinating Board for Emergency Medical Services) and will be applying for training center status with the Utah BEMS in August 2011. These are all steps Cole Holland is taking to better provide students with the resources not only to become certified, but to maintain certification. It is their goal to become a leader in the EMS industry in education and training. As partners in Emergency Preparedness and Response education, we highly endorse the efforts of Cole Holland Training Center in offering the most current, state of the art curriculum based on best practices and the refined and updated state mandates.

Bridge Requirements

There are no bridge requirements for EMR, EMT or Paramedic levels of certification. There are only bridge requirements for the AEMT. All currently certified EMT Intermediates will be required to bridge to the new level of AEMT by October 2013. Failure to bridge by this date will automatically retract their level of certification and place them at an EMT level. Utah’s EMT Intermediate course has always followed the 1985 national guidelines. When the other states advanced to the 1999 national guidelines, Utah did not. At one point in time, Utah offered an Advanced EMT level of certification that was complex, unorganized, independent study, skill based and ultimately a failed process. There were a handful of people that managed to make it through the process. This time, Utah BEMS has dismissed themselves from the teaching process and has left that up to the local agencies and schools to deliver the new curriculum. They will only be involved in the testing process.

Cole Holland Training Center will be launching not only an AEMT course, but an AEMT bridge course that will allow current EMT Intermediate students to obtain this new level of certification. This program will begin fall of 2011.

Content that will now be included in the AEMT curriculum are:

Preparatory: EMS Systems Patient safety; high risk activities; how errors happen; preventing errors, including medication administration safety (rights of drug administration) Research Importance of evidence-based decision making process.

Therapeutic communication contains section on required affective/behavioral characteristics. Medical, Legal, and Ethics Morals, ethics and ethical conflicts

Anatomy and Physiology; Pathophysiology: Fundamental elements of the life support chain including oxygenation, perfusion, and the cellular environment; composition of ambient air; airway patency; respiratory compromise; ventilation/perfusion mismatch; perfusion and shock, blood volume; myocardial effectiveness; microcirculation; blood pressure; alterations in cellular metabolism

Airway Management, Respiration, and Oxygenation: Airway anatomy; airway assessment; techniques of assuring an open airway; age-related variation in airway anatomy; anatomy of the respiratory system; physiology of respiration; pathophysiology of respiration; assessment of respiratory status; respiratory management; supplemental oxygen therapy; age-related respiratory variation; assessment of ventilation status; oxygenation; ventilation management (adequate, inadequate, apneic); differentiating normal from positive pressure ventilation; age-related ventilation variation.

Patient Assessment: Orientation to the new terminology (may be covered in a handout) Patient Assessment: Monitoring Devices; Pulse Oximetry;

Medicine: Neurology Stroke/TIA; stroke alert criteria; Medicine: Abdominal and Gastrointestinal Disorders Anatomy; assessment; management; gastrointestinal bleeding, peritonitis, ulcerative disease, age-related variations;  Infectious Disease Updated information on methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aurous (MRSA); human immunodeficiency virus (HIV); cleaning and disinfecting ambulance equipment; decontaminating ambulances; Endocrine Disorders Diabetes update; Psychiatric Agitated delirium; medical/legal considerations; use of medical restraint Cardiovascular Anatomy; physiology; pathophysiology; assessment; management; acute coronary syndrome; hypertensive emergencies; cardiogenic shock; aspirin administration, Respiratory Anatomy; assessment; management; specific respiratory conditions; metered dose inhalers; small volume nebulizers; ager-related variations;  Hematology Sickle cell disease; Genitourinary/Renal Anatomy; physiology; pathophysiology; dialysis emergencies; Shock and Resuscitation General shock; reasons for shock; mechanism of shock.

Trauma: Overview Become familiar with the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) Field Triage; Decision Scheme: The National Trauma; Triage Protocol; Trauma: Chest Trauma Incidence; anatomy; physiology; pathophysiology; blunt or open trauma

Trauma: Abdominal and Genitourinary Trauma; Incidence; anatomy; physiology; specific injuries; assessment; management; Head, Facial, Neck, and Spine Trauma Assessment and management of neck, eye, dental; laryngeal injuries

Trauma: Nervous System; Traumatic brain injuries; Special Considerations in Trauma; Trauma in pregnancy, elderly, and cognitively impaired

Special Patient Populations: Obstetrics, Complications of pregnancy

EMS Operations: Principles of Safely Operating a Ground Ambulance; Safety issues during transport; Incident Management; Incident management system; EMS Operations: Hazardous Materials Awareness; Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response (HAZWOPER) First Responder Awareness Level; Mass Casualty Incidents Due to Terrorism and Disaster Roles and responsibilities at the scene.

Conclusion

For additional information on the new guidelines for EMS, you can visit www.naemsd.org or stop by or call Cole Holland Training Center where they would be happy to assist you and answer question you may have. We look forward to these changes and the impacts they will make on patient care. Citizens of Utah deserve competent, well trained professionals. For more information on other life saving courses, call the UEMTC at 801.562.266.

The principles of ACLS are an expansion on Basic Life Support (BLS), which includes Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and other simple measures to stabilize a patient until he or she can receive more experienced medical care. Much like CPR, ACLS relies on the ABC’s of first aid in which the Airway of the patient is secured, Breathing is assessed and stabilized, and Circulation is closely monitored. Unlike more basic care providers, people who are certified in ACLS can provide many more advanced interventions.

FDA wants stricter testing for defibrillators

It is a proven concept that the only effective treatment for ventricular fibrillation (VF) is prompt defibrillation. Yet, defibrillation is only effective when it is administered within the first few minutes of an Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) episode.

Chance of Survival

A study published in an October 2000 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine suggests that survival rates are highest when defibrillation is delivered within three minutes of the time of collapse.

Location is Key
Defibrillators are at the heart of any defibrillation program, and only through greater defibrillator availability will response times improve. Defibrillators have the potential to assume a role similar to that of the fire extinguisher – omnipresent and ready in case of emergency.

Although the deployment of defibrillators is becoming more widespread, they are not as prevalent as one might think. For instance, some estimates suggest that only 50% of ambulances, 10-15% of first-response fire department vehicles, and less than 1% of police vehicles carry defibrillators.

Through the widespread deployment of defibrillators within a community, the “collapse-to-shock” time can decrease and survival rates may increase. With these objectives in mind, program leaders often first bolster the defibrillator preparedness of their public safety providers, and then install devices in locations where large numbers of residents and visitors gather. Although there is no formula for determining the optimal number of defibrillators and their appropriate placement, deployment should be based on shortened response times and on SCA risk factors that exist within the population.

Ideal “Collapse-to-Shock” Goal for Early Defibrillation Programs

Goal: < = 3 – 5 minutes

Look around where you live, where you work, and the places you frequent and determine how close you are to a defibrillator and a trained responder. Federal guidelines recommend three minutes to access a defibrillator. If an SCA victim can’t be reached within this timeframe, It may be time to become a champion for early defibrillation, not only for your safety, but for others as well.

You might consider some of the following locations for defibrillator placement.

Public Buildings

Work Places

At Home

Medical Facilities

Contact us for more information about locating an AED in your home, workplace, church, meeting house etc. We can teach all your employees, family members, church or reading group or neighborhood watch committee how to use an AED – which SAVES LIVES.

For a “real” medical terminology course, contact Cole Holland Training Center. Their medical terminology course will make you sound like a medical expert. Learning medical terminology is helpful in the event of an emergency – providing emergency personnel with more specific and useful information can actually save lives. Learning a new “language” is fun and easier than you might imagine. For information on the Medical Terminology course offered by Cole Holland Training Center call 801.759.5164 or find them on the web at www.coleholland.com .

CPR in the Real World
The evidence base supporting delivery of quality CPR is growing and significant attention has been focused on raising awareness and improving education amongst lay rescuers performing bystander CPR. But a growing a number of studies both in-hospital and out of hospital report that CPR performed by healthcare professionals, the most frequent providers of CPR, could be significantly improved. In fact with every minute without CPR following sudden cardiac arrest, the probability of survival reduces by 7-10% per minute.2 When bystander CPR is delivered, the patient stands a better chance as the probability for survival reduces to 3-4% per minute. Overall, bystander CPR increases survival 2-3 times compared to no bystander CPR. When Health Care Professionals deliver quality CPR, research indicates survival rates can increase 4 times, compared to poor CPR.

CPR assist devices and new technology have an important role to play in helping to address this gap in CPR skill and performance.

In fact survival rates from sudden cardiac arrest have been virtually unchanged for the past 25 years. However, recent studies from EMS systems in Wisconsin 11, Seattle 12, Kansas City 13 and Arizona 14 in the USA report significant increase in survival rates.

To improve survival rates, best practice suggests:
· Systematically measuring and documenting BLS and ALS performance
· Running post-event team debriefs
· Undertaking systematic evaluations of what actions had a positive impact on survival

For access to the full report click here.

References

1. Ko P.C. et al (2005), “Evaluating the quality of pre-hospital cardiopulmonary resuscitation by reviewing automated external defibrillator records and survival for out-of-hospital witnessed arrests”, Resuscitation, 64:163-169.

2. Larsen M.P. et al (1993), “Predicting survival from out-of-hospital cardiac arrest: A graphic model”, Ann Emerg Med, 22:1952-1958

3. Valenzuela T.D. et al, (1997), “Estimating effectiveness of cardiac arrest interventions: A logistic regression model, Circulation, 96:3308-3313

4. Holmberg M. et al, (2000), “Effect of bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest patients in Sweden”, Resuscitation, 47:59-70

5. Abella B.S. et al (2005), “Quality of cardiopulmonary resuscitation during in-hospital cardiac arrest”, JAMA, Vol. 293 No. 3

6. Van Hoeyweghen R. J., et al (1993), “Quality and efficiency of bystander CPR”, Belgian Cerebral Resuscitation Study Group, Resuscitation, 47-52

7. Wik L. et al (1994), “Quality of bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation influences outcome after pre-hospital cardiac arrest”, Resuscitation, 195- 203

8. Gallagher J.E. et al (1995), “Effectiveness of bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation and survival following out-of-hospital cardiac arrest”, JAMA, Vol. 274, 24:1922-1925

9. Wik L. et al (2005), “Quality of cardiopulmonary resuscitation during out-of- hospital cardiac arrest”, 2005, JAMA Vol. 293 No. 3

10. Abella BS, Alvarado JP, Myklebust H, Edelson DP, Barry A, O’Hearn N, Vanden Hoek TL, Becker LB. Quality of cardiopulmonary resuscitation during in-hospital cardiac arrest. JAMA. 2005; 293: 305-310.

11. Kellum M.J. et al (2006), “Cardiocerebral resuscitation improves survival of patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest”, The American Journal of Medicine, 119:335-340

12. Rea T.D. et al (2006), “Increasing use of cardiopulmonary resuscitation during out-of-hospital ventricular fibrillation arrest. Survival implications of Guideline changes”, Circulation, 114:2760-2765

13. Garza A. et al (2007), “Improvement in survival to discharge of cardiac arrest patients using novel out of hospital treatment protocol”, American Heart Association – Scientific Sessions, Abstract Presentation

14. Bobrow B.J. et al (2007), “Statewide out-of-hospital cardiac arrest survival improves after widespread implementation of cardio cerebral resuscitation”, American Heart Association – Scientific Sessions, Abstract Presentation

http://www.laerdal.com/doc/43568623/Quality-CPR-matters.html

If you or your organization would like to help support this program, please donate today. Every cent you donate will be spent directly on this vital program. Your help can help save a life today. Thank you.

Vial of Life:

What is the Vial of Life Program: This FREE nationally recognized program provides lifesaving information to first responders in an emergency. The Vial of Life program is sponsored by Home Caregivers Home Health, your source for exceptional in home medical and non-medical care. This program encourages residents, particularly seniors, the homebound, the disabled or those living alone to compile personal medical information and place it in a safe and convenient location.

The most important part of this program is the INFORMATION SHEET found inside the plastic container (FREE from Home Caregivers Home Health or the UEMTC), which includes emergency contact information, medical history, recent surgeries, hospitalizations, rehab visits and medications. It is important to update and maintain current information. If there is a medication change or any other problems that should be noted, make changes on the form or get a new form. Medication(s) change from time to time and having a current list is vital. If that happens, draw a line through those medications you are no longer taking, and write down any new ones prescribed for you. Or print off a NEW sheet.

How to Participate:

1. Obtain a FREE Vial of Life from Home Caregivers Home Health or the Utah Emergency Medical Training Council or Click Here to print a copy (requires adobe read to view).

2. Fill out the information sheet – careful to document all medical information. List all medications including over the counter drugs. Include a recent photograph with the information sheet. Place your Medicare/Medicaid or Insurance card in the container as well. Include a Do Not Resuscitate or Advanced Directive (Living Will) in the bottle too.

3. Fold and place everything back in the bottle. Place the Vial of Life on a shelf in the refrigerator, place the magnet on the outside of the refrigerator, place the Vial of Life sticker on your FRONT door – this alerts emergency medical personnel that you are a participant in the program.

4. Take this with you on doctor’s visits, to the pharmacist, the hospital etc. Keep your medication and current medical information current.

The Training Council advises ALL seniors, regardless of health, to have a Vial of Life in their refrigerator.

We salute all Firefighters, EMTs, and Paramedics…the heroes of our time.

The Heimlich Maneuver® for CHOKING ADULTS

A choking victim can’t speak or breathe and needs your help immediately. Follow these steps to help a choking victim:

1. From behind, wrap your arms around the victim’s waist.
2. Make a fist and place the thumb side of your fist against the victim’s upper abdomen, below the ribcage and above the navel.
3. Grasp your fist with your other hand and press into their upper abdomen with a quick upward thrust. Do not squeeze the ribcage; confine the force of the thrust to your hands.
4. Repeat until object is expelled.

UNCONSCIOUS VICTIM, OR WHEN RESCUER CAN’T REACH AROUND VICTIM:
Place the victim on back. Facing the victim, kneel astride the victim’s hips. With one of your hands on top of the other, place the heel of your bottom hand on the upper abdomen below the rib cage and above the navel. Use your body weight to press into the victim’s upper abdomen with a quick upward thrust. Repeat until object is expelled. If the Victim has not recovered, proceed with CPR.
The Victim should see a physician immediately after rescue.

Don’t slap the victim’s back. (This could make matters worse.)

The Heimlich Maneuver® for CHOKING ADULTS

A choking victim can’t speak or breathe and needs your help immediately. Follow these steps to help a choking victim:

1. From behind, wrap your arms around the victim’s waist.
2. Make a fist and place the thumb side of your fist against the victim’s upper abdomen, below the ribcage and above the navel.
3. Grasp your fist with your other hand and press into their upper abdomen with a quick upward thrust. Do not squeeze the ribcage; confine the force of the thrust to your hands.
4. Repeat until object is expelled.

UNCONSCIOUS VICTIM, OR WHEN RESCUER CAN’T REACH AROUND VICTIM:
Place the victim on back. Facing the victim, kneel astride the victim’s hips. With one of your hands on top of the other, place the heel of your bottom hand on the upper abdomen below the rib cage and above the navel. Use your body weight to press into the victim’s upper abdomen with a quick upward thrust. Repeat until object is expelled. If the Victim has not recovered, proceed with CPR.
The Victim should see a physician immediately after rescue.

Don’t slap the victim’s back. (This could make matters worse.)

For more information about the Heimlich Maneuver for infants and more click here.

DID YOU KNOW?
Each year more than 300,000 Americans die from Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) – this can affect anyone including young and healthy people. Sadly many of these deaths could be averted with a shockingly simple intervention known as an AED followed by CPR. To put this number in perspective, about 30,000 Americans die in car accidents each year; about 10% less than those dying from SCA. Intervention is crucial, effective and seconds count. Did you know that your chance of surviving a SCA without this intervention is about 3%? Yet, with the use of an AED and CPR your chances of survival skyrocket to nearly 80%?

HOW IT WORKS – DEMYSTIFING THE AED!
If you have ten or more people in your office, home, yurt, club, business, garden, igloo, tent, Hogan or cave we will come to you and in 9 minutes or so we will train all of these people in how to use an AED. The cost is free. AED’s are becoming more and more common in society – airports, shopping malls, discount centers, schools, etc. yet, few people know how to use one and even more people are afraid to use one. Yet their effectiveness is remarkable.

WHAT YOU CAN DO TO HELP
Your ability to make a life changing decision is simple and easy and free. Simply call us at 801.562.2663 and pick a time for us to come to your place. Buy an AED from us and we will come out, install it, register it with local EMS, and teach everyone how to use it.

WHAT ELSE YOU CAN DO TO HELP
SPONSOR THIS CAMPAIGN Obviously there are costs associated with this program. If you would like to sponsor this campaign, please call us for sponsorship details (coming soon to the website). All donations will be used to provide gas cards to our volunteer trainers, to train more volunteers, to purchase equipment, provide cards, stickers and handouts and to support our website and ad campaigns. We need dollars. We need volunteers. We need venues. We need you to promote the cause among your friends, coworkers and employees.  We need to add YOUR name to the cause!

A TRUE STORY
On Tuesday, December 4^th, 2012 Danny Berger, 22, a member of the Utah State University men’s basketball team suffered a Sudden Cardiac Arrest and stopped breathing. Mike Williams, an USU trainer with access to and use of an AED, was able to save Danny’s life. Doctor’s at the hospital said if Mike had not used an AED Danny would have died before making it to the hospital, even before Emergency medical personnel arrived. (http://fox13now.com/2012/12/04/usu-basketball-player-hospitalized)  This matters to Danny and his family. It matters to all of us.  Please Join Us.

WARNING: If has come to our attention that there are unscrupulous small schools that are offering CPR from an online only source – most employers in Utah REQUIRE Basic Life Support CPR from a site or center approved by the American Heart Association. Use of these cards and classes is a waste of time and money. We will be posting a list of these schools here in the near future. If you are in doubt, call us. We are experts in CPR training!

Emergency preparedness is not just about food storage. If you want to make a difference in your life, learn to save a life …. in a personal emergency or natural disaster. Taking a class costs about the same as a movie and popcorn, and takes about the same amount of time, yet this small investment can literally make you a hero by knowing what to do before the ambulance arrives.

With our Skills Pass Off dates on Wednesday, earning your BLS CPR has never been easier. Call us for more information.