This book covers the full spectrum of IV skills in an accessible format. KEY TOPICS: Topics covered stem from the most basic and introductory skills to advanced topics that would be used by critical care personnel. EMT-Basic EMT-Intermediate, and EMT-Paramedic level responders and students.

Intravenous (IV) Therapy is one of the most invasive procedures handled in the prehospital environment. Proficiency in IV therapy technique is important for most procedures required in advanced life support. Intravenous Therapy for Prehospital Providers prepares emergency medical personnel for the job of administering or assisting with the administration of IV therapy. This book is part of the EMS Continuing Education Series.Written to teach prehospital professionals about IV therapy, important topics covered include principles of fluid balance, IV techniques and administration, infection control, causes and treatment of shock, and altered level of consciousness. A section on practice calculations explains step-by-step how to calculate IV fluid dosage. Age-specific considerations (pediatric and geriatric) and legal issues are covered in their own chapters. The appendices include IV starts log sheets and patient report forms that can be used by IV administrators on the job.This book is part of the EMS Continuing Education Series. As an EMS provider, you know that your education does not stop when you finish your initial training. The things you learn in the field and in continuing education classes give you the extra skills and knowledge to make you the best provider you can be. The EMS Continuing Education Series was created to help you take that extra step toward not just being a great provider, but an outstanding one.

Overcome your fears and build your confidence while you master the mathematic and pharmacology knowledge you need to pass your licensure exams and prepare for professional practice.

Nurses and paramedics pass down intravenous skills to new employees as best they can, but the fine details are often missed or forgotten. Bob Rynecki, a registered nurse and an award-winning paramedic, wrote this guide so you can establish peripheral intravenous lines easily and effectively. Taking a no-frills approach, he delivers the tricks and tips that will enable you to: - become the go-to person for starting difficult IVs; - boost your confidence no matter what your level of experience; - succeed on the first stick - almost every time. Many medical professionals desperately need to learn this basic skill because it's so often overlooked in school. Many students practice starting an IV on an anatomical arm with bulging veins that doesn't mesh with what they most often find at the bedside or in the field. Drawing upon his nineteen years of experience as a bedside critical care nurse and his fifteen years of experience as an EMT/Paramedic, Rynecki shares personal stories and examples that will help you succeed in even the most challenging circumstances. Whether you're a novice or veteran clinician, you'll improve your proficiency at initiating lifelines with The Art of the IV Start.

Cardiac arrest can strike a seemingly healthy individual of any age, race, ethnicity, or gender at any time in any location, often without warning. Cardiac arrest is the third leading cause of death in the United States, following cancer and heart disease. Four out of five cardiac arrests occur in the home, and more than 90 percent of individuals with cardiac arrest die before reaching the hospital. First and foremost, cardiac arrest treatment is a community issue - local resources and personnel must provide appropriate, high-quality care to save the life of a community member. Time between onset of arrest and provision of care is fundamental, and shortening this time is one of the best ways to reduce the risk of death and disability from cardiac arrest. Specific actions can be implemented now to decrease this time, and recent advances in science could lead to new discoveries in the causes of, and treatments for, cardiac arrest. However, specific barriers must first be addressed. Strategies to Improve Cardiac Arrest Survival examines the complete system of response to cardiac arrest in the United States and identifies opportunities within existing and new treatments, strategies, and research that promise to improve the survival and recovery of patients. The recommendations of Strategies to Improve Cardiac Arrest Survival provide high-priority actions to advance the field as a whole. This report will help citizens, government agencies, and private industry to improve health outcomes from sudden cardiac arrest across the United States.

New to This Edition Updated to reflect the 2010 emergency cardiovascular care guidelines. New chapter on Abuse and Assault, plus a totally revised chapter on Patient Assessment that aligns with the new National Education Standards. Case-in-Point boxes feature real-life case studies that challenge you to apply related concepts covered in the chapter. Real World boxes highlight important issues involving geriatric and pediatric patients, cultural considerations, and on-scene information. Extended Transport boxes address the needs of rural EMTs by highlighting necessary information for long transports. More than 150 new photographs and clear, easy-to-read text make this edition clinically relevant, interesting to read, and easy to comprehend. A companion DVD includes video skills and medical animations -- publisher's website.