Nervous about being EMR/EMT

[D0CTORX]

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I am certified in CPR. But was looking into getting a EMT certification.

But I am still a little shaky with CPR and first aid obviously because I haven't used it.

I don't want to be the guy that doesn't know what to do in that situation, will taking the class fix that?

 

[Irish Football]

I would assume that's the point of the class, no? I mean I've taken an EMT class, but that's what I would guess.

 

[D0CTORX]

Well, I am just nervous... anyone else feel this way after they got certified?

 

[deleted103644]

You'll learn everything you need in the class, and licensing requires an exam (including practical) in most states.

Aside from bandages/splinting, BLS, and some really basic interventions (epinephrine if the person has a pen, maybe activated charcoal or glucose depending on supervising MD), there isn't a whole lot to know.

BLS is ridiculously simple too. CPR is just "Staying Alive" compressions x30 +2 breath per cycle and AEDs are self-explanatory.

 

[deleted103644]

Don't worry about CPR. Even if you're in the hospital it's usually worthless, in the field even more so.

Just try your best, the person's likely ****ed regardless. AED is more important if indicated.

 

[DrOMG]

Don't worry about CPR. Even if you're in the hospital it's usually worthless, in the field even more so.

Just try your best, the person's likely ****ed regardless. AED is more important if indicated.

This is EXACTLY the kind of attitude I want on someone giving my mom ALS. It doesn't matter if most cardiac arrests end in death, what matters is that you at least have the hope they'll make it. My county's medical director actually just sent out an email saying that most resuscitative efforts end sooner than they should (by about 9 minutes if I am correct).

You'll learn everything you need in the class, and licensing requires an exam (including practical) in most states.

Aside from bandages/splinting, BLS, and some really basic interventions (epinephrine if the person has a pen, maybe activated charcoal or glucose depending on supervising MD), there isn't a whole lot to know.

BLS is ridiculously simple too. CPR is just "Staying Alive" compressions x30 +1 breath per cycle and AEDs are self-explanatory.

I don't know what "ridiculously simple" CPR you are doing but it is 2 breaths per cycle. And not all the AED's are self-explanatory. However, most of the ones out there are automatic, or at least semi-automatic.


... Anyway, OP I have been a medic for 6 years and I remember when I first started. I was scared as hell. You should do EMS to face your fears. You learn to have confidence the more calls you run, and before you know it you will be doing it without even thinking.

 

[Geebeejay]

Don't worry about CPR. Even if you're in the hospital it's usually worthless, in the field even more so.

Just try your best, the person's likely ****ed regardless. AED is more important if indicated.

Right just ask the 18 yr olds with WPW or the 45-yr old MI survivors if CPR is worthless.

To OP, the first time you do CPR on a real person it's very scary and freaky, but it's not too tough as a basic, and you'll adapt to it fast. Likely you'll become comfortable with it almost immediately on your first code. Luckily I had a whole medical team with me my first time, as opposed to it being just me and my partner out in the field. Likely you'll be paired up with an experienced EMT at first, or hopefully you'll have a code during your employment training. But don't worry about your feelings, everyone feels the same way at first.

 

[DrOMG]

I like how CPR is being defined as pretty much useless because of one EMT's incapability to remember something as simple as 30:2.

I actually had one guy go into v-fib about two weeks ago. He ended up having a stent put in and his son came to our station to tell us all he was doing really well. Lucky he got me instead of the guy above. 🙂

 

[Geebeejay]

I like how CPR is being defined as pretty much useless because of one EMT's incapability to remember something as simple as 30:2.

I actually had one guy go into v-fib about two weeks ago. He ended up having a stent put in and his son came to our station to tell us all he was doing really well. Lucky he got me instead of the guy above. 🙂

One of the coolest things is seeing patients weeks or months after you did CPR on them. Usually they're in rough shape and it sucks that they're back, but sometimes they're doing fine, and either way it's super rewarding and cool.

Once a guy I did CPR on came back to the ER with pneumonia and other complications from his multiple rib fractures, but was mentating well. I briefly thought to myself "Damn straight you have pneumonia after those fantastic compressions I gave you."

 

[deleted103644]

😆

Sorry, meant one breath cycle (= 2 breaths).

It still will almost never work.

 

[Ashley1989]

People are being way too harsh on here. CPR is when the person has no pulse and is not breathing, right? So OP no matter what you do it's better than doing nothing. Its not like you're going to kill them, because they are unfortunately already gone; now you're just trying to revive them. When someone needs CPR the only way to go at that point is hopefully up, so just practice enough so when the time comes its second nature.

 

[deleted103644]

Yup, you're actually probably better off without breaths as a bystander.

6% survival vs 4% with breaths.

Defibrillation if possible + indicated is the most important thing.

 

[Geebeejay]

Yup, you're actually probably better off without breaths as a bystander.

6% survival vs 4% with breaths.

Defibrillation if possible + indicated is the most important thing.

Probably true (the breaths thing) since pausing compressions stops blood flow, and it takes a while to get it flowing well again. However, it should be noted that "survived" isn't the same thing "survived and neurologically intact". And definitely true about defibrillation being the most important.

I think you're understating the value of CPR though. I take those statistics lightly since most people who receive CPR are old, or have lethal pre-existing health conditions and have been "circling the drain" for who knows how long. Yeah, these individuals are probably not going to survive, and if they do...they won't survive long afterward.

But my experience in resuscitating otherwise pretty-healthy individuals that have cardiac arrests, they very frequently survive the initial event (maybe 50% of the time, or even more), and that percentage is even higher with good, deep compressions, and if the arrest is witnessed and CPR is immediate.

 

[D0CTORX]

thanks for the help.

I'm pretty much just scared as hell, there will be people that already know this stuff and im scared of making a mistake or forgetting how to treat something. you guys that are emts; do you ever make a mistake? or forget something?

I think im gonna go ahead and do it because it will only be worse if i dont and in trying to become a doctor i probably need this experience