Hands On March 2012

Pediatric Care Software

Our job as EMS providers is to bring order to the chaos of a medical or trauma scene. As the level of acuity increases, so does the potential for errors. Throw in an unfamiliar treatment like a pediatric drip medication, and the potential goes through the roof. The Artemis Pediatric Care Software package from eBroselow.com combines the ease of use of the Broselow Tape with a powerful pharmacology and treatment database that’s packed with features designed to eliminate medical errors. Users simply enter the patient’s length or weight, and dosages for 400 drugs are calculated. IV drip medications include simple mixing instructions instead of just the concentration. Treatment algorithms are interactive, allowing the user to click on the decision points and administer the next medication. This program isn’t just an information resource; it’s a clinical decision template that can interface with many electronic medical records. VITALS
Drug Library: 400+
Platforms: Standalone PC
and iPad
Call for pricing
www.ebroselow.com
540/250-3261

Five for Flashing

If you happen to be brand new to EMS and this is the first time you’re reading JEMS—welcome. Be sure to carry some sort of flashlight on your person at all times while working. We work in an industry that tries to foil Murphy’s Law, but Murphy is sneaky. The moment you entertain the thought, “I hope the lights don’t go out,” they will. The new ATAC Flashlights from 5.11 Tactical are designed to be kept on your person for daily use and will keep Murphy in the light. All of the lights have long-life LED illumination and are made from aerospace grade aluminum. VITALS ATAC PLx: 2 AAA, 3 hour at 69 lumens, $29.99 ATAC A1: 1 AA, 50 min at 103 lumens, $54.99 ATAC A2: 2 AA, 1 hour 45 min at 162 lumens, $64.99 ATAC L1: 1 CR123, 2 hour at 173 lumens, $74.99 ATAC L2: 2 CR123, 4 hour at 222 lumens, $84.99 www.511tactical.com 866/451-1726

Duty Jacket

EMS uniform jackets have to meet certain needs. They need to be warm, wind resistant, waterproof, visible, and of course, fashionable. The Stage 2 Duty Jacket from Nine1One Gear is made of AirTech, a high-tech laminate fabric that’s waterproof, windproof, breathable and comfortable. Cordura-reinforced elbows and shoulders add durability, and 3M Scotchlite 500 1" wide reflective tape provides excellent visibility. A zip-in Polartec fleece vest liner will keep you warm. Storage includes two covered exterior and one interior pocket.
VITALS Colors: Black, navy and red Sizes: S–4XL Price: $306 www.nine1onegear.com 866/716-7381

Ring Cracker

Ring Cracker Although it may not be a life threat, surely you’ll remember the first time you treat a patient with a finger injury caused by a ring being caught on or in machinery. The severe soft tissue and bone damage is compounded by the jewelry that remains in the wound. The standard manual ring cutter works fine on such soft metals as gold and silver, but it’s useless against the latest craze in men’s jewelry—tungsten carbide. Although this is an extremely hard metal, it’s also brittle. The Tungsten Ring Cracker from American Concepts and Technologies is a circular vice that slides around the ring; a few turns of the hand wheel later, the tungsten carbide ring cracks and breaks in pieces. Be sure to wear eye protection, because metal shards may fly when the ring cracks. VITALS Dimensions: 3" x 5" Weight: 5 oz. Price: $89 www.tungstenpride.com 763/421-1036

Wi-Fi Vault

I don’t think Darwin had EMS in mind, but when you look at EMS products over the years, it’s easy to see the theory of evolution in action. We liked the Knox MedVault from the beginning. Now that it’s evolved to a more compact design, we like it even more. The MedVault Mini from Knox Box puts the security and controlled access of the original into a package that will fit in tighter quarters. Controlled substances are secured until authorized personnel access them with their unique PIN code. An audit trail showing the time, date and PIN code is recorded each time the vault is opened. This audit trail is collected via a USB port or from the convenience of an office with optional Wi-Fi/Ethernet connectivity. VITALS PIN codes: 5,000 Weight: 12 lbs. Interior Dimensions: 5" x 7 1/4" x 3" Exterior Dimensions: 6 3/4" x 9” x 5 1/4" Price: $950–1,350 www.knoxbox.com 800/552-5669

SimPad

SimPad The “Miracle in the Hudson” may have had a different outcome if Captain Chesley B. “Sully” Sullenberger and First Officer Jeffrey B. Skiles hadn’t had the opportunity to practice loss of engine power and water landing scenarios in a high-technology flight simulator. Would a cardiac arrest scenario have the chance for a positive outcome if the crews didn’t have a chance to practice the coordination of skills necessary in an ACLS class? Medical simulation is here to stay, and it’s going to become an increasingly important and realistic component of EMS education. The new SimPad from Laerdal takes the high-fidelity patient simulators of the Vital Sim line and makes simulation control easier and more intuitive for the instructor. Educators need only use the touchscreen to adjust the parameters of the scenario on the fly while being wirelessly connected to the manikin. SimPad also provides connectivity to Laerdal’s Sim Center to download content specifically for these manikins. VITALS Display: 5.7" Power: Li-Ion Rechargeable Battery Run time: 3–4 hours Price: $2,900 www.laerdal.com 877/523-7325

Difficult Airway SimulationDifficult Airway Simulation

Whether intubating an adult, infant or child, it’s simply a matter of practice. You need to refine your technique on manikins before moving on to actual patients. So how do you refine your technique for difficult intubations? The AirSim Pierre Robin from TruCorp highlights difficult airway management techniques on infants with Pierre Robin Sequence or Stickler Syndrome. Patients with mandibular hypoplasia have a recessed chin, which makes bag-valve mask ventilation difficult; oral intubation is also a challenge because of the patient’s smaller mouth opening. The AirSim Pierre Robin’s anatomically correct airway was designed in collaboration with clinicians from Children’s Hospital Los Angeles and is based on actual computed tomography data. VITALS Weight: 4.4 lbs. Price: $1,598 www.trucorp.co.uk +44 (0)28 9073 7281