Features

Self-extrication in road traffic collisions: do we really need to cut the roof off?

This literature review incorporates two principal searches. Initially the review interrogated the Ovid Medline database, with search terms including ‘extrication’, ‘movement’, ‘pre-hospital’ and...

Spotlight on Research

Over the years it has been evidenced that early recognition and appropriate treatment of cardiac arrest can impact on survival rates, and this work emphasises the important role that bystanders can...

Essex and Herts Air Ambulance: a focused case series for pre-hospital practice Case 3: a femoral shaft fracture

A 23-year-old woman who, while crossing the road, was hit by a car coming towards her from her right side. Witnesses reported that the car drove over the patient and dragged her a few yards down the...

Palliative emergencies in the pre-hospital setting

The evidence base for the treatment of palliative patients by paramedics is still limited. However, recent publications by Brady (2012a; 2012b; 2012c), Gakhal et al (2011), Pettifer and Bronnert...

Experiences of two paramedics deployed to the Phillipines in response to Typhoon Haiyan

It is heartening to see the world rally together to assist in devastating events such as this. Many countries immediately mobilised resources in various capacities. The United Kingdom, small island...

Evaluation of pre-hospital point-of-care testing for lactate in sepsis and trauma patients

This study was designed to examine the feasibility, and potential impacts, of introducing POC lactate measurement into pre-hospital care within NEAS. The primary objective was to evaluate the Nova...

Pre-hospital paediatric seizures: midazolam versus diazepam

The aim of this article is to review the evidence for the use of diazepam and midazolam, and to determine which anticonvulsant is the most appropriate for termination of paediatric seizures by...

Ministerial approval for commencement of work on paramedic prescribing

The Allied Health Professions (AHP) Medicines Project is a joint initiative by NHS England and the Department of Health to extend prescribing, supply and administration of medicines to Allied Health...

Challenge your thinking: mechanical direct pressure device

The control of compressible catastrophic haemorrhage prior to airway, breathing and circulation (CABCDE) is not a new approach, being advocated for civilian use by Hodgetts et al in 2006, and...

Rapid sequence induction and the paramedic

Rapid sequence intubation/induction (RSI) is an advanced procedure not currently advocated for UK paramedic practice although some paramedics attached to Helicopter Emergency Medical Services (HEMS)...