JEMS : a journal of emergency medical services
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More than 60 emergency services professionals attended an EMS Today 2001 preconference symposium, "How to Champion Public Access Defibrillation in Your Community: Leadership, Art and Science," hosted by AED manufacturer Philips/Heartstream. Their goal: to learn the practicalities of starting and maintaining an early defibrillation program in their communities. The recent increase in research and attention to community early defibrillation programs led Philips/Heartstream to host the symposium, which featured cardiac arrest survivor Diane Jackson, as well as three community early defibrillation program advocates who've implemented early defibrillation programs in their communities. Their advice for kick-starting early defibrillation programs in your community follows.
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EMS providers must use extreme caution when evaluating and treating an unconscious football player, especially when the extent of the injury remains unknown. Suspect any unconscious football player has an accompanying spinal injury until proven otherwise. ⋯ Proper management of head and neck injuries includes leaving the helmet in place whenever possible, removing only the face mask from the helmet and developing a plan to manage head- and neck-injured football players using well-trained sports medicine and EMS providers. EMS agencies should work with their local high school or college athletic trainers to practice these removal techniques prior to the start of the football season.