Emergency medicine journal : EMJ
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The relief of pain is an essential component of prehospital care and, when required is usually administered on completion of the primary survey. For simple analgesia morphine sulphate titrated to the clinical response and preceded by an antiemetic is usually effective, for example, in the relief of pain in chest trauma or myocardial infarction. For patients with multiple injuries and for those patients requiring manipulation and splintage of fractures and for entrapments and difficult extrications ketamine is a safe and effective option, which avoids the potential decrease in blood pressure and respiratory depression that is associated with opioid analgesia. This paper reports the personal experience in the prehospital administration of ketamine by a non-anaesthetist working as an immediate care practitioner as part of a British Association for Immediate Care (BASICS) Scheme.
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This project aims to use information about the desirable attributes of the ambulance technician, paramedic, and clinical supervisor to inform future curriculum development. ⋯ The profile of desirable attributes emerging from this study are remarkably similar to the generic benchmark statements for health care programmes outlined by the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education. It seems that a case is emerging for a revision of the curriculum currently used for the education and training of ambulance staff, which is more suited to a consumer led health service and which reflects the broader professional base seen in programmes associated with other healthcare professions. This study has suggested outline content, and module structure for the education of the technician, paramedic, and clinical supervisor, based on empirical evidence.