Paramedic Care: Principles Practice, Volume 4: Trauma Emergencies - Hardcover

Bledsoe, Bryan E.; Porter, Robert S.; Cherry, Richard A.

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0130216135 ISBN 13: 9780130216137

Publisher: Prentice Hall, 2001

Synopsis

This reader-friendly, easy to understand book covers the 1998 DOT National Standards Curriculum. The text provides readers with in-depth, solid coverage of the trauma modules of the DOT curriculum. It includes case studies throughout, as well as critical thinking skills which helps readers apply their knowledge to situations they may encounter. It contains links to useful websites, a research in EMS appendix, content review boxes, key points, key terms, and procedure scans. Ideal for readers interested in learning about paramedic care.

About this title

About the Author

DR. BRYAN E. BLEDSOE, D.O., F.A.C.E.P., F.A.A.E.M., F.A.E.P., EMT-P, is an emergency physician with special interest in prehospital care. He received his B.S. degree from the University of Texas at Arlington and received his medical degree from the University of North Texas Health Sciences Center / Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine. He completed his internship at Texas Tech University and residency training at Scott and White Memorial Hospital / Texas A&M College of Medicine. Dr. Bledsoe is board-certified in emergency medicine and family practice. He is presently a Ph.D. candidate at Charles Sturt University at Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia.

Prior to attending medical school, Dr. Bledsoe worked as an EMT, paramedic, and paramedic instructor. He completed EMT training in 1974 and paramedic training in 1976, and worked for 6 years as a field paramedic in Fort Worth, Texas. In 1979, he joined the faculty of the University of North Texas Health Sciences Center and served as coordinator of EMT and paramedic education programs at the university. Dr. Bledsoe is active in emergency medicine and serves as medical director for several EMS agencies and educational programs.

Dr. Bledsoe has authored several EMS books published by Brady including Paramedic Emergency Care, Intermediate Emergency Care, Atlas of Paramedic Skills, Prehospital Emergency Pharmacology, and Pocket Reference for EMTs and Paramedics. He is married to Emma Bledsoe. They have two children, Bryan and Andrea, and live in Midlothian, Texas, a suburb of Dallas. He enjoys saltwater fishing and listening to Jimmy Buffett.

ROBERT S. PORTER, M.A., NREMT-P, has been teaching in Emergency Medical Services for 25 years and currently serves as the Senior Advanced Life Support Educator for Madison County, New York, and as a Flight Paramedic with the Onondaga County Sheriff's Department helicopter service, AirOne. Mr. Porter is a Wisconsin native and received his Bachelor's degree in education from the University of Wisconsin. He completed his Paramedic training at Northeast Wisconsin Technical Institute in 1978 and earned a Master's Degree in Health Education at Central Michigan University in 1990.

Mr. Porter has been an EMT and EMS educator and administrator since 1973 and obtained his National Registration as an EMT-Paramedic in 1978. He has taught both basic and advanced level EMS courses in the states of Wisconsin, Michigan, Louisiana, Pennsylvania, and New York. Mr. Porter served for more than ten years as a paramedic program accreditation-site evaluator for the American Medical Association and is a past chair of the National Society of EMT Instructor/Coordinators. He has published numerous articles in EMS periodicals and has authored Brady's Paramedic Emergency Care, Intermediate Emergency Care, Tactical Emergency Care, and Weapons of Mass Destruction: Emergency Care as well as the workbooks accompanying this text, Paramedic Emergency Care, and Intermediate Emergency Care. When not writing or teaching, Mr. Porter enjoys offshore sailboat racing, historic home restoration, and listening to Dr. Bryan Bledsoe complain about the Texas heat.

RICHARD A. CHERRY, M.S., NREMT-P, is Clinical Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine and Director of Paramedic Training at SUNY Upstate Medical University in Syracuse, NY. His experience includes years of classroom teaching and emergency fieldwork. A native of Buffalo, Mr. Cherry earned his Bachelor's degree and teaching certificate at nearby St. Bonaventure University in 1972. He taught high school for the next 10 years while he earned his Master's degree in Education from Oswego State University in 1977. He holds a permanent teaching license in New York State.

Mr. Cherry entered the emergency medical services field in 1974 wit the DeWitt Volunteer Fire Department where he served his community as a firefighter and EMS provider for over 15 years. He took his first EMT course in 1977 and became an ALS provider two years later. He earned his paramedic certificate in 1985 as a member of the area's first paramedic class. He still answers emergency calls for Brewerton Ambulance.

Mr. Cherry has authored several books for Brady. Most notable is EMT Teaching: A Common Sense Approach. He has made presentations at many state, national, and international EMS conferences on a variety of teaching topics. In addition to his paramedic teaching, he is course director, instructor, and instructor trainer for ACLS, PALS, and PHTLS courses conducted for physicians, residents, nurses, medical students, and other house staff. He lives in Parish, New York with his wife Sue, a paramedic with Rural-Metro Medical Services, their children, and many pets.

From the Back Cover

• Volume 1: Introduction to Advanced Prehospital Care (includes Airway Management)
• Volume 2: Patient Assessment
• Volume 3: Medical Emergencies
• Volume 4: Trauma Emergencies
• Volume 5: Special Considerations / Operations (includes Assessment-Based Management)

Dr. Bryan E. Bledsoe, lead author of the classic pre-'98 curriculum text Paramedic Emergency Care, along with co-authors Robert Porter and Richard Cherry, has woven together contributions from field experts to provide detailed, yet student-friendly texts that will set the standard for paramedic education for years to come. In developing this series to meet the new curriculum, the goals were threefold:

• Comprehensive coverage. The program includes all material required for the new U.S. DOT curriculum and, where appropriate, expanded information.
• Accuracy. The material reflects the best and latest in scientific and medical practice, written and reviewed by experts.
• Appropriate level. Concepts and terminology are clearly explained. Beginning at the level of the new student and progressing through the development of new and advanced concepts, this series will provide the student with a broad background of knowledge and a firm grasp of how to apply it to paramedic emergency care.

From the Inside Flap

Preface

Until the late 1960s, the highest level of medical care available outside of the hospital was Red Cross First Aid. In 1966, the National Academy of Sciences commissioned a research study to examine the inadequacies of emergency medical care in this country. The findings of this study were published in a document called Accidental Death and Disability: The Neglected Disease of Modern Society. This document, commonly referred to as "The White Paper," was the impetus for development of EMS and emergency medicine as we know it today.

The initial emphasis of prehospital training was trauma care. Prehospital personnel received considerable training in bandaging, splinting, and rescue techniques. In the 1980s, prehospital trauma care was again improved through the development of Basic Trauma Life Support (BTLS) and Prehospital Trauma Life Support (PHTLS) training. These courses provided EMTs and paramedics with the additional information needed to care adequately for the trauma patient in the field.

The publication of Paramedic Care: Principles and Practice Volume 4, Trauma Emergencies takes prehospital trauma care to the highest level yet. This volume details the anatomy, physiology, and pathophysiology of trauma. Although trauma is a surgical disease, and in many instances definitive care must be provided in the operating room, there is a significant amount of care that can be provided by prehospital personnel to help reduce both morbidity and mortality.

This book addresses the various types of trauma based on the body systems involved. It is important to remember that many trauma patients have multiple injuries involving multiple body systems. Because of this, it is essential to consider the "whole patient" and not become distracted by a single injury. The chapters of Paramedic Care: Principles and Practice Volume 4, Trauma Emergencies include:

Chapter 1 "Trauma and Trauma Systems" introduces the paramedic student to trauma, the concept of trauma systems, and trauma triage protocols. It has been shown that trauma victims have the best chances of survival if they are cared for in a facility that routinely provides trauma care. In addition, certain patients will require very specialized trauma care, and it is often the responsibility of the paramedic to assure that the patient gets to the correct facility.

Chapter 2 "Blunt Trauma" presents the physics of blunt trauma. It details the effects of blunt trauma on the various body tissues. Blunt trauma can often be very deceiving, as overt signs and symptoms of injury may not be evident at the time paramedics arrive. This chapter encourages the paramedic to evaluate the physics and mechanism of injury, and determine likely injuries.

Chapter 3 "Penetrating Trauma" provides a detailed discussion of the physics and pathophysiology of penetrating trauma. Formerly quite rare, penetrating trauma has become much more commonplace in our society. This chapter emphasizes the importance of considering the physics and mechanism of injury when assessing and treating a patient with penetrating trauma.

Chapter 4 "Hemorrhage and Shock" is a detailed discussion of the body's response to hemorrhage and shock. Regardless of the mechanism of injury, the final common denominator in most trauma patients is the fact that they are losing blood. Severe blood loss can result in the development of shock. The body's physiological responses to hemorrhage and shock are complex. This chapter details the physiological and pathophysiological response to hemorrhage and shock so that the paramedic can recognize the process early and intervene.

Chapter 5 "Soft-Tissue Trauma" provides a comprehensive look at soft-tissue trauma. Soft-tissue trauma is, by far, the most common form of trauma. Although most soft-tissue injuries are not life-threatening, many can be. This chapter provides a detailed review of the anatomy and physiology of the integumentary system and a discussion of the pathophysiology of soft-tissue trauma. It also provides a detailed discussion of soft-tissue treatment, including a discussion of bandaging.

Chapter 6 "Burns" discusses the unique pathophysiology of burn injuries. Although the incidence of burn injuries is declining, burn patients require specialized care. This chapter discusses the anatomy, physiology, and pathophysiology of burn injuries with special emphasis on management of the burn patient.

Chapter 7 "Musculoskeletal Trauma" presents an overview of trauma involving the musculoskeletal system. The incidence of musculoskeletal trauma is second only to soft-tissue injuries in frequency. In this chapter, the student is presented with the various types of musculoskeletal trauma encountered, with special emphasis on treatment and pain control.

Chapter 8 "Head, Facial, and Neck Trauma" provides a detailed review of the anatomy and physiology of the head, face, and neck. Injuries to the head, face, and neck can be severe and life-threatening, and this chapter places special emphasis on recognizing injuries early and protecting the airway.

Chapter 9 "Spinal Trauma" is a comprehensive chapter covering spinal trauma. Although relatively uncommon, spinal trauma can be devastating for the patient. This chapter reviews the appropriate anatomy and physiology of the spine. Following this is a detailed discussion of the prehospital treatment of spinal injuries.

Chapter 10 "Thoracic Trauma" details the impact of chest trauma on the body. The anatomy and physiology of the chest is unique and can require specialized procedures to effect treatment. Special emphasis is placed on recognition and treatment of chest injuries, especially pneumothorax.

Chapter 11 "Abdominal Trauma" addresses the anatomy and physiology of the abdomen and discusses abdominal trauma pathology by organ and organ system. The chapter emphasizes the importance of having a high index of suspicion when treating a trauma patient with potential internal injury.

Chapter 12 "Shock Trauma Resuscitation" serves to tie the various trauma discussions together. Most trauma patients will have more than one body system involved. The paramedic must recognize all potential injuries based on the physical exam and evaluation of the mechanism of injury. Then, the patient must be aggressively treated and transported to a hospital capable of providing the required care. This chapter provides a detailed discussion of assessment of the trauma patient. It also reviews the effects of hemorrhage and shock.

This volume, Trauma Emergencies, details the basic medical knowledge and skills expected of twenty-first century paramedics. This material should be mastered before undertaking actual patient care.

Edition details

• Publisher: Prentice Hall
• Publication date: 2001
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0130216135
• ISBN 13: 9780130216137
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 518