ACLS V-Fib Megacode

 A lot of people have asked me to make a video of my standard ACLS megacode lecture for ventricular fibrillation.  Well, here it is!  A little rough (sorry, it was spur of the moment!) but it is out there...   Hosted on YouTube at the link-  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qbGZ16S72yg&feature=youtu.be

Epinephrine in cardiac arrest- It's not all good.

Epinephrine is the initial drug administered per ACLS protocol to patients in asystole, PEA, and ventricular fibrillation/ pulseless V-tach. For asystole and PEA, it is the ONLY drug indicated, unless specifically treating a reversible cause of arrest (see H's and T's.)

Epinephrine will increase central (read more here- http://www.carpentercprsolutions.com/-blog/epinephrine-in-cardiac-arrest-its-not-all-good)

Supplemental Oxygen: The Jury is Still Out!

Providers typically use high concentrations of oxygen in ACLS scenarios on a routine basis, and oxygen is frequently considered an adjunct that is advantageous, but this is not always the case.  High flow oxygen is a powerful vasoconstrictor, and can actual decrease coronary and vital organ blood flow.  This is in addition to....

read the whole article here:
http://www.carpentercprsolutions.com/-blog/supplemental-oxygen-the-jury-is-still-out

Image Credit: Häggström, Mikael. "Medical gallery of Mikael Häggström 2014". Wikiversity Journal of Medicine 1 (2). DOI:10.15347/wjm/2014.008. ISSN 20018762. (All used images are in public domain.) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

CPR feedback devices

 CPR feedback devices have gained some popularity over recent years. There are several manufacturers and variations, but essentially all CPR feedback devices perform similar functions.,  They monitor rate - and many monitor.............     Read the entry here:
http://www.carpentercprsolutions.com/-blog/cpr-feedback-devices

Adenosine

Adenosine is frequently used in the setting of supra-ventricular tachycardia (SVT), in which a patient has an abnormal pathway allowing electrical activity to re-enter the atria after it has depolarized the ventricles. (more here....  http://www.carpentercprsolutions.com/-blog/adenosine)

Lay public naloxone training for free!

check out the flyer at the link....

http://www.carpentercprsolutions.com/-blog/free-naloxone-training-for-the-lay-public

Dispatcher Assisted CPR saves lives!!!

There has been an increase in local protocols for 911 dispatchers to be able to identify victims in need of CPR based on caller reports, and to coach bystanders in performing CPR until -----Follow the link to read the article!

http://www.carpentercprsolutions.com/-blog/dispatcher-assisted-cpr-saves-lives

Why are we focused on naloxone training?

see the link for the powerpoint:  http://www.carpentercprsolutions.com/-blog/why-are-we-focused-on-naloxone-training

Naloxone training saves lives!

First Class May 26th in Frederick.  Free!

http://www.carpentercprsolutions.com/-blog/naloxone-training-saves-lives

New Classroom Books!

New classroom course books are in stock with your preferred AHA vendor.  Online courses followed by skills sessions do not require a manual, as one is supplied online with that portion of the course

Please be aware, Carpenter CPR does not supply books for classroom courses. Obtaining necessary course materials is a student responsibility.  Please note that the new 2016 tests are OPEN BOOK!

If you would like, you may purchase your manuals from Laerdal, an authorized AHA materials provider.  Current manuals are the 2016 version.

AHA is also offering E-books at:  http://ebooks.heart.org/catalog/show/all

Priorities

At a recent live code, I again noted how common it is for less experienced teams to attempt to "do everything at once" and priorities can easily become confused in the hurried rush to save a life.  I have put together a few reflections from this event.

One of the first things I noted was..... (read more here: http://www.carpentercprsolutions.com/-blog/priorities)

Refresher training will keep your sklls up to date! (Coupon code inside!)

 At Carpenter CPR, our whole mission is to provide our clients with the confidence and competence to effectively use Basic Life Support and Advanced Life Support skills should the need arise. 

This is why, from now on, any former student of ours may attend a skills session at any time for 80% off the usual skills session price.  No new card will be issued after one of these “refresher training” sessions, but you will leave with renewed knowledge and having again practiced your skills. 

Use coupon code.......... (read more and get the code here:)

http://www.carpentercprsolutions.com/-blog/bls-and-acls-refresher-training-will-keep-your-skills-up-to-date-coupon-code-inside

More on retention of critical life saving skills over time.

The American Heart Association in their 2015 guidelines again notes that retention of life saving CPR skills and knowledge is a significant problem for both lay rescuers and healthcare providers.  Retention of CPR (both BLS and ACLS) skills over time has long been known to suffer.  For example, Ackerman (2009) noted that knowledge retention of key aspects of high quality CPR decreased significantly within 3 months in both a standardized CPR trained group, and one trained using high fidelity simulation. 

Burkhardt, Glick, and Terndrup (2014) performed a study showing that CPR knowledge retention significantly improved performance skills.  Therefore knowledge retention equals skills retention.  The conclusion is.. (read more here.... http://www.carpentercprsolutions.com/-blog/more-on-retention-of-critical-life-saving-skills-over-time)

Lipid infusion for Lidocaine toxicity

 The 2015 AHA guidelines have included the addition of intravenous lipid infusion as a treatment for local anesthetic toxicity.  Local anesthetics (think: Lidocaine, bupivicaine) are generally very safe, and are ...   read more here: http://www.carpentercprsolutions.com/-blog/lipid-infusion-for-lidocaine-toxicity