EMS Dinosaurs

This morning a friend of mine told me he was headed over to a local college to do EMT testing and the his assignment was long backboard and spinal immobilization testing.

I found this funny because for years we’ve known that the routine immobilization of the spinal column by EMS has more dangers involved with it than positives in terms of preventing cervical spine injury.  It makes me wonder when the National Registry of EMTs will remove this testing station from their catalog of assessments?

While routine spinal mobilization was likely important 30 years ago when National Registry was formed, it has obviously fallen out of favor when you consider the NEXUS study and other data points that show in general we don’t need to be performing spinal mobilization.  Additionally, EMS generally considers this a low risk event because when we do spinally immobilize, we do it poorly.

It is interesting to me that we are teaching the EMS pops a skilled and belongs to the EMS dinosaurs.

Fixing The Roof

When is the right time to fix a roof?

President Kennedy had a quote that the right time to fix the roof was before the rain or when the sun was shining depending on which version you buy into.  I don't know which is better, but I do know the right time to work on things is before you need to which is why I was amazed yesterday when someone had asked me why we (my oldest son and I) were out taking batting practice so far in front of the season?

Ummm, to get ready?

Look, youth baseball is not all about winning, but I know of no coach who intentionally takes their kids out trying to lose either.  Part of the game is to learn how to compete, how to struggle and overcome when you are down.

Meanwhile I also know that almost every coach talks about fun and talks about winning, but I hear very few coaches talking about preparing to win.  What do I mean?

Well, if you can go out and beat any team without preparing to play, you probably haven't learned many good lessons, if any.  I want the team that understands that winning is usually (90%) of the time about executing regular plays correctly  90% of the time.  I hear lots of coaches, and even fire officers and other public safety officials, talking about 90% 90% of the time, but they don't back it up with the effort of training.  Ugh!  Who does this?

I don't want talk, I want work?  And I don't just want practice because if you practice sloppy, you play sloppy.  In any case, if you want to be great, you have to be foundationally great which means doing the little things again and again and again until they are right.

So my advice for youth baseball coaches is go fix your roof now so that the season's spring showers don't rain on your games.

Teaching Success

One of the problems with being involved with EMS education and training is does the student get it?  Sometimes despite the best intentions, tests, quizzes, and megacodes you don't know if someone "gets it."

Recently I got to hear about a patient who did not compensate post procedure.  Instead of the patient continuing to deteriorate though, a group of students I have been working with intermittently for years, sprang into action and executed a pretty good plan of action which resulted in the patient's condition improving dramatically.

Sometimes you don't realize whether or not you are successful, but is great when you get to see it and see the critical thinking post event in your students as they show not only did they get it, but that they want to then take the next step and go even further.  These are the days I love.