You are dispatched to Jack, a 3-year-old with a burn. When you arrive, you’re told by Jack’s frantic mother that she turned her head for a second in the kitchen and Jack pulled a pot of boiling water off the counter, spilling hot water on his left arm and upper chest. Jack is crying in pain. Jack’s mother asks what his treatment will be and whether this will leave a permanent scar. You’re …
Sirens to Scrubs: COVID-19, an excuse to talk about infection control
You and your partner are called to a private residence for Francesca, a 50-year-old woman who feels ‘generally unwell.’ Simple, right? [bg_faq_start] About Sirens to Scrubs Sirens to Scrubs was created with the goal of helping to bridge the disconnect between pre-hospital and in-hospital care of emergency patients. The series offers in-hospital providers a glimpse into the challenges and scope of practice of out-of-hospital care while providing pre-hospital providers with an opportunity to …
Sirens to Scrubs: Do you think I need stitches?
You are dispatched to Sam, an 87-year-old who cut the base of his thumb while pitting an avocado approximately 30 minutes ago. The laceration is 3cm long and you can see fatty tissue in the wound. Sam’s wife asks whether you think he will need stitches. You think that he will, but you’ve been wrong in the past, so you’re not sure how to answer her question. [bg_faq_start] About Sirens to Scrubs Sirens …
Sirens to Scrubs: Fever-Phobia
You’re transporting Milly, a 68y/o healthy woman to the hospital with a fever of 38.9C with a productive cough. As you offload her she asks for a blanket, so you ask your student to get her one while you start your paperwork. Your student, Vincent, later tells you that he was taught at school not to give blankets to febrile patients and asks you about your reasoning for giving one to Milly. [bg_faq_start] …
Sirens to Scrubs: Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome
You are dispatched to Jasmine, a 31yo patient, for palpitations. On arrival, you find her clinically stable in a narrow-complex, regular tachycardia at a rate of 180bpm. As you begin to coach her through vagal maneuvers and reach for your adenosine she advises you ‘I have something called Wolff-Parkinson-White – does that change anything?’ You think maybe it does, but you’re not sure. [bg_faq_start] About Sirens to Scrubs Sirens to Scrubs was created …
Sirens to Scrubs: Subarachnoid Hemorrhage
You are dispatched lights and sirens for Jennifer, a 52-year-old female complaining of “the worst headache of my life”. She recalls running on a treadmill then feeling like she had been struck in the back of the head by a clap of thunder. She then proceeded to have a witnessed two-minute episode of syncope. On arrival you find Jennifer coming out of the bathroom where she was just vomiting. As you are getting …