----- Original Message -----
Sent: Sunday, January 27, 2002 4:45
PM
Subject: RE: RSI for Paramedics
Since we already had kind of a roll-call on paramedic licensure, I
would be interested in knowing how many states permit paramedics to do
RSI.
Washington has been out in front on a lot of EMS issues so it doesn't
surprise me that RSI protocols would be in place. In fact, if memory
serves correctly, the first time I heard of paramedics using rapid-acting
paralytics, it was in Washington and was quite a few years
ago.
If I
had to make a wild guess, I would imagine that RSI is available to all
paramedics in less than half the states. So far, we've got Washington
and Idaho that do permit RSI...anyone else?
regards!
paul
Paul
M. Wright, Jr.
Mesa, AZ
It
seems strange to me anyway that there are still agencies and/or states that
lag far behind in the area of paramedic delivered RSI as an adjunct to good
field care. Here in WA state, we've had RSI protocols for some time and in 1
county I work in ( Yakima ) we also use Vecuronium for longer paralysis
needs. I think I speak for everyone when I say just shoving tubes on snowed
patients is inhumane whether they remember it or not. This is one of those
procedures that medics and nurses should be crossed trained for the good of
the patient. A flight nurse can be taught to intubate and medics are
currently trained in RSI.
