• Question: I have a question regarding the Analgesia and Moderate to Severe Pain medical directives for torodol and narcotics. Can a narcotic analgesia and torodol be administered to the same patient on the same call if the ACP determines the patient’s pain is severe enough and the properties of both analgesics would be beneficial given the situation? Or are we best to pick the most appropriate analgesia and possible consult with a BHP? Thanks for your time and input!

    Published On: May 13, 2014
  • Question: With the new PCP pain medical directives, I realize there has been a lot of debate over the age range. That being said, if we end up with a patient outside the age range (within reason), in severe pain, who does not meet any other contraindications, if a BH patch would be advisable for the possible administration of ketoralac? I realize that the patch orders are generally doctor specific but I was just unsure if these ages are set in stone or given special circumstances and orders if the rules can be bent. Thanks for the help!

    Published On: May 13, 2014
  • Question: Couple of questions regarding the Musculoskeletal pain protocols:

    To be clear, we are to give Acetaminophen and Ibuprofen OR Ketorolac. There is no case where we can give all 3 medications, as Ketorolac requires NPO?

    Also Cardiovascular Disease means anyone with any hint of HTN, Athersclerosis, Dysrrhthmias, Heart Failure, and Peripheral Vascular issues, anything of the sort are not to get Ibuprophen?

    And lastly for Ketorolac, is a daily ASA considered anticoagulation therapy?

    Published On: May 13, 2014
  • Question: In the case of a post-ictal combative patient, is time considered a “reversible” cause? I’m hesitant to jump to sedation for somebody who could resolve on their own in a few minutes. However, today we had a case where we held off, but the patient was not improving and beginning to pose a danger to himself so we went ahead with the standing order. Should we have initiated it immediately? Or if safe for the patient wait to see if they do resolve on their own, and what would be an acceptable time frame?

    Published On: April 8, 2014
  • Question: In a patient with an allergic reaction or anaphylaxis, who is experiencing nausea or vomiting, is it okay to treat them with Gravol after I have administered Benadryl?

    Published On: November 22, 2013
  • Question: Regarding Benadryl, in the auxiliary protocol it states that you cannot give Benadryl if the patient has taken a sedative or antihistamine in past 4 hours. This is not, however, indicated in the normal standing order protocol for Benadryl.

    I am wondering if this is applicable as well if you arrive on scene with a patient who has taken Benadryl oral prior to your arrival. Do they still meet the protocol to give Benadryl even if they have already taken it? Should I still give it or withhold since they might have an overdose of Benadryl or have both the doses reacting at the same time? Would this also apply to a patient who has taken Gravol prior to EMS arrival as well?

    Hope this can be clarified. I feel it’s a grey area that most of us don’t think about until put in the situation. Thanks.

    Published On: November 22, 2013
  • Question: Recent call of a 40 years old woman with a past history of renal colic and experiencing intense low back pain that she likens to an exacerbation. She is a small woman at about 45 kg and a candidate for narcotics under the standing order for pain relief. Two questions: Firstly, we were unable to establish an IV after 2 attempts and the standing order specifies only the IV route of administration. Can morphine and/or fentanyl be given IM in this instance as a standing order? Secondly, her initial BP was 90/60. Given the patient’s size and her statement of usually having a low BP, can this reading of 90/60 be considered as normotensive? What if it was 85/60? Thanks in advance for your answer.

    Published On: October 11, 2012