April 2008

ROC PRIMED Update – Switch CPR Assignment April 15 for King County EMS Agencies  

As you hopefully are keenly aware, your EMS agency switched their CPR assignment on April 15 from Analyze Early to Analyze Late or conversely from Analyze Late to Analyze Early. Your agency has switched its CPR allocation so that if you were doing just a brief CPR cycle and analysis, your agency will now be asked to provide a full 3 minutes of CPR before the first rhythm analysis. Conversely if you were doing a full 3 minutes, you will be asked to switch to Analyze Early and provide just a single cycle or two of CPR while you prepare to analyze the patient’s rhythm. The use of the ITD valve continues unchanged.

This change in CPR assignment is straightforward on paper but like most things can be quite challenging to implement in the field. The change will require that crews remind one another and think ahead as they roll toward the potential cardiac arrest patient. To date, performance by the EMS agencies of Seattle and King County has been excellent – patient outcome is good and study compliance is high.

Thank you for your efforts and commitment.

--Tom Rea, MD, Program Medical Director – King County Medic One, EMT-Defib Medical Director – King County EMS

February 2008

Aspirin for ACS  

I am pleased to announce that the training module for EMT aspirin administration is now live and can be found on EMS Online. This new EMT program is the result of a pilot study we recently conducted in Maple Valley Fire and Life Safety and Eastside Fire and Rescue. This pilot demonstrated that EMTs can accurately and safely identify patients with acute coronary syndrome and initially treat with aspirin. Now EMTs county wide will be able to begin this treatment for patients with acute coronary syndrome. Aspirin, a simple medicine, can provide immediate anti-inflammatory benefit and help limit the size of the damaged or jeopardized heart muscle.

This online module will take only a few minutes to complete. Once completed, the EMT is authorized to administer 325 mg of aspirin (one adult strength tablet or [4] chewable baby aspirin).

Thank you.

--Mickey Eisenberg MD, PhD, Medical Program Director, Seattle/King County EMS

Aspirin for ACS Standing Orders
Seattle/King County (PDF document)

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