Full Time Staff Complete Advanced Stroke Life Support Training
By EMS Chief Bob Hotchkiss
October 6, 2009
On Saturday October 3rd the full-time paramedic staff attended the Advanced Stroke Life Support Class taught by Paramedic Supervisor John Pierce. Paramedic Pierce attended the class in 2008 at the JEMS Conference in Baltimore and achieved both the provider certification and Instructor rating for the class. This was the first presentation of the course for providers in the County. Stroke is the third leading cause of death and the leading cause of disability in the U.S.. Emergency treatments to limit the risk of disability are available but underutilized. the practical 8 hours hands on course provides a practical stroke assessment tool for paramedics. Upon completion, the paramedics were able to better describe prehospital care protocol regarding transport, emergency department contact, airway, glucose, and hypertension/high blood pressure and methods of better communicating clearly and succinctly with emergency department personnel regarding advanced therapy contraindications, witness information, and neurologic exam findings.
