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Paramedics in the UK are not doing RSI at the moment. Personally I don't see it necessarily as a doctor only skill... but must be done by someone skilled who can also deal with the consequences of a failed intubation. This is when it can get very stressful even for someone with grey hair like me! I had a few more grey hairs after this case. Both patients had head injuries and both had chest injuries. Both needed a CT of the head. I elected to look after the more seriously injured one (lower GCS). The other patient had RSI on arrival at the Tertiary Centre.... where the CT scanner was temporarity "down". Ray McGlone "40" something ----- Original Message ----- From: "dr.tchardcastle" <[log in to unmask]> To: <[log in to unmask]> Sent: Wednesday, March 13, 2002 4:24 PM Subject: Re Flying Squad call > Ray > > I hope I am not tramping on any toes here, but I think that the heli crew, > if they fullfill the criteria of the international flight paramedic assn., > should have had the skills to do the RSI themselves, leaving you the > opportunity to get on with the other case, or alternatively, one should do > the RSI and fly the more seriously comprimised patient, particularly if they > would be able to head straight to a Neurotrauma unit. Afterall, ho-wlong > does it take to do RSI and a hot-load? > > Our airmed program (SA RED CROSS Air Mercy Service) would defer to the > doctor on scene, but are able to do RSI, in under 2 minutes (No, I am not > employed by them or given a back-hand for free advertising!:)) > > As for the suction unit: Laerdal is good, but small; any of the Dyna-med > products from the USA are good, and of better volume. > > Regards > Tim > Dr T C Hardcastle, MBChB, ATLS(Inst.) , FCS(SA)part 1 > Senior Registrar: General Surgery(Trauma Unit); University of Stellenbosch > Member: CMF, Trauma Soc SA, Critical Care Soc SA, Assn of Surgeons SA > SAMed Assn, Emerg Med Soc SA > Part-time Med Director: WC Paramedic Services > Lecturer: University of Stellenbosch and Metro West Cape EMS College >