Thoroughly updated- to address the latest guidelines. The chapters in the Airway Management, Respiration, and Artificial Ventilation section-and throughout the text-have been updated to conform to the latest American Heart Association guidelines. All chapters in the Patient Assessment section-and throughout the text-have been revised to use current terminology for the steps of the assessment and the history of an illness. Appendix A, "Basic Cardiac Life Support Review," has been updated to reflect current AHA guidelines. Chapter 38, "EMS Operations," has been revised to list the equipment required on an ambulance as recommended by the following: American College of Surgeons, Committee on Trauma; American College of Emergency Physicians; National Association of EMS Physicians; American Academy of pediatrics; and 2009 Required Equipment for Basic Life Support Ambulances. New Chapters and sections -offer current, comprehensive coverage. Chapter 1, "Introduction to Emergency Medical Services and the Health Care System," contains a new section on the role of research in EMS (including its influence on the development of evidence-based practices), as well as a new section on the EMS role in Public Health. Chapter 4, "Medical Terminology and Anatomy and Physiology," now begins with a new section on medical terminology.
Many new high-quality illustrations accompany the text on anatomy and physiology. A new Chapter 6, "Principles of Pathophysiology," reflects the emphasis on pathophysiology in the new EMS Standards, rather than being a full course in pathophysiology. Chapter 8, "Airway Management," is devoted entirely to airway issues. Chapter 9, "Respiration and Artificial Ventilation," places an emphasis on cardiopulmonary pathophysiology. A new section on CPAP/BiPAP in Chapter 9 has been added to the more traditional techniques for assisting respiration and ventilation. A new Chapter 16, "Critical Thinking and Decision Making," teaches how the EMT can apply lessons from experienced physicians to learn how to use critical thinking/decision-making skills to reach a field diagnosis. Chapter 24, "Abdominal Pain and Discomfort," includes a new section on history specific to female patients. A new Chapter 26, "Hematology and Nephrology," focuses on blood disorders (hematology), especially anemia, sickle cell anemia, and kidney/renal disorders (nephrology)-focusing on renal failure, end-stage renal disease, and dialysis.
Chapter 28, "Soft-Tissue Trauma," contains a new section on blast injuries, based on current CDC guidelines. A section on genital trauma as also been added to this chapter. Chapter 37, "Patients with Special Challenges," has a new opening section/overview of patients with special challenges, including disability, terminal illness, obesity, and homelessness/poverty. A new section on abuse and neglect and a new section on autism have been added to chapter 37. A major new section in Chapter 40 covers how to operate safely at the scene of a highway incident.