help me understand ecg for paramedic?
138489
Thing that helped me...\n"Be comfortable being uncomfortable"\n\nIf all else fails, we (as paramedics) don't HAVE to be able to interpret EVERY rhythem.  If all else fails, all we have to do is tell Medical Control what the rhythem is doing.  Be able to say if their's elevated ST's, say if the P wave is always absent.  You WILL run into rhythems that you wont have a clue what is going on!!  Even once out of school you can't let that wig you out.  Go with what you can, treat the patient and not the monitor.  \n\nKnow the RULES of the majority of the rhythems and then you build off of those.
793733
Wow! That could be complicated....see: http://www.icsroscher.de/HeartScope.htm\nYet, an experiment using "cheap and cheerful" technology is described on http://www.picotech.com/experiments/calculating_heart_rate/\nwhich makes use of a (relatively) low cost data logger http://www.drdaq.com/products.html\nwhich plugs directly into the parallel port of your PC, see  http://www.picotech.com/applications/ecg.html\nHope this helps....
397792
Without knowing exactly what it is you want to learn it's hard to answer your question. You can do a search on any subject that interests you or find someone online who is skilled in whatever subject you would like to learn. I have about 20 years experience in prehospital emergency care that I would be willing to share with anyone interested, I'm sure there are others with different skills who feel the same.
141804
www.skillstat.com  you will click on ECG rhythms. very helpful.
294479
An electrophysiology (EP) study is a test that records the electrical activity and the electrical pathways of your heart. This test is used to help determine the cause of your heart rhythm disturbance and the best treatment for you. During the EP study, your doctor will safely reproduce your abnormal heart rhythm and then may give you different medications to see which one controls it best or to determine the best procedure or device to treat your heart rhythm.\n\nWhy Do I Need an EP Study?\n\n    * To determine the cause of an abnormal heart rhythm.\n    * To locate the site of origin of an abnormal heart rhythm.\n    * To decide the best treatment for an abnormal heart rhythm. \n\nSometimes an EP study is conducted before implantable cardioverter/defibrillator (ICD) placement to determine which device is best and afterwards to monitor treatment success.
670223
An automated external defibrillator (AED) is used in cases of cardiac arrest. However, the device will not shock a victim in asystole ('flatline') where the heart has no electrical activity, as it is ineffective in these cases. An AED is designed to shock a victim experiencing:\n\n    * Ventricular fibrillation (VF)\n    * Ventricular tachycardia (VT)\n\nIn cardiac arrhythmia, the heart is beating, yet in an unusual pattern, which can be life-threatening if left uncorrected. In ventricular fibrillation, the electrical activity of the heart becomes chaotic preventing the ventricle from effectively pumping blood. In ventricular tachycardia, the heart beats too fast to effectively pump blood. Frequently, ventricular tachycardia leads to ventricular fibrillation.\n\nUncorrected, these cardiac conditions rapidly lead to irreversible brain damage and death. For every minute that a person in cardiac arrest goes without being defibrillated, the chance of survival decreases by 10 percent.\n\nUnlike some more sophisticated defibrillators used by health professionals, if the heart rate is too slow (bradycardia), these devices do not typically pace the heart to make it beat faster.
608871
It's a warning to the people around them not to touch the body because if they do when they are shocking the pt then they will get the shock too and it could very possibly stop their heart. It's crazy in real life when you are using a defibrillator. People are running around trying to get stuff for the pt and someone is always at the head providing o2 so if you don't say it some one will touch him and then you have 2 patients in cardiac arrest. Does that help?
1061734
I have heard of it, but I am an EMT and a paramedic student. I don't know much about it, but I hear it is a well regarded program, but from my experience first aid programs for PDAs, cell phones, and small handbooks either over simplify things so that it is just common sense and you were better off without it, or too advanced and you are still better off without it. There are a lot of books and programs on the market that all say the same thing. Some are better than others, but the best way to learn first aid is to take a class. In a class you have the opportunity to practice what you learned.
209980
it is an abnormal heart beat\n\nif it worries you go to your doctor who can check it out
486988
Here is a link to a Philips Medical site PDF on 12-Lead EKG Placement: http://www.medical.philips.com/in/products/resuscitation/assets/docs/12LeadECG_poster.pdf#search='12Lead%20ECG%20Placement%20Poster'\n\nand a PDF from Welch Allyn (see page 41):\nhttp://cardio.welchallyn.com/finland/manuals/703228-DCP100manualEngland.pdf#search='12Lead%20ECG%20Placement%20Poster'   One could blow these up to poster size on the right printer.  \nHere is another from the University of Glasgow:\nhttp://www.gla.ac.uk/care/electrodes.html
227701
The most common work hours for ems i.e. emt and emt-p (paramedic) is whats called a 24-48 which means 24 hours on shift and 48 hours off shift, second most popular way it is done is called 4 down 4 up. which means you would work 4 12 hour day shifts (7am-7pm) , then your off for 4 days , then you work 4 12 hour night shifts (7pm-7am),then your off for 4 days and the cycle repeats from there. these scedules are what most 911 ambulances use, but most ambulances that dont do 911 calls and dont have to opperate 24-7 , usually work 8-10 hour shifts and are closed at night, as a general rule at least. in my opinion the 24-48 hour type shift is much better.( that is how my shifts work), more and more ems sevices these days are allowing prn( part-time )employees usually a minimum of 1 24 hour shift or 2 12 hour shifts, but usually wont let you work less that a 12 hour block. these are general guidlines for most mojor ems systems and fire depts that run ems also. hope this helps, any other direct questions e-mail direct at army_rigger14@yahoo.com
825006
you need to finish your question!!!Then maybe it will get answered....what about ekg machines???
145641
Wolff Parkinson White syndrome is a specific diagnosis that can only be made on an electrocardiogram.\n\nSpecifically on the ECG, a person with WPW has a shortened PR interval and delta upslurring of the QRS complex.\n\nIt usually doesn't mean a great deal but if you have WPW you are at risk of something called a re-entrant phenomenon where your pattern of heart beat becomes abnormally fast, which is dangerous.\n\nYou probably should see your doctor for more advice if you've been told to have this problem.
858677
u should never perform cpr on an alert person.  it is dangerous an can cause internal damage as well as respiratory side effects
494605
Prior to becoming a Paramedic, you have to be an EMT-Basic.\nCheck with your local FD to find out when and where these classes can be obtained.  If you're able to join the department (volunteer?) then many times, they will not only will they help you find a class, they'll also pay your way through the class for you.
303667
Yours is a good question.\n\nUnfortunately, to answer it one would need to know more about your general health: information obtained through a complete physical exam, such as:\n\nBody weight, resting pulse, resting blood pressure, etc.\nAny underlying diseases.\nWhat medications if any you are currently taking.\nWhat your baseline EKG looks like.\n\nThe list is quite long, frankly.\n\nI would suggest that you ignore any answers on this web site that give you a specific number.  At this point without the above information, any such suggestions would be dangerous.\n\nMake an appointment an see a doctor you trust, be as honest as you can about your medical history and allow him or her to perform a complete physical examination.  \n\nYou will have your answer.
137626
"The normal electrical conduction in the heart allows the impulse that is generated by the sinoatrial node (SA node) of the heart to be propagated to (and stimulate) the myocardium (muscle of the heart). When the myocardium is stimulated, it contracts. It is the ordered stimulation of the myocardium that allows efficient contraction of the heart, thereby allowing blood to be pumped to the body.\n\nUnder normal conditions, electrical activity is spontaneously generated by the SA node. This electrical impulse is propagated throughout the right and left atria, stimulating the myocardium of the atria to contract. The conduction of the electrical impulse throughout the atria is seen on the ECG as the P wave."\n\n"An electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG, abbreviated from the German Elektrokardiogramm) is a graphic produced by an electrocardiograph, which records the electrical voltage in the heart in the form of a continuous strip graph."\n\n"An ECG measures the electrical potential between leads placed on various points of the body."\n\n"The leads measure the average electrical activity generated by the summation of the action potentials of the heart at a particular moment in time."