TotB21-Dodging curve balls in prehospital care, a walk in the (zoo) park.

TotB21-Dodging curve balls in prehospital care, a walk in the (zoo) park.

About

Trauma on the Border 2021

Land, Air and Sea - Conquering unique trauma challenges

Dodging curve balls in prehospital care, a walk in the (zoo) park

A Zookeeper was pinned against a bollard by a 1200kg elephant. This patient presented as critical with severe injuries to the chest including a tension pneumothorax. Paramedics carried out bilateral needle decompression which not only avoided certain death but led to a full patient recovery.

In this presentation we will look at some of the complexities of the pre-hospital setting that can act like “curve balls”, potentially compromising, confusing and distracting us in the field and discuss how to avoid them.

Presented by: Sandy Macken (Intensive Care Paramedic, NSW Ambulance Service)

Following completion of a bachelor’s degree in health science, I joined the Ambulance service of NSW in 1999 at age 20. The first ten years of my career were served at Sydney Ambulance Centre. In 2004 I attained the Intensive Care Paramedic (ICP) clinical rank and then Extended Care Paramedic (ECP) rank in 2012. Since then, work has been based predominantly in the Sydney metropolitan area. I have been deployed overseas in the Philippines for humanitarian aid work following a significant natural disaster and a remote area of Brazil to work on the Survivor television series. In the last three years I have had two children, written and published a successful book ‘Paramedic’, and will be returning to on road duties as an ICP in early 2021. I am currently undertaking a master’s degree in counselling and applied psychotherapy and am a long-term Peer Support Officer for NSW Ambulance and advocate for Paramedic health and wellbeing.


Presented by Sandy Macken


Lessons

Lesson 1: Dodging curve balls in prehospital care, a walk in the (zoo) park.

Lesson 2: Presentation

Lesson 3: Self Reflection

Details

Length

24 minutes

Released

12th May 2021

Cost

Member free
Non-member $19

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The College is the peak professional body representing and supporting paramedics and student paramedics across Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand since 1973.

The College acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the traditional custodians of the land and sea in which we live and work, we recognise their continuing connection to land, sea and culture and pay our respects to Elders past, present and future.

The College acknowledges Māori as tangata whenua and Treaty of Waitangi partners in Aotearoa New Zealand.