Australasian College of Paramedicine International Conference (ACPIC 2022)

ACPIC 2022 delivered a wide range of clinical and research sessions from experts and leaders in paramedicine. Hosted in Brisbane (September 2022) the program was designed to inspire, educate and broaden horizons.

Conference theme: Embracing Strengths | Shaping Futures

Isopropyl alcohol inhalation for the management of acute nausea in the out-of-hospital setting: a retrospective series

Isopropyl alcohol inhalation (aromatherapy) was introduced as a novel treatment option for patients presenting with acute nausea by the Queensland Ambulance Service in 2021. This therapy has been demonstrated to be highly efficacious in providing symptomatic relief in other healthcare settings and has been touted as a simple, non-invasive and cost-effective alternative for conventional antiemetics. Briefly, aromatherapy involves the repetitive nasal inhalation of a preparation pad saturated with 70% isopropyl alcohol (‘alcohol swab’). This study details the incorporation of aromatherapy into clinical practice in Queensland and describes the observed utility of this intervention in reducing nausea and the occurrence of adverse side effects.

Biography: Brendan Shultz

Brendan is registered paramedic, researcher and clinical guideline developer with the Queensland Ambulance Service. In his current role, he is involved in the development and implementation of clinical practice guidelines utilised by ambulance clinicians in Queensland. In addition to an undergraduate degree in Paramedical Science, Brendan holds a Master’s degree in Public Health majoring in Epidemiology and Research Methods. Brendan has a passion in the translation of evidence-based practice into the clinical setting, most notably in the fields of resuscitation and coronary reperfusion. Brendan has authored a number of publications of these topics and is a regular reviewer for various emergency medical journals.

Moderator: Sandy MacQuarrie, Senior Lecturer, Griffith University