 NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF VETERINARY EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES
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CONGRATULATIONS TO THE WINNERS OF THE DRAWING THAT TOOK PLACE AT THE NAVEMS BOOTH AT IVECCS 2021 -
1) Tamara Moffett
2) Laurin Funk
3) Kelly Hall
| WELCOME NAVEMS EDUCATION DIRECTOR- Lee Palmer, DVM, MS, DACVECC, NRP, EMT-T, WEMT, CCRP, TP-C Lee has an outstanding professional history and holds many leading positions within the veterinary EMS community in Alabama, including Consultant, and Emergency Critical Care - Veterinary Information Network, Reserve Deputy Sheriff, Lee County Sheriffs Office and Veterinarian - 20th Special Forces Group, Army National Guard, Tactical Paramedic - Lee County SWAT Team and previously as Veterinary Corp Officer - United States Army Reserve - Veterinary Corp. Lee is working with his team to develop a strong program of classes that will be announced within the next few weeks... Watch this space for an outstanding program. |
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| · Ohio OH HB 392 Would allow ambulance transport of an injured police dog when the dog is injured in the line of duty. Introduced 8/18/2021. · Click on the following link for a more detailed list of current and pending Preveterinary Care Legislation. · For monthly State-Specific Veterinary Legislative Updates, Visit the American Veterinary Medical Association website: State legislative updates | American Veterinary Medical Association (avma.org) |
Prehospital Emergency Cricothyrotomy in Dogs Part 1: Experiences With Commercial Cricothyrotomy Kits. Hardjo S, Palmer L, Haworth MD. Front. Vet. Sci., 16 September 2021 | MORE INFORMATION Abstract The surgical cricothyrotomy (CTT) has been recommended for emergency front of neck airway access (eFONA) during a cannot intubate, cannot oxygenate scenario for military working dogs (MWD) and civilian law enforcement working dogs (operational K9s). In prehospital and austere environments, combat medics and emergency medical service providers are expected to administer emergency medical care to working dogs and may only have emergency airway kits designed for humans at their disposal. The objective of this article is to provide a detailed description of the application of such devices in cadaver dogs and highlight potential alterations to manufacturer guidelines required for successful tube placement. The kits evaluated included the Portex® PCK, Melker universal cricothyrotomy kit and H&H® emergency cricothyrotomy kit. A novel technique for awake cricothyrotomy in the dog is also described, which can also be considered for in-hospital use, together with the open surgical method described for the H&H® kit. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first publication documenting and providing instruction on the application of commercial cricothyrotomy kits in dogs. EMS Safety and Prehospital Emergency Care of Animals Kryda, K., Mitek, A., & McMichael, M. (2021). Prehospital and Disaster Medicine, 36(4), 466-469. Abstract Emergency Medical Services (EMS) personnel frequently encounter animals in situations ranging from injured law enforcement canines (LEK9s) to pets with smoke inhalation injury. In recent years, several US states have enacted laws that legally allow EMS personnel to provide basic emergency care to certain animals. Currently, nine states allow some type of emergency medical treatment and/or ambulance transport of animals by EMS, and five states limit liability for vehicle damage resulting from rescuing animals trapped inside. Despite this expanding body of legislation encouraging EMS to assist animals, EMS personnel are not typically trained in the safe handling or medical treatment of animals. Interaction with veterinary patients can pose serious injury and infectious disease risks to untrained EMS personnel. Furthermore, relationships with veterinarians must be built and treatment and transport protocols must be developed for EMS agencies to appropriately care for these animals. This report serves as an initial framework from the veterinary perspective for EMS consideration regarding current legislation, safety concerns, transport protocols, and common life-saving treatments in the prehospital emergency care of animals. Increased collaboration between EMS personnel and veterinary professionals provides an opportunity to develop quality training programs for EMS and to improve disaster preparedness of the whole community. | Perry EB, Discepolo DR, Jenkins EK, Kelsey K, Liang SY. J Vet Behav. 2021 May-Jun;43:1-6. doi: 10.1016/j.jveb.2021.01.004. Abstract Working canines have the potential to be exposed to hazardous materials during search and rescue deployments. Unfortunately, little data are available regarding likely areas of contamination on working canines or effective techniques for substance removal. We describe recent work using an oil-based UV fluorescent marker pooled to mimic standing liquid hazards in a simulated disaster scene to characterize anatomical locations likely to be contaminated. This study utilized three simulated "contaminated" environments situated across a disaster training complex. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) working canines (n = 11) searched the simulated disaster scene and traversed each contaminated environment. Following the search, all canines were kenneled for 30 minutes and then photographed to capture anatomic locations of exposure. The canines were then taken immediately to the decontamination station where handlers' attempts at canine decontamination were recorded. Anatomical locations were coded as ventral or dorsal, and then further subdivided to the neck, chest, lower legs, and paws for ventral exposures; and back, head, face, and hips for dorsal exposures. Contamination occurred consistently on the paws and lower legs with overall ventral exposure occurring in 39 of 44 (89%) observations. Contamination of the back and head was infrequent, with overall dorsal exposure occurring in 11 of 44 (25%) observations. Despite handler awareness of the exact anatomical locations of exposure with a greater frequency of exposure involving ventral (78%) versus dorsal (22%) regions of the canine (P < 0.0001), time spent decontaminating the two regions did not differ (P = 0.881). These data indicate a need for additional research to identify effective decontamination techniques. Furthermore, the results suggest that additional training may be needed to educate handlers and veterinary personnel regarding anatomic locations on working canines likely to be contaminated during disaster operations in environments where standing liquid hazards are present.
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