Brett Patterson, Chair of the Medical Council of Standards for the IAED, discusses Proposals for Change (PFCs), a key part of the process of protocol evolution that keeps it as up-to-date as possible. He explains how PFCs came about, what makes a compelling proposal, and some common mistakes made when submitting one...
Emergency communication centers often field calls from police, local law enforcement, sheriff, state police, highway patrol, security, military police, or federal agents. When these officers radio their communication centers for medical assistance, historically, they have said "Send medical" or "Need paramedics." Centers have typically sent lights-and-siren responses, sometimes wasting resources and potentially causing more accidents. It can be frustrating for all parties involved, because officers are not trained to provide necessary patient information, emergency dispatchers must triage...