Medical Training: IV basic

[justanothergunnut]

I want to start off by emphasizing the importance of networking. I have a job where I work almost EVERY weekend and this makes it very difficult to attend training classes as they are usually held on weekends. So what I decided to do was increase my networking activities by seeking out meetup groups of like minded people in my area. Word of caution here,, be careful who you meet and what "knowledge" they claim to have. Anyways, I met a recently retired US Army 18D with medical cross training who was willing to provide training during the week or evenings. This first class was intended as a overview of IV therapy(basically how to put in the catheter and hook up the IV line)and wound suturing. I knew that I had holes in my medical preps and this exercise just helped to prove it. As patriotic sheepdog has stated previously "it's easy to train someone to start a IV, it's knowing how much and of what to give that is hard" quote is based on my best recollection. It is true, inserting the catheter and hooking up the line and bag was not that difficult but that is VERY basic stuff, just the tip of the iceberg. What it did do for me was to wet my appetite, I want more. I want to advance my skill in this area and perfect my techniques. It also highlighted the "stuff", the actual materials that I need to consider beyond admin sets, various size catheters, gauze, swabs, etc. I knew from watching several health care professionals try in vain to hit a vein that my wife had cruddy veins and I knew I needed to stock baby butterfly needles to have a hope of getting the job done. knowing something and REALLY knowing it are two different things however and needless to say the butterflies are on order. Our instructor also discussed a often untalked about viable option for dehydration therapy referred to as a "ranger flush" that takes a more "rearward" approach if you know what I mean. I have a long way to go but I just passed mile marker 1 and it's good.. I will post another section on the suture portion of the mini class.

[justanothergunnut]

clarification.. US Army MOS should have read 18C with medical as 18D IS a SF Medical Sergeant.. just trying to be accurate here.. LOL

[610Alpha]

way to find a solution to your training issue you were faced with. I found out my cousin is getting first responder training due to his job, Wind Farm Maintenance Technician...EMT's might not make it up the 300 ft wind mill to the injured crew person so they have to know how to deal with injuries. I told that is great that he is getting the training...he seemed like it was a nuisance to go through the training...sigh.

[Patriotic Sheepdog]

Mile marker 1 is the place to start. Keep moving down that road.


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[justanothergunnut]

I have another class this Sat. with a different instructor. This time a EMT/Paramedic. Again a connection I made through networking. I can't say it enough guys if you aren't networking with like minded folks you gotta start. One of the things I learned practicing suturing is that I need a suture practice pad. Meat is fine but I want something that I can take with me to practice on and packing a rump roast around isn't going to cut it.