It’s cold out there!
This is a quick primer on how to dress!
Our job requires us to sometimes spend extended periods of time in conditions others would soon give up on. The Rainstorm in the middle of winter, the 45+ Degrees on the side of the road in the middle of summer.
Its cold now, so I’ll lead with that. I’m lucky to work for a service that issues, Thermals, A fleece, A soft shell jacket and a Hardshell (Goretex Rain Jacket), I’m going to quickly talk about these items and how to use them.
One big jacket is not the answer to everything, the best thermal regulation is achieved by multiple thiner layers. This cuts down on bulk and allows you to adjust your clothing as the temperature dictates.
Thermals are a light thin clothing long or short sleeved, they are typically made of polypropylene or wool, in various weights from 150 to 300. The smaller the number the lighter the fabric. Thermals are designed to be worn under clothing. To trap heat they aren’t windproof or waterproof they will also move moisture away from your skin and keep you warmer. These are a Base layer, worn closest to your skin should always be directly on your skin, you will then put T-shirt’s and uniform shirts over the top.
A Set of Wool and Polypro Thermals
Insulating Layers, Fleece and High Loft Jackets;
Everyone is fairly familiar with Fleece jackets, Look for a good 200 or 300 weight jacket made with Polartech, a fairly popular fleece fabric. Fleece will also wick moisture away from the skin, Fleece is best worn closer to the skin to move moisture. Its best to layer it over a base layer and then layer a uniform shirt or Shell layer on top. It can also be thrown over your uniform shirt on those not so chilly days where you just need something to take the edge off.
A light weight fleece jacket
A high loft jacket, made similar to a sleeping bag, very warm not recommended for high activity or areas where you will frequently go inside to oursite. Well worth it if your standing by on a scene for hours on end or located in some of the colder regions of the country.
Shell Layers
The icing on the cake, these block wind, keep you dry and add a little extra insulation. The shell layer exists mostly to reduce the chill from the wind. I’m issued both Pants and Jacket for work. In most Ambulance services this can be achieved by topping off your layers with the issues rain jacket or soft shell (these are a popular jacket combining fleece lining and a windproof water resistant fabrics creating an all in one garment for those days that aren’t to chilly or wet)
Softshell jacket
You can see here the external layer that is close woven to keep out wind and water, then a fleece lining.
Here I can be seen at 0300 in the morning at Bowral Hospital, Its -3 degrees outside, I’m wearing a set of thermals, a fleece jacket and My Ambulance issued rain jacket a High Vis Goretex jacket.
With a little planning before your next shift you can be comfortable and warm.
While your out looking try and find a thin set of softshell gloves (these will set you back about $80) but will make cannulating on the side of the road at 0 degrees much easier.
SMACCFORCE – Dedicated to John Hinds
Daily responses of a variety of Ambulance and Aeromedical Platform, as a tribute to Dr Hinds.
What an amazing talk he gave that day.
SMACCed to the Future
Second year of SMACC, this year I made the decision to go to a Workshop, that was not a mistake!
The second time round I get worried, I’ve been let down by second performances before (Jurassic Park: The Lost World, anyone?)
This was not a let down at all! After arriving at the hotel at 0100 on the Morning of SMACCForce, I went to sleep and awaited the bus.
SMACCForce was far less a workshop, more of a prehospital conference just prior to SMACC The speech by Ashley Leibig on PTSD, provider wellness, taking care of your own. I’m rather sad that that wasn’t filmed because it just got to me and really resonated.
There was also a captivating speech on what to do after an incident or accident by Mike Abernethy that was all about keeping the team functional but not rushing back into work.
Post incident time should be given for people to come to terms with what happened and their should be no pressure to return immediately to operations. I’ve seen it done both ways and I’ve seen the fallout from returning to immediate operations. I know how it effects the team and why it probably shouldn’t be done from an emotional perspective and probably effects the quality of care your providing and the degree to which you can render care.
Then onto the demonstrations by some of the HEM’s services on how Roadside RSI Should be done, How an inter-hospital transfer should look when done well.
After all this prehospital goodness, it was off to meet the EMSWolfpack, if you haven’t heard of the EMSWolfpack, it initially started as a discussion group among friends about what we would do and wanted to see in Chicago. Then we planned a meeting, opened it up to twitter and ended up packing out a pub in Chicago, we initially booked for 25…. I can say we far exceeded that. It was a great opportunity to meet a lot of Prehospital Providers in a great space.
I will talk about the EMSWolfpack later in a separate post, needless to say its something you should look out for especially as you attend conferences round the world.
With Day one, SMACC Was off to a start, after a cannon malfunction the talks began. Cliff Reid lead off with Advise to young resuscitationists. Then Crack the Chest get Crucified by the late John Hinds. This has been made available faster than usual.
http://stemlynsblog.org/john-hinds-crack-the-chest-get-crucified/
Of course all the conference talks will be available through the magic of FOAMED as the months go on in the lead up to SMACCDUB.
As with all Smacc conferences, this was all about putting faces to names, shaking hands and hearing some truly amazing speakers who are not only experts in their field, but also nice people who you can hang out in a pub with.
I’m going to talk less about the Day to day running of SMACC because all the talks will come out and you’ll get most of the experience.
I will tell you to be on the look out for Tim Leeuwenburg’s All alone on Kangaroo Island, you have probably already seen the finishing move of the talk, but please don’t let that over shadow the message.
SMACC truly is an open conference as a prehospital provider, I felt it easier to pick my way through talks that interested me, because of the increase in concurrent sessions from last year.
If you have been having thoughts of going to SMACC its in Dublin next year! Start planning now, put in for leave, find a place to leave the kids or the dog and get there!
DOWNSTAIRS CARE OUT THERE BLOG 
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