PASG / MAST in the field

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Permalink Reply by Jenelle on December 19, 2008 at 12:20pm

I know what you mean...I have experienced the same exact thing.....

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Permalink Reply by Cannon on December 19, 2008 at 4:59pm

Never used them... they are pain in a$$ to set up and most of the pts. that fall into the category for use of these are generally "load and go".

There's a lot to think about in a critical trauma situation...

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Permalink Reply by Oldman on December 19, 2008 at 5:04pm

I used them twice in 25 years We haven't carried them at this department for the last 15 years. Too many studies have shown that they do more harm than good.

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Permalink Reply by Cannon on December 19, 2008 at 5:12pm

I can think of one... CLOTS!!!

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Permalink Reply by Oldman on December 19, 2008 at 5:31pm

Yes, but more along the line of compartment syndrome.

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Permalink Reply by Richard on December 19, 2008 at 5:34pm

Used them about 20 yrs ago but most ER's/OR's didn't know how to get them off the pt sometimes they would cut the mast and then have to buy the service a new set. Do know that we had 2 pair that went to the fire cause they were bloody, guess noone realized they could be decontaminated. State dropped requirement to carry on units and Med Control quit advising to use them.

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Permalink Reply by Ben Waller on December 19, 2008 at 5:46pm

We are in the process of removing ours from service. There is no current indication for their use other than as an air splint, and there are better ways to splint the pelvis and the legs. By "better", I mean easier, faster, require less patient movement, and backed up by scientific studies.

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Permalink Reply by anne potter on December 20, 2008 at 4:45am

Use to be part of the Emt hands on test to explain how to use them... I have to agree most of the time it's a load and go with the pt.. I have done Ems for a long time and have never seen them used.... More of a pain to put them on than to load and go..

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Permalink Reply by David Zarker on December 20, 2008 at 11:16pm

I have been in the field for 28 years. When I first started we used them a lot. I have seen the good, the bad, and the ugly of MAST. We stopped using them ahout 15 years ago.

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Permalink Reply by Rich on December 20, 2008 at 11:49pm

never used em in the field....we are 10 minutes away from the er, so no use for em....

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Permalink Reply by Medicine Man on December 20, 2008 at 11:56pm

Our dept carries them. I use them alot. Now when I say alot I am talking 3 - 4 times in the last 6 years and maybe 6-8 times in my career. I have used them this year in fact back in august on a car vs motorcycle. If used properly and on the proper pt., they are extremely effective. I know alot of depts that have taken them off their rigs, luckily we have not nor have the county units. They are a useful tool and sometimes under utilized, kinda like nasal trumpets which is one of the most under used tools in the bag. As far as "load and go" they can be put on the LBB and secured to the pt in under 30 seconds and are part of the process of loading. They can be inflated to proper pressure in less than 30-45 seconds also. Like everything else we do, if we are not familiar with the item, on a call is not the time to learn how to use it wrong!! Train, Gain, Use.

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Permalink Reply by Lt. Caleb French on December 21, 2008 at 12:01am

We carry them on our squads, but we have never used them. If they are that bad, the chopper will be there in a few minutes. I suppose we would use them if the pt. wasn't able to be flown because of weather conditions, but we are only 10 minutes maximum from the ER. I don't think I will ever see one used.

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