Association between EMS Question Bank Completion and Passing Rates on the EMS Certification Examination.

Introduction: A board review question bank was created to assist candidates in their preparation for the 2015 EMS certification examination. We aimed to describe the development of this question bank and evaluate its successes in preparing candidates to obtain EMS subspecialty board certification.

Methods: An online question bank was developed by 13 subject matter experts who participated as item writers, representing eight different EMS fellowship programs.

IO versus IV access while wearing personal protective equipment in a HazMat scenario.

Objective: Determine the time difference obtaining intraosseous (IO) versus intravenous (IV) access while wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) in simulated HazMat scenarios.

Methods: Twenty-two EMT-P providers established anterior tibial IO access using the EZ-IO system and routine antecubital IV access in three mannequin and PPE HazMat scenarios: 1) provider and mannequin not in PPE, 2) only provider in Level C PPE, and 3) provider and mannequin both wearing Level C PPE. Primary outcome measures were the average time in seconds for skin access, vascular access, and fluid infusion with each method in these configurations.