Appendix 6: Procedures and Skills Integral to the Practice of Emergency Medical Services 

The Core Content specifies those procedures/skills that are medically acceptable in the out-of-hospital setting. This list should not be considered restrictive with the exception of those skills that should be prohibited. The task force felt strongly the “prohibited skills” should not be included as part of the scope of practice for any level of nonphysician EMS provider.

This list outlines the general principles of skills, not specifics techniques.

AIRWAY TECHNIQUES

Airway adjuncts|
Airway Maneuvers
Alternate Airway Devices
Cricothyrotomy
Obstructed Airway Clearance

Intubation

  1. Nasotracheal
  2. Orotracheal
  3. Pharmacological facilitation
  4. Confirmation procedures

Oxygen Delivery Systems
Suction
Ventilation – assisted / mechanical

 
Anesthesia ( Local)

Pain Control & Sedation

Blood and Component Therapy Administration

Diagnostic Procedures
Blood chemistry analysis
Capnography
Pulmonary function measurement
Pulse Oximetry
Ultrasonography

Genital/Urinary
Bladder catheterization

  1. Foley catheter

Testicular detorsion

HEAD AND NECK
Control of epistaxis

  1. Anterior packing

Tooth replacement

Hemodynamic Techniques
Arterial catheter insertion and maintenance
Central venous access
Intraosseous access & infusion
Peripheral venous access & maintenance

Hemodynamic monitoring
12-lead ECG monitoring

Obstetrics
Delivery of newborn

Other Techniques
Bleeding control
Foreign body removal
Incision/Drainage
Intravenous therapy
Medication administration
Nasogastric tube
Pericardiocentesis
Pleural decompression
Patient restraint
Sexual assault victim management
Trephination of nails
Wound closure techniques
Wound management

 Resuscitation
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) (all ages)

Skeletal Procedures
Care of the amputated part
Fracture/Dislocation immobilization techniques
Fracture/Dislocation reduction techniques
Spine immobilization techniques

 Thoracic
Cardiac pacing
Defibrillation/Cardioversion
Thoracostomy

Body Substance Isolation / PPE

Lifting and moving techniques

**MEDICALLY UNACCEPTABLE PROCEDURES and SKILLS**

Burr holes
Demand valve devices without flow-restricted heads
EOA/EGTA
Field Amputation
Ipecac
Perimortum C-section