JRCALC Clinical Guidelines 2019

Book excerpt: The Joint Royal Colleges Ambulance Liaison Committee guidelines are the essential resource for paramedics. The 2019 edition of the book has been brought up to date with the latest evidence and developments in clinical practice. JRCALC combines expert advice with practical guidance to help paramedics in their challenging roles with the overall objective of improving patient care. Key updates are: •Resuscitation and cardiac arrest. The pathophysiology of cardiac arrest, checklist use and pulseless electrical activity is discussed extensively within the context of every day out of hospital practice. A new guideline on tracheostomy and laryngectomy is included, alongside clinical skills photographs. •Consent and patient confidentiality. The guideline is brought up to date with the Data Protection Act 2018 following the General Data Protection Regulations. •Mental health presentation: crisis, distress and disordered behaviour. A reviewed guideline supports the clinician with practical help on the assessment and management of different mental health illnesses. •Major, complex and high risk Incidents. A revision by the National Ambulance Resilience Unit covers poisons, rail incidents and police incapacitants. •New medicines are included: Activated charcoal, duodote and morphine sulfate for end of life care. •Other reviews and updates include: head injury, hyperventilation syndrome, stroke, respiratory illness in children and acute coronary syndrome.