Presenter
Eric is a national EMS educator, researcher, attorney and RSI paramedic. He lectures extensively on EMS topics and has presented at multiple national and state conferences, including EMS World and NAESMP. Key areas of focus include enhancing the safety of physical restraint and chemical sedation, special healthcare needs, medical-legal issues and advanced airway issues. Publications include NEJM 2024: “Handcuffs and Unexpected Deaths — ‘I Can’t Breathe’ as a Medical Emergency.” He is a nationally recognized expert on death-in-custody issues and has been featured in national media reporting on this topic. He has been deeply involved in EMS protocol development for over 15 years, focusing on medico-legal issues including restraint, consent and patient competency and capacity. He worked for ten years as an EMS educator and RSI paramedic at Exeter Hospital, NH where he served on the hospital’s ALS Paramedic Intercept team and in the emergency department. He holds a BS, Computer Science from MIT and a law degree from Boston College Law School.
As the legal use of cannabis has expanded across states in the U.S., 911 calls to EMS for cannabis-related emergencies have increased significantly. The public perception of cannabis as “non-addictive” and “safe” has contributed to a failure to recognize cannabis use disorder, as well as the range of acute medical emergencies associated with cannabis use and misuse.
Cannabis-related emergencies may include cannabis hyperemesis syndrome, cardiac complications, and acute pediatric ingestion. The dramatic increase in these emergencies is driven, in part, by the higher concentrations of THC found in modern commercial cannabis products.
This session will explore cannabis use disorder and the various, often counterintuitive, emergencies associated with cannabis use. Participants will gain a better understanding of the clinical considerations surrounding cannabis-related presentations and the challenges EMS providers may encounter when caring for these patients.
Prehospital chemical sedation is a key skill for paramedics and one of the more challenging interventions they perform. Patients requiring sedation are often physically combative, experiencing mental health challenges, or affected by stimulants and other substances that can complicate the risks associated with sedation.
Additionally, the risks associated with some commonly used medications, such as ketamine, are not always fully understood, and newer medications, such as droperidol, continue to be added to EMS formularies. Patients requiring chemical sedation are also frequently physically restrained, which may impact oxygenation and ventilation.
In recent years, news reports and published literature have highlighted tragic outcomes associated with some sedation events. Despite these risks, EMS providers often rely on traditional approaches to chemical sedation that may lack the procedural and clinical safeguards necessary to maximize patient safety.
This session will reframe the EMS approach to chemical sedation by exploring strategies designed to reduce patient risk, improve clinical decision-making, and decrease liability for EMS providers and law enforcement partners.
