[Massive Medic]

1) EMS in different states allows different procedures to the various levels. I have not heard of a place that allows EMT basic or intermediate to put in an NG tube... it is generally a paramedic skill (although not a difficult one). However, I have not researched this, so there may be exceptions.

2) The tube used for the lungs is quite different than the NG tube. The G in NG is gastric, and so will be used for the stomach. ETs and french catheters are used for the lungs, and so should not be a problem for RNY folks. Some places allow NG for various poisonings (to include alcohol in severe cases), diabetic crisis, hyper/hypothermia, nausea/vomiting with altered mental status, near-drowning, or pre-eclampsia (situation specific). Also, if you are breathing through the ET and your stomach becomes distended due to over ventilation, an NG tube will decompress it. There may be other reasons, but I don't have my old textbook handy.

Essentially, remember that the body tries to get rid of stuff in the stomach when you are very sick because it doesn't want to get distracted by digestion. If you have a situation where vomiting may happen and you are not oriented enough to deal with it yourself, an NG tube may be used to clear those contents so your airway will not be at risk. On an ambulance, a lot of what we do is to protect the airway... everything else is secondary.

[not quite Barbie]

LOL, that's why he's not allowed to put in an NG tube. NG stands for Naso (like in nasal) Gastric (like in stomach). THe tube is inserted into the nose and passed down into the stomach so they can pump the stomach to remove toxic substances such as an overdose of pills.

We're ALL EMT's, just different levels. For example, I'm and EMT-P, the P stands for paramedic. Some places allow basic EMTs to do the NG tubes after they have had the training, some don't allow any of us to do it.

I second what Massive Medic says about the card. If the patient is unconcious, we're too busy trying to save them to look through a wallet that might have a card. The bracelet is the most likely to be noticed, but don't put a lot of dangly things on it or we'll just think it's a charm bracelet and never notice the Star of Life.

[DeMarie]

Thanks Barbie,
this young man may not have said 'NG' tube, I may have just carried that over from the conversation since I'm the one who doesn't know this stuff. But he was correct about his level of EMT not being able to use 'tubes' and like everyone is saying, a wallet card may not be the best route.
This has been an intersting topic though, food for thought for us laymen.

[DocSanae]

Since the subject of being in critical situations have come up, there's something else you could/should do.

Once the job of securing your condition is done, and there's no one else with you who knows about you, then other than wallets, one of the things we check for info are cell phones.
Keep the list of people to be notified in emergencies in a special group in your cell phone address book. Lable it Emergency Numbers or ICE (In Case of Emergency) or whatever to make it clear that your emergency contact info is in there. Such a list will shorten the time it takes in notifying next of kin and family, and also give the option of being able to catch someone who will know whom to contact in case the first one on the list can't be contacted.

[Massive Medic]

Good suggestion, Doc. Many a time I have searched someone's cell phone for "mom" "dad" "work" "church" or some pet name for a spouse like "sweetie" "love" or "pooh-bear" (I can hear you gagging now, but all three are real-life examples I've found). I have my family listed by their relationship to me "Dad" "Mom" "Wife" "In-Law" specifically for that reason.

[Kenyar]

true the card in the wallet isnt the best route, but i havent gotten a bracelet yet. no idea what im waiting for...its been a year for cryng out loud LOL.