West Virginia Office of Emergency Medical Services

The following standards of practice are published as provided for in the Code of West Virginia, Article Four-C, Chapter Sixteen and West Virginia Division of Health Legislative Rules Title 64, Series 48.

This listing of procedures is intended as guidance for EMS personnel affiliated with and/or during employment with ambulance services, first responder, or rescue providers within the West Virginia EMS system.

Procedures listed must be authorized by duly engaged physician medical directors and must be performed according to written and published protocols and/or direct voice communication with a medical command center. Certain procedures may require direct verbal orders from medical command physicians.

The EMT-Paramedic may render rescue, basic first aid, and cardiopulmonary resuscitation services, and:

1. Perform initial, focused, and on-going patient assessments.
2. Perform respiratory assistance utilizing oral and nasal airways, ventilation devices, and/or oxygen.
3. Apply suctioning techniques to clear airways.
4. Apply dressings and bandages.
5. Apply splints and immobilization devices.
6. Apply spinal immobilization devices.
7. Provide care for obstetrical emergencies including assisting in childbirth.
8. Provide ordinary reasonable care for ill and/or injured persons in accordance with generally accepted standards.
9. Apply Pneumatic Anti-Shock Garment (PASG) in accordance with established regional protocols.
10. Assume primary patient care responsibility in an ambulance patient compartment while on a call.
11. Utilize EMS communications equipment in accordance with accepted radio and telephone procedures.
12. Utilize automated defibrillators.
13. Administer activated charcoal.
14. Administer oral glucose.
15. Perform endotracheal intubation.
16. Utilize electrocardiograph monitors.
17. Perform electrical countershock and defibrillation.
18. Perform transcutaneous pacing.
19. Administer those State approved Medications/Solutions authorized in writing by both individual and regional medical directors.
20. Perform intraosseous procedure.
21. Place nasogastric tube.
22. Perform "finger stick" blood glucose testing procedures.
23. Utilize pulse oximetry monitors.
24. Perform 12-lead electrocardiograms.
25. Utilize automatic ventilators.
26. Perform needle cricothyrotomy when all other ventilation attempts have failed and endotracheal intubation is not possible.
27. Perform chest decompression with catheter and flutter valve.
28. Perform phlebotomy procedures.

Revised 06/02/2005