OFAI - Technical Skills update

[Greener87]

Hey guys and gals,

I'm wondering if anyone has recently completed the OFAI "Stage Three/3" since they've tweaked it? I've talked to a few of the proctors who have mentioned it'll be more strict, but I'd like to hear from any candidates to get their experience of it all. If you've done it and would like to leave your experience here then that would be appreciated. Or, a private message if that works best.

Thanks in advance!

[Pondduck]

I haven't done it recently but know several people who have in the last few weeks. and strict isn't the word for it. I know 1 out 37 people who have passed and based on my knowledge of the skill set some of these people possess, frankly, that ratio is extremely concerning.

I have heard some very choice things about the professionalism of the proctors from people that I know not to be cry babies and it's disappointing for a service that is trying to get us to trust them while costing so much. These changes don't seem to have streamlined anything.

[Pondduck]

Update: I recently completed the ofai, was it hard? Yes. But I retract my statement about the proctors. Honestly I dealt with nothing but pros out there and it was my preparation that won the day.

Anybody got some salt for these words I have to eat? Haha

[NorthwardFire]

[quote=""Pondduck""]Update: I recently completed the ofai, was it hard? Yes. But I retract my statement about the proctors. Honestly I dealt with nothing but pros out there and it was my preparation that won the day.

Anybody got some salt for these words I have to eat? Haha[/quote]

Hey Pondduck

I recently went down to FESTI to complete stages 1,2,3. Blew through all the phases but failed the medical scenario within 30 seconds. I was pretty stumped considering I have my EMR,ITLS and have a part time job training MFR for the City of Ottawa.

Obviously I was pretty upset due to having driven down there from Ottawa, 2 nights hotel, pass everything then get hung up on medical of all things and not even informed as to how I can improve.

The scenario went something like this from what I remember:

Don appropriate PPE
Enter the area and ask "gym manager" what was the issue.
Announce checking for scene safety,BSI, etc
Assessed patient was unresponsive
Went to check vitals:
- breathing check for 5 seconds no more than 10
- pulse for 10 seconds

That's when I was informed I had made a critical error and to stop the test. Clearly I'm blanking on something..

If you have any pointers or remember the steps from your scenario please send some advice this way, I'm rebooked for mid December. Looking to get it done for Central York.

Thanks

[firemed909]

[quote=""NorthwardFire""]Hey Pondduck

I recently went down to FESTI to complete stages 1,2,3. Blew through all the phases but failed the medical scenario within 30 seconds. I was pretty stumped considering I have my EMR,ITLS and have a part time job training MFR for the City of Ottawa.

Obviously I was pretty upset due to having driven down there from Ottawa, 2 nights hotel, pass everything then get hung up on medical of all things and not even informed as to how I can improve.

The scenario went something like this from what I remember:

Don appropriate PPE
Enter the area and ask "gym manager" what was the issue.
Announce checking for scene safety,BSI, etc
Assessed patient was unresponsive
Went to check vitals:
- breathing check for 5 seconds no more than 10
- pulse for 10 seconds

That's when I was informed I had made a critical error and to stop the test. Clearly I'm blanking on something..

If you have any pointers or remember the steps from your scenario please send some advice this way, I'm rebooked for mid December. Looking to get it done for Central York.

Thanks[/quote]

Im not sure what level of cpr comes with the emr but i believe most places are looking for cpr c or hcp. I cant speak for cpr c but....

Hcp level cpr no longer does breathing checks. Hasnt for quite some time. Once noted as unresponsive you immedicatly check for pulse. If pulseless then cpr if theres a pulse then you check respirations. ABC'S have become the CAB'S. circulation first always.

Could have been something else odd there looking for but that would be my best guess.

J

[Ss101]

So when you checked breathing what did you ask the proctor? Or did you just assume they weren't breathing?

[firemed909]

[quote=""Ss101""]So when you checked breathing what did you ask the proctor? Or did you just assume they weren't breathing?[/quote]

Once I confirmed pulse I look/list /feel for breathing. Check the pulse while looking and listening for breathing. And confirmed with proctor if patient was breathing. But I also did my stuff over 6 months ago so they may have changed it a bit.

James

[Ss101]

[quote=""firemed909""]Once I confirmed pulse I look/list /feel for breathing. Check the pulse while looking and listening for breathing. And confirmed with proctor if patient was breathing. But I also did my stuff over 6 months ago so they may have changed it a bit.

James[/quote]

so as soon as you checked their breathing and pulse at once you were told you failed? I don't understand.... or something is missing here

[cmollison]

[quote=""firemed909""]Im not sure what level of cpr comes with the emr but i believe most places are looking for cpr c or hcp. I cant speak for cpr c but....

Hcp level cpr no longer does breathing checks. Hasnt for quite some time. Once noted as unresponsive you immedicatly check for pulse. If pulseless then cpr if theres a pulse then you check respirations. ABC'S have become the CAB'S. circulation first always.

Could have been something else odd there looking for but that would be my best guess.

J[/quote]

Maybe I'm wrong but I much rather check for breathing than pulse.. Pulse can be difficult to find and number two.. If the patient is breathing they have a pulse a lot easier.. IMHO.

[firemed909]

[quote=""cmollison""]Maybe I'm wrong but I much rather check for breathing than pulse.. Pulse can be difficult to find and number two.. If the patient is breathing they have a pulse a lot easier.. IMHO.[/quote]

The assumption is that if you can find a pulse in 10 secs or less there likely vsa or so close that cpr should be started. And patients can most definitely be breathing without a pulse. Ive scene patient in agonal resps 3-12/min after being down for over half an hr. Thats why it went that way. People would confuse that for being alive and wouldnt start cpr.