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How this video can ‘Keep Yourself Safe’

Consider using this PPE safety video in your EMT or refresher class

Keep Yourself Safe is the latest EMS music video from FDNY Paramedic and Recording Artist Farooq Muhammad. The video lyrics and scenes are about personal safety and usage of personal protective equipment.

The video, that debuted earlier this month at EMS Today in Baltimore, was funded and produced by apparel vendor Blauer.

I think the video production and message is outstanding. Paramedic Muhammad and Blauer showcase how social media can be used for entertainment and education.

Consider using the Keep Yourself Safe video in your EMT Basic or Refresher Class to:

1. Introduce and discuss different types of PPE.
Play the video from start to finish. Afterwards, ask students to identify the different PPE featured in the video. As each type is identified, discuss when it is indicated and how it is best used.

2. Match appropriate PPE to different patient types and interventions.
The video features several types of patient encounters. Ask students to select the best PPE for each patient.

3. Discuss assessment and treatment of different types of medical calls.
Continue each call past what is featured in the video. How would students continue treatment for the behavioral emergency? How would they assess and treat the patient with chest pain?

4. Create your own PPE video.
Instead of delivering the same old PPE lecture, challenge students, especially experienced EMTs, to create their own music video with the Keep Yourself Safe lyrics or their own lyrics. Share the videos with the rest of the class. Post the best videos to your school or department YouTube channel and Facebook page.

5. Invite an EMT or paramedic to give an online lecture to your class.
Paramedic Muhammad works in New York City and encounters some different hazards than I might in rural Wisconsin.

If you are in a rural area, invite a big city medic to appear in your classroom by Skype to discuss PPE in the urban environment. If you are in an urban area invite a medic from a rural environment to discuss some of their experiences and PPE needs when responding to farms, industrial sites, or wilderness environments.

How else can you use Keep Yourself Safe as an educational tool?

Greg Friese, MS, NRP, is the Lexipol Editorial Director, leading the efforts of the editorial team on Police1, FireRescue1, Corrections1 and EMS1. Greg served as the EMS1 editor-in-chief for five years. He has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a master’s degree from the University of Idaho. He is an educator, author, national registry paramedic since 2005, and a long-distance runner. Greg was a 2010 recipient of the EMS 10 Award for innovation. He is also a three-time Jesse H. Neal award winner, the most prestigious award in specialized journalism, and the 2018 and 2020 Eddie Award winner for best Column/Blog. Connect with Greg on LinkedIn.
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