ADSHG Paramedic Training in Adrenal Crisis Management

Our Paramedic Training Sessions

Make our Paramedic Training Sessions for trusts and individuals in managing adrenal crisis part of your continuous professional development (CPD). Due to the COVID pandemic, we have moved our sessions online to Zoom.

The sessions are an educational hour on Addison’s and adrenal insufficiency set in context with the JRCALC guidelines for emergency management. Each session is complemented by members’ own experiences, so alongside the theory you hear real life accounts from real people.

Download our poster to share with your Ambulance Trust

Who are these sessions for?

Ambulance trusts looking to run CPD sessions for their teams
Individual paramedics
People studying to work in the emergency services
Members of voluntary organisations that provide emergency services

What do the sessions cover?

Adrenal insufficiency and Addison's disease - what are they and how likely emergency services teams are to encounter adrenal crises.
An overview of adrenal crisis - why it's important to get early treatment right, how to spot it, and how to manage it set in context with the JRCALC guidelines.
The ways patients can prevent and prepare for emergencies and how this could help you - an overview of various medic alerts, NHS steroid emergency card and information patients might carry.
A chance to discuss experiences with and ask questions of people with adrenal insufficiency for real life perspectives.

How long are the sessions?

Approximately an hour, however we can tailor the sessions to suit attendees.

When are the sessions running?

We run regular sessions that individuals and small groups can book onto throughout the year, and we can also run bespoke sessions to suit trusts and larger groups.

Contact us for more information about booking sessions

Feedback

If you have attended one of our training courses - please complete our feedback form to let us know what you thought, any more information we can provide you with and how we can improve.

Complete our feedback form

Background reading:

R ead more about the Standalone Ambulance Guidelines on steroid dependency added to the JRCALC thanks to work by the ADSHG.
Read our emergency page for our latest guidance on managing emergencies.
Read our "Behind the Research" interview with Dr Sam Westall, about his work in Ambulance Alert Systems.
Patient experience: stomach bug causes adrenal crises

Latest

Jennifer's fundraising for Addison's disease

I'm raising money for the Addison's Disease Self Help Group so that they can continue to support people with Addison's and adrenal insufficiency. Addison’s is a rare endocrine condition where the adrenal glands do not produce enough steroid hormones and can be life threatening. It affects approximately 1 in 10,000 people, meaning an estimated 300 - 350 new cases are diagnosed each year across the UK, this makes it roughly 300 times rarer than diabetes.
Behind the Research: U-RHYTHM

Dr Thomas Upton updates us on the development of U-RHYTHM, a wearable device to measure hormones, including cortisol levels, in the body over the full 24 hours, following the release of their clinical trial study,
Behind the Research: The PULSES trial - Pulsatile Cortisol Infusion Pump

Dr Georgina Russell updates us on The PULSES trial, looking at the effect of pulsatile cortisol pump therapy on quality of life, mood, sleep, behavioural and cognitive processing and metabolism.
Getting the Flu Jab

Say No to Flu! Book your flu jab today. There is no need to miss out, as it is free to people who are steroid-dependent (everyone with Addison's disease and adrenal insufficiency). Dr Prete, Consultant Endocrinologist, explains more about the importance of getting your flu jab when you are steroid-dependent.

Sick Day Rules

Minor ailments can affect anyone with a steroid-dependent adrenal condition very differently. Things like vomiting, diarrhoea, colds and flu could cause an adrenal crisis. It’s important that you spot the early symptoms of a bug or cold and adjust your steroid replacement medication.
What is Addison's Disease?

Find out more about Addison's disease and adrenal insufficiency and and how they are treated.
Adrenal Crisis Can Kill
The Emergency Injection for the treatment of Adrenal Crisis

Understanding what an Emergency Injection kit is, how to inject and how important it is to use the injection during an Adrenal Crisis.
Coronavirus Vaccines and Adrenal Insufficiency

Everyone with a steroid-dependent adrenal condition should get the coronavirus vaccine and boosters to reduce their risk of getting coronavirus. This is because people who are steroid-dependent are at increased risk of needing hospital care if they get coronavirus, due to the risk of adrenal crisis.
Why Salt?

Why do people with Addison’s and adrenal insufficiency crave salty, acidic and sour foods at diagnosis, and then salt remains our “pick me up” when diagnosed? Professor Simon Pearce explains the connection between aldosterone, fludrocortisone and why you should always listen to your salt cravings.
Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) - 02/10/2023

Our medics have been keeping an eye on pandemic developments. This page is up to date but we will continue updating it regularly as we find out more information from the government.
Updated NHS Steroid Card Released

Following the early release of the new NHS Steroid Emergency Card back in March to keep patients with Addison's or adrenal insufficiency safe during the COVID-19 crisis, the NHS steroid card has been updated and physical copies will be available to order from Tuesday 18th August 2020 for hospital teams!
Addison's & Adrenal Insufficiency: Advice for Dentists

The ADSHG guidelines offer illustrative guidance for major and minor dental procedures. It is important to recognise the physical stress of any invasive dental procedure and to ensure that adequate glucocorticoid cover is provided for steroid-dependent patients.
Surgical Guidelines

The ADSHG surgical guidelines are intended for the information of your medical team or your dentist and have been developed by our Clinical Advisory Panel.

Research Grants

Our charity is at the forefront of medical research into Addison's Disease. Help us fund medical researchers working in this important field of endocrine research. Read more