Good advice...until you find your 120 kg patient in the garden tub :blink:...
cardiac arrest tips and tricks you have learned along the way...?
- Thread starter tazman7
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Good advice...until you find your 120 kg patient in the garden tub :blink:...
We actually worked it in place, there was enough room to place a chest compressor beside the patient in the tub sorta comfortably, the airway was managed with a King and access acheived via EZIO. Removing the patient from the tub and carrying them through two doors and around the corner(tub was in the back of bathroom, through door was toilet and vanity, next door went into hallway leading to den) would have lead to an unacceptably long off the chest time.
When's it's just you and your partner waiting for the next E.Co it's a little complicated. However, the biggest problem we run into is "off chest" time. We don't carry our "rib breaker" anymore.
We only run two to a unit and in the county often don't have extra hands. Swap every two minutes, ACLS gets done when it gets done. Don't screw around with ETTs and IVs when an IO and BIAD will do (if your practice guideline support this of course).
Melclin
Forum Deputy Chief
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+1.
We are specifically instructed to focus on compressions and ventilations as first crew on scene. The second crew or MICA will do the fancy useless s**t later ;-)
If the pt codes on the upper deck of a double decker bus use a sheet to get the pt out...not a backboard. The backboard is too long to get down the stairs, this guy was pretty much hanging straight upside down...almost took his head off. Needless to say that was a cluster.
I agree with the don't feel bad about asking for orders to call it, on the same note remember to check for obvious signs...dead is dead.
Always assume any call at a nursing home is going to be a code, no matter what it comes in as. It is just easier to bring extra equipment out then have to go running.
My last piece of advice comes from my last "code." Always remember to check a pulse before working a code, don't assume the person doing CPR actually did that. The other week I ran a code and when I walked in I stopped the facility CPR, as I go to check for a pulse the pt looks up at me and says "Hey"...they were just enjoying their Soma's a little too much. We all had a pretty good laugh. The pain did say her chest was a little sore. LOL
I worked 9 codes in 3 weeks, they are all just a blur now. The bus one wasn't one of them.
I agree with the don't feel bad about asking for orders to call it, on the same note remember to check for obvious signs...dead is dead.
Always assume any call at a nursing home is going to be a code, no matter what it comes in as. It is just easier to bring extra equipment out then have to go running.
My last piece of advice comes from my last "code." Always remember to check a pulse before working a code, don't assume the person doing CPR actually did that. The other week I ran a code and when I walked in I stopped the facility CPR, as I go to check for a pulse the pt looks up at me and says "Hey"...they were just enjoying their Soma's a little too much. We all had a pretty good laugh. The pain did say her chest was a little sore. LOL
I worked 9 codes in 3 weeks, they are all just a blur now. The bus one wasn't one of them.
+1
I'm originally from the south, been living up in the PNW for years now, somehow developed a Minnesota accent while working codes.
"Okey dokey guys...why 'bout ya go ahead 'n start pumpin' away..."
Keeping calm is the absolute best tip I can think of. Not my problem, chances are if you're dead you ate a few too many cheeseburgers in your life, weren't wearing your seatbelt (not that we work those anyways), or made some pretty poor decisions. Having that dedicated time keeper/recorder is a lifesaver (hah) as well.