Double Pediatric CPR

E

emtp34056

Forum Ride Along
Messages
2
Reaction score
0
Points
0
So a few months ago I was dispatched on a pediatric CPR, it then elevated into a DOUBLE pediatric CPR...possible drowning.

I have never worked a more stressful call in my entire career, but I would also say that I have never learned more about myself and my partner than in those initial moments on scene.

We responded to a very rural area. AOS to find a 5 y/o male and a 3 y/o male, mother and gradfather were on-scene (to distraught to ATTEMPT CPR). I immediately began working the 3 y/o, while my EMT partner began CPR on the 5 y/o. We were on-scene for approximately 10-12 min before the calvary showed up (busy day in EMS that day).

I immediately started CPR, the child was pulseless, apneic, cool and wet. I was also trying to assess the other child verbally, my partner did an excellent job describing what was going on with him. After a round of CPR on both we moved to the ambulance, where we could work closer together, and where we were in our element.

ALS protocols were followed, and then some (with med control of course). We did everything we could for those two boys, and they both ended up passing away.

Later we found out that the mother had left the boys in a locked car, while she went in a friends house and smoked meth. Did i mention it was 108 degrees outside, and that the 3 y/o had a rectal temp of 112!!! I know its hard to believe but thats the facts.

The story and 911 tape is on the Cleveland Daily Banner website (cleveland, tn).

What a day...

Thoughts and comments...
 
Careful about HIPAA.

Sounds like a rough one. Anything you would have done differently?
 
If you need anything man let me know. I've been on three pediatric arrests and they never get any easier.

I'm sorry you had to go on that job, I couldn't even imagine how tough that would have been.
 
I wouldn't change anything, it was such a learning experience, I've tried to find the light in the darkness. I learned a lot, but I lost a lot of faith in people, drugs are horrible and extremely dangerous. The only thing I wish is that I could have been there a bit sooner.
 
emtp34056 said:
I wouldn't change anything, it was such a learning experience, I've tried to find the light in the darkness. I learned a lot, but I lost a lot of faith in people, drugs are horrible and extremely dangerous. The only thing I wish is that I could have been there a bit sooner.
Click to expand...

Wow that is truly a bad call and I'm sorry you drew it. Sometimes we learn more from the bad calls than the happy ones. It can be very difficult to find the light but it's there for those who look hard enough. Thanks for sharing this with us.
 
It's important to remember that we are just players in a very sensitive game; life and death. The role that we're asked to fulfill is "try", and it's all too often all about trying to undo the violence, neglect or stupidity of others. And sometimes, all you get to do is try.

The message is we're not the creators of these messes. We're only responsible to do the best we can for our patient during the time we have with them, and that means once we're right there, then the responsibility is ours, but it's only to hold up our end. We can't even determine what our partners will do or not do at any one time.

If we do the best we can under the circumstances we have, then we're okay. But the truth is, short of causing intentional harm, part of the Great Mystery is that at the end of the day, you truly DID do the best you could because that's what turned out; life moved forward, and the way we're wired, that includes death.

How long it takes us to get on scene is something not under our control either, with the exception of a choice to delay arrival. The game begins once you're there. Do your best and know you're only a small part of a much bigger picture.

...and maybe the bigger picture here is from what kinds of lives and pain were these children spared? We really don't know what we're being asked to witness.

We're here for you because a lot of us have been there!

Keep coming back, and thanks for bringing this to the forum.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
firetender said:
It's important to remember that we are just players in a very sensitive game; life and death. The role that we're asked to fulfill is "try", and it's all too often all about trying to undo the violence, neglect or stupidity of others. And sometimes, all you get to do is try..
Click to expand...

This is great advice.

I often explain to people I do not decide life or death.

The game is set and I just move the pieces.

Sometimes you start from an advantage, sometimes even, and sometimes you are so disadvantaged that all you can do is put forth a symbolic effort.

With the exception of hypothermia, by the time a kid codes, it is basically over. There is nothing you could have done better that would change that outcome.

You were making your symbolic effort in the game. The next patient is a new game.
 
Any chance those kids ever had at life was because of you and your partners. Unfortunately their fate was sealed at the hands of those who were supposed to protect them, long before you were ever called to intervene.

I have worked a lot of pedi codes. It never gets easier.

Make sure you get the help you need form your employer. Even if you don't think you need it, I suggest you go in and speak with someone. You would be surprised what sorts of feelings lurk in the dark corners of your psyche waiting to manifest themselves in one way or another.

I worked exclusively with peds for about 3 years. I am not a trained therapist by any means, but if you don't have anyone else, please don't hesitate to drop me a line. I will be happy to listen without any judgement.
 
emtp34056 said:
So a few months ago I was dispatched on a pediatric CPR, it then elevated into a DOUBLE pediatric CPR...possible drowning.

I have never worked a more stressful call in my entire career, but I would also say that I have never learned more about myself and my partner than in those initial moments on scene.

We responded to a very rural area. AOS to find a 5 y/o male and a 3 y/o male, mother and gradfather were on-scene (to distraught to ATTEMPT CPR). I immediately began working the 3 y/o, while my EMT partner began CPR on the 5 y/o. We were on-scene for approximately 10-12 min before the calvary showed up (busy day in EMS that day).

I immediately started CPR, the child was pulseless, apneic, cool and wet. I was also trying to assess the other child verbally, my partner did an excellent job describing what was going on with him. After a round of CPR on both we moved to the ambulance, where we could work closer together, and where we were in our element.

ALS protocols were followed, and then some (with med control of course). We did everything we could for those two boys, and they both ended up passing away.

Later we found out that the mother had left the boys in a locked car, while she went in a friends house and smoked meth. Did i mention it was 108 degrees outside, and that the 3 y/o had a rectal temp of 112!!! I know its hard to believe but thats the facts.

The story and 911 tape is on the Cleveland Daily Banner website (cleveland, tn).

What a day...

Thoughts and comments...
Click to expand...

Wow what a call bud. You guys did everything you could, and I tip my hat to the both of you.
 
Bugger me. That sucks. I'm glad I wasn't there, I'd have flipped my s**t.

Figurative pats on the back for both you and your partner.

In a similar vein to what fire tender said (wise words of a wise fellow, listen closely, for wisdom lays within), when people ask why I hang out so enthusiastically and morbidly for 'the big one' (even fellow paramedics think I'm a ghoul), I tell them that I don't wish horrible things happen, only that I'm there when it does. I'm of the firm belief that there are some situations I can change and there are some I have to accept, but that if I turn up to a job, that person receives care for someone in whom that balance is as far skewed towards the former as is possible. A la Cliff Reid, I endeavour never to let a pt be the victim of my ignorance. Standing firmly by that motto, I walk happily away from my job knowing that my pts got as close to the best care as I am capable of offering, that they couldn't realistically have done any better than me (and that they sure as s**t could have done a lot worse).

Its an interesting kind of double think, because in parallel to this arrogant and slightly grandiose notion, I'm very critical of my own work. I think a balance between the two is healthy and necessary.

Anyway, enough about me. It sounds like you did a great job. Take pride, not just solace, in the fact that you, if not others, gave the kids their best shot.
 
Melclin said:
Bugger me. That sucks. I'm glad I wasn't there, I'd have flipped my s**t.

Figurative pats on the back for both you and your partner.

In a similar vein to what fire tender said (wise words of a wise fellow, listen closely, for wisdom lays within), when people ask why I hang out so enthusiastically and morbidly for 'the big one' (even fellow paramedics think I'm a ghoul), I tell them that I don't wish horrible things happen, only that I'm there when it does. I'm of the firm belief that there are some situations I can change and there are some I have to accept, but that if I turn up to a job, that person receives care for someone in whom that balance is as far skewed towards the former as is possible. A la Cliff Reid, I endeavour never to let a pt be the victim of my ignorance. Standing firmly by that motto, I walk happily away from my job knowing that my pts got as close to the best care as I am capable of offering, that they couldn't realistically have done any better than me (and that they sure as s**t could have done a lot worse).

Its an interesting kind of double think, because in parallel to this arrogant and slightly grandiose notion, I'm very critical of my own work. I think a balance between the two is healthy and necessary.

Anyway, enough about me. It sounds like you did a great job. Take pride, not just solace, in the fact that you, if not others, gave the kids their best shot.
Click to expand...

I think most of the best medics agree with you on this one.

I work in a county of 30k, where I have lived all my life, and know about 3/4 of my patients. I don't wish for bad things to happen, but I do want to be the one to go when they do.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top