Had my first code 900

[Cohn]

Call came up as a "shooting" additional info came as "pt. with gun shot to the head not breathing, wife found pt in back of his pick-up tuck"

We basically knew what just happened but we were on standby until we ran across a border patrol agent who was willing to escort us into the scene.

As we were pulling up to the scene a sheriff was already driving up the driveway from a distance I can see legs hanging off the pick-up truck. I grabbed all the gear needed for resuscitation and my partner was checking vitals (there was none) we started to go through our DOA-Do not resuscitate standing orders, he meets all. I was able to see more of the pt. after we called him, without touching him or moving the potential crime scene I noted large amount of blood behind his head and brain matter exposed. Gun shot went through his right ear and out the back of his head. His wife attempted CPR when she ran out after hearing a "bang."

We obviously knew he committed suicide. Pt. had a hx of schizophrenia and depression was not on the correct meds as he was still seeing and hearing hallucination. His birthday was this past Sunday and his wife stated that he was not looking to right and he noted that he had been hearing things that been telling him to do very bad things, I'm figuring that they did not stop till yesterday till at 1000 hours when he pulled the trigger. Wife had no idea it would come to this.

Wife said "I'm not far behind him" which makes me think we will be back again.

 

[emtchick171]

Call came up as a "shooting" additional info came as "pt. with gun shot to the head not breathing, wife found pt in back of his pick-up tuck"

We basically knew what just happened but we were on standby until we ran across a border patrol agent who was willing to escort us into the scene.

As we were pulling up to the scene a sheriff was already driving up the driveway from a distance I can see legs hanging off the pick-up truck. I grabbed all the gear needed for resuscitation and my partner was checking vitals (there was none) we started to go through our DOA-Do not resuscitate standing orders, he meets all. I was able to see more of the pt. after we called him, without touching him or moving the potential crime scene I noted large amount of blood behind his head and brain matter exposed. Gun shot went through his right ear and out the back of his head. His wife attempted CPR when she ran out after hearing a "bang."

We obviously knew he committed suicide. Pt. had a hx of schizophrenia and depression was not on the correct meds as he was still seeing and hearing hallucination. His birthday was this past Sunday and his wife stated that he was not looking to right and he noted that he had been hearing things that been telling him to do very bad things, I'm figuring that they did not stop till yesterday till at 1000 hours when he pulled the trigger. Wife had no idea it would come to this.

Wife said "I'm not far behind him" which makes me think we will be back again.

WOW, sounds like a rough situation. I've never been to a suicide call where someone actually did shoot themselves...the ones I've been to were 1 hanging, and 4 OD. I have been to quite a few gunshots in my life, and the best thing to do is make sure scene is secure...then once you get to your pt, load & go. Do everything enroute if possible.

 

[Cohn]

WOW, sounds like a rough situation. I've never been to a suicide call where someone actually did shoot themselves...the ones I've been to were 1 hanging, and 4 OD. I have been to quite a few gunshots in my life, and the best thing to do is make sure scene is secure...then once you get to your pt, load & go. Do everything enroute if possible.

Yeah we intercepted a BP agent and he was willing to escort us in.

 

[CAOX3]

Suicides can be tough. Did you happen to address "I'm not far behind him" she could potentially be another patient. There could be services available to help her deal with the grief or mental health problems she may also have.

Not picking on you at all, we just sometimes over look the patients with injuries/sickness we can't see.

You may also want to remove the department you work for, sharing information from a call may be a problem for them.

Again not picking on you just don't want to see you get jammed up.

 

[firetender]

Ultimately, with enough exposure you'll learn that suicide is about choice; it's a choice human beings sometimes make that always baffles those who choose to keep on living. The hard part is trying to fathom the logical, opposite question that comes up after you realize you can't answer "Why?" did they choose to take themselves out. Don't you ever wonder why so many of us keep choosing to live?

And when you look at suicide you cannot neglect the legions of people who are knowingly committing suicide, just not all at once. Unfortunately you don't have to look much further beyond your peers to see its prevalence!

 

[Veneficus]

If I may?

In more than one culture suicide is considered not only a reasonable option, but the prefered option over being depenant or bringing shame to the sociological unit. (family, tribe, clan, etc.)

Not advocating it, just pointing out that some do consider it an acceptable alternative.

Interestingly enough, in the "acceptable suicide" cultures, killing family members is not considered acceptable or even fathomable. A very interesting distinction from western cultures where those facing economic collapse see murder/suicide as beneficial to the victims.

I think it has to do with perceived value. The former being a liability to the success of the family and the later with the idea the family cannot hope to succeed with a setback in wealth.

I'lll stop now...

 

[Akulahawk]

Vene makes a good point. In some cultures/societies, suicide can be considered an "acceptable" means to end one's life. In many "western" societies though, it's not. Where things get interesting is when someone makes a valiant effort and just doesn't get it done, with the result of making life even more difficult.

I had a patient that shot himself in the head with a .25 ACP... He missed his cranial vault. All he ended up doing is blinding himself...

 

[firetender]

An interesting thing that I came across (sorry, lost the source!) but youth in Japan have a higher success rate when it comes to attempted suicide.

Attempted suicide over here usually involves pills, many try over-the-counter but the majority are valium or other, slow acting drugs that it takes a lot more to kill you than the average "distraught" attempter uses.

In Japan, the article said, one of the few readily available substances to do yourself in with is Rat Poison; and that, my friends, really works and before an ambulance can get to you.

(The active ingredient is Strychnine, which, oddly enough acts like LSD in that it dissolves your filters, therefore opening up channels of perception usually "filtered out" of your conscious awareness. In Strychnine's case, it wipes out ALL the filters and you essentially convulse to death in sensory overload!)