While on a routine dialysis pick up at a nursing home, a 911call was going on at the same time. As the crew passed by us one guy was doing very light one handed compressions on a smallish 80+y/o F. They were not using a bvm or any O2 for that matter. Nor was there an AED or monitor hooked up. Any clue as to why they were performing CPR like this? The squad is the largest and one of the most respected in the county, so its not like it was sketchy fly by night transport company that didn't know what they were doing. Thoughts?
Noob 911 Cpr question
- Thread starter mikepud
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Unfortunately it can be like pulling teeth even to get healthcare professionals to do proper CPR sometimes.
Not going to go any further into it than that. I wasn't there so I don't know what was going on.
Doing compressions on smaller elderly patients can be very similar to doing compressions on peds which one handed compressions may be preferred depending on the size of the patient. My last pediatric arrest I had to constantly remind everyone to use one hand, they were going much to deep for the size of the patient.
Not going to go any further into it than that. I wasn't there so I don't know what was going on.
Doing compressions on smaller elderly patients can be very similar to doing compressions on peds which one handed compressions may be preferred depending on the size of the patient. My last pediatric arrest I had to constantly remind everyone to use one hand, they were going much to deep for the size of the patient.
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Aidey
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Probably had a DNR and they were waiting for someone to go and get it.
What would be the point in this?
Aidey
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The most common scenario I've run into is due to religious opinions. There are some people who are against DNRs because they feel that not doing CPR is akin to helping the person die. However, they haven no problem excluding advanced procedures like intubation. Hence you end up with someone who has an advanced directive that limits you to palliative care only, with CPR.
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Or one that says drugs and intubation but no CPR or Edison Medicine. Those are always entertaining.
Or everything but electricity.
Or nothing but electricity.
People are permitted to choose what treatments they want and what they do not.
They choose what they do for a variety of reasons, rarely is it for the effectiveness of the therapy.
CPRinProgress
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Sometimes you know they aren't going to make it but you have a legal obligation to do it anyway