Vehicle Accident with Drownings

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FF2EMT

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Early morning call couple days ago... Alerted for a vehicle accident with entrapment- vehicle into a pond with 4 people confirmed to be trapped under water- we are in a rural area so first arriving unit arrives aprox 6-8 min later confirming 4 trapped under water.. Divers are able to pull a victim from the vehicle who is in full arrest.. at this time we arrive on scene as a BLS unit.. begin CPR load and go-- performed protocol AED the whole 9 yards.. Hospital is aprox 15 min away,, Rendevous with ALS halfway there upon arrival pt has week pulse and is flown Pri 1 to a level 1 Trauma center in WV.. as for the other victims all were in full arrest and later were pronounced dead after working victims for aprox 1 1/2..... Such a good feeling to do good CPR and see some results its a first for me

Any1 else have any luck lately
 
FF2EMT said:
Divers are able to pull a victim from the vehicle who is in full arrest.. at this time we arrive on scene as a BLS unit.. begin CPR load and go-- performed protocol AED the whole 9 yards.. Hospital is aprox 15 min away,, Rendevous with ALS halfway there upon arrival pt has week pulse and is flown Pri 1 to a level 1 Trauma center in WV.. as for the other victims all were in full arrest and later were pronounced dead after working victims for aprox 1 1/2..... Such a good feeling to do good CPR and see some results its a first for me

Any1 else have any luck lately
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Luck? How is this surviving patient doing? Will they regain full function with few or no deficits? Or, will they become part of the trach and peg club to become just another BS call at the nursing home?
 
Amen. My thoughts exactly.
 
Although I agree with Vent and Mariat. I wonder on the quality of their life from here on.

I commed you on your effort. Good Job.

Just curious, whats the water temp in Maryland right now?

How long were they in the water?
 
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CAOX3 said:
Although I agree with Vent and Mariat. I wonder on the quality of their life from here on.

I commed you on your effort. Good Job.

Just curious, whats the water temp in Maryland right now?

How long were they in the water?
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Those are the keys. The time down and possible cold water drownings. Day ain't dead, 'til day worm 'n' dead.
 
What kind of water was it?
 
BLSBoy said:
What kind of water was it?
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The wet kind made from hydrogen and oxygen.

But to answer your question, I have never had a patient come back from full arrest. Half the time, they're dead before we even get there.

Now, as for your patient... if they become a member of the trach and peg club, you may as well have just let them drown.
 
EMTinNEPA said:
The wet kind made from hydrogen and oxygen.
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Funny, smartass.
I guess you can tell me why the different types of water can affect the patient's outcome.
 
BLSBoy said:
Funny, smartass.
I guess you can tell me why the different types of water can affect the patient's outcome.
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What do you mean "types" of water?

Salt vs. Fresh? Hot vs. Cold? Clean vs. Dirty? Stagnant vs. Running?
 
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Well then I'm going to say it's probably cold fresh water, cleanliness and whether it's moving or not are up in the air.
 
EMTinNEPA said:
Well then I'm going to say it's probably cold fresh water, cleanliness and whether it's moving or not are up in the air.
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Not the question I asked.
 
It shouldnt matter what BS is after your name.
Knowing how different water types, conditions, and temperatures will affect your patients outcome are important.
Go look it up.
Think I'm tryin to be an internet hardass? I'm not. I am helping you, and your patients.
 
EMTinNEPA said:
The wet kind made from hydrogen and oxygen.

But to answer your question, I have never had a patient come back from full arrest. Half the time, they're dead before we even get there.

Now, as for your patient... if they become a member of the trach and peg club, you may as well have just let them drown.
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I understand the feeling behind this type of post, but I'm unsure about the appropriateness of making decisions on letting patients die simply because they 'might end up in the trach and peg club'.
 
BruceD said:
I understand the feeling behind this type of post, but I'm unsure about the appropriateness of making decisions on letting patients die simply because they 'might end up in the trach and peg club'.
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I said "might as well", I didn't say "do it".
 
BLSBoy said:
It shouldnt matter what BS is after your name.
Knowing how different water types, conditions, and temperatures will affect your patients outcome are important.
Go look it up.
Think I'm tryin to be an internet hardass? I'm not. I am helping you, and your patients.
Click to expand...

+1

If the water was dirty, its going to be completely different. Saltwater is going to be different effects then freshwater. If the water was flowing fast while in the cab, that can possibly have a different effect on the patient. Was it cold? Body temp go down lower therefore could be worse. Warmer, (in this type of the year it most likely isn't) then less damage could have occurred possibly

Gotta look at the elements. Not like its important anymore since your done with the call and your job is over
 
Fast moving water is more highly oxygenated and generally has a lower bacterial count. Also less sediment. A stagnant pond is going to contain much higher levels of sediment, bacteria and is also generally warmer depending on the ambient air temp.

Cold water can cause hypothermia, depending on how long someone is in it. Hypothermia can both minimize or intensify symptoms. It slows down metabolism and bodily functions which can either work for or against you.

We will always work a body until it either comes back or dies, depending on conditions and the wishes of the pt or their family. But to celebrate the return of a body to the condition of self watering vegetable is based more on ego than outcome.
 
Man, those types of runs really suck. It must be going around though, here's a similar story that was in our local news in the last week.
 
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