"82 year old male, collapse, ? seizure, O/S"
This wasn't just a collapse in the street, this was a cardiac arrest on a residential street on a weekday afternoon. It was witnessed by neighbours, family members and children. For many of them, it will be the single most distressing thing they will ever have the misfortune to see. Cardiac arrest survival is always improving but survival relies on a three things:

Early intervention. We need to arrive quickly to do advanced life support. On top of the CPR we need to secure an airway, oxygenate the patient, de-fibrillate and give various drugs to try and start the heart again then stabilise the patient and transport.
Good definitive care. A hospital with a crash team and any specialities that are required to treat the cause and assist recovery. Once stabilised, the long road of treatment lays ahead before the ultimate goal of discharge is reached. Only then do the government get what they want.....a return to tax paying status.
Miss one of those three and it is quite simply, Game Over.
"UPDATE: Patient now in cardiac arrest, CPR in progress"
I felt my foot push down on the accelerator, drop-gear kicks in and I accelerate. I'm only about half a mile away, I'm likely to be first there and on my own. Scrap that, as I crossed the next roundabout an ambulance appeared in my rear view mirror, driving with the same intent I was. We pulled into the street and headed to the crowd. About 8 adults of various ages waved frantically in the road. I screeched to a halt, grabbed my bag and rushed over. Lying on the pavement was an elderly man with CPR being done by a 13 year old boy. All the adults started talking / shouting at me trying to tell me what happened when the boy doing CPR shouted...
"QUIET.....I saw this man fall to the floor, he had a fit for about a minute so I called 999. He then stopped breathing and the lady on the phone told me to roll him over and start CPR. I've been doing it since. I've also done rescue breaths like I was shown in first aid."
Wow! Just wow! Despite the chaos the adults were causing, a 13 year old boy had taken the initiative and done an incredible job. I was so amazed. He didn't even know the guy, just saw him collapse while walking to a friends house. If the patient survives it will be down to him and him alone. I was a tad speechless. Clearly someone has had the sense to teach him first aid.
Whilst talking to him, one of the ambulance crew took over CPR and we began the 'Advanced Life Support' part of his treatment. As chaotic as these situations are it is important to recognise and encourage the efforts of others. Like I said, this is the most distressing thing they will ever see and they need to know they did well. As I have mentioned before, a resus is not as glamorous as 'Casualty' and 'Holby City' would have you believe. It isn't a case of a few gently chest compressions, a shock after rubbing metal pads together, shouting 'Clear' and one shock followed by High 5s and celebrations. It's messy and to be quite frank, brutal.

After 5 or 6 shocks from the defibrillator his heart rhythm changed to one that couldn't be shocked. He had what is known as pulseless electrical activity (PEA). All we could do was continue CPR and push through adrenaline every few minutes. After half an hour or so we knew we had to go. There was nothing more we could do here, his only chance remained at the hospital.
To be continued.........
To be continued.........
What a hero that young boy is!
ReplyDeleteI would so like to see first aid added to the national curriculum as a must do subject. Even primary school children can learn things like what to do about a nosebleed, cold water for burns, how to dial 999, even counting breaths and as this blog shows some children can take on the whole thing at surprisingly young ages.
ReplyDeleteHaving had to do first aid in real situations a couple of times I know for the ordinary public without the high level of training of ambulance crews (paramedics and technicians) there is a necessary element beyond the first aid lessons - the "oh my god what do I do factor" which some people find they can deal with and others dont but even here first aid training for everyone would reduce the people doing the wrong thing in emergencies which can be just as important.
I agree. I don't know why schools don't have this class. I'm sure the kids would be proud to be able to do CPR, even if they never had to use it. It may
Deletealso decide some careers.
And still first aid/CPR is not on the curriculum...madness!
ReplyDeleteThis story has me in tears. I'm going to go teach my kids cpr. Want them to be as brave and smart as that 13 year or boy!
ReplyDeleteThis story has me in tears. I'm going to go teach my kids cpr. Want them to be as brave and smart as that 13 year or boy!
ReplyDelete