Ambulance service questions

Elessar

Forgive me for what may seem like silly questions but I'd like to get some clarification on how things are done in the ambulance service.

1) In relation to a cardiac arrest, what is the procedure? Is one ambulance enough, or is backup always requested? How many paramedics transport with the patient in the saloon (requiring CPR)?

2) With patients with suspected spinal injuries who require a log roll onto a board, is backup always requested or are two paramedics considered enough?

Tango Alpha 51

In relation to your query re Cardiac Arrests it all depends on your location within the country. Usually backup is requested but it's not always available & if that's the case, the attending paramedic in the back does his/her best for the victim. We're thought overhead cpr in the HSE so ideally you could manage but you'd be exhausted after a prolonged period of cpr.

Again inrelation to your second query same as above really. Depends on where you are & how busy the relevant area is. Sometimes you can have bystanders there who will listen to your instructions, other times like rta's etc, the f&r will lend a hand.

Elessar

buzzman wrote: »

In relation to your query re Cardiac Arrests it all depends on your location within the country. Usually backup is requested but it's not always available & if that's the case, the attending paramedic in the back does his/her best for the victim. We're thought overhead cpr in the HSE so ideally you could manage but you'd be exhausted after a prolonged period of cpr.

Again inrelation to your second query same as above really. Depends on where you are & how busy the relevant area is. Sometimes you can have bystanders there who will listen to your instructions, other times like rta's etc, the f&r will lend a hand.

Thanks.

How "common" are full cardiac arrests? Is there a CISD available to personnel involved?

I asked because I have trained doing CPR on a mannequin in a moving ambulance and it is incredibly difficult for a variety of reasons. And that's just a mannequin.

Tango Alpha 51

Again it would depend on the area your in. In my area their common enough, with transport times lasting from a few mins to upto an hour depending on your geographical location. CISD is offered but very rarely gets taken up. Without sound cold, you get used to it after a number of years in the service especially in the busier stations.

Effective cpr is/can be difficult in a moving ambulance but I stress it can be achieved but again this takes time & practice to get it right. It goes without saying that the survival rate pre hospital for cardiac arrests is low & no matter what drugs etc we have, it's all about being in the right place at the right time for a successful outcome.

coolmoose

Ideally 2 crews are dispatched, and the 3rd Edition CPGs recommend mobilisation of 3-4 practitioners for cardiac/respiratory arrests. Great when the resources are available...doesn't always happen though.

Agree with buzzman on the CISD issue...I think it's something you just come to accept. As is always said :"You can't save them all"...sometimes despite your best efforts, patients die. That's the way it works I suppose.

Tango Alpha 51

Hey Coolmoose,
Long time no speak . Must be quiet in the sticks :p

coolmoose

Buzzman do you ever work?...see you here more than I do in real life.

Tango Alpha 51

joys of the iphone, all ways accessible

coolmoose

another new phone? gimme a text and let me know what you're working this week, I'll pop in.