CaptnAmerca,
I have read multiple accounts of the change in protocols and have not seen anything that indicates they are not transporting alive but critical patients.
As I noted previously, protocols nationally continue to switch to field termination of unsuccessful cardiac arrest resuscitations.
This is completely different than denying care and transportation to someone who is critically ill. I'm sorry if I come off as defensive, but there is a big difference.
I don't want to risk my life or the lives of bystanders transporting a patient lights and sirens in cardiac arrest who has remained in cardiac arrest after an effective pre-hospital resuscitation attempt.
This is part of the protocol from the Connecticut Department of Public Health.
The point is that transportation of patient for whom further resuscitation is futile is strongly discouraged.
TERMINATION OF RESUSCITATIVE EFFORTS (PARAMEDIC LEVEL ONLY): NONTRAUMATIC CARDIAC ARREST
Discontinuation of CPR and ALS intervention may be implemented after contact with medical direction if all of the following criteria have been met:
1. Patient must be least 18 years of age.
2. Patient is in cardiac arrest at the time of arrival of advanced life support, no pulse, no respirations, and no heart sounds.
3. ACLS is administered for at least twenty (20) minutes, according to AHA/ACLS Guidelines
4. There is no return of spontaneous pulse and no evidence of neurological function (non- reactive pupils, no response to pain, no spontaneous movement).
5. Patient is asystolic in two (2) leads
6. No evidence or suspicion of any of the following: drug/toxin overdose, hypothermia, active internal bleeding, preceding trauma.
7. All Paramedic personnel involved in the patient’s care agree that discontinuation of the resuscitation is appropriate.
I have read multiple accounts of the change in protocols and have not seen anything that indicates they are not transporting alive but critical patients.
As I noted previously, protocols nationally continue to switch to field termination of unsuccessful cardiac arrest resuscitations.
This is completely different than denying care and transportation to someone who is critically ill. I'm sorry if I come off as defensive, but there is a big difference.
I don't want to risk my life or the lives of bystanders transporting a patient lights and sirens in cardiac arrest who has remained in cardiac arrest after an effective pre-hospital resuscitation attempt.
This is part of the protocol from the Connecticut Department of Public Health.
The point is that transportation of patient for whom further resuscitation is futile is strongly discouraged.
TERMINATION OF RESUSCITATIVE EFFORTS (PARAMEDIC LEVEL ONLY): NONTRAUMATIC CARDIAC ARREST
Discontinuation of CPR and ALS intervention may be implemented after contact with medical direction if all of the following criteria have been met:
1. Patient must be least 18 years of age.
2. Patient is in cardiac arrest at the time of arrival of advanced life support, no pulse, no respirations, and no heart sounds.
3. ACLS is administered for at least twenty (20) minutes, according to AHA/ACLS Guidelines
4. There is no return of spontaneous pulse and no evidence of neurological function (non- reactive pupils, no response to pain, no spontaneous movement).
5. Patient is asystolic in two (2) leads
6. No evidence or suspicion of any of the following: drug/toxin overdose, hypothermia, active internal bleeding, preceding trauma.
7. All Paramedic personnel involved in the patient’s care agree that discontinuation of the resuscitation is appropriate.
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