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Addryan
Student
Boise, Idaho
3
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what do u do when someone dies in the field
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2 answers
C. Jonathan Murphy
Registered Nurse
3
Answers
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Updated
C. Jonathan’s Answer
If a lay person witnesses a cardiac arrest and has no training they should immediately call 911, then (if they want to help) follow instructions provided by the emergency medical dispatchers over the phone. If say an off duty nurse or someone with some level of healthcare training witnesses a cardiac arrest, they should call 911 and (if they want to help) respond with the highest level of training they have. (Good Samaritan laws typically protect the individual rendering reasonable aid to an imperiled person)
If responding to a cardiac arrest in the field, the emergency responder will provide resuscitation efforts to the best of their ability and level of training. BLS Basic life support is the level of care that EMT-Basic's are trained at. This involves CPR, Chest compressions and ventilatory support with a bag-valve mask or in some jurisdictions a supraglottic airway or a combitube may be inserted to establish a secure airway. ACLS Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support is the level of care provided by EMT-Paramedics. This involves all BLS care in addition to interventions such as endotracheal intubation and administration of intravenous or intraosseous medications such as epinephrine and electrical defibrillation. The crew would then typically provide rapid transportation to the nearest most appropriate hospital. In cases where there is prolonged extrication of the cardiac arrest patient or the patient has clearly been expired for an extended period of time, the EMS crew will call into the Emergency Department Command Physician, who may at that time based upon the information provided by the Paramedic, pronounce the individual deceased and resuscitation efforts would then stop. The coroner would then be contacted as well as next of kin notifying of the death. The decedent would then typically be transferred to a morgue area. Sometimes it is determined that an autopsy should take place in which case the coroner would take possession of the body. Otherwise the decedent would be picked up by a funeral director and taken to their facility.
If responding to a cardiac arrest in the field, the emergency responder will provide resuscitation efforts to the best of their ability and level of training. BLS Basic life support is the level of care that EMT-Basic's are trained at. This involves CPR, Chest compressions and ventilatory support with a bag-valve mask or in some jurisdictions a supraglottic airway or a combitube may be inserted to establish a secure airway. ACLS Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support is the level of care provided by EMT-Paramedics. This involves all BLS care in addition to interventions such as endotracheal intubation and administration of intravenous or intraosseous medications such as epinephrine and electrical defibrillation. The crew would then typically provide rapid transportation to the nearest most appropriate hospital. In cases where there is prolonged extrication of the cardiac arrest patient or the patient has clearly been expired for an extended period of time, the EMS crew will call into the Emergency Department Command Physician, who may at that time based upon the information provided by the Paramedic, pronounce the individual deceased and resuscitation efforts would then stop. The coroner would then be contacted as well as next of kin notifying of the death. The decedent would then typically be transferred to a morgue area. Sometimes it is determined that an autopsy should take place in which case the coroner would take possession of the body. Otherwise the decedent would be picked up by a funeral director and taken to their facility.
Suzanne Swain Brint
Nursing
169
Answers
Santa Monica, California
Updated
Suzanne’s Answer
Most healthcare providers will attempt resuscitation in the field Addryan. Your question doesn't provide any detail, so I have to assume you mean what do you do if someone dies on the street.
If a patient dies in the hospital, then what we do all depends on the patient's status. Some people come into hospital very ill and too sick to resuscitate. If this is the case, then we simple help the patient die in peace and pain free. On the other hand, if a patient comes into hospital to get better from an illness or have a surgery and is fully expected to live, then we would provide resuscitation (CPR) in the event they stopped breathing or their heart stopped.
If I would witness a person drop to the ground on the street, I would render CPR or cardio-pulmonary resuscitation. If a paramedic would witness a "death in the field" they would do the same.
I hope this helps.
If a patient dies in the hospital, then what we do all depends on the patient's status. Some people come into hospital very ill and too sick to resuscitate. If this is the case, then we simple help the patient die in peace and pain free. On the other hand, if a patient comes into hospital to get better from an illness or have a surgery and is fully expected to live, then we would provide resuscitation (CPR) in the event they stopped breathing or their heart stopped.
If I would witness a person drop to the ground on the street, I would render CPR or cardio-pulmonary resuscitation. If a paramedic would witness a "death in the field" they would do the same.
I hope this helps.