Suprise Resus!

Hello there.

Saturday day shift was - once again - steady and interesting.

Day Shift: 3x Priority 1 and 2x Priority 3 = 5 jobs.

1. After a wonderful sleep on the recliners, the first call came in at about 12:30hrs as a 3yo male, fall from height on to head. So off we trot, blues-and-twos to a nearby address. The kid was fine. Fell about 3ft off an indoor plastic cubby roof. Egg on head.
2. Transfer from Aged Care Facility (ACF) to renal dialysis unit. The resident in question used to go by taxi to his appointment every few days, but since he has taken a turn for the worst, a stretcher vehicle is now required. This now ties up our depot's ambulance for 2-3hrs every four days. Don't get me wrong - the fellow needs to get to his dialysis, however a patient transfer vehicle would be more appropriate; a resource our region does not have the privilege of.
3. SOB with tightness in chest, bells and whistles. Upon arrival to patient she informed us she was awaiting results for the H1N1 virus. On go the super hot and sticky P2 masks and goggles, which fog up from the masks. Her sats weren't great, so we o2'ed her to hospital.
4. Now. We were sent on a Priority 2 for a lady who had fallen over on the pavement. No bells and whistles. Lucky it was only a couple hundred metres from our depot as our patient was in cardiac arrest. So my partner and I rock up, pull calmly up onto the kerb, expecting to find old Doris a little worse for wear. And I'm driving today, so he jumps out, calmly puts his jumper on, grabs the medication pouch and wanders on over. I jump out and ask the police what the go was. The constable says something like: "I don't think she's breathing." I look over to see my partner calmly introduce himself to the patient,look puzzled, then promptly deliver a precordial thump. Uh-oh. I rush and grab the defib and BVM from the van. Bugger bugger bugger. Off goes her jumper and on go the pads. Wow, VF. STAND CLEAR, ANALYSING PATIENT. SHOCK ADVISED, CHARGING NOW...BEEEEEEEEP all the way up to 200 Joules. I say "All clear" and press the little red button and the first shock gets delivered, and the crowd gathers. Still VF. I let my partner continue CPR with a cop as I get organise the gear to get her out. We do a further 2 rounds of CPR and 2 defibs and then get moving. I jump in the front I get a cop to jump in the back to help with compressions. Scene time: 6mins - good. I patch to the hospital and then move off. The ride to hospital was good fun - I must admit. Police escorts are awesome. A police station wagon blocked off the intersections as we sailed through. 7 defibs later and we arrive at the ED with a patient in asystole. Dang it. The ED staff continued for another 2 rounds and then pronounce the old dear deceased. The smoothest running resus ever, but the outcome was just as poor as the others. Nearly 90 years old, so she had a good inning, but these ones still hurt. After printing a few metres of report from the Zoll, we have a good old chat with the nurses, who say we did a good job, and then mosey on.
5. Transfer renal dialysis guy back to his ACF.

Back to the depot at 20:30 - 2.5hrs after knock off. Long day, but you get that.

Now for some good news! I start another round of hospital based prac tomorrow for uni. Yay! Two weeks worth in a surgical ward. I am very much looking forward to the new experiences, and I'm now at a stage where I can do all essential nursing care, such as showering, toileting, obs, etc. Also medications PO, IMI, Subcut, IV. I can insert nasogastric tubes, urinary catheterization and much, much more!

Can't wait, shall be bliss.