Rescue workers face life and death situations almost daily. These situations could be the result of a heart attack, one of the most common emergencies that rescue workers face or a traumatic accident. Mnay emergencies are due to criminal activity where someone is hurt at the hands of another person.
Paramedics, first responders and EMT’s are not doctors but often must make quick decisions that they may feel they are not trained to do. One of the first things many families will ask after discovering their loved one has died is ask what was done to save their life. With lawsuits against hospitals and ambulance companies so prevalent, rescue workers need to make sure they follow strict guidelines when facing these situations.
The National Association of EMS Physicians (NAEMS) and the American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma recognize that rescue workers need guidance when facing these decisions. Many of these suggestions seem obvious. According to the two organizations, life saving measures can be stopped in the following situations:
1. The patient has experienced blunt trauma, does not show any ECG activity and has no pulse.
2. They have no pulse and have what is defined as a penetrating trauma. This could be the result of a gunshot or stab wound. However, even though the patient may not have a pulse, other tests for signs of life should be conducted, such as ECG activity or spontaneous movement. If any of these signs are present, rescue workers should continue life-saving efforts and proceed to the nearest trauma unit.
3. If the person has been decapitated or literally cut in half, known by doctors as hemicorporectomym, life saving efforts should cease.
4. If the person has been without a pulse and is in rigor mortis or is decomposed, life saving measures are unnecessary.
Guidelines are constantly evaluated and often changed. Rescue workers should ask their employers what guidelines to follow and ask for a copy in writing. As with any situation, good documentation will prove that you followed the guidelines and did all you could do for a patient. Documentation and following guidelines quells concerns of family members reviewing their loved one’s death. Good documentation is also the best defense if a lawsuit or complaint is filed about the treatment of a patient.
Article provided by Kim Berly
