Being a paramedic is not all intubation and cardioversion. However, every day on the job is different. And unfortunately, every time you put on the uniform you have the possibility to be one of the first people on the scene of something horrific. Thankfully everyday is not like that, but there is always the possibility of it.
For example, I was working rescue recently when my partner and I were dispatched for a cardiac arrest. As odd as this may sound, it was really no big deal. Working an arrest is fairly routine but does make for tense situations and has it's own sets of challenges. On our way there we hear the FD state over the radio that the situation is under control and all other responding units can downgrade. This usually is done for a person that has been down for a very long period of time or injuries that are incompatible with life. Like a GSW to the head. Now I know what you're thinking..."A GSW to the head does not always mean obvious death". And you are correct. However, when the top of the pts skull is on the roof of the house they were found leaning against and their parietal lobe was exposed and lying on the ground, it usually means resusitative efforts would be futile. And this particular incident was self inflicted...with a shotgun. Now I am no ballistics expert, but there is a simple equation that 99.9% of the time holds true. [Fire arm + Face or mouth = Death]. Call it being cavalier about the situation, but the damage done, whether it be fatal or not is still pretty catastrophic.
At any rate, it was an easy call. Just a quick phone call to medical control to obtain a time of death and then document the whole thing. As with most cardiac arrests, the documentation takes longer than the actual resusitative efforts. Or in this case, the pronouncement.
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