r/ems

We got off two hours late on a 12-hour shift, crazy volume. Everybody kept their fingers and nobody died.

I live in Chicago, and I have to walk my dog a few times a day. Lately it feels like I keep finding medical emergencies while on our walkabouts! I’m afraid 911 thinks I’m calling too often—3 times in 4 weeks. Like, am I being a Gladys Kravitz? It’s hard because I’m deaf and have trouble understanding on the phone when it’s noisy.

There was a lady writhing in the street, passing out, and then got up and yelled at nothing in particular while stumbling down the street. I called and gave a description.

It was the hottest day, and some guy was passed out in a median. I asked people what happened—“I dunno, he’s breathing.” I woke him up, but he was dry and went back to sleep. I wasn’t comfortable assuming he just needed a nap because he was rather dry to the touch, so I called.

And just this morning, I saw commotion in an alley (kitty corner from a fire station) some others were trying to wake up this dude, get him comfy, and I asked, hey, is everything ok? They wanted me to call 911, so I did—dude wasn’t breathing according to the people trying to help him. Fire came, thankfully he woke up when they did a sternum rub, and ambulance did a scoop-and-run.

I feel like I’ll keep running into situations like this because of walking my dog, lol. A) am I right to call in the first two situations? B) how can I train my less-than-bright mini schnauzer to be more placid while I manage scenes?

I’m not a doctor, just a librarian who follows medical memes.

A Gilbert police report reveals an 18-month-old boy was found alive in a hospital morgue five and a half hours after being pronounced dead
By: Nicole Grigg , Ashley Holden

GILBERT, AZ — An Arizona toddler was found breathing inside a Gilbert hospital morgue after being declared dead hours earlier by an Arizona doctor, according to police records.

A police report and body camera video reviewed by the ABC15 Investigators show that two Gilbert police officers saw signs of life multiple times, but the toddler was still taken to the hospital’s “cold room,” which is also considered to be the morgue.

One officer wrote in the police report that the baby was pronounced dead “in error” by the Mercy Gilbert doctor even after a tense exchange about a pulse possibly being detected.

The 18-month-old was rushed to Mercy Gilbert Medical Center after he was found inside the family’s pool on Super Bowl Sunday in February.

It has taken months for the Gilbert police to release public records related to the near-drowning.

The ABC15 Investigators reviewed a half dozen body camera videos, including videos from the initial drowning scene and videos inside the hospital. Most of the videos are heavily blurred, and most of the audio has been muted, but one critical moment was captured between the doctor and the officer.

According to the police report, the officer wrote that a nurse in another room said: “I have a pulse.”

The officer wrote that when he tried to alert the doctor who was with the family in another room, the doctor appeared to dismiss the concerns, “[The doctor] arrogantly told me he was the doctor, he has the medical degree, he went to medical school for a reason, and to let him do his thing.”

Records show that shortly after that exchange, the doctor went on to declare the baby dead.

Over the next hour, two Gilbert police officers continued to document signs of life in their police report.

One officer wrote, “The release of air was audible and visible,” later writing, “It also began to sound like [redacted] was gasping for air.”

The report goes on to say that when medical staff went to move the boy’s body to the morgue, the officer wrote that she “observed what appeared to be another audible gasp.”

That was not the last time she heard signs of life, either.
While inside the morgue, the officer said, “I again observed what appeared to be a gasp or air release, which was now almost an hour later.”

A nurse who was there said those sounds could be a response to efforts to save the toddler.

Some of the last audio recordings heard on the body camera videos were of an officer telling the family that they could say goodbye.

The report says, hours later, at 11:52 p.m., the Medical Examiner's transport showed up and found the toddler was breathing inside the hospital morgue. He was then flown to Phoenix Children's Hospital for treatment.

An MRI said that the baby had brain damage, and we are told he will need lifelong care.

An attorney representing the family declined to comment.
Mercy Gilbert said in a statement, “This is a heartbreaking situation. We immediately conducted a thorough review of all aspects of the care provided to learn what happened and to make meaningful changes to strengthen our care. Out of respect for the patient's privacy, we cannot discuss details. We continue to work with the family and their representative. Patient safety and exceptional care is our highest priority.”

I see this advertised quite frequently and wonder if it would be helpful to record conversations with staff, nurses, and patients for reference later when writing the patient care report. Has anyone used one of these in this context? Thanks.

Be safe and be sure to post your stories in here once your shift’s over 🤙

Just to preface I'm a BLS lead in a fairly busy system that does 911/IFT. Just had a call for syncope. Get there and a 78yom is laying supine in a bedroom. Cyanosis around his lips, delayed capillary refill, no palpable distal pulses. My first set of vitals were GCS: 15 HR: 71 RR:14 SPO2: 90 and a bp of fucking 59/41. I rechecked it and got another one of 49/33. Called for ALS, got capno/12 lead/BGL/started O2 4lpm via NC and recheck the BP on the other arm and get one of 83/55. PT said he was gonna vomit so I roll him on his side and fire puts a towel under him.

So one of the bystanders say she's an NP and that she can start a line and give fluids. I said no ALS is on the way. ALS arrived about 3 minutes later, turn over care and they transport. She asked for my name and I gave it to her.

Long story short would you guys have done the same thing? Im not sure what the legalities surrounding mid levels practicing outside of their work is in regards to PT care on scene. Curious as to what everyones thoughts/concerns are

I'm a bit nervous. I work in a big city with lots of different people and have to go in for a 24-hour shift at midnight tonight. It'll be my first time working the fourth in a city like this, and I've heard horror stories from my partner and senior medics. Now, I'd like to believe it's just exaggeration on their part because they've said things before that weren't entirely the case, but I want to hear it from the perspective of others. Does the fourth really get as hectic as some people say, specifically in a larger city?​