MVA, rollover. Unknown male, Unknown age, unconscious at the scene, intubated, soft Blood Pressure. 10minutes out.
That is the report from the flight paramedics phone in. We scramble to prepare: Page trauma team, get blood down from the lab, assign roles- I am the primary assessing nurse. He comes in, verbal report is received as he is transferred to our stretcher and on to our monitors. I assess ABC, has strong radial pulses- blood pressure must be improved. Pupils are fixed- continuing result of the paralyzing agents given during intubation and transport. Blood Sugars are taken, we don’t know if he is a diabetic who may have had a hypoglycemic event causing the accident. We turn him to ensure no posterior injuries. We see another tattoo. The police officer quietly details it into his radio as they search for any way to identify him. We prep for transfer to CT, meds are taken to continue the sedation I hope that he isn’t allergic to them. In CT he becomes restless, I don’t know his name, I can’t calm him. He is reparalyzed. Full body CT is done to assess for injuries as well as any preexisting conditions. He is transferred back to the trauma room where I continue to assess and treat his injuries, labs are drawn to rule in and rule out all possible diagnosis. A few hours later we are reducing the sedation to see if he will wake up. By now we have confirmation on his identity.
As we walk on the floor in the morning the flight paramedics roll by with a stretcher. We gather to help out in the trauma room. As we get report I remark to my instructor.. this must have been the one we heard on the traffic report. (it is amazing how differently I can image the results of the traffic report now.. rather than the backups it is a questioning of How fast? How old? I wonder what hospital they went to?) She is unconscious, on life support, her face evident of the grill of the dump truck that swept her off of his bike. Her injuries are extensive and require many diagnostics and treatments. She spent the day in the trauma room, no room in ICU. Police intermittently coming in and out to ask questions as they sought to identify her. By mid afternoon we have a positive ID and family are into see her approx 5 hours later
That is the report from the flight paramedics phone in. We scramble to prepare: Page trauma team, get blood down from the lab, assign roles- I am the primary assessing nurse. He comes in, verbal report is received as he is transferred to our stretcher and on to our monitors. I assess ABC, has strong radial pulses- blood pressure must be improved. Pupils are fixed- continuing result of the paralyzing agents given during intubation and transport. Blood Sugars are taken, we don’t know if he is a diabetic who may have had a hypoglycemic event causing the accident. We turn him to ensure no posterior injuries. We see another tattoo. The police officer quietly details it into his radio as they search for any way to identify him. We prep for transfer to CT, meds are taken to continue the sedation I hope that he isn’t allergic to them. In CT he becomes restless, I don’t know his name, I can’t calm him. He is reparalyzed. Full body CT is done to assess for injuries as well as any preexisting conditions. He is transferred back to the trauma room where I continue to assess and treat his injuries, labs are drawn to rule in and rule out all possible diagnosis. A few hours later we are reducing the sedation to see if he will wake up. By now we have confirmation on his identity.
As we walk on the floor in the morning the flight paramedics roll by with a stretcher. We gather to help out in the trauma room. As we get report I remark to my instructor.. this must have been the one we heard on the traffic report. (it is amazing how differently I can image the results of the traffic report now.. rather than the backups it is a questioning of How fast? How old? I wonder what hospital they went to?) She is unconscious, on life support, her face evident of the grill of the dump truck that swept her off of his bike. Her injuries are extensive and require many diagnostics and treatments. She spent the day in the trauma room, no room in ICU. Police intermittently coming in and out to ask questions as they sought to identify her. By mid afternoon we have a positive ID and family are into see her approx 5 hours later
One thing I have learned is always be identifiable. Whether it is going for a quick power walk before dinner, or dropping your brother off at work early in the morning (in your pjs). Always carry a piece of ID with you. In doing so you will save your family the struggle of not knowing where you are or you being in hospital by yourself. Family is so important in crisis. The man in the first story was a committing a crime when he was brought to hospital but the first thing he said when he woke up was “can I call my mom”. Family aside the medical care is also affected by knowing who you are. This may sound a bit creepy but by knowing your name we can access your age, allergies, medical history, and contact information. May not sound that important but when you fall and have something as simple as an open fracture of your leg and are allergic to penicillin it will prevent us from giving you Ancef- the first line ortho antibiotic. So use that small pocket in your yoga pants and HAVE ID.
great info. thanks!
ReplyDeleteWell said, Mel! I'll never forget the day when our doorbell rang with a police officer asking us if we happened to see a gentlemen jogging by. He had collapsed and died just on the other side of our work driveway. He had no ID, so I remember praying for his family immediately. Wondering what his wife would be going through waiting for him to return.
ReplyDeleteLater we found out it was our friend and neighbor. From that day on, no one is allowed to leave our home without cellphone or ID.