When Emergency Cardiac Care works like it ought to

October 15, 2000

Friday I attended the AHA ECC Update in Dallas and heard Dr. Jim Atkins

conduct the ACLS seminar during which he emphasized over and over the

importance of the Chain of Survival. Well, Saturday, we had a classic,

textbook example in Tyler of how the Chain of Survival can work.

Around mid afternoon a 44 year old female was shopping at WalMart and

experienced weakness, dizziness, chest pain and dyspnea. WalMart employees

quickly called 911 and gave good information to dispatch. Tyler FD Engine 8

was dispatched along with an East Texas Medical Center EMS MICU. Engine 8 is

located about 1.5 miles from the store and responded in less than 3 minutes.

Just as Engine 8 was pulling into the parking lot the patient coded inside

the store. A Respiratory Therapist was close by and immediately assessed the

patient, determined she was in cardio-pulmonary arrest and began CPR.

Although Engine 8's crew didn't know the patient had arrested they entered

the store with the AED, which they quickly attached and which advised a

shock. The patient was shocked once and regained a pulse. Shortly

thereafter the MICU arrived and IV access was obtained, lidocaine

administered, and the patient transported. By the time they reached Trinity

Mother Frances Hospital, a 5 minute transport, she was awake and talking.

She had not had an MI but a dysrhythmia apparently related to a problem in

the heart's conduction system.

I saw this patient this afternoon and she is 100% fine. She will get an

implanted defibrillator this week.

OH, By The Way, the Respiratory Therapist is a graduate of Tyler Junior

College's RT program, the firefighter/paramedic is a graduate of Tyler Junior

College's EMSP Program and is an EMS Instructor, and the lead medic on the

MICU is a graduate of TJC's EMSP Program and currently a part-time Instructor

with our program.

The RT is: Dover, RT

The FF Paramedic is Tate, AAS, LP

The MICU Paramedic is Gayle Holt, EMT-P

I don't know the names of the other rescuers right now but will find them out

and post them, because this team did it ALL right.

DON'T YOU LOVE IT WHEN THINGS WORK LIKE THEY SHOULD?

I do!!!

Gene Gandy, JD, LP

Director of EMSP

Tyler Junior College

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