Re: Infant CPR (formerly 911 Suggestions)

[Guest guest]

Hello, group...

It's been a while since I've posted. Like (CHP), I've just been way too

busy of late to do much more than read the digests to keep up on threads.

However, I think it's important to respond with as much support as possible

to Clemons of Camden Co MO regarding her infant CPR call.

I've been CPR certified since 1974, and a CPR instructor for my department

for over a decade, and one of the things we learn in instructor certification

is that MOST CPR ATTEMPTS ARE UNSUCCESSFUL. We are not encouraged to pass

that information on to our students since it might tend to discourage them.

But it's a cold hard fact that CPR is still a primitive and evolving

procedure meant to buy time for the victim until high-level emergency care

can be implemented.

A " save " is statistically rare. And yet, we try anyway, because the

alternative (to do nothing) is unthinkable.

Sad to say, I've lost count of the number of people (yes, infants too) that

I've " lost " over the years -- including listening to the dying gasps of an

asthmatic woman on the phone with me, the sounds of EMS breaking down the

door in the background.

, you can't be human and not be a wreck after such a traumatic call.

What is critical to know is that everyone develops ways of coping in the

aftermath. The key is to learn or seek ways of coping that are not

self-destructive. There's no one way to do this, it's highly individual. My

own way is to dive right back into taking more calls, blocking out the horror

until my body and brain has had some time to return to " normal " function.

Then later, I can dispassionately review my efforts, critique where I might

do better next time -- and if need be, seek out a coworker with whom to

ventilate some of that horror out into the open. Other folks take a break,

or have a good cry, or seek some form of CISD, or a combination of all of

these.

ABOVE ALL, DO NOT BLAME YOURSELF IF THE VICTIM DIES!!

....and here's why:

1.) Short of commiting some gross error in relaying CPR instructions (which

we know you didn't), you did everything you were trained to do and could

think of at the time to save this infant.

2.) If you hadn't been there to relay instructions, the child would have

certainly died anyway. You were there when you were needed.

3.) By giving instructions in CPR -- even in cases where you suspect it may

be futile -- you have provided invaluable support to the family members

involved. Instead of standing there watching helplessly as their loved one

dies in front of them, you have helped them realize that they made every

effort possible to save their child. This will go a long long way toward

their recovery from such a traumatic incident.

4.) You can't save everyone, no matter how good you are or how much you want

to. Period.

Listen to your coworkers and the other people involved. If they thought

you'd messed things up, they might not say so, but they would probably avoid

discussing it with you -- and certainly not tell you you did a great job.

So....since that's what everyone involved keeps telling you, accept it. YOU

DID A GREAT JOB!!!

Will you ever forget the call? Not bloody likely. And yes, you will get

another call similar to it again -- perhaps even tomorrow. And when that

call comes, you will do a great job again. And if you get one of those

statistically rare " saves " you will be floating a foot off the ground for

days!!!

9-1-1 dispatchers are a rare breed. We must keep our heads when everyone

dealing with us is losing theirs. It doesn't mean we're cold, we've just

learned to function (and yes, thrive) under stress conditions that " normal "

people will not willingly go. Warped and twisted, perhaps, but ultimately

caring and compassionate -- or we'd find another line of work.

, you are a credit to our profession.

Dana Braaten

Fairfax Co. PD (VA)

>>all opinions expressed here are my own, and may not reflect those of my

Dept.<<