So myself and three other guys (Tony, Christian, Phil on Saturday and, Mark on Sunday) just got back from Nanaimo after a weekend working in the hospital ER. All I can say is holy shit what an experience. For one it was just really cool to be able to apply some of the knowledge and skills we've learnt over the past few months on people who are truly ill opposed to super healthy SAR students.
We dealt with all sorts of injuries/illnesses from young girls crushed by horses, obstructed bowels, heart attacks, meningitis, narcotic overdose, logging accidents, tuberculosis, etc.... I was thrown up on a few times, one by a guy in SEVERE pain from an obstructed bowel and another time by a 61 year old female. She had a history of alcoholism and had some hematemesis (a fancy word for vomiting blood that I like to throw around). So yes I had a woman vomit blood on my hands and arms. Rad. We all got some experience starting IV's, giving fluids and drugs. Having now tried to start an IV on a senior I have a newfound respect for nurses. Most of them are utterly amazing at their jobs, but one thing I did notice is the sense of detachment that most of them have. I can understand how being saturated by people in pain or even on their death bed would instill that in you.
By far the most profound experience of the weekend involved a man we'll call patient X. This guy was messed up. He had a heart attack the previous day and after a CT scan it was found he had a giant aneurysm in his abdomen as well as a huge clood clot and a build up of plaque (atherosclerosis) in his aorta just below his kidneys. So all his major organs were still receiving blood but not his legs. His legs looked like they were dead. They were cold and ashen and he had no feeling below his belly button. X had said that he never goes to see the doctor. Anyway around 1615 later that day I went in their to see what was up and there was my two friends Christian and Mark doing CPR on this guy why nurses and doctors were running around the bed. My initial reaction was "holy shit........." I then put my gloves and looked for a place to observe the whole thing. Our clinician was pumped and so was I. He asked me if I wanted to give the guy chest compressions to which I said "fuck yeah". Anyway Christian had broken X's sternum in a couple places which is what usually happens if CPR is done right and actually allows for more effective compressions. The doctors established an IV in his femoral artery which was kinda useless I think since he was getting no circulation to his legs anyway and another one in his jugular vein which looked to be an extremely difficult procedure given that we were doing CPR on him. When I finally got up there to give him compressions I just zoned out at first concentrating on giving good compressions, but after I got the rythym of it I started to take it all in. I was looking at him and thinking to myself "this guy is dead, we're beating his heart and breathing for him is all". I did about 3 minutes of compressions on him and then they stopped to assess the patient. I switched out with Tony so he could have a crack at compressions. It wasn't to be though because the doctor called it. I beat X's last heart beat for him. We were all super excited and we went to talk about the whole thing and discuss what was happening and what we were all trying to do for him.
So unfourtunately X didn't pull through but it did have some definite benefits for us. Actually doing CPR in itself was a massive experience and a little more disspationately it was a good experience to see someone you've tried to help die. As a SAR Tech it is something we will deal with, but better deal with it now then on the side of an icy cliff.
I'll say it again and not for the last time. Best job in the world.
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SAR Tech Motto: Without regard for my personal comfort or self advancement, to the best of my ability and to the limitations of my physical and psychological endurance, I solemnly pledge to make every effort to return to safety, those victims of disaster entrusted to my care by the assignment of the mission to which I have consented. These things I shall do: 'That others may live'
Course 42
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What training do SAR Techs recieve?
SAR Techs are highly trained specialists who provide on-scene medical attention and rescue for aviators, mariners and others in distress in remote or hard to reach areas.
They are trained in advanced trauma life-support, land and sea survival, rescue techniques from helicopters, parachuting, diving, mountain climbing and rappelling.
In the air, they act as spotters, providing medical care during medical evacuation flights, direct the dropping of equipment and supplies by parachute and parachute and hoist from the planes and helicopters. On the ground, they render on-site medical care to casualties, organize and lead ground search teams and perform mountain rescue operations to assist and recover casualties.
They are trained to operate boats and to perform both surface and underwater rescues using scuba gear. They are trained as survival experts under all Canadian climatic and terrain conditions including on land, at sea, in the Arctic, on mountains and on glaciers. They are also trained to communicate with over-flying Aircraft by use of radios, flares, smoke, ground and hand signaling devices and other methods.
Links to check out.
1 comment:
Have to agree, my best code, dude didn't stand a chance - unwitnessed arrest - but we did 20 minutes of CPR with epi and lido, and 12 shocks. It was textbook, it was perfect. Sounds like you guys had fun. As for the hematemesis on the arms, I had an 80 year old woman with Menieres disease vomit and become incontinent of urine and stool in a full tub, and I got to remove her. Beat that ick factor.
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