Tag Archives: royonrescue

Posted in Roy on Rescue • Weather Related • Heat Related • CPR for Instructors • CPR for Providers • Dehydration • Strokes • Outdoor Emergencies

Heat Exhaustion vs. Heat Stroke

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In this RoyOnRescue, I reply to a question a student emailed me about how to recognize heat exhaustion and heat stroke and how to treat both.   If you ever wondered if a person was just “over heated” or if they might be in danger of suffering a life threatening heat stroke, you will want to watch this video blog reply.

In some parts of the country it doesn’t feel very hot but don’t be fooled…Summer is just around the corner.  Be ready and don’t allow you or someone you love to become a victim of Heat Stroke!

Posted in Roy on Rescue • CPR for Instructors • CPR for Providers

How to Deal With Death When CPR Doesn’t “Work”

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This response was written after receiving an email from a person, who has a cousin that is a trained CPR provider and attempted to save their own father’s life with CPR but their father remained dead despite their efforts.  This person felt badly and didn’t know what to say to their cousin to help them not feel guilty or that their father’s death was in some way the rescuer’s fault.  I responded to them, and afterward, felt that my response may be helpful to others who have suffered or are suffering or asking themselves the question, “Was there more I could have done?”.   I hope that this response will be of help to anyone who may have feelings of failure or guilt as a result of their cpr efforts not ending in the survival of the patient.

Student’s Email Question:

(Paraphrased to protect students identity)

“My cousin has recently lost his dad and he is a trained CPR provider.  He tried CPR on him but it didn’t work. I was wondering if you had a way you deal with death if you could not save them. I just don’t know what to say to him or how to help him.  I’m the only one he is talking to and trusts. So not knowing how to help him bothers me.  If you would email me back that would be great.”
-Thanks

Dear Student,
One of the most important things to remember when providing CPR to anyone let alone a loved one, is that people who need CPR are already in a state of death.    When the person is not breathing and they don’t have a pulse strong enough to detect  with obvious signs of life, they are clinically dead.  From the point of clinical death, they are only a short distance from biological death, which is permanent.

One way of looking at the success of CPR, regardless of the outcome, helps me and I believe helps my students to be much more at peace with themselves.  The fact that your cousin’s Dad did not survive cardiac arrest has very little to do with the CPR given to him.  It’s important to remember that CPR, in and of itself does not save anyone’s life directly.  CPR is designed to “Buy Time”.  CPR only provides about 25% of the oxygen circulation that is required for someone to stay alive biologically.  CPR was never designed to be life support viewed as a way to keep people alive indefinitely, but rather to slow down the process of clinical death to biological death.  This is to provide a chance to intercept the patient with electrical therapy, advanced therapy and medications combined with CPR and time to fix the underlying problem which caused the person to die in the first place.

In my opinion what your cousin did, is give his Dad the best chance of survival possible if he was indeed going to survive.  Let’s look at clinical death as a heavy iron gate that is slowly dropping to the ground, and once closed the person is biologically or permanently dead.  CPR is like arms holding the heavy gate of possible survival open a bit longer.  Again, not stopping the progression of clinical death to biological death, but slowing it down so that if there is a chance of survival, they would have the greatest opportunity of slipping back through the gate available.  Eventually, the gate is going to close even if CPR is perfect.  As I said earlier, CPR in and of  itself is not enough to keep the human body alive.  But if the person is going to survive and the person needs more time, CPR buys the precious time required to make this a reality.

Now, it’s  important to remember a simple but powerful truth.  Everyone dies.  I have had patients that had everything go right in order for them to survive a cardiac arrest and they still remained dead despite our rescue efforts.   That day was their day to die and nothing that the cpr providers, paramedics, nurses or doctors did changed the outcome.  The CPR helped keep them viable long enough for the rescue and medical team to try and fix the underlying problem but the person remained dead.  I had to realize that as a professional rescuer and paramedic, everyone has a day to die.   It’s not my job to save everyone but it is my job to give everyone the best chance of  survival possible.  When I provided care to cardiac arrest patients, I provided care to them as if they were suppose to survive and didn’t give up hope unless they proved to me otherwise by not surviving.  It may be frustrating but we  just cannot know what day is the day a person is going to live or die until the outcome is evident.

I’m quite sure that no matter what I say, your cousin is really missing his Dad.  I don’t think there is any amount of explanation of science, death, dying and CPR that’s going to change that.   One thing I do know about what your cousin did the day he provided CPR for his Dad though, he showed others and his Dad how much he loved him.  How much he really cared.  Your cousin gave his Dad his own strength when his Dad didn’t have any of his own.  In my opionion, that’s one of the most loving and unselfish ways to tell a daddy goodbye.

May God bless your cousin and all hurting friends and family during these difficult times.

Sincerely,

Roy Shaw, ProCPR, LLC
RoyOnRescue.com

Roy Shaw

Posted in Roy on Rescue • CPR for Instructors • CPR for Providers

New York Stabbing Victim Ignored Death

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“On the surveillance video, a woman is followed by a man, who then appears to accost her.

Tale-Yax walks toward them. What can’t be seen is him being stabbed several times in the torso while trying to save the woman.

Within seconds, the camera captures the apparent attacker running away. Authorities say the woman fled from her assailant.

Tale-Yax, who was homeless, starts to chase the attacker but then collapses.

A minute later, a potential good Samaritan walks right by. And so does the next person and the one after that. A procession of more than 20 people seem to notice and fail to help.”

ABC Video and News Story of Stabbing Victim Ignored

Source: abcnews online

In this Roy On Rescue Video Blog, Roy W. Shaw, EMT-Paramedic explores a most disturbing news story about a man who comes to the aid of a woman being mugged, gets stabbed himself and then is left on the sidewalk to die.   The most disturbing part of the whole story is that approximately 20 people walked, drove or rode their bicycle by the dieing man without doing anything to help.

Roy get’s a bit serious in this episode but wants to make sure that if there is a reasonable doubt about getting involved to save another’s life and one is being stopped because of a misconceived fear, that fear must be removed before another person needlessly dies.

Don’t let one of these fears stop you from rescuing:

1.  Lawsuit

2.  Catching a Disease

3.  Unsure of What To Do

4.  Might Hurt or Kill The Person by doing something wrong

5.  Dangerous Environment (Legitimate)

Roy dissolves the misconceptions and misunderstandings of these top fears and hopes that if you know someone that may not rescue due to being afraid to try, you will pass this story on to them!

If you’re reading this or watching video right now, you are probably one of the ten percent of the total population that this story doesn’t apply to.  That’s why we know we are probably “preaching to the choir” but Roy is sure that you probably know someone that wouldn’t get involved in a rescue.  Please pass this on to them.

Posted in Roy on Rescue • Seizures

What’s A Seizure And How Do I Treat It?

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Seizures can be caused by many different things and though they don’t mean that the person has a serious condition, it is important to know what to do during and after a person has one.  A student wrote in asking if I could give  some additional information about how to handle a person who is having a seizure.   Though it seems complicated when you’re watching a seizure in progress, the treatment plan is quite simple.

1. Protect the person while they are having a seizure.

2. If this is the first time this person has ever had a seizure, call 911 or EMS.

3. Treat the patients needs after they stop having a seizure.

4.  Wait for EMS to arrive and takeover.

For a detailed training on seizure first aid, go to www.profirstaid.com and click on the video review tab at the top of the page.  Then search for the topic of seizures, get your favorite beverage and watch the video training.

Until next time…

Roy

http://www.epilepsyfoundation.org/answerplace/medical/seizures/types/

Posted in Roy on Rescue • Airway • CPR for Instructors • CPR for Providers • Respiratory

Gasping For Life!

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If an unconscious person is gasping but not breathing normally should you call 911 and leave them alone, or should you begin aggressive CPR?  In this Video Blog, Roy Shaw, EMT-P tells a true story about how a child may have died due to not having life saving CPR because she was showing signs of agonal breathing.  This caused the rescuer to stop the life saving CPR and ended tragically.
Watch this Video Blog to learn what agonal breathing is and how to respond to it.

http://www.theheart.org/article/924633.do

Posted in Roy on Rescue • Sports Related • Child Emergencies • CPR for Instructors • CPR for Providers

Can a Ball Hitting My Childs Chest Kill Him?

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In some cases it has!  The velocity of an object striking one’s chest can cause a phenomenon that could disrupt the normal beating heart.  If this happens, everyone standing by should hope they can recognize it, and treat it.  Here’s how I got on this subject.

An email came in to our offices asking about more information regarding what happens when a child is struck in the chest or abdomen ,ith a ball, puck, bat or other hard object.

Sports can be fun but not when someone gets seriously hurt or dies.  One type of injury that is a real concern to everyone is cardiac arrest secondary to  chest trauma from a blunt object.  This can happen when a baseball, soccer ball, basketball, hockey puck, bat or person hits another persons chest with a great deal of velocity or force.(http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/cgi/content/full/122/2/437)   In some cases, it is suspected that if a ball or other object hits a person chest over the top of the location of the heart, the strike works somewhat like a technique that was once used to mechanically cardiovert a heart called a precordial thump(http://www.heartrhythmjournal.com/article/S1547-5271%2809%2900687-0/abstract).  This technique used force vs. electricity to create some form of rhythm or Arrhythmia/ Ventricular Fibrillation in order for the heart to be corrected so as to regain a purposeful and organized heart rhythm.  This technique though used rarely today, may be the effect that is causing sudden cardiac arrest in children and adults who are involved in a chest trauma from sports.   If this does happen, the person may collapse immediately and stop breathing with no palpable(you can’t feel it) pulse. If the person is in cardiac arrest or is not showing signs of life,  911/Activation of EMS and CPR should be started immediately and an AED may be very useful if the person is in a shockable condition.  If an AED is not present, CPR will be done continuously without interruption unless the person becomes conscious and begins to move or attempts to speak(signs of life).   Be on guard, bruising, punctured lung or other underlying conditions could cause the person to return to a state of cardiac arrest so frequent reassessments will be required until the person is turned fully over to the care of emergency medical services.   The best cure for this injury is prevention.  Many companies are designing and selling chest guards and protective devices to help prevent this condition from happening.(http://www.allsportsarmour.com/CHEST_ARMOUR_SHIRT_p/asa100%20dual.htm A well trained professional or volunteer coaching team in CPR and First Aid (http://www.profirstaid.com)would be highly suggested and an AED can be purchased for less than a laptop today.(ProFirstAid.com)

In comparison another condition related to a blunt trauma to the abdomen is a condition nick named, “getting the wind knocked out”.  This condition usually occurs when a person receives a blow to the upper center abdomen which is approximately where we provide inward and upward abdominal thrusts for a choking victim.  This area is physiologically perfect for compressing the diaphragm and compressing the lower lobes of the lungs.  This forces residual air out of the lungs and feels scary.  Normally, after a few minutes of one trying to breath deeply, fighting hard for that first real deep breath, the spasm releases in the diaphragm and air is gradually brought back into a normal state.  Complications related to this fairly common condition could include ruptured or torn internal organs.  If a person is hit hard enough, as in situations where a bat or object was used, or the lower half of a steering wheel which is common in unrestrained, non airbag vehicular accidents, the trauma could rupture/tear internal organs and even the descending aorta.  If the Aorta is torn or ruptured, it is well know to be a usually fatal injury as time to surgery is quite a few minutes away and one can loose enough blood internally to die from hypovolemia.  A condition where there is not enough blood to circulate oxygenated blood or maintain an adequate blood pressure  which leads to death if not corrected.  Treatment for this more serious condition is activation of emergency medical services while providing CPR, Shock Therapy(http://www.profirstaid.com) and minimization of movement.  A way to prevent this injury is to avoid the types of conditions that could present it.  Another way is to incorporate an aggressive core strength training program which will build strength in the abdominal muscles so as to help protect against sport related injuries.

It is important to consult with your health care professional or physician before beginning any intense workout program and if you are at all concerned that you or someone you know may have internal injuries, call 911/EMS and seek medical help.

Most of the signs and symptoms related to an internal injury in the chest or abdomen are severe pain that disables a person from performing normal behaviors.  Tender abdomen to touch, distending(bulging) belly, rigid or hard belly) bruising or marks over the abdomen or chest, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, pale, cool, sweaty, increased anxiety, increased respiratory rate, dizziness, fear of dying and unconsciousness.  If any of these signs or symptoms are present or appear after an injury, activate the Emergency Medical Services immediately and/or seek medical help right away.

I hope this answers the question and I hope the next time you are by someone who is struck in the chest or simply gets the wind knocked out of them, you’ll better know what it is, what to do, and how to help.

Best Wishes,

Roy Shaw, EMT-P, RoyOnRescue

www.royonrescue.com

Tweet:  @royonrescue

P.S.  Here’s a link to  a real life scenario.  It’s worth the read Mom and Dad.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/05/19/family-of-boy-hit-by-base_n_102439.html

Posted in Roy on Rescue • CPR for Providers • Shock

What is Shock and How Do I Treat It?

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In this video blog, Roy Shaw, EMT-P answers a question by a student. The student wanted to know what shock is and how to treat it. Roy explains what shock really is and how you can treat it and possibly save one’s life.

Posted in Roy on Rescue • RoyOnRescue Updates

Roy’s Back from Wisdom Teeth Extraction!

Comments:1 Comment

Hello Everyone!

I am taken back at the kindness and encouragement that I received during this wisdom teeth procedure. I wanted to let everyone know that it went very well, with no complications after one week. For those of you that didn’t have it so easy, my heart goes out to you. Other than eating very soft food or liquids for about a week and worrying that I was going to get a condition called “Dry Socket” it has been very non eventful. For those of you who still must get your wisdom teeth pulled…I hear it’s better to do it when you’re young because your jaw bone is less dense and the procedure not only goes more effortlessly, but heals in a shorter amount of time.

I’m looking forward to video blogging on some very interesting topics that have come to my attention and it’s great to be feeling better.

P.S. I do wonder however, if anyone else thinks that getting their mouth numbed makes them a little “brain-dead” too? Hmmmm.

Posted in Roy on Rescue • RoyOnRescue Updates

Roy’s Getting Wisdom Teeth Removed!

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Hello Everyone. Well, as the subject line suggests, I will be a bit out of the loop for the next few days while I recover from getting not 1, not 2, not 3, but all FOUR wisdom teeth pulled. The good news, or so “they” tell me, is that all teeth have erupted,(this is suppose to mean the procedure will go better) are not impacted and should be a “sinch”! Hmmm. Why do I feel skeptical but in Good Faith I march forward with the procedure. In the meantime, I wanted to include an educational, though quite simple, video on what the procedure includes for wisdom teeth extraction. I suggest this video because it didn’t turn the stomach unlike some other educational but graphic videos located on YouTube under Wisdom Tooth Removal. For those of you whom I spoke with prior to this procedure, who did not have such a simple procedure, and you know who you are, I’ll be thinking of you while undergoing the procedure.
So, please say a prayer for me while I undergo the knife and I want you to know that I looks forward to my next video blog entry when the swellings gone.

Roy

Posted in Roy on Rescue • CPR for Providers

Does CPR Save Lives?

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Roy Shaw, Paramedic and Trainer explains how CPR works in detail and how it can help save lives. Many people think that CPR saves lives by keeping people alive artificially. Roy helps to clarify what is really happening when you begin CPR.

Many people think that if I keep doing cpr the person will stay alive. The fact is, the person is already dead if they need CPR and even cpr done less than by the book will give the person a better chance at survival. In this video Blog, Roy explains that people don’t die from poorly done cpr, people die because CPR is never started. If you don’t want to be another one of those people who misunderstands how CPR works and how you can make a difference by trying to help, you may want to watch the video now!