Medic and Engine Crews Save Patient Experiencing Allergic Reaction

October 22, 2010

A man awoke in the early hours of October 22, 2010 experiencing chest pain and struggling to breathe. He had been suffering from trouble breathing the previous day, but it became worse during the night. When he woke, he also found his skin flushed and the presence of hives on his face, neck and shoulders.

He called 911, and Bethesda-Chevy Chase Rescue Squad Medic 741 and Bethesda Fire Department Engine 706 (the latter staffed by a Department of Fire and Rescue Services crew) were dispatched to render aid for “a male patient experiencing an allergic reaction.”

The crews arrived on the scene simultaneously and found the patient standing in his living room leaning against a sofa trying to catch his breath, wheezing and displaying all the signs and symptoms of a moderate allergic reaction. The patient wasn’t aware that he had any allergies, but he had started taking approximately six new medications several days earlier and thought he might be allergic to one or more of them.

Working with the paramedic assigned to the engine company, the Rescue Squad medic assumed control of patient care and began quickly assessing the patient. He directed the crews to take vital signs and administer high-flow oxygen to the patient. Upon placing the patient on a cot in the back of the medic unit, the crew connected the patient to an ECG monitor to assess the patient’s cardiac rhythm and vital signs.

They also began administering medications. The medic administered Albuterol and Atrovent medications through a nebulizer in an effort to counteract the effects of the patient’s allergic reaction, open his airway and lung passages, and reduce his work of breathing. Then the medic injected the patient with Benadryl (diphenhydramine) and Epinephrine. Once these medications were administered, the crew turned their attention to establishing an IV, monitoring the patient’s airway, and checking the patient’s response to these interventions provided.

The crew continued supportive patient care on the way to the hospital. The patient began to improve and commented that he felt that it was becoming easier to breathe.

Allergic reactions are not uncommon, but moderate to severe reactions must be treated quickly and aggressively. Rapid recognition of the signs and symptoms of a life-threatening allergic reaction and speedy activation of the Emergency Medical Services system – i.e., calling 911 – can greatly improve a patient’s outcome when he or she is experiencing a life-threatening allergic reaction.

Cardiac Arrest Patient Saved by Ambulance, Medic, and Truck Crews

March 5, 2010

A woman awoke in the early hours to find her husband collapsed and unresponsive at their Bethesda home. She thought he was unconscious and called 911. Bethesda-Chevy Chase Rescue Squad Ambulance 726 and Medic 741, as well as Cabin John Park Truck 710, were dispatched to render aid.

While the units were en route, the 911 dispatcher alerted the crews that the patient “was a possible code”—meaning he was suspected to be in cardiac arrest. Ambulance 726 arrived on scene first and found the patient unresponsive without a pulse and not breathing. Crew members immediately began performing life-saving efforts including cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and defibrillation (administering an electric shock) with an automated external defibrillator.

Read the full article at:


http://www.bccrs.org/IncidentCardiacArrestPatientSaved20100305.html

Wanted: Volunteer EMTs, Paramedics, and Firefighters

It’s 4:27 p.m. and the alarm sounds. The call is a multiple car accident on the Beltway. They need your help. You jump into action with the rest of the Squad.

Nothing can match your excitement when you hear the alarm. The exhilaration of diving into your gear and running for the ambulance or the squad truck. The satisfaction of knowing that you may save a life tonight.

The Rescue Squad's volunteers are a tight, elite group that makes a valuable contribution to our community. The training and rewarding life experiences you gain--as well as your value to the community--make the Rescue Squad an organization that can change your life.

Interested in becoming a member of the Rescue Squad? Members stand duty one night per week from 7:00 PM until 7:00 AM. No experience is needed. All training is provided free of charge either at the Rescue Squad or at the Montgomery County Public Service Training Academy.

For more information, visit www.bccrs.org , call our membership hotline, 301-657-5557, or email membership@bccrs.org .

Medical Emergency Requires Multiple-Unit Response

December 6, 2009

A seemingly "routine" call for help turned out to be a serious medical emergency that required advanced medical care and a multiple-unit response. Ambulance 726 was called to the 10200 block of Old Georgetown Road in Bethesda by bystanders who noticed a gentleman who appeared to have fallen in a shopping center parking lot. After performing an initial assessment, the ambulance crew determined that the individual was experiencing a medical emergency requiring advanced care.

They summoned additional resources for assistance. Within minues, Bethesda Fire Department Engine 726, staffed by a Department of Fire and Rescue Services crew, arrived to assist with care. By the time Medic 741 rolled up a few minutes later, the engine and ambulance crews had transferred the patient onto the ambulance's cot and prepared him for transport. The crews transferred the patient to the medic unit, and, with a Paramedic administering care, the patient was transported expeditiously to an area hospital.

Prompt action by bystanders who recognized an emergency resulted in a swift response from the Rescue Squad and Fire Department crews. If you witness someone who appears to require emergency medical care--whether from an injury or a medical problem--you should not hesitate to request Rescue Squad services (call 9-1-1 in Maryland or 301-652-1000 in Upper Northwest Washington).

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