Comments on: Code Blue

By: Offipsdagiags

Offipsdagiags — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 20:26:08 +0000

Authentic words, some authentic words man. You made my day!

By: Life & Death Brigade « KML.

Life & Death Brigade « KML. — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 03:31:50 +0000

[...] Code Blue [...]

By: Intubate 'Em!!!

Intubate 'Em!!! — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 17:35:24 +0000

Spook,

When it comes to the airway…that’s when we RTs jump in to help.

By: Spook, RN

Spook, RN — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 02:46:30 +0000

[QUOTE]I remember doing those codes in the ER as a tech watching 5 RN’s trying to get a line while the patient lays without an airway until the MD finally steps in and yells to secure the airway.[END QUOTE]

Just curious – but how are RNs supposed to “secure the airway”? Other than BVM or Oro/Naso pharyngeal? No RN I know of in the 50 states is allowed to intubate patients…

slightly confused,
Spook

By: Dr. Greenbbs

Dr. Greenbbs — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 01:51:36 +0000

the worst part is having a code in a place where you’re totally vulnerable and without resources.

I was doing one of my aeromed shifts, and we had a guy who flipped his tractor, and crushed himself, probably a mile or so into a forested area accessible only by gator or other 4wd vehicle. an hour and a half later, we had him extricated, and were loading him into the helo, and someone frantically came up, grabbed me, and said a guy went down about a third of a mile back and he’s not breathing.

we had nothing…in our tractor resuscitation, we cashed our blood, saline, and 6 o2 tanks, cashed 2 BLS squads worth of o2 tanks, and an als squad worth of saline (they dropped off supplies and left).

i had no meds (in the helo with a guy actively trying to die), a defibrillator, and an airway kit brought by my pilot.

i intubated him, hyperventilated him on room air, defibrillated him, and when the als squad returned, sent him to the nearest ed while we flew the other guy to the trauma center.

the tractor guy is going to be ok.

the guy who collaped and died? his 40 year old brother.

it’s such a helpless feeling when you have nothing….and you do your best…and you still have nothing.

By: Ten out of Ten

Ten out of Ten — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 06:06:52 +0000

Right. Not a failure. At least this time.

By: Nurse K

Nurse K — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 23:11:23 +0000

10/10: Not a failure. Case closed.

Remember, anyone arriving cardiac arrest is clinically dead, so any restoration of a perfusing heart rhythm is literally bringing someone back from the dead…For every minute you go without defibrillation in v-fib cardiac arrest, your chances of survival decrease by 10%, so CALL 9-1-1 for crapsakes.

By: marcia (2)

marcia (2) — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 22:25:49 +0000

I didn’t think 10/10 thought it was a failure, but apparently I misread the intention of your post. I interpreted your words to mean, “you should have considered it a failure,” or something along those lines.

Sorry.

By: crisitunity

crisitunity — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 21:17:41 +0000

Marcia, reread my comment. NOT automatically a failure. I don’t think it was a failure, and I don’t think 10/10 did either.

By: marcia (2)

marcia (2) — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 15:33:53 +0000

How is it a failure, if they followed protocol? If they did everything they could to save him, and it didn’t work, that’s not a failure; it was just his time.

Imo, a failure is when you make mistakes or omit care that either causes an unnecessary death, or fails to prevent a death that wouldn’t otherwise have occurred.

Since the man was brought in by the family, there’s no telling how long he was down, or whether his “survival” would have been accompanied by brain damage. That’s more of a failure than death, imo.

Just a lay person, but how I see it.