A patient is dead and resuscitation need not be
attempted where there is decomposition, decapitation
or gross mutilation, rigor mortis or foetal
maceration.
An adult who has been submerged for >3 hours may be
presumed to be dead with or without hypothermia.
In other cases a Paramedic may elect not to
resuscitate / cease resuscitation where certain
guidelines are met i.e. three loops of the asystole
protocol where there is no change in ECG etc HOWEVER
certain groups are excluded from this approach namely
: pregnancy, drowning, overdose, chidren, pregnancy,
trauma and where hypothermia is suspected (as a cause
of the arrest). As stated, the guidelines say these
patients MUST receive treatment and transport.
As per usual most Paramedics just use their judgement
anyway !
JRCALC Recognition of Death policy :
http://www.asancep.org.uk/JRCALC/RecognitionofDeathMay00.htm
--- Timothy J Coats <[log in to unmask]> wrote: >
> "The following types of patient MUST receive
> ongoing
> > resuscitation and MUST be removed to hospital
> .....
> > Any patients where hypothermia may be even
> remotely
> > suspected"
> >
>
> = anyone who has been dead for about more than 10
> minutes. By
> definition they will all be hypothermic. You must be
> misinterpreting
> this rule if you think that it means resuscitate
> anyone who you think
> has a reduced core temperature. I would expect
> paramedics to use
> their clinical acumen to decide on the
> interpretation.
>
> The old rule that "you are never dead unless warm
> and dead" is
> complete bunkum. I am surprised to see it
> perpetuated in these
> guidelines for paramedics.
>
> Tim.
>
>
>
> Timothy J Coats MD FRCS FFAEM
> Senior Lecturer in Accident and Emergency /
> Pre-Hospital Care
> Royal London Hospital, UK.
=====
Ian Todd LL.B.(Hons.), DipIMC RCS(Ed), SRPara
Paramedic Officer,Warwickshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust
Research Associate, University of Warwick
Work: 02476 573954 Home: 01926 852979 (inc. fax)
Mobile: 07747 841068 E-mail: [log in to unmask]
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