Mounted search and rescue

["IRVIN LICHTENSTEIN" <ilichten1@verizon.net>]

There is a significant difference between pulseless and cold and merely unresponsive.  Unresponsive subjects have pulse and respiration but do not

respond to verbal or pain stimuli. Unconscious persons always go the ER, as do choking victims (swelling of the throat later), and near drowning victims

(lung problems within hours due to fluid buildup) .

 

Treatment for lack of response is to observe and monitor pulse and respiration while removing to safety and eventually an ER that has proper capabilities.

The treatment for an observed cardiac incident is support, CPR if needed, AED, and Oxygen, pending the arrival of ALS.

Our protocol for unobserved death (no pulse, body is “cold”) is to call the medical examiner, realizing that it may take some effort to determine lack of pulse by

palpation (fingers on artery) or stethoscope.  Other obvious signs are stiffness (rigor), dismemberment, and lots of blood or no blood.

In Pennsylvania, and in many states, no matter how dead the patient appears they are still alive until a medical doctor, medical examiner, or coroner says they are dead.

Beginning any kind of care under these circumstances commits your resources until a declaration is made.  In many jurisdictions the EMS service will not respond to transport a dead body, leaving it to the coroner’s office or a funeral director.   If you have no alternative treat the transportation of the body with as much decorum and dignity as possible, keeping it from view and wrapped in a plastic or other non-contaminating cover.  You may want to position the transport vehicle so that the press cannot see you load the body. 

 

Irv Lichtenstein

 

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From: msar-riders-bounces@lists.ibiblio.org [mailto:msar-riders-bounces@lists.ibiblio.org] On Behalf Of Karen Nesbitt
Sent: Monday, October 11, 2010 11:33 AM
To: MSAR
Subject: Re: [MSAR] Have a heart