Well it's been some time since I've written for various reasons... Thought I should add something!
One particular job to write about that has been one to remember over the past few months... In fact the past few years!
As much as I love my job, and we make a real difference to so many people, it isn't that often that you do a job that you know you will remember and feel proud about for a long time.
It's Christmas day, and I'm on nights, on my own working on a car (horrid I know - but such is the job!), I've had an average evening so far, nothing exciting to write home about!
Until I receive my next job, a query cardiac arrest... So a few things happen rather quickly: I look at my map, acknowledge the job and make my way there as swiftly as my car will take me, and given that it's late in the evening on Xmas day it was a somewhat swift response! Getting further messages on route from the control room that CPR is in progress, it's a sure sign that this is in fact a cardiac arrest and not just a faint or other less serious problem...
On the way I think to myself how horrid for this poor family, it’s the one job I really don’t want to be doing on Xmas day…
I arrive at the scene (just over 4 minutes since the time of the call) to a country lane with no street lighting, only about 3 feet wider than my car, how's the ambulance going to get down here I think, then I realise I've got a few other things to sort out first!
In front of me on the middle of this small lane is an elderly gentleman lying on his back with 2 people doing CPR.... Ah I think, now this is going to be interesting, not only is this in a public place, but a small country lane, in the dark, with no street lights.
An arrest on your own can be somewhat manic anyway, but with these added extra problems, will just have to get on with it, that’s what the training is for!
By now my personal dose of adrenalin has been released!
Getting all of my kit out of the car I need, I shout to the bystander to carry on what they are doing for the moment until I can get myself organised. It should be noted that in a few years of doing this job I have yet to see two people doing CPR as well as these two were, it was textbook perfect! Our control room is still on the phone at this point and between them all a great job is being done.
By the time the ambulance and another response car arrives in about five minutes, I’ve shocked the patient once, unfortunately into Asystole, and continuing with CPR.
By the time we have gotten the gentleman into the ambulance not only has his heart started to beat by itself, but he is making an attempt to breath as well!
This is a very unusual occurrence, for someone’s heart to restart by itself from Asystole, without any drugs!
The gentleman goes to the nearest A&E, is transferred to ITU and I hear nothing else until last week. A colleague tells me that he recovered completely, and was at home with his family for New Years Eve!
Having done this job now for a few years, this is the first time I have been to a cardiac arrest and we have actually saved them to the point where they walk out of hospital!
So all in all a great job, for me as it was my first successful resus, but also for the family. What to them must have been the worst Xmas they could have imagined was turned around into I’m assuming the best New Year they’ve had!
The NHS gets a lot of stick, but when it comes down to it, when people really do need help it is the best!
Much as I compained about working on Xmas day, I think this made up for it!
