Tuesday, September 8, 2009

Anyone know CPR?

I want to get this down before I forget all the details . . . so here goes. Last Saturday night, thinking I had the night off, I was called in to work. I got there at 10:00 PM, received report on all the patients we had for the night (we being Matt, Jonathan and I). Just thinking it was going to be another evening of helping patients to the bathroom and getting pain pills for the night, things changed quickly. We had all made our rounds checking on patients, getting vitals, nothing too unusual. Jonathan checked on patient D, took off his glasses turned off his light and TV, because he had fallen asleep. 15 minutes later, Matt went in to check D's vitals, but he was unresponsive and not breathing. After coming to inform us, grabbed the crash car and we all went in running. We got him on to the floor, Matt was on the ambu-bag while I started compressions. Now, I had never administered CPR before, and there is no way to explain what it feels like to be giving compressions on someones chest, it is almost disturbing. The feeling of pushing, the pops and almost cracks that you feel is like no other! The nurse had called 911 and we had them on the phone while I was doing compressions, they wanted me to do 600 compressions by the time the paramedics got there, doing 2 compressions per second. The paramedics got within minutes and I continued doing compressions while they were getting everything situated, and lines in. I have to say it was amazing to be right there first hand watching and participating. They worked on him for almost 30 minutes, managed to get a faint pulse, so they loaded him up on the gurney and took him to the hospital. Unfortunately he didn't make it. I didn't think he would, I knew he was gone when we started CPR, but we have to do everything possible to help him. I was so impressed with the paramedics and all the things they do. There were several sheriffs that came to, I wasn't expecting that, but I am sure it is protocol for a death, and they kept a log of everything that was done and noting the times, as well as talking to us to find out exactly what happened. While all of this was going on, I felt so inadequate, felt like I didn't know what I was doing, but when questions were asked I knew the answers and after everything was over Matt said I was calm and that I was amazing. I sure didn't feel that way, but I am glad he said that. During, they asked me several times if I needed to be relieved, but the adrenaline was pumping and I didn't feel tired at all, I was rather warm though! The next day, I was exhausted and my arms were sore, but I would do it all over again. Truly an amazing and humbling experience.

7 comments:

Lauren said...

Wow, Tiffany! You are so brave, I would have freaked out...600 compressions?? You medical people are so amazing...it makes ME feel inadequate. That's pretty intense!

BS said...

That is insane. You are so amazing Tiffany. I seriously panic in life-threatening situations-you are so amazing to be able to do that. Good job. :)

Amy said...

Way to go Tiff! That is so dang cool! Kudos to you for doing the compressions for so long and staying calm, that's the amazing part!

Becky said...

Oh my goodness! I would have been a mess in that situation. Good on ya!

Rachel said...

Good job girl!!! You ROCK!

Amanda said...

Way to go! You are amazing:)

Nicole said...

So impressed I guess the trip to the fire station was a sucess!