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I've wondered if there is any consensus about how you should train or prepare for in-office emergencies. Aside from common things like a syncopal episode or hypoglycemia do you prepare for anything else? I'm thinking of seizures, drug reactions/anaphylaxis, loss of consciousness, M.I., etc.

What do you keep on hand? I'd imagine that everyone has Instaglucose and an EpiPen. What about a defibrillator or oxygen tank? Do you maintain BLS or ACLS certification? Do you require any of your staff to have this training?

Thanks in advance

 

Han

What country are you in? If its UK then as a podiatrist we should have First aid and basic life support training with adrenalin if using local anaesthesia. I don't keep anything more than epipen. In 13 years I've never had more than fainting to deal with and the most useful things here are a reclining chair and a chemical cool pack for the back of the neck. I've only recently been using LA though.

Regards Dave

 

http://www.shakeout.govt.nz/

Looking forward to this in a few weeks.

 

Would help if you work in a medical centre. Then just open the door and yell 'Doctor please!'

I know, not helpful for most Pods.

I was told on my last CPR course that we are only to use an epipen belonging to a patient. Do we know enough about adverse reactions to one?

 

We were told at our CPR / first aid course (organised by the ApodA) that we are not even to use the patient's epipen UNLESS instructed to do so over the phone by the 000 operator - the patient can use it themselves, but we can't. In fact it was so confusing that I now all I remember was the confusion so I hope I heard correctly!!

 

Bjorn,

I suppose if patient communicated to you 'please get my epipen', then you would be negligent not to help him. Saving a life is more important than sueing. Fortunatelly I have a Queensland Ambulance CPR course which provides insurence backing me up as long as I do what I was taught and in my clinic. Do you have anything like that in Melbourne? Perhaps shopping around for one would help.

 

Don't think so on insurance front. I reckon I would just do what the patient asked, and worry about the consequences later. It's sad that sueing is even discussed where the intent might be to save someone's life isn't it? I'll have to check my notes on whether giving someone their own epipen was ok, but using "the clinics" was not.

 

Are there no Good Samaritan Laws where you are?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Good_Samaritan_law

 

You were told wrong. we can and should be using it.

 

Craig,

Thanks for the clarification. There was a bit of debate at the time within the session - the instructor was telling us that we don't have anaphylaxis training . A few argued with him that is what we are supposed to be learning, and then we touched on it. It led to a few queries at APODA who I think looked into some more. Considering at the time, this was a session organised by the association, it was a little poor I thought.

 

Bjorn,

I find each year I attend CPR Course I learn a little more as each instructor has something else to add, especially good case scenarios.

Sorry to hear your instructor told you something completely wrong. I read the material given so I know my scope of responsibility as a Health professional.

When they change the important info like ' we don't give 2 quick breaths anymore' I have to ask them to explain as it makes me nervous when dealing with life and death situation.:eek: