RESUSCITATION POLICY A. RESUSCITATION Emergency resuscitation efforts, including C.P.R., shall be initiated on all pulseless/apneic persons unless a victim has evidence of irreversible death. If the conditions listed below are found upon arrival at the scene, prehospital providers are to contact medical control for direction as to whether resuscitation should be initiated or withheld. The licensed health professional who is responding to the scene is ultimately responsible for the decision to initiate C.P.R. The licensed health professional should, therefore, personally observe and document the conditions which justify the failure to initiate C.P.R. B. CONTRAINDICATIONS TO RESUSCITATION (See Standard Operating Procedures for Patient Dead on Scene) 1. Definite rigor mortis (involving more than just joint rigidity). 2. Definite pooling of blood in the dependent areas of the body indicating the passage of a considerable time since death. 3. Decapitation or gross dismemberment of the body. 4. Open head and/or torso wounds with gross outpouring of brain or viscera. 5. Extensive, full thickness burns with no hope of salvagability, i.e. extensive charring of the body including face, loss of limbs. 6. Putrefied, decayed or frozen bodies 7. Drowning victim submersed for at least one hour as documented by on-scene EMS personnel. 8. Information from reliable sources that signs of life had been absent apnea and asystole for more than 20 minutes without C.P.R. (except in cases of drowning and hypothermia). C. SCENE ACCESS CONTROL The law enforcement officer on the scene shall be responsible for scene preservation and access control and may restrict the number of personnel allowed to check a victim. One or two appropriately identified E.M.S. persons shall be given access to a patient to determine the need for resuscitation. In an effort to reduce the emotional upset to family members and to preserve the accident or crime scene for investigation, the number of E.M.S. personnel allowed access to the scene may be limited. It is understood that if an individual with a higher level of medical training arrives on the scene, that individual shall be allowed to confirm the initial findings. Upon the arrival of the person with a higher level of training, unneeded E.M.S. personnel may be asked by the law enforcement officer to exit the immediate area. |