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• <br />• <br />CRITICAL MEDICAL CONDITIONS <br />GUIDELINES FOR TREATMENT AND TRANSPORT OF THE <br />CRITICALLY INJURED TRAUMA PATIENT <br />THE FIRST ARRIVING EMS ATTENDANT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR MAKING A RAPID <br />ASSESSMENT OF THE TRAUMA PATIENT. UPON REACHING THE DETERMINATION OF THE <br />PATIENT'S STATUS AS CRITICAL, IT IS THE PARAMEDIC'S OBLIGATION TO MAKE EVERY <br />EFFORT TO DELIVER THIS PATIENT TO A FACILITY CAPABLE OF PROVIDING IMMEDIATE <br />TRAUMA CARE SERVICES. THE FACILITIES IN THIS AREA THAT ARE FULLY CAPABLE OF <br />IMMEDIATE TRAUMA INTERVENTION ARE HERMAN HOSPITAL AND BEN TAUB HOSPITAL. <br />THE BEST METHOD OF DELIVERING THE PATIENT INTO THE TRAUMA CARE SYSTEM IS <br />ALSO THE MOST EXPEDITIOUS, THAT BEING BY LIFE FLIGHT HELICOPTER. DURING THE <br />TIMES THAT HELICOPTER TRANSPORT IS UNAVAILABLE, THE SECOND BEST MEANS OF <br />TRANSPORT IS BY GROUND AMBULANCE DIRECTLY TO THE TRAUMA CENTER OF CHOICE. THE <br />PRACTICE OF DELIVERING THE PATIENT TO A LOCAL FACILITY FOR LATER TRANSFER TO <br />A TRAUMA CENTER IS AN INAPPROPRIATE OPTION IN ALL CASES WITH FEW EXCEPTIONS. <br />UPON MAKING THE DETERMINATION OF A TRAUMA PATIENT'S STATUS AS CRITICAL, <br />THE IN-CHARGE PARAMEDIC SHALL IMMEDIATELY REQUEST THE DISPATCHER TO RESPOND <br />A LIFE FLIGHT HELICOPTER. AT THIS POINT, THE PARAMEDIC'S SHALL BEGIN AN <br />IMMEDIATE AND AGGRESSIVE ATTEMPT TO STABILIZE AND TO HAVE THE PATIENT READY <br />FOR IMMEDIATE TRANSPORT UPON LIFE FLIGHT'S ARRIVAL. <br />IN THE EVENT OUR DISPATCH NOTIFIES ON-SCENE PARAMEDICS THAT LIFE FLIGHT <br />IS UNAVAILABLE OR UNABLE TO RESPOND, IT IS THE PARAMEDIC'S RESPONSIBILITY TO: <br />1. SECURE AN ON-SCENE FIRE FIGHTER OR POLICE OFFICER TO <br />DRIVE THE AMBULANCE TO ALLOW BOTH EMS PERSONNEL TO <br />TREAT THE PATIENT WHILE ENROUTE TO THE TRAUMA CENTER. <br />2. SECURE ABC'S- ADDITIONAL STABILIZING PROCEDURES MUST <br />BE PERFORMED WHILE ENROUTE. UNLESS PATIENT IS TRAPPED, <br />TOTAL SCENE TIME SHOULD NOT EXCEED 10 MINUTES. <br />EXCEPTIONS <br />THE PARAMEDIC SHOULD TRANSPORT THE PATIENT TO THE NEAREST HOSPITAL <br />FACILITY IF ANY OF THE FOLLOWING SHOULD OCCUR: <br />1. PATIENT IS IN CARDIAC ARREST PRIOR TO THE BEGINNING OF <br />TRANSPORT. <br />2. WEATHER OR VEHICULAR CONDITIONS EXIST THAT WOULD <br />EXCESSIVELY EXTEND TRANSPORT BEYOND THE USUAL <br />(35 MINUTES) AMOUNT OF TIME. <br />3. UNABLE TO SECURE ABC'S. <br />4. UNFORESEEN CIRCUMSTANCES MAY DICTATE TRANSPORT TO THE <br />NEAREST HOSPITAL FACILITY IF SO JUSTIFIED BY THE EMS <br />SUPERVISOR OR IN-CHARGE PARAMEDIC. (i.e. Mass Casualty) <br />-12- <br />