[10MG-IV]

Originally Posted by nelcoy4

That's a shame. That manager should have had a heart.

But on another note, the nurses were brave to help the lady out. When things happen to people out in public, I rarely put my hands on them. I was told in my CPR class that when a health professional puts their hands on somebody (off-duty) and helps them, they are liable. I'm SO scared of getting sued. If I do help, I don't tell anybody I'm a nurse. When the paramedics come around I usually fade into the crowd.

Sell the rights of the story to the glucometer company, they can use it in a commercial and make millions... although there will probably be a squabble betwixt the parties involved if there is money anywhere.

[10MG-IV]

Originally Posted by psalm

Yeah, but it worked...and how many patients do strange things to get an ambulance ride to the ER?

In New Orleans, on Sunday, there would be a scam to fake abd pain to get to Big Charity,from the burbs. You see right across the street was the Superdome and Saints football Games. EMS would move the patient over to a stretcher usually in the hall the patient would disappear to the game.

[madmominavan]

Had a similar situation recently. In grocery store and a noted woman in our community out shopping alone was symptomatic and asking for help. The pharmacist came out to help and brought a glucometer out since he knew the woman was a diabetic and had filled her script. I approached and called 911 while another nurse checked her finger stick. Her FS was way off the charts and she failed to mention to us she was having cardiac chest pain ( for the unteenth time) and ended up coding. The EMT's arrived as we began CPR... in the end the pharmacist tried to charge us for the things we used. The store has a defib and cardiac board, ambu-bag. The husband of the woman contacted me a few days later to tell me they had been charged as well. I have a law professor-friend who directed me and the husband. We had to write letters to the main corporate head and go through a lot of red tape, but eventually we found they did not have a written policy and the pharmacist acted on his own accord. Business is business...
We did not end up paying for the bills/charges since it was the pharmacist who initiated the glucometer use.
Here is what I know , have taught patients and do myself as I am a diabetic and have had open heart surgery... carry your equipment with you at all times, including your insulin and resuce items. Carry ID and information in your wallet, car and in your travel bags no matter where you go or how. wear a medical ID bracelt but have a marker on a watch or bracelt so anyone can find the information or where items are in a wallet, purse or car. I have a small lunch type bag with ice for insulin; meters are so small you can put it in any pocket or slip it inside a bra or shirt pocket. If you don;t have a small pocket size one as your PCP or endocrinlogist to write a script for one and have the insurance co0ver it. If not there are so may sites for the various meters that will give you one free and may ask only that you sign on as a memebr and use their products. ( ACCU-check has a great web site)
As fro good samaritians... learn the laws from your standpoint/state what is covered if you identify or donp;t identify yourself as a health care worker, nurse, MD, etc vs. non - medical person. Also what you wold be liable for. Don;t assume anything... ask questions of the store management, epsecially pharmacists and practitioners. Be informed. These are things I recently learned from a risk manager nurse/case manager & my law professor-friend.
Having your equipment ready for any emergency is best. To get people to understand and organize themselves is another things... since that day, Mr. C took my advice and has made an emercency pack for his wife. She is recovering and due to be discharged in a few days. Her off the wall BS's from earlier in the day should have been her warning to call her doctor and not go shopping. Mr. C was a coach of the local Y basketball teams and was always prepared and taught his players and parents the same thing. They took life for granted and are now telling the seniors of our community to "be prepared".

[nelcoy4]

The CPR instructor that told my class about not helping in public also told a story about how a off-duty male RN noticed a little girl on the ground outside not breathing. Nobody was around and he started CPR. Eventually people came around and they beat the nurse up. To a pulp!!!! (They thought he was molesting the little girl). Some called 911 and reported that a male was molesting a little girl in public. With that said, the instructor said be very careful helping people in public. Such a shame!!!

[TigerGalLE]

Originally Posted by nelcoy4

The CPR instructor that told my class about not helping in public also told a story about how a off-duty male RN noticed a little girl on the ground outside not breathing. Nobody was around and he started CPR. Eventually people came around and they beat the nurse up. To a pulp!!!! (They thought he was molesting the little girl). Some called 911 and reported that a male was molesting a little girl in public. With that said, the instructor said be very careful helping people in public. Such a shame!!!

WOW... some people never cease to amaze me!

[aloevera]

Un-freakin-believable !!!!! what is wrong with people??? that manager should not even have thought about that glucometer...

the poor male nurse from above post.....are people that ignorant that they would see CPR as molestation????? I can't believe it !!!!
wonder where this was ??

[ChayaN]

Originally Posted by nelcoy4

The CPR instructor that told my class about not helping in public also told a story about how a off-duty male RN noticed a little girl on the ground outside not breathing. Nobody was around and he started CPR. Eventually people came around and they beat the nurse up. To a pulp!!!! (They thought he was molesting the little girl). Some called 911 and reported that a male was molesting a little girl in public. With that said, the instructor said be very careful helping people in public. Such a shame!!!

What was the end of that story? Did the little girl revive? Did they blame him for causing her condition in the first place?

[firecoins]

as an EMT-B and medic student, you don't give anything orally or bucally to someone in a coma. They are not able to protect their airway amd can choke to death.

However, I am inclined to believe the jouranilst got the story wrong. The patient was probably conscious enough to control her airway and the nurses did the correct treatment.

My 1 critisism is minor and represents a difference between EMS and nurses. EMS works on standing orders which usually say to just give sugar in all diabetic situations, evan to hyperglycemics. It is due to hypoglycemic being seen as more of an immediate threat and no prehospital treatment for hyperglycemia. We don't give insulin. This being the case there would be no need for the glucometer.

[EricEnfermero]

Originally Posted by firecoins

My 1 critisism is minor and represents a difference between EMS and nurses. EMS works on standing orders which usually say to just give sugar in all diabetic situations, evan to hyperglycemics. It is due to hypoglycemic being seen as more of an immediate threat and no prehospital treatment for hyperglycemia. We don't give insulin. This being the case there would be no need for the glucometer.

I think it may actually be more of a regional difference. Everywhere that I've worked prehospital (admittedly limited to a few services all within Texas, 1997 onward) had a glucometer. There may not be specific BLS treatment for hyperglycemia, but assessment, recognition, and transport are all critical. At the ALS level, IV fluid administration is the standard of care once hyperglycemia is recognized.