Adrenaline? How to keep it in check?

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Today I witnessed an elderly man and his caregiver fall backwards on the escalator. They were halfway up with the caregiver in front and the 78 year old man, with his walker, behind her and they fall backwards. The caregiver tried to prevent the fall and fell on top of the man. I am with my three kids and I dropped my purse with them and ran up the escalator. I called for someone to push the emergency button, asked someone to call an ambulance and held the mans upper body while the caregiver climbed off. The man was not speaking or making a sound although alert. I asked the caregiver age, name, and if he was suffering from anything that would prevent him from talking. She said dementia and parkinsons! I almost flipped a lid and said it was not very smart of her to bring him and the walker on the escalator. I told her not to move the man as she was trying to get him up and then I asked the man if he was hurting. All he said was my hip. She immediately got on her cell phone to call his wife and not once tried to actually help him! I talked calmly with him and said that the paramedics were on the way. He looked me right in the eye the whole time and in a quiet whisper said,"thank you." I was able to relay name, age, where hurting and that he was parkinsons and dementia patient to the police.

I felt I remained calm during the incident but afterwards my heart was racing so fast. My 3 kids were perfect. Remained together and quiet through the whole thing.

Will I learn to handle this adrenaline? Goodness it was such a rush and then I was so angry that that poor man was hurt due to his caregivers neglect!

I am so looking forward to starting school in a few weeks. The feeling of helping someone is wonderful. I just hope I can handle the adrenaline!

Advice?

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Honestly, it sounds like you handled it just fine?

Sounds like he was lucky to have you there to witness his fall. Good job!

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I did feel good about how I handled it however I had this huge rush of adrenaline after that I am hoping won't happen every time something big happens. I would love to hear if this is common in the beginning then lessens or if I just need to learn to handle it. If so, that will sure be taxing to be up then try to come down after each and every crisis.

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Specializes in Emergency/Cath Lab.

You want to learn to control your bodies flight or fight response.....Let me know how that goes for ya

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I just started school a few months ago but in my experience with school, CNA work and having events like this happen to me, I don't think it's really possible to control adrenaline. It's a natural occuring thing which we have no control over! (Learned that in A&P) Honestly, I think I can be a bit of an adrenaline junky! As long as you are able to hand the situation as well as you did I really don't think it's anything to worry about! Great job! :yeah:

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Specializes in N/A.

Great job on helping this man and staying calm! :yeah: You were calm during the crisis and that is very important. My son is an EMT and I asked him the same thing. How do you stay so calm? He said that over time it gets easier to handle emergency situations. He still gets adrenaline rushes though and I don't think there is anyway of stopping them in certain fight or flight situations. Just easier to mask it maybe?

What a nitwit for taking him on the escalator. I hope she is fired! And I hope his hip is not broken!

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Specializes in Infusion.

Your adrenaline was what helped you to respond. You were able to keep it under control. There is no way to all of a sudden get rid of the adrenaline, just needs to slowly run it's course. When a bear chases you, hopefully you can run to safety and then collapse in a heap. Ya done good!! Go forth and let the adrenaline flow!

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Specializes in Emergency Nursing.

It sounds like you responded perfectly to the situation! I was shaking my head reading about anyone who has a caregiver and a walker going up an escalator! What a fool that caregiver was.

When something really crazy has happened to me, in clinicals or regular life, I always feel more calm after I take a few moments to myself and get a chance to talk to someone about it. In the hospital we are supposed to have debriefings after really horrible things happen for this very reason. The adrenaline makes it feel like the situation is still happening, so talking about it helps to create closure for that event, so you can move on.

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Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.

You did fine. As others said your adrenaline is what kept you calm throughout the urgent situation. As a former ER Tech and EMT (on a high volume, high trauma volunteer unit), the adrenaline is what gets you through the event. Depending on the situation the "after shocks" will vary. Kind of like saving your own child from choking, you knew what to do and did it, but are nearly reduced to tears when it is over. That is why most emergency teams have debriefing sessions available post significant event (pediatric trauma or cardiac arrest, mass casualty incident). Kind of like to talk you down.

As you develop confidence in your skills and instincts, you'll have less of a reaction when the situation is over. It is part of being a human being.

Be proud, you did well. You obtained the necessary relevant information. You were able to successfully delegate necessary tasks to others (shut down the elevator, call 911) and assess and assist the patient.

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Specializes in Infectious Disease, Neuro, Research.

Hehheh. There is actually quite a bit of science on the subject, particularly relating to extreme sports training and competative shooting. To summarize, training allows you to complete your task(s) with general competence. The number of training evolutions, and your own adaptability determine, in large part, you ability to respond effectively, even in the face of an evolving scenario.

Adrenal response diminishes with repeated exposure (i.e., the more highs you hit, the more adrenaline it will take to give you the shakes). FWIW, I'm a Type I diabetic, and physiologically, we have a diminished adrenal response. This results in slightly slower reflexes in some instances, but greater precision r/greater muscle control.

After any traumatic event, you will get the shakes, unless you're really into taking life-risking chances. Know that its normal, and expect it. This may include typical "PTSD" symptomology, such as nightmares/terrors, diaphoresis, anxiety and post-incident depression. If you are aware of this, it is easier to begin rationalization, "this too shall pass...", and pre-empt actual PTSD, which is a cognitive attempt to justify an event, based on observational and interventional experiences during the event.

Those who do not plan for calamity tend to re-live the experience, as the brain tries to innoculate itself against future trauma.

You did very well.:cool:

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I appreciate the replys to my post. I am sure I will learn to cope as you all do. Thanks again...

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