Is this a fluke or is there something to it?

[PhoenixTech, LPN]

I worked the evening shift yesterday and as I was coming back from a sandwich shop getting my 'lunch', I walked smack into someone seizing on the floor of the lobby. There was someone holding his head in her lap as his leg were jerking all around and I just heard the code RRT being paged so I ran to the front desk and threw my wallet and sandwich down. As I was turning to go assist the receptionist gave me an alcohol pad and told me to place it under his nose. I went walking over to him very quickly and heard the security guard say, 'It's okay, she's a nurse!'. I had time to yell out, 'No, I'm a tech!', before I reached this person with the alcohol pad and fanned it under his nose. To my amazement, he stopped seizing. I knelt next to him and secured his free arm while his friend cuddled his head and observed phlegm coming out of the corner of his nose.

I wish I can say that I took his pulse and turned him on his side but I did none of that and after another call for the RRT, I finally saw one lone Dr. walking quickly towards us. He asked for O2, I pointed to a wheelchair by the door, he approached the pt, observed the phlegm and hesitated. I asked him what he needed me to do, he said he needs suction and to go get it. So I'm up and hurrying to the ER, which is about 50 ft away, and then I think, the suction comes from the wall! I grab a stretcher and sheet instead and by the time I got back the rest of the team was there.

In retrospect, I wish I had been able to think more clearly and at least turn him on his side but it didn't even cross my mind. However my question is this? Why did the alcohol under his nose stop the convulsions? More importantly, why did the receptionist know this and I as a Tech didn't? I've tried searching on the internet to no avail and when I got back to my unit, a Dr. said that if the seizure was related to alcohol withdrawal, then maybe the smell of the alcohol..............?

I can't remeber what else he said but can anyone clarify?

[StepbyStep]

I think I have heard this before as an old tale but not sure but that would explain why the person at the entrance would have handed you that. On the floor or a patient that is already in the system etc. we immediatly give ativan etc not really waste the time to do the alcohol under the nose. And to comment on what the doctor told you about the smell of alcohol kinda made me giggle because that is bizarre..if drinking alcohol smelt like alcohol pads I for one would never drink lol. When I go to work tonight I will do a little research...the person was probably done seizing and it was just coincidence that it coincided with the time you placed the pad under his nose. Oh and thats funny the md said he needed suction...what he needed was to go to the er and check in lol

[PhoenixTech, LPN]

Thank you for responding. Yeah the MD was comical, he actually acted like he didn't want to touch the pt because of the phlegm that was coming from his mouth, not his nose as I said in the original post. I thought it might be a fluke, like a 1 in 5000 chance, that's why I was trying to research it. When I got to work the next day I asked her how did she know and she said she has family members that seize and that's been the quick remedy in her family for years.

[jrsygirl]

Hi Phoenix Tech,

This has nothing to do with your post and I don't mean to be rude and change the subject, but I saw that you knew alot of information about the BON and Nursing schools in New Jersey from other post. I want to know what you thought abt my situation. Im in nursing school ( ive taken a clinical already) and i might be getting kicked out:sniff: bc of my disorderly persons offense charge, first offense, originally a shoplifting charge.mostly bc of clinical rotation sites might have a problem( that is what I was told my school)...

i tried to leave you a msg but I couldn't for some reason..

is there anyway i would be able to get in contact with you some how..

I would really appreciate it !!