the weather and vent pt........

[Lorie P.]

well today was a first for me. it is storming here in the south and i filled in for a vent dependent pt today. had to make sure that the extra vent, o2 tanks, suction machines, flash lights, emergency #'s and plan were right out my finger tips.

never had to worry about this in the hospital setting, cause it is taken care of with the generators.

thank goodness the power never went out and i didn't have to make any calls. each vent's battery only last 45 minutes and then i would have had to call the emt's.

all is well, i am home and the day went ok, except for the weather scaring me out of my wits.

[caliotter3]

I was with a vent client one night when it was storming. The power went out, I was caught off guard. The patient was sleeping. The vent alarm did not go off and the vent did not immediately go over to battery power. In the dark I reached over and removed the vent from the patient's trach and managed not to wake him. He was ok and was breathing independently. His Dad rushed in and was like a chicken with his head cut off trying to find the emergency lighting and all. The power came back on after 40 minutes and I had a longer shift summary to write that night. Hope that never happens to me again.