Sunjay Kapur, friend of Prince William and ex-husband of Bollywood star Karisma Kapoor, reportedly died of anaphylactic shock after being stung by a bee during a polo match in Windsor, England.
So… how do you tell an airway obstruction requiring an improvised tracheotomy and a similarly-presenting respiratory distress (resulting from, say, catastrophically low blood potassium) apart? Because if you get that wrong suddenly someone, who needed at worst an hour of IV therapy and a flintstone chewable to make a full recovery, is drowning in their own blood.
I’m assuming you’ve contacted 911 / emergency services since you know that the ambulance is 20 minutes away. In that case, the dispatcher will step you through an emergency diagnosis and if such an extreme action is warranted either they will put you in touch with a medical professional who can instruct you on safe procedure, or they will be a qualified paramedic and instruct you themselves. However that is EXTREMELY unlikely, tracheotomy are almost never warranted (outside of television) in emergency situations, as stabbing someone in the neck is not a trivial thing to do. In my region the procedure isn’t even taught to first responders (Edit: I was half wrong, paramedics still learn it but EMTs do not) (Edit 2: No, I was right! Neither are taught it) as it’s long been surpassed by modern intubation techniques and treatments like fast-acting anaphylaxis medications.
In short, follow the guidelines you are taught in your first aid class and contact emergency services. Don’t stab someone in the neck.
Thank you for this advice. I always contact emergency services immediately if I find someone who is having a serious health event.
However, I spend time in remote areas where emergency services are sometimes an hour away. There is not always mobile phone coverage but to date I have not found anyone in that situation and my longest wait has been half an hour in an urban location.
Neither are taught it
This is a little disappointing, because it sounds like if someone needed it they will not be given it by emergency services. I can only hope that rural responders are taught a little more.
So… how do you tell an airway obstruction requiring an improvised tracheotomy and a similarly-presenting respiratory distress (resulting from, say, catastrophically low blood potassium) apart? Because if you get that wrong suddenly someone, who needed at worst an hour of IV therapy and a flintstone chewable to make a full recovery, is drowning in their own blood.
Thank you, this is the kind of reply I was hoping for. I would love more information.
So, if the person has completely stopped breathing, and ambulances are 20+ minutes away, should I limit my response to attempted CPR?
Is it your opinion even if they have been stung by a bee etc?
The answer is: YES
Thank you!
I’m assuming you’ve contacted 911 / emergency services since you know that the ambulance is 20 minutes away. In that case, the dispatcher will step you through an emergency diagnosis and if such an extreme action is warranted either they will put you in touch with a medical professional who can instruct you on safe procedure, or they will be a qualified paramedic and instruct you themselves. However that is EXTREMELY unlikely, tracheotomy are almost never warranted (outside of television) in emergency situations, as stabbing someone in the neck is not a trivial thing to do. In my region the procedure isn’t even taught to first responders (Edit: I was half wrong, paramedics still learn it but EMTs do not) (Edit 2: No, I was right! Neither are taught it) as it’s long been surpassed by modern intubation techniques and treatments like fast-acting anaphylaxis medications.
In short, follow the guidelines you are taught in your first aid class and contact emergency services. Don’t stab someone in the neck.
Thank you for this advice. I always contact emergency services immediately if I find someone who is having a serious health event.
However, I spend time in remote areas where emergency services are sometimes an hour away. There is not always mobile phone coverage but to date I have not found anyone in that situation and my longest wait has been half an hour in an urban location.
This is a little disappointing, because it sounds like if someone needed it they will not be given it by emergency services. I can only hope that rural responders are taught a little more.