Mistaking Yours For Patient's Pulse

[Don1977]

I have heard of this happening too, my EMT instructor always said never take a pulse with your thumbs.

[zzyzx]

Judging by how well her article is written, I'd guess that she did in fact get a higher education...and has probably moved on to bigger and better things beyond EMS.

[jsadin]

The simple fact that she had no idea that agonal respirations should increase her pucker factor by 10 is scarey. I can only hope this incident has made her realise that she needs more education and patient interaction to really be able to "care" for her patients.

[paramedicmike]

I had a long post for here but decided that if I can't say anything nice I shouldn't say it at all. Besides, most of what I would have said was already brought out by others. I do wish, however, she had picked a less prominent forum for her attempt at easing her guilty conscience.

If anyone is looking for evidence as to why basic EMT education should be expanded beyond the meager three weeks currently required, this would be near the top of the pile.

-be safe

[Richard B the EMT]

I don't get the entire "let's mix 911 responses between 15 different paid and volunteer agencies" that NYC seems to run

The "system" in NYC is confusing, even to those of us working within it.

[Asysin2leads]

Confirming absence of something, especially in the human body, is always difficult.

In this vein, what do you think would happen if the AHA started mandating compressions being initiated in anybody found apneic or with agonal respirations? They've found chest compressions are almost as effective in dislodging an obstruction as abdominal thrusts are.

My opinion is that if lay persons and EMT-B's were taught to start CPR whenever a patient apneic, it would do more good than our current system of pulse checks, which this article proves can be inaccurate.

[AnthonyM83]

I don't have time right now to read the whole thing, but on one of my first GSW's where we were first on-scene as a newer EMT, guy shot multiple times, worked him up as a full arrest, then were doing final pulse checks to declare him on-scene.... my heart was going so hard I definitely felt a radial pulse on the dead body. I was taking it correctly, too...so it's definitely possible if pushing your fingers against a hard part of their body.

Carotids you can't do that as much because it's a softer area.

(And no he didn't have a pulse, two medics did carotid checks and my EMT partner did brachial and he was asystole on 2 leads)