Featured Colorado Emergency Response Commision
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What is a Medical Emergency ?
A medical emergency is an unforeseen injury or
illness (physiological or psychological) requiring immediate medical care.
The individual may be in danger of loss of life or health impairment, or may
be incapacitated or helpless as a result of a physical or mental condition.
Emergency incidents are classified according to the level of care required
to treat the patient. Basic Life Support (non-critical care) is the first
level of care provided by the fire and rescue service. It is normally
provided by an individual who is trained and certified at the Emergency
Medical Technician-Basic level and involves pre-hospital emergency medical
care and management of illness or injury including patient assessment,
airway and bleeding control, administration of cardiopulmonary
resuscitation, splinting, and the administration of oxygen. For basic life
support calls, the closest emergency care vehicle, ambulance, or Medical
Intensive Care Unit is dispatched. At a minimum, all firefighter/rescuers
are trained and certified to the Emergency Medical Technician-Basic level.
Advanced Life Support (critical care) is more advanced pre-hospital and
basic care of serious illness or injury provided by Emergency Medical
Technicians-Paramedics and Cardiac Rescue Technicians. This emergency
medical care includes administration of emergency drugs, electrical
defibrillation, intravenous fluids, and advanced airway management
techniques. On advanced life support calls, the closest emergency vehicle
and a unit specifically equipped to handle advanced life support calls are
usually sent.
Some medical emergency incidents which indicate the need for advanced life
support include heart attack, trouble breathing, unconscious person, chest
pain, drowning, electrocution, asthma, allergic reaction, automobile
accident with trapped persons, serious burns, gunshot or stab wounds, second
or greater alarm fires where medical emergencies may result, structure fires
with report of individuals trapped, motorcycle accidents, bicyclist struck,
and diabetic reactions.
Medical Emergency Fast Response Needed
Time is one of the most important factors relating to patient outcome in
Medical Emergency situations. In general, irreversible brain damage
from an acute heart attack starts within four to six minutes of when the
heart stops pumping and the patient stops breathing. Getting help to the
patient within this timeframe is critical and requires structuring the
medical emergency care system to respond quickly.
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