ER Doctors Save Lives
An apparent fact about the doctors at the ER is that they have the heart to save people’s lives as they are the only doctors that treat first and ask for payment later. Some of the doctors may look young. However, they are there to help save a life.
The severity of the accident is what the doctors consider first. Patients in need of immediate resuscitation measure to save their life are given the priority. Most of these conditions include heart attacks, severe respiratory problems and unconscious patients among others. Chest pains, severe traumatic injuries and sharp abdominal pains are placed under category two by the emergency personnel. The third and fourth group of severity includes those with acute conditions as well as those with non-life-threatening conditions.
Doctors consider the severity of the patients they have to see. The number of casualties in a given emergency is what drives the doctors on how to group the patients. In case the number of victims is high the ER will only hold patients considered to be under category one. So, what are some of the things the emergency room team want to know about the accident? Consider the points below as they may prove worthy the next time you are in an emergency room.
What Information Does an ER Team Need to Know?
How Severe was the Accident to affect the Patient’s Breathing and Circulation(ABCs)?
The team has to know that the accident did not in any way affect your ability to breath. If you cannot be able to breathe, you will not be able to tell. How severe the accident was is a crucial aspect also considered. The team needs to know if the crash took place in an area with some hazardous chemical compounds. Some of these issues are what will lead them to quickly diagnose the reasons as to why the patient’s airway might be blocked. The airway might be blocked with some chemical compounds or by some piece of food. The two might be regarded as category one emergencies as they prevent breathing. However, the two cases have to be treated differently. Choking and cardiac arrests treatment is considered under the first category of severity.
Number of Patients in the Accident
When a massive number of people are brought to the ER injured and suffering from an accident it is essential to have a look at as many of them as possible. It is necessary to do so to avoid having severe cases remaining at the end of the queue. The doctors present will also be prepared to give instructions to the nurses so as they can be able to diagnose as many patients as possible. Confusion often sets in when the slow emergency room suddenly crowds with a considerable number of patients in need of urgent medical attention. If the number is known in advance, the doctor and the ER team will be psychologically prepared in advance. Early planning will make it easy for ER arrangement on how and where to direct the different categories of patients.
Cause of the Accident
The ER team will have an easier time dealing with an accident if they know the cause. If the accident is as a result of a fire, then the ER team will be well prepared with all the right equipment near. In case of numerous heart attack patients then the team knows what to do way ahead before the patients arrive. Road accidents are often marked by massive external or internal bleeding. Thus, the team will know whether the person needs immediate surgery to stop the bleeding. In case of a drug overdose or a suicide attempt the drug sample used are often required for the doctors to know how to counteract the effects of the given overdose. If the cause of the accidents is as a result of quickly communicable diseases, then the ER team also needs to protect themselves.
In summary, accidents are prone to happen as they do. However, the amount of knowledge we gather before and after the crash may help the ER team determine the best way to address the different cases that they have to face. For example, all ambulances call the ER before arrival to prepare the staff for the patient. The ER team needs to be psychologically and mentally prepared to save as many lives as possible.
Thus, the reason why most of the ERs prefer to have a heads up on the number of casualties to expect. The severity of the accident helps diagnose how severe the patients might be. Some patients suffer from shock on impact in case of a road or air crash. The cause of the accident is as essential as it gives the right way to address the circumstances at hand because the ER teams wish to provide solutions to every possible situation they handle.
