My first field amputation was a car accident and every tourniquet I’ve applied has been for something kids would see outside of a school shooting. Hitting windows, hopping fences, falling off things, all the fun shit drunks do. This kind of training should be universal.
Are you a paramedic? I was under the impression that they would stabilize the limb as best as they could so they can be delivered to the ER where a doctor can amputate it under better conditions. Was the person trapped so that extrication required immediate amputation?
Not anymore. Both I’ve done were on people who were trapped in a way where we couldn’t move the leg that was already catastrophically injured. You’re on the radio with the receiving physician and in my case we had a very loose scope of practice and special training in field surgery. If the other injuries are serious enough to warrant immediate transport and/or you have very limited resources, it’s a procedure I’d put on the same level as like a cricothyrotomy or IO. You can do it in theory but only do it under explicit direction in practice.
I did volunteer EMT for a short spell and I was always amazed at how grizzled and experienced ALS providers get in such a short amount of time. They’ve seen practically everything within a year of service and have so many veteran tricks of the trade and industry practices that throw out everything learned in a BLS textbook. Hope you made out without too much trauma because that can be some rough work on the psyche.
I love it in the way I imagine I’d love methamphetamine, but I could never have made a full career of it like some people. A few years was enough to make me leave healthcare entirely for plants. It’s like playing Russian roulette as a job and boy howdy does it stick with you.
My first field amputation was a car accident and every tourniquet I’ve applied has been for something kids would see outside of a school shooting. Hitting windows, hopping fences, falling off things, all the fun shit drunks do. This kind of training should be universal.
You’ve performed a field amputation?
The car did most of the work but I helped.
Are you a paramedic? I was under the impression that they would stabilize the limb as best as they could so they can be delivered to the ER where a doctor can amputate it under better conditions. Was the person trapped so that extrication required immediate amputation?
Not anymore. Both I’ve done were on people who were trapped in a way where we couldn’t move the leg that was already catastrophically injured. You’re on the radio with the receiving physician and in my case we had a very loose scope of practice and special training in field surgery. If the other injuries are serious enough to warrant immediate transport and/or you have very limited resources, it’s a procedure I’d put on the same level as like a cricothyrotomy or IO. You can do it in theory but only do it under explicit direction in practice.
I did volunteer EMT for a short spell and I was always amazed at how grizzled and experienced ALS providers get in such a short amount of time. They’ve seen practically everything within a year of service and have so many veteran tricks of the trade and industry practices that throw out everything learned in a BLS textbook. Hope you made out without too much trauma because that can be some rough work on the psyche.
I love it in the way I imagine I’d love methamphetamine, but I could never have made a full career of it like some people. A few years was enough to make me leave healthcare entirely for plants. It’s like playing Russian roulette as a job and boy howdy does it stick with you.
Strongly agree