What to Do If a Patient Becomes Unresponsive During Transport?

What to Do If a Patient Becomes Unresponsive During Transport?

When you’re an Advanced Emergency Medical Technician (AEMT), you’re often faced with high-pressure situations that demand not just knowledge but quick decision-making. So, let’s chat about something that may cross your mind—what should you do if a patient suddenly becomes unresponsive during transport?

Here’s the Situation

Imagine yourself in an ambulance, sirens blaring, fighting your way through traffic. Suddenly, your patient, who seemed stable moments ago, appears unresponsive. Your heart races; those few seconds feel like an eternity. What’s the first thing you should do?

There’s no time for panic. Your priority should be to assess the airway and breathing immediately, and here’s why.

Why Airway and Breathing Matter Most

When someone becomes unresponsive, they might lose their ability to protect their airway. That means the airway can easily become obstructed, leading to potential respiratory failure. You know what happens next? If you don’t ensure they’re breathing, your patient can quickly spiral into bigger trouble—think hypoxia!

By assessing the airway, you are checkmating the enemy called airway obstruction. If the airway is blocked or if they are not breathing adequately, time is not on your side. So, snap to it! Secure that airway first and foremost.

Your Action Plan

1. Assess the Airway:

   • Look for any visible obstructions.
   • If necessary, perform maneuvers like the head-tilt, chin-lift to open the airway.

2. Check Breathing:

   • Listen, feel, and look for signs of breathing. Is the chest rising and falling? Can you hear breath sounds?
   • If they're not breathing adequately, intervene immediately with appropriate rescue breaths using a bag-valve-mask.

Now that you’ve ensured the airway is clear and breathing is adequate (or initiated breaths if they weren’t), you can start monitoring vital signs continuously. Keeping an eye on their pulse and blood pressure is crucial as it gives you the lowdown on their current condition.

Don't Forget to Notify the Receiving Facility

As you stabilize the situation, it’s time to notify the receiving facility about the change in the patient's status. This isn't just a routine; it’s giving critical info that can save a life. If the hospital knows a patient has become unresponsive, they can prepare for immediate actions upon arrival.

Balancing Priorities

But let’s take a step back for a moment. It’s essential to note that while you’re focused on the airway, vital signs, and notifications, don’t lose sight of the big picture. Other actions may also become priorities depending on the scenario, like administering medications (though nitroglycerin isn’t the right one here).

Each minute counts in emergency medicine. Training, protocols, and teamwork can really influence outcomes. If you rush to treat symptoms without addressing the underlying issue of airway management, you might end up chasing your tail.

Keep Calm and Act

Ultimately, as an AEMT, the goal is to provide the best care possible—merging your knowledge with swift action can truly make a difference in a patient’s survival.

A Final Thought

Stay vigilant and ready! Patients’ conditions can change in a heartbeat. The next time you're making critical decisions under pressure, remember: Your first action can be the one that turns things around.

Understanding these priorities, especially concerning airway management, is essential not only for passing the AEMT tests but also, and more importantly, for saving lives every single day. So, keep that in mind while preparing for your AEMT practice tests—the stakes are real, and your training can take it from there.