In article , The Medway
Handyman wrote:


Nobody is quite sure where the Guvmint got this 8 minutes idea from, but
strangely there is no clinical outcome target. So if the ambulance
arrives in 7 minutes & the patient dies, thats a success.
Several years of studying outcomes from responses to heart attack reports
in an experiment in Ohio. (and another couple of places) Best outcomes
were responsible for the action plan of:
1 get help,
even if it means leaving a non-breathing casualty. (early access)
2 give CPR
(if alone - start after returning from getting help) (early CPR)
3 Use defibrillator
(should arrive soon 'cos you went for help) (early defib)
4 Advanced care (drips drugs etc)

Best results were found to be in some type of HA patients sustained with
CPR, when defib could be given within (about) 8 1/2 mins

Not successful in ALL heart attack cases but in a small number of types of
attack

The crews of course are more concerned with clinical outcome.

LAS now has over 100 FRU's purely to try & meet targets. Getting a
trained techie or medic there ASAP is important, but they can't
transport patients. So now instead of two crew + one vehicle attending
its three crew & two vehicles.

They would rather have more ambulances to give greater coverage &
therefore less waiting time.
ALSO: First Response Unit. Volunteer civilians trained to a local standard
(skill level varies throughout the country) A retired dep head teacher
friend of mine has twice attended calls to the local hospital as the
non-emergency doctors had no first aid training.
John

--
John Mulrooney
NOTE Email address IS correct but might not be checked for a while.

It's that deja vu feeling all over again