Lesson 9.
Resuscitation
Termination of CPR in the Wilderness
Resuscitation in the wilderness setting is challenging and will require extensive effort and resources. Resuscitation efforts may be discontinued without physician order after 30 minutes in patients without suspected hypothermic cardiac arrest or if any of the following criteria apply:
Unacceptable risk to rescuers, rescuer exhaustion, or dangerous environment
Transport not possible or safe
Valid, signed, dated, DNR
Decapitation, truncal transection, whole body incineration, or decomposed body
Frozen solid chest wall that can not be compressed or ice in airway
CPR and Hypothermia
Miraculously, many hypothermic cardiac arrest victims have been successfully resuscitated many hours or days later. CPR for hypothermic cardiac arrest differs significantly from the urban front county CPR approach. Be sure to review the DPS SAR Guidelines for delivering CPR for a patient suspected to have succumbed to hypothermia without any other obvious causes of death.
The last part of this online training involves an overview of patient care report submission and expectations.
Approved Feb.2024 - Med. Director Updated Feb.2024 T.Harbin