CPR crucial, paramedics say From page 3 arrived on three minutes later. Said paramedic John Richmond: “We take in a cardiac monitor- defibrillator and a paramedic kit. The monitor allows us to see the heart rhythm and we can deter- mine whether to respond with drug ther:py or the defibrillator.” With: access to trained North Shore-based paramedics backed by such tools as an $8,000 Datascope M/D3 heart monitor-defibrillator and a $3,000-plus paramedic’s drug kit loaded with equipment and drugs, residents have a mobile team’ able to bring on-the-spot treatment and analysis skills previously available to patients on- ly upon arrival at the hospital. The drug kit includes airway in- tubation equipment, heart drugs, a respiratory drug for asthmatics, drugs for diabetics, saline and electrolyte solutions to combat blood Iuss, an analgesic gas called Entonox, Medical Anti-Shock Trousers (an inflatable body tour- niquet developed during the Viet- nam war). The meat and potatoes business for the paramedics is response to cardiac arrests, chest pains, short- ness of breath and trauma cases. The North Vancouver station operates from a base at Lions Gate Hospital and is the North Shore home for a 24-hour paramedic service, One paramedic car covers the entire North Shore. Said Jones: ‘‘It works with the regular Provincial Ambulance Ser- vice crews in concert with local fire departments on a layered response. The regular crews are able to treat trauma situations and the West Vancouver station recently trained in' the use of automatic defibrillators. The regular crews assess the situation while the paramedic crew responds. If it is not needed, the car is cancelled and made available for another emergency.” ‘ scene Once vu scene, the paramedics work through a set response of au.omatic treatment procedures. 1f more involved medical assessment know-how is needed, it’s there a phone call away. “For example if we are on the scene of a cardiac arrest. we might get to the point where we've tried something and we don’! get the results we'd expect,’’ Richmond said. ‘‘There is alway. an emergency physician available by phone for direction on options for treatment.’ Dr. Bruce Long, advanced life support physician at Lions Gate Hospital, works as the liaison be- tween the hospital’s medical staff and the Emergency Health Services (ambulance) attendants. “My role is to see that the medi- cal staff and the crews are operating on the same wave length and that we’re all speaking the same language,’’ said Long. ‘‘With the addition of paramedics, the retrieval of patients in cardiac ar- rest and the quality of care to in- jured persons has improved dramatically.” Long said the North Shore level of response compares favorably with Seattle, considered a North American leader in cardiac arrest support. “Without resuscitation in 12 minutes your chances of survival are basically nil,’ Long said. “Survival chances are doubled when CPR is given within four minutes by a bystander. With ven- tricular defibrillation by paramed- ics on the scene, 25 per cent walk out of the hospital." Local paramedics responding to chest pains can also prevent cardi- ac arrests before the symptoms set in with pre-emptive treatment. Said Jones: ‘‘Many limes ir- regular heart rhythms set in during transport and are corrected. That kind of thing is done on a daily basis here on the North Shore.”’ The paramedic program is one of the important links making it all work but just as important is the CPR done by a bystander or first responder. “It’s paramount,’’ Jones said, “that even before the level of sup- port available from the fire department, police, ambulance service or deputy sheriffs, we have to have a person on scene initiating CPR.” . But currently province-wide Statistics show only one person in 25 actually trained in CPR. ” ‘"We'd like to see a one-in-five ratio. Seattle is almost there. The Vancouver-area ratio is probably around one in 10 or one in 15,” said Jones. ‘‘The bottom line is that our expertise and training re- ally has an effect in concert with first responders on the scene to coordinate a successful response.” Merry Christmas & | Happy New Year from Lonsdale Draperies For all your drapery needs call the professionals at LONSDALE DRAPERIES 922-1709 5 - Friday, December 25, 1987 - North Shore News FAMOUS BOXING DAY SALE Our store is full of designer labels up to 70% off eMarc Dalcy eSunsport eMr Jax ¢Steilmann eSimon Chang ®Mondi eQuiset ® Merona Valenti, eMr. Leonard eJean Pierre & more Special *25°° rack Bd § OF WEST VAN Doors Open 9am 2463 MARINE DRIVE, WEST VAN 926-0712 from all of us at Andrew Kumar ‘Chris Kumar Derek Holton Donna Langerfeld Albert Marriott Wayne Miller Bryan Moonev Rikor Morginn Lance Morginn Niky Khosro Reynaldo Ortiz Walter Rumohr Sid Taba Davoud Ansari Baharak Heidarzadeh Roso Nasirpour Will Brunskill Laura Henderson Terry Karleen Steve Skinner Alice Brown Robert Bedgood Kon Fatt Chu Andrea CHmie Jonn Farion Melinda Gludovatz Peter Griffiths Kathy Smith Pamela Wakeman Lee Williams