Re: Death in flight

["Melissa Sally-Mueller" <SALLYMMM@ihs.org>]

Hello,
Tough question with lots of variables.
The "unwritten rule" we live by is that no one dies in the air.  If the patient arrests en route to the receiving hospital we "code" them until the receiving facility pronounces them.

If the patient is a known DNR with the probability of arresting, we contact our medical control regarding appropriate use of the helicopter.
If the DNR patient codes en route, we would most likely continue on to the receiving hospital  and contact medical control to assist with pronouncing death or any deviation from the DNR. We would continue to the receiving hospital since family would most likely be en route there.

Good Luck, hope this helps,
Melissa and Terri
Life Flight Des Moines 

>>> skautz@yahoo.com 01/03/01 02:30PM >>>
Hello everyone,
What are your policies regarding patient disposition
when you have a patient expire in the air?  Do you
return to the sending facility?  Do you continue on to
the accepting facility?  What do you do if you are in
a fixed wing and the ground ambulance will not
transport your expired patient?    
Thanks,
Sara Kautz RN BSN CEN
Chief Flight Nurse
Mountain Flight Service
Steamboat Springs, CO 

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