|
Cabarrus EMS to Begin Cooling Hearts En Route to Hospital
Beginning on Valentine’s Day, hearts in Cabarrus County will receive a new kind of treatment when Cabarrus County Emergency Medical Services (EMS) implements a new medical protocol to cool the hearts of cardiac arrest patients before reaching the hospital. Called Therapeutic Hypothermia, Cabarrus County will become the fifth EMS system in North Carolina to provide this progressive medical protocol which provides advanced care to the victims of cardiac arrest. Currently, approximately 150 of the 24,000 EMS agencies in the United States perform this procedure.
While up to 18 percent of patients regain a pulse during resuscitation attempts, only 3 percent survive to hospital discharge. EMS agencies that have implemented the Therapeutic Hypothermia protocol have experienced up to a fourfold increase in survival to hospital discharge. The Therapeutic Hypothermia protocol is endorsed by the American Heart Association and approved by the North Carolina Office of Emergency Medical Services.
The Therapeutic Hypothermia protocol will be used electively in Cabarrus County with cardiac arrest patients who regain a pulse during treatment. After regaining a pulse by administering CPR, paramedics will administer chilled saline intravenously and place ice packs at strategic locations on the body in an effort to cool the heart while en route to the hospital. Skilled monitoring and medication to reduce shivering also will be administered.
This protocol is an effective tool for increasing the chance of survival for cardiac arrest victims, however it depends on the overall system of care. First responders with fire and rescue agencies play a critical role with the performance of high-quality and early CPR, while hospitals offer the continuance of therapeutic hypothermia initiated in the field when needed.
“For this protocol to work, effective CPR is necessary before EMS arrives,” said Alan Thompson, assistant director of Cabarrus County EMS. Thompson encourages every adult to be trained in CPR to increase the survival rate of family members, friends, coworkers and others.
The implementation of the Therapeutic Hypothermia protocol was made possible through the efforts of Dr. Craig Corey, Consultant Mike Clumpner, Carolinas Medical Center-Northeast and the Cabarrus County EMS training staff.
TeenSpace
Where grieving teens connect support group (ages 13-17) will meet on Tuesday evening, March 11 at Hospice & Palliative Care of Cabarrus County. This group will meet from 6-8 p.m. at 5003 Hospice Lane, Kannapolis. Candace Jordan, community counseling coordinator, will facilitate.
Parenting Place will meet simultaneously. This group is open to anyone who is guiding teens through grief. Facilitator of this group is Grace Hodgson, bereavement counselor.
Registration for the teen and/or adult is required. Please call 704-935-9434 to speak with Jordan and Hodgson to register.
Pizza will be provided. There is no charge to attend these groups
Help Ace and TJ's Grin Kids
|
ACE & TJ's Grin Kids is designed to enhance the lives of children who are terminally ill and chronically disabled, ages ages five to twelve, in the listening area.
Each year, ACE & TJ's Grin Kids takes as many children as financially possible to Disney World with their parents and siblings. Because of their special needs and financial strain, this is an experience that many of these children and families would not be able to know without the help of ACE & TJ's Grin Kids.
Over the years, ACE & TJ's Grin Kids took over 80 Grin Kids representing approximately 80 families on a charter flight to Disney World. Once at the hotel, the families were given park passes, meal coupons and Disney Dollars.
|
|
|
Cabarrus County Online has partnered with Myrtle Beach Hotels to offer you the best deals and
newest offers when planing your next vacation. We are bringing you specials, preferred hotels and
the latest news from Myrtle Beach.