I had a somewhat humorous (and educational) incident happen to me the other day while participating in a code. We received a call as a "possible heart attack." When we rolled up on the scene, we saw a man lying on the walkway to his front door. I immediately called for an engine for additional manpower.

The patient was a 59 yowm who must have suffered a MI while returning from his regular evening walk. He was deeply cyanotic, no pulse or respirations. After the quick-look my partner found the patient to be in v-fib she did the normal three protocol shocks. We then continued CPR until help arrived. After a few minutes the engine crew and the EMS supervisor arrived. The engine crew took over CPR, my partner worked on airway and the EMS supervisor helped out with various things. I started a line and after the first epi, I suggested to my supervisor that it was time to shock again if the patient was still in v-fib. Indeed he was and the paddles were prepared. My supervisor called for clearing, I checked everyone else and myself. I was kneeling on the patients right side with his arm between my legs. I checked to make sure that I was not touching his arm and told the supervisor that I was clear. She shocked and the patient did what was natural when the body is subjected to an electrical current. I got a rude awakening with a fist in the 'nads! My station Lt. was kneeling just to my left and he saw what happened. With the family standing around watching, it was everything he could do to keep from laughing.

The moral of the story? Don't forget that clearing for the defib shock is for more than the electrical considerations!

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Brian J. Rueger "Who dares wins"
Capt.(Ret)/Paramedic Hampton, VA.
B.S.Comm/I/Pilot MSgt, USAF (Ret.) 49199
Check out my personal home page: http://members.cox.net/brueger
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"Life's too short to drink LITE beer!"
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