September 9, 2002—A survey conducted by Harris Interactive found that 53 percent of the 1,000 American consumers polled are concerned that emergency responders do not have access to the necessary medications and equipment to provide the best possible care. Approximately 90 percent believe emergency workers have their best interests at heart when making decisions about emergency medical care. However, many respondents felt that government officials, health insurers, and hospital administrators were more concerned about budget constraints (34 percent) and politics (19 percent) than the public’s well-being (1 percent).
In 2000, the American Heart Association revised its Advanced Cardiac Life Support Guidelines, which are the recommended protocols for treating cardiac emergencies. The following are three important interventions from the revised guidelines:
- Immediate application by first responders and EMTs of semi-automated external defibrillation, a technique that administers a shock through the chest wall to the heart.
- Provision for improved airway management (i.e., securing the airway, assisting and monitoring ventilation).
- Use of antiarrhythmic agents and vasopressors (adrenaline-like drugs) for treating ventricular fibrillation (VF)/pulseless ventricular tachycardia (VT).
For more information, contact Harris Interactive.
