17/04/2026
REAL LIFE SCENARIO
Our crew arrived at pictured scene and made sure, anafilactic patient is stabilized until ambulance arrival.
Patient temporarily lost conciousness and dropped to the ground as an outcome of possible allergy reaction. Stable, yet with volatile conciousness, faint breath and rash on the extremities. Before our crew arrived, patient's partner with help of bystanders put her in recovery position and called an ambulance. We made sure that the verbal contact is established and monitored along with breathing and that patient's partner is in constant contact with EMS service. Then we made sure she has termal comfort by putting her on a blanket and using another blanket roll as a pillow, finally covering her by emergency blanket.
All above could be done by any passer by and minimum to none equipment was required.
What I would like to discuss here is how our crew member, added additional layer of safety for the patient by utilising comprehensive medical backpack from his car. He prepared breathing devices that he was comfortable using both legally and from the knowledge perspective: face mask with ambu bag and nasal tube. Later one of the passersby claimed that he is a doctor and asked if our crew had adrenaline in the backpack. After verifying his MD license there were adrenaline ampules made ready along with syringe. Due to patient's stable state and prompt arrival of ambulance adrenaline was not applied. Apart from aformentioned equipment being on standby at the scene there was also more serious available in the backpack: cric and intubation sets. We are lucky to have 2 combat medics at the crew and possibility of consulting experienced aenesthesiologist.
Why I'm mentioning this availability of equipment that was above the skills or legal limits of use of our crew member ?He only has BLS and Stop the Bleed courses under his belt.
Very common opinion is that civilian or first aid practioner shouldn't carry the equipment that can't be used by this person. This situation and many more show that equipment readiness above the competencies of responder can be vital for patient's survivability
If you'd like to know more join our discord server