Case Study One: I'll pull you through! thought Amelia Johnson, Paramedic

Written by James Sniezek 2002

Incident:

It was 8:30 AM when the call came in. A school bus had gone out of control and careened into a crowded bus stop trapping an individual between the bus and a building. Fire and rescue arrived on the scene 5 minutes after the call came in. Amelia Johnson was the first Paramedic to arrive. a large crowd had assembled, the bus motor was still running and the trapped individual was unconscious. Amelia worked her way to the front of the crowd and assessed the victim. No blood loss, no bruises visible, in shock but stable, lower legs pinned between the bus and the building. The victim's legs were cyanotic (turning blue from lack of oxygen). Amelia called for a helicopter and was beginning an IV when someone in the crowd shouted to move the bus off the victim. Fear came over Amelia's face as she saw a bystander get into the bus to back it up.

Immediately she yelled out: NO, DON'T MOVE THE BUS OF YOU WILL KILL THE VICTIM. Everyone froze. Amelia followed by saying: I'll pull him through just follow my instructions.....

Analysis:

Much of what is important in keeping an organism alive is maintaining a constant physiological state. Physiology is the study of how an organism functions and is influenced by the physical and chemical aspects of a biological system.

What information did Amelia use to gain knowledge about the victims physiology?

What part(s) of physiology appear to be unchanged?

What part(s) of the victims physiology may be changing?

What about the victims physiology might change when the bus is moved that could, potentially, kill the victim?

What might Amelia administer to the victim prior to moving the bus to avoid killing the victim, hopefully?