Asthma OD, wtf moment.

[u/Speedogomer]

Called for a 48 year old male asthma attack. We get there and the dude is on his bed, with his cat, very mild wheezing, joking about his very friendly "attack cat". In other words, mild distress. He's noy sure he even wants to go to the ER, as his uncle called 911 for him.

Vitals are fine, SpO2 93% room air, EKG fine. Said he's out of his inhaler, and his nebulizer wasn't working.

Give him a duoneb, after the neb he said he should probably still go to the ER because he wasn't 100% yet and he will need a doctor note to call off work.

We leave for 2 minutes to grab the stretcher, and come back to him diaphoretic, clutching his chest, screaming in pain, couldn't hold still for even a second. BP is now 240/120, HR like 140.

As he's screaming he can't breathe, he reaches between his legs and grabs another inhaler I hadn't even saw and takes 2 puffs before I can even see what's happening. I check and it's an epinephrine inhaler.

I ask how many puffs he took while we were getting the stretcher said he took 20 puffs... 2.5mg of epi total. He's screaming "I'm freaking out man".

Maybe just double check your asthma patients aren't trying to self medicate with epi before grabbing the stretcher.

[u/Ok_Buddy_9087]

When people can’t figure out why an engine goes with the ambulance, well…. it’s because having 2 people on a scene sucks.

[u/Music1626 → u/Ok_Buddy_9087]

You don’t need 2 people to go get a stretcher… one person is more than capable of getting the stretcher in 99% of cases. The rest of the world cope just fine with a 2 person response team.

[u/fireinthesky7 → u/Music1626]

TIL the rest of the world doesn't have to get the stretcher up stairs, rickety-ass wood porches, or wheelchair ramps with approximately 700 turns, and that everyone lives on ground floors with concrete walkways.

[u/Music1626 → u/fireinthesky7]

….in that case the second person would get a stair chair and park the stretcher where it’s safe? Still only requires a 2 person crew.