Unless EMTs can prove otherwise, they must always assume a worst-case scenario with patients
By GAIL LARKIN
State Island Advance (New York)
We were surprised at first that our patient was only 39 years old. He didn’t look like the typical heart attack victim — he looked more like an athlete. He was wiry and he looked like he was in pretty good shape. He admitted to being a moderate smoker — less than a pack a day. Other than that, he didn’t seem to have any significant medical history that could explain his symptoms.
His wife had called the ambulance after he complained of chest pain while clearing out the garage. The chest pain was described more as a pressure behind his breastbone. The discomfort radiated into the left shoulder and arm. “Maybe I just strained a muscle,” he said.
‘UP-TRIAGE’
While a muscle strain could be the cause of the discomfort, medical protocol demands a closer and more serious look when symptoms suggest a more serious illness or injury. The term “up-triage” is used by emergency personnel to describe the appropriate initial approach to patient care.
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