In the event that EMS providers respond to the scene of an obvious death or a patient who is currently undergoing resuscitative efforts and not likely to respond, this protocol will delineate options.
In the case of an obvious death of a patient not likely to respond to resuscitation, EMS providers should not initiate emergency care. This includes the following situations:
Injuries not compatible with life such as decapitation and blunt trauma with NO signs of life at the scene
Obvious signs of distant time of death such as rigor mortis, lividity, and decomposition
When resuscitative efforts have been started by family or first responders, this should be continued by EMS providers and the patient transported. Resuscitative efforts and transportation should also be continued in the following situations:
The family requests continuation of care
The patient shows ANY response to treatment
Pediatric patient (< 18 y/o)
“External” hypothermia i.e. an environmental cause
AFTER CONSULTATION WITH ON-LINE MEDICAL CONTROL, resuscitation may be discontinued in the field in the following circumstance:
NO response to treatment is seen after 30 minutes
AND
The “terminal” rhythm has not changed during resuscitation efforts i.e. asystole, ventricular fibrillation, PEA