RE: Re: [Spam][86.1%] Re: Suspension Trauma. /Orthostatic hypotension

[Guest guest]

,

Given your background it might be worth mentioning your area of expertise

when replying.......

Re: Re: [spam][86.1%] Re: Suspension

Trauma./Orthostatic hypotension

Evening,

The main element in suspension trauma is the inability to move the lower

limbs.

Someone may be stuck somewhere in their harness, but relatively safe if they

can move all their limbs and are conscious. If they are unable to move their

limbs, are unconcious or have suffered some injury or medical event, then

the effects of suspension trauma can manifest quickly and potentially kill

within a short period of time. Accurate time predictions are difficult

because researching such a phenomena has ethical problems: you might kill

your subject. But we are talking minutes not hours here.

Depending on the situation, albeit extreme, I could forsee a situation where

cutting a rope might be the only option. However I think this would be in

the recreational not industrial environment.

I have a powerpoint presentation contact me offline if you're interested.

john@...

Regards,

Offshore Medic,

East Brae.

--

Whatever you Wanadoo:

http://www.wanadoo.co.uk/time/

This email has been checked for most known viruses - find out more at:

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[Guest guest]

Very interesting

Your suspension Orthostatic Hypotension discussion

The Off shore guys are famiiar with this phenomenom

But perhaps less

The Dry Medics amongst us

The phenomenon is associated with cold water rescue

This dates back to experience in the second world War

Whereby it was noted that

After long exposure

Fatigue & Hypothermia

+ removable of water (Similar to Low pressure MAST pants removal)

+ Suspension (Harness to ship and later with Helis)

You would have rescued victims dying in the hoist

Wich of the physical insults and to what relative degree

Was responsible for rendering the final deadly blow

Could be left to debate

The recommendation since then

Is to haul out all Pts in a supine position

Conditions of both the Pt and the rescue

Will affect final decisions

But the objective is to avoid the standing up position

Brault EMT-P

> Re: Re: [spam][86.1%] Re: Suspension

> Trauma./Orthostatic hypotension

>

>

>

>

>

> Evening,

> The main element in suspension trauma is the inability to move the

> lower

> limbs.

> Someone may be stuck somewhere in their harness, but relatively

> safe if they

> can move all their limbs and are conscious. If they are unable to

> move their

> limbs, are unconcious or have suffered some injury or medical

> event, then

> the effects of suspension trauma can manifest quickly and

> potentially kill

> within a short period of time. Accurate time predictions are

> difficult

> because researching such a phenomena has ethical problems: you

> might kill

> your subject. But we are talking minutes not hours here.

> Depending on the situation, albeit extreme, I could forsee a

> situation where

> cutting a rope might be the only option. However I think this

> would be in

> the recreational not industrial environment.

> I have a powerpoint presentation contact me offline if you're

> interested.

> john@...

>

> Regards,

>

> Offshore Medic,

> East Brae.

>

> --

>

> Whatever you Wanadoo:

> http://www.wanadoo.co.uk/time/

>

> This email has been checked for most known viruses - find out more

> at:

> http://www.wanadoo.co.uk/help/id/7098.htm

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

Surly this was due to hydrostatic release and gravitational pull as the casualty

was winched upright.... In my opinion suspension trauma is more like having a

trapped casualty who builds up toxins in lower limbs due to compromised

circulation that are problematic when released ..... Complicated by being

suspended in an obscure location ....

Re: Re: [spam][86.1%] Re: Suspension

> Trauma./Orthostatic hypotension

>

>

>

>

>

> Evening,

> The main element in suspension trauma is the inability to move the

> lower

> limbs.

> Someone may be stuck somewhere in their harness, but relatively

> safe if they

> can move all their limbs and are conscious. If they are unable to

> move their

> limbs, are unconcious or have suffered some injury or medical

> event, then

> the effects of suspension trauma can manifest quickly and

> potentially kill

> within a short period of time. Accurate time predictions are

> difficult

> because researching such a phenomena has ethical problems: you

> might kill

> your subject. But we are talking minutes not hours here.

> Depending on the situation, albeit extreme, I could forsee a

> situation where

> cutting a rope might be the only option. However I think this

> would be in

> the recreational not industrial environment.

> I have a powerpoint presentation contact me offline if you're

> interested.

> john@...

>

> Regards,

>

> Offshore Medic,

> East Brae.

>

> --

>

> Whatever you Wanadoo:

> http://www.wanadoo.co.uk/time/

>

> This email has been checked for most known viruses - find out more

> at:

> http://www.wanadoo.co.uk/help/id/7098.htm

>

>

[Guest guest]

As I understand it , and I stand to be corrected in this, at least in the

initial stages the problem with suspension trauma is that with most

harnesses the casualty is held in an upright position and they will have

difficulty in being able to move the limbs or self rescue. This means that

the pressure of the harness restricts venous return and decreases cardiac

output to the extent that consciousness is decreased or lost and airway

compromise is likely. This when combined with the poor circulation and

possible pressure on the chest from the harness restricting breathing leads

to a treble whammy that can be rapidly fatal if the correct action is not

taken to relieve it.

I hope that this helps,

Gareth

>From: " Parkinson " <gary.parkinson@...>

>Reply-

>< >

>Subject: RE: Re: [spam][86.1%] Re: Suspension Trauma.

> /Orthostatic hypotension

>Date: Fri, 20 Aug 2004 06:27:48 +0100

>

>Hi ,

>Surly this was due to hydrostatic release and gravitational pull as the

>casualty was winched upright.... In my opinion suspension trauma is more

>like having a trapped casualty who builds up toxins in lower limbs due to

>compromised circulation that are problematic when released .....

>Complicated by being suspended in an obscure location ....

>

>

> Re: Re: [spam][86.1%] Re: Suspension

> > Trauma./Orthostatic hypotension

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> > Evening,

> > The main element in suspension trauma is the inability to move the

> > lower

> > limbs.

> > Someone may be stuck somewhere in their harness, but relatively

> > safe if they

> > can move all their limbs and are conscious. If they are unable to

> > move their

> > limbs, are unconcious or have suffered some injury or medical

> > event, then

> > the effects of suspension trauma can manifest quickly and

> > potentially kill

> > within a short period of time. Accurate time predictions are

> > difficult

> > because researching such a phenomena has ethical problems: you

> > might kill

> > your subject. But we are talking minutes not hours here.

> > Depending on the situation, albeit extreme, I could forsee a

> > situation where

> > cutting a rope might be the only option. However I think this

> > would be in

> > the recreational not industrial environment.

> > I have a powerpoint presentation contact me offline if you're

> > interested.

> > john@...

> >

> > Regards,

> >

> > Offshore Medic,

> > East Brae.

> >

> > --

> >

> > Whatever you Wanadoo:

> > http://www.wanadoo.co.uk/time/

> >

> > This email has been checked for most known viruses - find out more

> > at:

> > http://www.wanadoo.co.uk/help/id/7098.htm

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

--- Parkinson <gary.parkinson@...> wrote:

> Hi ,

> Surly this was due to hydrostatic release and gravitational pull as

> the casualty was winched upright.... In my opinion suspension

> trauma is more like having a trapped casualty who builds up toxins

> in lower limbs due to compromised circulation that are problematic

> when released ..... Complicated by being suspended in an obscure

> location ....

You seem to concentrate solely on the OUTSIDE factors

I think that if any one of us would hang on a harness for 4 hours

And did not move our limbs

Would not experience any major problem on laying supine.

Because we are healthy

Hypothermia

Unconsicousness (venous pooling)

Positional asphyxia(bad harness)

Trauma

.... add PRN

Brault EMT-P