Central Jackson County Fire and EMS adds Therapeutic Hypothermia to its Protocols

This past September, customers of the Central Jackson County Fire Protection District EMS (CJC) began receiving a new kind of treatment when the district implemented a new medical protocol to cool revived cardiac arrest patients before reaching the hospital. Called Therapeutic Hypothermia, CJC became the first EMS system in Missouri to provide this progressive medical protocol which provides advanced care to the victims of cardiac arrest. Currently, approximately 150 of the 24,000 EMS agencies in the United States perform this procedure. “CJC is dedicated to providing the most comprehensive and advanced care available anywhere in the country and we thank the residents for the continued support in order to make this happen.  This treatment, in conjunction with area hospitals, will increase the chances for a patient to return to normal life when otherwise this condition would be terminal” says Dr Dennis Block the Medical Director for CJC. 
EMS agencies that have implemented the Therapeutic Hypothermia protocol have experienced up to a fourfold increase in survival to hospital discharge and Therapeutic Hypothermia is endorsed by the American Heart Association.

The Therapeutic Hypothermia protocol is used selectively with cardiac arrest patients who regain a pulse during treatment. After regaining a pulse by administering CPR, paramedics administer chilled saline intravenously and place ice packs at strategic locations on the body in an effort to cool the patient while en route to the hospital. Additionally, paramedics administer medications to eliminate shivering which is a normal “rewarming” process of a cold body.
 
The therapeutic hypothermia protocol is an effective tool for increasing the chance of survival for cardiac arrest victims; however it depends on the overall system of care. First responders in conjunction with highly trained Emergency Medical dispatchers offering pre-arrival resuscitation instruction, with fire and rescue agencies play a critical role with the performance of high-quality and early CPR, while hospitals offer the continuance of therapeutic hypothermia initiated in the field when needed.  “What it comes down to is a continuum of care that begins with the public.  Without quick public access to 911 and high quality CPR, the continuum is broken thus diminishing any chance of resuscitation” says Paul Lininger the Assistant Chief of EMS for CJC “every second counts”.