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• Finally, some action!

  Friday, Jul 13, 2007 9:35AM / Standard Entry / Members only
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  So, today I was sitting in ECMO (Extra Corporeal Membrane Oxygenation) Class, when from behind me, I hear my fellow co-workers discussing a transport about to take place. I asked my supervisor if I could go on this one. At first, she denied me because I was in a class, but since the person that was on call did not answer, I was tasked. So, my co-workers helped me get ready for it. being my first transport and all, I was pretty nervous. We checked our Transport bag and made sure we had all our respiratory supplies that we needed and checked the transport isollette to make sure there was enough oxygen and air to last for the whole trip. So, after everything was ready, we headed down to the E.R. where we boarded an ambulance to take us to the Helo pad.  We waited there for about 30 minutes and finally the helicopter arrived. We loaded the helicopter with our gurney and headed to Fort Hood, an Army Base about three hours away (driving distance). About fifteen minutes out, I feel this burst of air from behind me, and I was sitting right behind the cockpitt. About a minute later, we landed at this refueling flight line and I got off the helicopter. Turns out, the cockpitt door flew open and Moayad, the Nurse that was sitting there, could not get it closed...He was scared to death! Anyway, after that was taken care of, we continued our journey. When we finally arrived at the hospital on base, we were met up by an ambulance that drove us to the E.R. We headed up to the 2nd floor, which was the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit to pick up the baby.  She was a day old, term baby, with a cleft palate. She was at risk for airway obstruction because her tongue was so far back in her mouth, it could just block her airway. So, when we got into the NICU, we checked our her vital signs and made sure she was stable. She had no need for Oxygenation and was just fine, minus the cleft palate. However, she had trouble with her feedings, being that she desaturated  in the process. Other than that, everything was good. The doctor explained everything to her parents and some paperwork was taken done, and we loaded her up. Back into the ambulance, to the helicopter, stopped for gas on the way back, and we were home. The ride was smoothe, the baby handled herself well. All in all, it was a successful transport and I was proud to have had the experience.

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