...as taking a PALS course (Pediatric Advanced Life Support) with a couple of NICU nurses, a paramedic, and a fireman. Two years of medical study hold not a candle to the experience they possess! Today, Young-Me and I took on the course, not knowing exactly what to expect. They gave us these large text books that we were supposed to, ahem, "read" before the class. We failed to find time. At any rate, toward the end of the day, we found ourselves in front of the classroom with an 8-y.o. mannequin which we were attempting to resuscitate. We decided that we needed to give epinephrine. Our examiner said, "Okay, how will you give it?" Hmmm..... We hmm'ed and haww'ed for a while...suggested a peripheral IV, a central line, and intubating and giving it through the endotracheal tube. Our examiner was clearly looking for another answer. Young-Me and I looked at each other, unsure of our next move.
Exasperated, I suggested, "well, there's that scene from Pulp Fiction where they just give the Epi right into the heart...." My comment was followed by unanimous laughter, including my own, ha ha!! (After we all hooted for a while, the real answer came out: an Intraosseous Line.) I left feeling glad that I could entertain all of those highly trained medical personnel, but also a bit incredulous that my brain could resort to cinema for answers to life and death situations. Yikes! Scary, eh?!
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