EHC ED Critical Care

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Induced Hypothermia after Cardiac Arrest

First print the worksheet here (its under the protocol toolbar)   BIOMEDs # is 42000 (this might come in handy later)
	Get a hypothermia machine from the hallway between cardiac and trauma. There should be two there. Try to grab the one that says "induced hypothermia" if it is there.
	Now, open the hatch to check if the machine is full of sterile water.
	You'll know it is full if you see water sloshing over the perforated metal grate. If the water is not to that level, grab sterile water bottles and fill 'er up. Do not use sterile saline; the machine might explode.
	Make sure the temp cable is plugged into the side of the machine. If not see if you can steal one from the other machine or check the hypothermia drawer (location to be disclosed shortly). If it is in none of those places, call BIOMED.
	Now plug the other end of the temperature cable into the rectal probe. It plugs into the end like a phone jack. You'll find the rectal probe in the bin on the front of the hypothermia machine or in the hypothermia drawer. If not, call BIOMED.
	The hypothermia drawer is in the cardiac room in the cabinet just to the right of the doorway. It is the only one colored blue.
	Grab two, yes two, cooling blankets. If not in hypothermia drawer, call BIOMED.
	Now, look at the right side of the machine. You will see hydraulic cables, which distribute the cooled water. Here you see only one set plugged in to the machine. There needs to be two. On the induced hypothermia specific machine, two will usually be plugged in already. If not, steal from the other machine or (you guessed it) Call BIOMED.
	Ah, now we have two sets of cables. To plug or unplug requires either push or pulling on the cable tip at the same time you yank the cable. Play with it, you'll figure it out. Otherwise, call your BIOMED friends.
	Plug each of these hydraulic cable ends into the cooling blanket. Each cable has a black and a white connector. match those to the connectors on the cooling blankets.
	Plug the machine in and turn the machine on. Switch is on left side of the front of the machine.
	Set the machine to Celsius. Switch is on the right side of the front of the machine.
	Next, press the temp set button. Use the up and down arrows to make this number go up and down. Choose 34.0
	Now, roll the patient and insert the rectal probe (picture unavailable). Place one cooling blanket below the patient and one above. YOU DO NOT NEED SHEETS or even a gown between the patient and the cooling blankets. A gown is ok though for modesty's sake.
	Press the auto control button.
	The machine will now give you the patient's temp on the right and the blanket temp on the left. It will automatically adjust to get and keep the patient at 34.0.
	Go to the Fridge in the trauma room.
	On the bottom shelf should be four bags of cold saline. Grab 1 bag for the patients first bolus.
	Continue the Protocol as per the work sheet