Heart attack victims being ‘left in homes to die if paramedics can’t get pulse’ at scene due to coronavirus pandemic – The Sun

HEART attack victims are reportedly being left to die in their homes if paramedics can’t get a pulse at scene as the coronavirus pandemic takes a toll on hospitals.

The Regional Emergency Medical Services Council of New York City (NYC REMAC) has apparently advised Emergency Medical Technicians not to bring cardiac arrest patients to the hospital if revival attempts at the scene are unsuccessful.

According to the REMSC memo, sent to NYC EMTs on Tuesday and obtained by the New York Post, states: “Artificial ventilation and/or compressions must not be delayed.

"[Chest] compressions must begin as soon as it is determined the patient does not have a pulse.”

In the case patient's pulse does not start back up, EMTs will call a time of death on scene.

The guidelines add: “No adult non-traumatic or blunt traumatic cardiac arrest is to be transported to a hospital with manual or mechanical compression in progress without either return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC)…

"Or a direct order from a medical control physician unless there is imminent physical danger to the EMS provider on the scene.

“In the event a resuscitation is terminated, and the body is in public view, the body can be left in the custody of the NYPD.”

Despite these guidelines being sent out to NYC EMTs this week, some EMT workers in other areas of the state are saying this protocol was implemented prior to the rise in coronavirus cases.

An anonymous source told The Sun: "We already had that implemented in Suffolk County, NY.

"If we work them up fully on scene and they are still in asystole [cardiac arrest] after 20 minutes we can call a time of death."

Before coronavirus swept the city and overloaded hospitals, heart attack victims would be normally transported to hospitals regardless of being revived at the scene.

Emergency Room Dr. Darien Sutton told New York's ABC7 the new protocol is "terrifying."

He said: "It almost seems like it's never stopping, people keep coming and coming and coming and there's just no space to put them.

"As a doctor in New York and as a New Yorker, I have family that live here, and when I hear things like that I obviously get afraid, fearful for the livelihood of my family.

"It is terrifying, it is really terrifying."

The US now as at least 215,000 people infected with the deadly virus, and over 85,000 of those are in New York state.

More than 2,219 people have died from coronavirus in New York York city alone.

The Regional Emergency Medical Services Council didn't respond to The Sun's request for comment.

As COVID-19 cases continue to increase and social distancing guidelines remain in place, US unemployment claims hit another record high at 6.6 million.

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