Nightwatch: EMTs Comforting Patients - Top 5 Moments | A&E

Summary

This transcript captures the dynamic and intense experiences of emergency medical responders in New Orleans. From a young woman injured in a streetcar accident to a two-year-old with an allergic reaction, the team faces a variety of urgent situations. They navigate motor vehicle accidents, including one with a car on fire, and treat patients with seizures and breathing difficulties. Amidst the stress, they find moments of humor and compassion, highlighting the human side of emergency care.

Takeaways

• 🎧 The speaker reminisces about their past as a DJ, highlighting the contrast between their active social life pre-pandemic and the current confinement at home.
• 🚔 A dramatic 911 call describes a serious accident at the intersection of St. Charles and Bordeaux involving an SUV and a trolley, emphasizing the urgency and potential severity of the situation.
• 🚑 Emergency responders arrive at the scene of the accident, showcasing their quick response and the importance of immediate medical attention in such incidents.
• 🤕 The script details the careful extraction and treatment of an injured young lady from the accident, highlighting the responders' attention to preventing further injury.
• 🚨 The responders discuss the potential for fatalities in streetcar accidents in New Orleans, underlining the inherent dangers and the need for public awareness.
• 👶 A call about a two-year-old with an allergic reaction leads to a discussion on the signs of anaphylaxis and the importance of prompt medical intervention.
• 🚒 The script describes a motor vehicle accident on a bridge with a car on fire, illustrating the diverse and high-stakes scenarios that emergency responders face.
• 👩‍⚕️ The responders' interaction with a child patient and her family during a medical emergency provides insight into the emotional and psychological aspects of their job.
• 🏥 The script touches on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on hospital visitation policies, showing the challenges faced by patients and their families.
• 🚨 A call about a child with difficulty breathing and a history of asthma and pneumonia underscores the importance of immediate and accurate medical care for children.
• 🩺 The final scene with a child patient and the responder's empathetic approach demonstrates the human connection and emotional support that is part of emergency medical services.

Q & A

What was the initial situation described in the script?

The script starts with a person missing the social activities of being a DJ before the COVID-19 pandemic, and then shifts to emergency response scenarios involving accidents and medical emergencies.

What type of accident was the first emergency response team dispatched to?

The first emergency response team was dispatched to a motor vehicle accident involving an SUV and a trolley with people trying to help and not being able to get out.

How did the emergency responders handle the young lady involved in the trolley accident?

The emergency responders comforted the young lady, placed her on a stretcher with a seat belt and a c-collar as a precautionary measure, and carefully removed her from the vehicle using a backboard to prevent further injuries.

What medical condition did the two-year-old child have?

The two-year-old child was experiencing an allergic reaction, possibly due to shrimp, with symptoms including hives, redness on the skin, and swelling under the eyes.

What was the nature of the second motor vehicle accident described in the script?

The second motor vehicle accident involved a car on fire and another car with two children and a driver. The driver of the burning car was rescued by a passerby before the car was fully engulfed in flames.

How did the emergency responders assess the children involved in the car fire accident?

The responders checked for signs of trauma, including checking if the children could move their limbs and assessing for pain. They also noted that the children were properly secured in car seats, which likely saved their lives.

What was the patient's condition in the seizure scenario?

The patient had a history of seizures and had fallen, hitting her head during the seizure. The responders evaluated her for internal injuries and the potential for further seizures.

How did the emergency responders manage the situation with the nine-year-old having difficulty breathing?

The responders calmed the child down, reassured him, and provided breathing treatments. They also checked for chest pain and other symptoms related to his asthma and history of pneumonia.

What was the significance of the 'struggle bus' comment made by one of the responders?

The 'struggle bus' comment was a humorous way for the responder to express that they were going through a tough time, possibly due to personal or work-related stress.

How did the emergency responders handle the emotional aspect of dealing with patients and their families?

The responders showed empathy and compassion, using humor and reassurance to calm patients and their families. They also provided physical comfort, such as holding a patient's hand or giving a child a stuffed toy.

Outlines

00:00

🚑 Emergency Response to a Streetcar Accident

The script starts with a reflection on the absence of a DJ, possibly a metaphor for the lack of social activities due to the pandemic. It then shifts to a dramatic account of a motor vehicle accident involving an SUV and a streetcar in New Orleans. Emergency responders, including a medic named Alpha 3250, arrive at the scene to find numerous injuries and begin immediate care. The responders prioritize stabilizing the victims, using a backboard and C-collar to prevent further injury during extraction. A young lady is the focus of care, showing signs of shock but no severe injury, and is carefully moved to an ambulance for transport to the hospital.

05:02

🦐 Allergic Reaction and Children's Emergency Care

This paragraph describes a situation where a young child is experiencing an allergic reaction, likely to shrimp, with symptoms including hives and swelling. The emergency team takes the child to the hospital, explaining the necessity of starting an IV and administering Benadryl. The child's reaction to the medication, including vomiting and drowsiness, is monitored. The responders also provide comfort and reassurance to the child, highlighting the emotional challenges of treating pediatric patients and the importance of maintaining a positive atmosphere.

10:05

🔥 Motor Vehicle Accident with Fire Involvement

The script continues with a motor vehicle accident on a bridge, where one car is on fire. The responders find a family involved in the crash, with the mother having a potential broken arm or elbow and the children showing signs of minor injuries. The children were secured in car seats, which likely saved their lives. The responders provide first aid, comfort the children, and arrange for their transport to the hospital, emphasizing the importance of car seat safety.

15:08

🤕 Seizure and Head Injury Emergency

The fourth paragraph details the response to a 41-year-old female who had a seizure and hit her head, possibly causing internal injuries. The patient has a history of epilepsy and seizures related to stress, which may have been exacerbated by the pandemic. The emergency team evaluates her condition, checks vitals, and prepares for potential further seizures by starting an IV. The patient's children are present, and the team must balance caring for the patient with providing reassurance to her family.

20:21

🫁 Child with Asthma and Difficulty Breathing

This paragraph focuses on a nine-year-old child experiencing difficulty breathing, possibly due to asthma. The child has a history of pneumonia, which adds to the urgency of the situation. The emergency responders calm the child, administer breathing treatments, and reassure him that he will be okay. They also take the opportunity to connect with the child on a personal level, offering words of encouragement and advice for a healthy lifestyle.

🩸 Urgent Medical Response to Severe Bleeding

The final paragraph provided is a brief but intense statement about a medical emergency involving severe bleeding. The responder expresses determination to save the patient's life, indicating a situation where quick action is critical to prevent the patient from bleeding to death.

Keywords

💡DJ

DJ, short for disc jockey, is a person who selects and plays recorded music for an audience. In the video's context, the speaker misses the social aspect of DJing, indicating a pre-pandemic activity where they would gather with others to enjoy music. The term is used to illustrate the impact of the pandemic on social interactions and personal hobbies.

💡COVID-19

COVID-19, also known as the coronavirus, is the disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The pandemic has significantly altered daily life and is mentioned in the script as a reason for the change in the speaker's social activities. It is the underlying cause for the 'stuck at home' situation the speaker describes.

💡Accident

An accident refers to an unplanned, often harmful event that occurs unexpectedly. The script describes multiple accident scenarios, including a motor vehicle accident involving a streetcar and a car fire, highlighting the urgency and danger associated with such incidents.

💡First Responders

First responders are emergency services personnel who are among the first to arrive at the scene of an accident or emergency. The script features first responders like paramedics who are actively involved in providing medical assistance at various accident scenes, showcasing their critical role in saving lives.

💡Anaphylaxis

Anaphylaxis is a severe, potentially life-threatening allergic reaction that can occur rapidly after exposure to an allergen. The script mentions anaphylaxis in the context of a child having an allergic reaction to shrimp, emphasizing the seriousness of food allergies and the need for immediate medical attention.

💡Seizure

A seizure is a sudden, uncontrolled electrical disturbance in the brain that can cause changes in behavior, movements, feelings, and levels of consciousness. The script describes a 41-year-old female who experiences a seizure, indicating the need for prompt medical evaluation and care for individuals with a history of seizures.

💡Epinephrine

Epinephrine, also known as adrenaline, is a medication used to treat severe allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis. The script refers to 'banana grill,' which seems to be a colloquial term for epinephrine, as a treatment administered to a child experiencing an allergic reaction.

💡Asthma

Asthma is a chronic disease of the airways that transport air to and from the lungs. The script includes a nine-year-old child with asthma who is having difficulty breathing, illustrating the impact of asthma on a child's well-being and the importance of proper treatment.

💡Trauma

Trauma refers to a serious injury or damage to the body, often resulting from an accident or violence. The script describes a motor vehicle accident with trauma criteria, indicating the severity of injuries sustained by the victims and the need for specialized trauma care.

💡Pandemic

A pandemic is an outbreak of a disease that occurs over a wide geographic area and affects an exceptionally high proportion of the population. The script mentions the global pandemic's impact on hospital visitation policies, affecting patient care and family interactions.

💡Stress

Stress is a state of mental or emotional strain or tension resulting from adverse or demanding circumstances. The script connects stress to the exacerbation of a patient's seizure disorder, demonstrating how psychological factors can influence physical health.

Highlights

A DJ named DJ Skip-a-Beat misses performing due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

A New Orleans 9-1-1 dispatcher sends emergency responders to a serious accident involving an SUV and a trolley.

Emergency responders provide calm reassurance and medical care to a young lady injured in the trolley accident.

The importance of using a seatbelt and a backboard for patient safety during emergency transport is highlighted.

A child with an allergic reaction to shrimp is taken to the hospital for treatment.

The potential severity of allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis, is discussed.

A motor vehicle accident on a bridge with fire involvement poses a significant rescue challenge.

Children involved in a car accident are found alive thanks to proper car seat usage.

A 41-year-old female with a history of epilepsy experiences a seizure and hits her head.

Stress from the global pandemic may exacerbate the patient's seizure disorder.

A nine-year-old with asthma is struggling to breathe, and his father seeks medical help.

The child's history of pneumonia adds to the urgency of his current asthma attack.

A paramedic connects with a young patient, providing reassurance and a sense of personal care.

A dramatic motor vehicle accident results in a child with a broken nose and the mother with a possible broken arm.

The crucial role of car seats in protecting children during severe accidents is emphasized.

A paramedic reflects on the emotional impact of treating children and the rewards of seeing them recover.

A patient's children are unable to visit her in the hospital due to COVID-19 restrictions.

Transcripts

i do miss dj here i'm missing d.j i miss

it man like you know

before covert if i'm sitting there with

nothing to do or i got a weekend free

you know call somebody up and find a

spot to go dj it and now i'm stuck

sitting there at the house no i'd never

thought she was a dj it's the country

accent man people know

it throws everybody off what's your dj

name

dj skip a beat

dj skype

city of new orleans 9-1-1

i am at the intersection of st charles

and bordeaux and there is an suv that

just ran into the trolley bunch of

people trying to help they're not

getting out it was really scary okay mom

dispatcher has your call they're sending

someone out they'll be there as soon as

they can

alpha 3250 you guys are going to be

going to st charles avenue at bordeaux

this could be bad man yeah it's

definitely gonna be bad

titus and i are responding to a motor

vehicle accident involving a vehicle and

a streetcar i've seen several people

killed by streetcars here in new orleans

so this has the potential to be a pretty

bad situation

[Music]

32.50 we don't see

all right love look it's gone

everything's gonna be all right love we

got you it's all right calm down we here

it could have been a lot worse is

anything hurting you baby

calm down

let's get the stretcher in a seat collar

right now i do see that the patient is

still alert and able to talk this young

lady is just scared of what happened

which is understanding she's a young

lady that just got hit by a trolley pull

it up scoot it up under her butt so you

feel this board right here up onto you

we're going to twist you around we're

going to sit on it then we'll lay you

back all right

whenever you're ready you count and then

you move okay we put a c collar in place

as a precautionary measure and we

decided to use a backboard to remove it

from the vehicle we don't want to cause

any further injuries because we don't

know what injuries she has at this point

all right lay straight back

all right

one two three

what we're gonna do is we're gonna get

you out this weather all right we know

this could be serious she's complaining

of leg pain now but until we get her

into the ambulance we really don't know

what's hurting this young lady

so

this left leg is the one that hurts you

and this left arm right yeah and your

side you have your seat belt on large

yes all right we're going to shut those

gates and we're going to get the gun all

right i think you're going to get that

new 2021 joint though

i look like that's a pretty new car too

let's roll out get this young lady to

the hospital

when i was young when tyler was driving

i hit a street car too so

yeah that's it like i was looking but i

didn't see it you just didn't say it and

i didn't hear it either usually you know

yeah you can hear it coming right you

born and raised here right so you used

them so you thought that you could hurt

it all right just for you live and you

all right i'm gonna throw you a bead all

right

so look we going green so it's for

running into the street car we're gonna

get your whistle so next time you plan

in front of three car we want you to

blow this whistle so they can stop okay

at this point people just need a good

joke man good laugh to calm down and

then once you bring anxiety to a low now

you're able to assess the patient and

get good vital signs and just get that

communication with the patient let me

get a little information

i feel comfortable that she's going to

walk out this hospital just being a

little sore but she could have a broken

leg or internal injury she did just get

hit by a two-ton object all right love

we help y'all make you look good when

you go in this hospital

y'all look beautiful

so there you go

that hasn't been cheap enough

i don't know why mine went up a little

big i'm gonna work at it

i'm on a struggle bus right now so yeah

i'm gonna have more gum in my beard than

i'm gonna have in my mouth you're gonna

be captain gumby or tonight i know

aboard the struggle bus

we get a call for a two-year-old that

the parents noticed some swelling she

has some hives so possibly having an

allergic reaction

hi

what's going on

shrimp shrimp she might be allergic to

shrimp we're gonna take her to the

hospital okay she's got a little bit of

swelling under her eyes and i can see

some hives and redness on her skin so i

would call it you know an allergic

reaction definitely i'm just warning you

sadly we're about to make her cry

because we're gonna have to start an iv

on her and give her some banana grill

you want to sit let me slide right over

there baby allergic reactions

and children are scary can i see this

arm

i know peanuts and shellfish both can

cause anaphylaxis very quickly

oh my gosh oh my gosh

what is this i know it's wet you see

that

you're terrible at distracting

watch that water treats food water

cheese flavor oh gosh oh my gosh

[Music]

you want to sit in a big girl chair

allergic reactions are so weird you can

have that first initial one put you in

anaphylaxis and you can die from it

let's go um one to two milligrams per

kilogram or you could be one of those

people where you have that mild reaction

first and then if you come into contact

with it again it's a little more severe

and then more severe until eventually if

you come into contact with it it'll

cause you anaphylaxis

let me see

[Music]

[Applause]

yeah it's actually common for the throat

to itch a little bit right afterwards

plus be her being upset she'll pass in

just like two seconds i saw that

screaming yeah

okay here you go

i gave her the benadryl and you know she

started to vomit a little bit which is

fine that's a normal side effect

especially for kids it's okay it's okay

still you know watching this cute little

baby vomit and and get a little shaky

from the benadryl it makes you a little

bit sad to be the bad guy it does

you want to hold it for a second would

that make you feel better

okay

and look she might get a little tired

too okay that's pretty normal so she

might actually even go to sleep all

right anytime we get you know such a

sweet you know pediatric patient it's

like a little break what kind of

birthday party is she having

mickey mouse clubhouse your skin looks

better already you're gonna be perfect

for your party tomorrow you're welcome

you know you're dealing with grumpy

adults or very sick adults and so to get

you know that little breath of fresh air

and to just have

the chance to laugh with a child and you

know play with them a little bit and

things like that it's definitely a break

in the night why are you so cute

[Music]

we're going to a motor vehicle accident

that's out on highway 11 bridge

we got fire

in both aspects

we've had some really bad accidents on

that bridge it's just a little two-lane

bridge

and it's very dark

not on scene

[Music]

her seat there's a wow in the car also

was in her seat got a busted nose mom's

probably got a broken arm there's nobody

in the other vehicle

or the other okay so we have four total

yeah all right we get a call for uh mva

there are two vehicles one that is still

smoking and another that has two

children in it along with the driver

the driver of the car that caught on

fire she was very lucky apparently a

passerby stopped and opened the door and

helped her out of the vehicle before it

got fully engulfed in flames

we got around i hadn't moved here

all right let's get a i got the this i

think this one has uh the seat the car

seat in it the baby is maybe four or

five months old she's a newborn almost

i see some brush burns on her like

little abrasions to the head

she starts crying so that's always a

good sign

oh my goodness

because that means that they're feeling

any pain that they might have and that

they're scared and know what's going on

if you have a baby that's quiet

that has just been through

something as traumatic as this that's

always a cause of concern that one's

okay

i get the baby girl all set

and firemen bring her older sister in

okay

that hurt

all right all right you want me to get

you a little something that's cold and

put some coal on it all right

i'll start to talk to her and and assess

her i see she's got some swelling to her

lips and nose area you want a whole lab

you want me to hold it all right i'm

going to sit right here and hold it for

you can you wiggle your feet

oh

very good i like those tennis shoes

[Music]

the firemen were taking care of the mom

apparently she had

what appeared to be a broken arm or a

broken elbow

um your mama we're gonna get your mommy

in in just a minute okay

the baby look i got your baby

she's doing good too she keeps asking

about the baby i thought she was asking

about her sister

i kept telling her baby's right here

she's fine she's fine

[Music]

all right we're gonna we're gonna get

your doll for you

come to find out she was talking about

her baby doll christine's gonna go get

your doll okay

oh christine got your doll

yay

all right

she's got that little mark on her head

that would mean trauma criteria the mom

is in a lot worse shape than the

children so we need to get her to the

doctor you're all right with them going

to ochsner or you want them at

university

the two children they were very lucky

that they were properly secured in car

seats and that's the only thing that

saved their lives

if that hadn't had been in play

i'm almost pretty sure it would have

been at least one fatality if not two

times

[Music]

i keep thinking i'm having hot flashes

[Music]

gonna be a 41 year old female that had a

seizure in his head people began to see

going to a

41 year old lady who evidently had a

seizure hit her head when she fell

so she's an epileptic has a history of

seizures

she has a history yeah she has a history

of seizures such as epilepsy

hopefully she'll be awake from talking

whenever we're there

[Music]

when you fall and hit your head there's

always a risk of some sort of internal

injury that we can't see you could have

a bleed into your brain which can then

cause more seizing and then more trauma

and then more injury and it's a bad day

are we here yeah we like oh there's

nobody here

it's in the back

i don't know hop out let's see

how you doing

did y'all call ems

how you doing dear

i know

[Music]

you had a seizure you failed and hit

your face on the bend

all right

can you walk on up to the ambulance for

us

so you had a seizure you fell and hit

your mouth okay

come on let's just walk right out here

and we're going to check you out all

right dear

you got a jacket on yeah let's just walk

out just like this

we're just going to get you a set of

vitals make sure everything's okay all

right come on sweetheart

responding to a patient had a seizure

she fell she's injured herself it's

important that we evaluate her quickly

so that she gets the care that she needs

okay

come on sweetie hey you even got to cry

mama's all right

you stay right here for just a second

all right i got something for you

come on baby i'm gonna help you out a

little bit

kendra can you have a seat right here

for me sweetheart

just have a seat right there there you

go sub seat there we go it's always

difficult to see a patient's children

upset but right now our focus has to be

on the patient herself to make sure that

she's all right all right we'll turn the

heater on for you

let me see this i'm gonna take a blood

pressure okay

hey baby

you had a seizure okay

i know i keep telling you that i think

it's because you keep forgetting

i've been having seizures all my life

okay okay since

that's fine we're just here to check you

out that's all

so i'm just gonna start an iv over here

just in case you have another seizure

okay

do you know what causes your seizures

i have um as like

they say if i i worry

stress out too much this is

causing you here

we're in the middle of a global pandemic

which has been very stressful for pretty

much everyone so it's no surprise that

the patient has been feeling extra

stressed and it may have exacerbated her

seizure disorder

hold on one second so we're gonna get a

mask on you okay

sorry all right let me see this arm baby

two more stickers here okay

[Music]

now listen

this little guy

says no more crying okay now he or she's

gonna need a good name okay okay all

right

i want to see a couple things real quick

okay close your mouth all the way

uh-huh uh open your mouth

okay good

now move your jaw from side to side for

me just make sure everything lines up

good make sure your jaw is okay

how long should we have to be in that at

night that i do not know

did you want to give your mom a hug

before she goes

[Music]

the coronavirus pandemic has really

changed how hospitals allow visitation

her children will not be able to visit

her in the hospital and that's terrible

that's heartbreaking

all right

all right off to university

yeah

sounds good

i'm having a kid i can only hope mine's

as cute as yours your kids are adorable

[Music]

[Music]

nine-year-old kid

difficulty breathing

kind of treatments not working

being a dad calls with children

kind of tends to tug at your heart a

little bit you tend to

relate more personally let's go say hi

to little guy before i'll see

hey big guy what's up

you okay

are you scared

what are you scared of

that's from breathing so fast take it

easy you'll be all right

let's take this out your mouth

i'm going to listen to you breathing

okay big guy

yeah

an asthma

how old are you bubba

you look like you're 10 at least i

thought you were like 24. took a nice

easy deep breath

so you're breathing down

there you go

now when you take a deep breath does it

hurt pretty bad right in there

where's the heart point to it for me

right there you've been coughing

you get a headache well you got to stop

that coughing then you don't want no

headache do you

the thing he's saying is when he takes a

nice deep breath he's having some chest

pain now it could be the mommy

does he have does he have a history in

the morning

okay has he had a fever yeah okay asthma

in itself if left untreated can be

dangerous

now we learn he has a history of

pneumonia everything's a little more

serious

our main goal at this point in time is

to keep him calm

and let him know that everything is

going to be okay

that pain feeling a little better in

your chest

no put you back on this stuff again here

you're still scared

[Music]

i ain't gonna do nothing to hurt you all

right no needles no nothing how about

that

sound like a plan

all right you ever seen a picture of

your heart before

you want to

right there

that's your heartbeat

each time it beats this big line

foreign kids i tend to treat them as my

own so i take all kids very serious and

personal you wanna give me a bump

all right

you kind of miss but i'm gonna let you

slide because you don't feel good

you making good grades promise all right

i'm gonna keep track of you

you don't smoke right

you don't drink alcohol

you don't do drugs you better never

start i'm proud of you kid

grandma you do a good job

treating kids can be very rewarding to

see him start to smile toward the end is

a tremendous feeling i think this guy's

gonna be just fine with a little rest

and some breathing treatments

my man what you got there

your heart

you're holding your heart in your hand

he's holding his heart in his hand

that's just crazy hang on to that now

[Music]

be safe be strong let's do this get that

stretcher in here you're going to bleed

to death

they're not dead

i can work with that