Abstract
This commentary aims to provide an overview of the current state and territory ambulance service cardiac arrest management recommendations to paramedics during the COVID-19 pandemic and highlight relevant risks to personnel.References
Paramedicine Board of Australia. Paramedicine Board of Australia Registrant Data. 2019. Available at: www.paramedicineboard.gov.au/News/Statistics.aspx
Coronavirus Update (Live): 2,503,392 cases and 171,796 deaths from COVID-19 virus pandemic - Worldometer [Internet]. Worldometers.info. 2020 Available at: www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/ [Accessed 21 April 2020].
International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation [Internet]. Ilcor.org. 2020. Available at: www.ilcor.org/covid-19 [Accessed 21 April 2020].
Shin H, Yoo, H Bae, G Chang, et al. Comparison of oropharyngeal leak pressure and clinical performance of LMA ProSeal and i-gel in adults: meta-analysis and systematic review. J Int Med Res 2016;44:405-18. doi: 10.1177/03000060515607386
Langhelle A, Sunde K, Wik L, Steen P. Airway pressure with chest compressions versus Heimlich manoeuvre in recently dead adults with complete airway obstruction. Resuscitation 2000;44:105-8. doi: 10.1016/s0300-9572(00)00161-1
New South Wales Ambulance. Protocol NSWA1 - NSWA pandemic management protocol. New South Wales Government; 2020. [AUTHOR: PLEASE PROVIDE LINK].
Ambulance Tasmania. Medical Services - Update No: 4-2020 Clinical practice during COVID-19 pandemic v1.0. Hobart: Department of Health; 2020. Available at: www.dhhs.tas.gov.au/ambulance/clinical_services/medical_protocols/paramedic_protocols
Ambulance Victoria. Paramedic response for managing coronavirus (COVID-19). Version 18. Melbourne: Ambulance Victoria; 2020.
Queensland Ambulance Service. Medical Directors’ Circular NO. 16/2020. Brisbane: Queensland Health; 2020.
SA Ambulance Service. Personal protective equipment assessment matrix - COVID-19 (COVN 026) Version 1.2. Adelaide: SA Ambulance Service; 2020.
SA Ambulance Service. Clinical Communication. Guiding principles of practice for COVID-19 (CLC-20-007) Version 1.2. Adelaide: SA Ambulance Service; 2020.
Coronavirus: St John disputes ‘no CPR on Covid-19 patients’ claim. Stuff. 2020. Available at: www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/coronavirus/120797659/coronavirus-st-john-wont-perform-cpr-on-patients-with-covid19-unless-primary-cardiac-arrest [Accessed 22 April 2020].
Alberta Health Services. AHS EMS COVID-19 Treatment approach for EMS practitioners. Alberta: Alberta Health Services; 2020.
London Ambulance Service. LAS guidance for patient facing staff Version 4.0 Medical Directorate 10th April 2020. London: London Ambulance Service (LAS); 2020.
Modes of transmission of virus causing COVID-19: implications for IPC precaution recommendations [Internet]. Who.int. 2020. Available at: www.who.int/news-room/commentaries/detail/modes-of-transmission-of-virus-causing-covid-19-implications-for-ipc-precaution-recommendations [Accessed 22 April 2020].