Performance of Resuscitation Skills by Paramedic Personnel in Chemical Protective Suits

Abstract

Objectives. Determine whether wearing a chemical protective suit increases time to successful completion of four resuscitation skills. Methods. This prospective experimental study examined the ability of civilian paramedic personnel to complete four resuscitative skills (electrical defibrillation, administration of epinephrine subcutaneously, intravenous cannulation, andtracheal intubation) carried out using standard methods on mannequins under two test conditions (wearing the protective suit andnot wearing the suit). Primary outcome was time to successful completion of each skill. Results. Sixteen paramedics were enrolled andcompleted each skill under two test conditions. Paramedics took longer to complete administration of epinephrine (87 vs. 60 seconds; p < 0.01) andintravenous cannulation (220 vs. 158 seconds; p < 0.01) tasks when wearing a protective suit. Wearing the suit did not impair electrical defibrillation (57 vs. 46 seconds) or tracheal intubation (79 vs 69 seconds). Conclusions. Chemical protective suit use increased time to successful completion of resuscitation skills where fine motor skills are required, namely administration of epinephrine subcutaneously andintravenous cannulation, but did not increase time to successful completion of resuscitation skills requiring gross motor skills, namely electrical defibrillation andtracheal intubation.

Key words::

• hazardous materials
• protective clothing
• resuscitation
• terrorism
• emergancy medical services