DSAA Beeline, Issue 1 2017

why we do it
After 30 years in the military, I was well aware of the
slick and professional teamwork of medical teams, but
this was my first experience in a civilian setting.
I was immensely impressed and proud of how the
Ambulance Service and Dorset and Somerset Air
Ambulance teams quickly synergised their finely honed
capabilities to give Chris the very best chance of survival.
Within minutes, Chris was flown to Bristol Royal
Infirmary while I was left with the logistical challenge
of recovering the bikes home, with the help of my
wife Louise.
A view from the crew
Air ambulance Doctor Rob Török remembers
Chris’s incident well….
We were tasked by HEMS control to a collapsed cyclist at
09.31 on that morning. Within three minutes we were
in the air on what was a bright and sunny day. We had
a clear view of the ambulance and scene as we arrived
overhead less than 20 minutes after our initial call. There
was a suitable landing site just beyond the incident with
good access to the patient.
The ambulance crew quickly provided us with an
update on events so far, including the fact that they had
already needed to provide two shocks to defibrillate Chris’s
heart. I remember George confirming that he was trained
and had provided CPR from the start of the incident as
well as helping with information and logistics after
we had taken over control of the situation.
Paul Owen and I rapidly re-assessed Chris’s
condition and we confirmed our plan to
anaesthetise and intubate him. This was carried
out before transferring him into the helicopter
ready to fly to Bristol Royal Infirmary. Just as we
were about to take off, Chris’s heart once again
stopped beating. After another defibrillation his
condition remained stable throughout the 12-minute
flight from scene to hospital. We then handed Chris’s
care over to the resuscitation team and cardiologist in
the Emergency Department at BRI.
Chris’s positive outcome was
most certainly due to a number
of key factors:
Chris’s initial difficulty was witnessed and
responded to rapidly and effectively by a
member of the public who had prior knowledge
and training.
An early 999 call was made to summon
assistance alongside effective CPR being
delivered by George until the ambulance crew
arrived and took over.
Early identification of an abnormal heart
rhythm and the provision of two defibrillation
shocks followed by other elements of advanced
life support.
Early tasking of our Critical Care Team by the
HEMS desk, enabling specialist Critical Care skills
to be brought to the scene.
Rapid transfer to a specialist hospital that
would best meet Chris’s needs.
Left: Chris Pinnell
and his family
Above: George
Wiseman with
wife Louise and
son Toby
20
We can be at any
point in the two
counties in less than
20 minutes
Chris’s appreciation
My brain blocked the events of what happened that
day, although I was told that I reacted to George’s voice
at hospital. As a fit and healthy 46-year-old, who has
exercised since being a teenager, never smoked, eats
healthily and doesn’t drink much alcohol, hearing that I
had suffered a cardiac arrest was clearly a shock to me.
After arriving at the Bristol Royal Infirmary Intensive
Care Unit I underwent angioplasty (a procedure to widen
narrowed or obstructed arteries or veins) and had two
stents put into one of my arteries; I remained in an
induced coma for the next 48 hours and when I
awoke my wonderful wife was at my side and gave
me the news.
Eight weeks on, I am recuperating at home
but it is clear I owe my life to George, the NHS
Paramedics and of course the Dorset and
Somerset Air Ambulance.
It was certainly the intervention of the
professionals that ensured I got to the hospital in
excellent time and in a stable condition, which was
critical to my survival.
My wife, I and many of my friends and colleagues
now support the Charity and, as I speak, my youngest
son Louie is beavering away making Christmas tree
decorations to sell at the school Christmas Fair. He has so
many pre-orders already, it’s like a sweat shop in here!
The crew who attended Chris’s incident were: Dr
Rob Török, CCP Paul Owen and Pilot Chris Whipp
Please share your story
Our readers may be unaware that due to patient confidentiality,
we cannot hold patient records. That means that unless the
patients we have helped get in touch with us, we have no way of
knowing the full impact of our service.
Capturing the outcome and experiences of our patients helps to
support and improve our clinical service. A secondary benefit is,
with the permission of the patient, we are able to share their story
and experiences with others.
If you have experienced the work of DSAA please contact
our Communications Department on: 01823 669604 or email:
communications@dsairambulance.org.uk. Alternatively you can
write to: DSAA, Landacre House, Castle Road, Chelston Business
Park, Wellington, Somerset, TA21 9JQ. Thank you!
Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance @dsairambulance 27
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