Issue: 131 Date: 9th August 2018
Clinical Memo
Subject: When to take a defibrillator to a patient in an
emergency
Background
The SCAS Clinical Equipment and Vehicle Review Group, following staff consultation and feedback,
has been reviewing the weight and contents of the primary response bags and equipment. One
significant heavy component is the defibrillator, and it is recognised that it is not always necessary on
clinical grounds to have immediate access to a defibrillator for all types of initial clinical assessments,
because there will always be a defibrillator located on all front line ambulance and rapid response
vehicles.
Action SCAS clinicians should use their professional judgement as to when to bring a defibrillator to a
patient’s side when undertaking a primary clinical assessment. Crews should factor in the clinical
information available from CCC at the time of tasking, and the likely distance that patient will be from
the Ambulance or RRV.
Additional Information
Clearly thresholds for carrying a defibrillator to patient’s side should be low for the following types of
emergencies, accepting that the initial information available to you from the CCC may be limited:
Category 1 and 2 calls
Reported cardio-respiratory arrest
Non – traumatic chest pain
Seizures
Chest/abdominal pain in patients with a known cardiac history
Collapsed patients
This list of clinical indications is illustrative only - it may be safer (when information is limited) to take
a defibrillator – judgement will be required on a case by case basis.
For further information please contact the clinical team or your education team for further advice.
Helen Young
John Black
Executive Director of Patient Care
Medical Director
To ensure the highest possible professional standards, it is important to
comply with all Clinical Memos