HomeMy WebLinkAbout2022-10-05; Resuscitation Outcomes 2022 (Districts - All); Calderwood, MichaelTo the members of the:
CITY COUNCIL
Date lo (ilicA ~cc~
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October 5, 2022
Council Memorandum
To: Honorable Mayor Hall an ers of the City Council
From: Michael Calderwood, Fir C i
Via: Scott Chadwick, City Ma ager
Re: Resuscitation Outcomes 2022 (Districts -All)
{city of
Carlsbad
Memo ID# 2022109
This memorandum provides information regarding the observed improvement in patient
outcomes being treated within the City of Carlsbad by prehospital Emergency Medical Services
(EMS) and first responders. Through timely response and enhanced surveillance by the
Community Health Nurse, an improved trend has been identified.
In emergency medicine, a common indicator used to determine one's resuscitation success rate
is called sustained "return of spontaneous circulation" (ROSC). This measures how often a
pulseless patient is treated with CPR and advanced life support and regains a pulse. Over the past
five years (2017 -2021) the sustained ROSC rate for Carlsbad has fallen below the National,
California, and San Diego County rates. The data so far for 2022 has shown a significant change.
Not only has the ROSC rate in the city greatly improved, but it has surpassed the National, State
and San Diego County rates from previous years. Even more significant is the ROSC rate
discovered when looking at this past summer alone. The table below presents the average
percent of ROSC rates among cardiac resuscitation patients treated for the previous five-year
period:
TIME FRAME CARLSBAD SAN DIEGO CO CALIFORNIA NATIONAL
2017-2021 24.3 30.3 24.7 29.2
Carlsbad's year-to-date ROSC rates for 2022 break down as follows:
• 35.6% for 2022 year to date average
• 44.4% for third quarter from July 1, 2022, to present
The most obvious contributor is the timely response and performance of the city's EMS
personnel. However, successful resuscitation of a patient is also dependent on what occurs prior
to the arrival of the paramedics. The chance of surviving a cardiac arrest greatly increases with
immediate CPR and AED use. In September, there were five successful resuscitations. Of those,
all of them had CPR in progress upon paramedic arrival, and four of the five involved a Carlsbad
Police Officer either initiating CPR or taking over from a bystander. Individuals in our city have
been choosing to intervene and this has been setting up the paramedics for a successful
Fire Department
Safety Center -2560 Orion Way I Carlsbad, CA 92010 I 442-339-2141 t
Council Memo -Resuscitation Outcomes 2022 (Districts -All)
October 5, 2022
Page 2
resuscitation. The broad distribution of AEDs, such as in PD vehicles, and the increased likelihood
of Good Samaritan interventions through programs like "Sidewalk CPR" are also significant
contributors to these improved outcomes.
The following are short synopses of some successful cases:
• In May, a 53-year-old was driving when he suffered a heart attack, crashed his vehicle,
and was found in cardiac arrest by witnesses. Bystanders removed him and began
compressions. When Carlsbad Police arrived, they took over CPR and used their AED to
deliver a shock. Care was turned over to Carlsbad Fire who continued advanced life
support, were able to get a pulse back, diagnose a heart attack with an EKG then alert the
hospital. He survived, was discharged home, and made a fire station visit with his wife
and kids to say thank you.
• In July, a 51-year-old bodyboarder went into cardiac arrest in the water after, what was
later discovered, a cervical spine injury. He was pulled out of the water by local surfers
and a Carlsbad Fire Lifeguard who began CPR and advanced life support treatment
immediately on the beach. He regained a pulse, was saved on the sand, and was able to
return home after hospitalization due to the immediate interventions.
• In September, a 28-year-old went into full arrest in a parking lot after anaphylaxis from a
deli sandwich. A Carlsbad Police Officer was first on scene, began compressions, and
handed care over to Carlsbad Fire Paramedics. During their treatment and en route to the
hospital, they were able to get pulses back. She was discharged home three days later
with no residual problems.
• In September, an active 65-year-old cyclist went into cardiac arrest while group riding. His
friends began compressions, and a Carlsbad Police Officer took over CPR. Upon their
arrival, care was turned over to Carlsbad Fire who got pulses back during their treatment
and while enroute to the hospital.
• In September, a healthy 32-year-old was complaining of heart palpitations. He woke in
the middle of the night, falling to the ground in cardiac arrest. His wife performed
compressions. A Carlsbad Police Officer took over CPR and used an AED, providing a
shock, prior to handing over care to Carlsbad Fire Medics. They continued with advanced
life support treatment and were able to get pulses back before handing care over to the
emergency department. He is now home with his wife, after receiving the treatment he
needed, and has no residual issues.
Council Memo -Resuscitation Outcomes 2022 (Districts -All}
October 5, 2022
Page 3
In addition, just since July 1, 2022, the city's Paramedics have successfully treated and reversed
17 opiate overdoses. These are people in our community that were close to dying from an
overdose prior to receiving treatment with Naloxone and advanced life support from our Fire
Department. The Fire Department is currently finalizing participation in a "leave-behind"
Naloxone program. This program distributes preloaded Naloxone treatment packs provided by
the California Department of Public Health, along with education to community members at risk
of overdose. The intent of this program is to reduce mortality associated with the opioid
epidemic by making this lifesaving treatment available to more people. Access of 911,
hospitalization when appropriate, and substance abuse treatment is still encouraged in these
cases.
Residents, Lifeguards, Police, and Fire Department personnel, including the Dispatchers, have all
made a positive impact and share the responsibility. Optimizing the health of our community is a
collective effort and the Fire Department will continue to monitor our systems for areas to
improve and successes.
cc: Geoff Patnoe, Assistant City Manager
Cindie McMahon, City Attorney
Mickey Williams, Police Chief
Gary Barberio, Deputy City Manager
Laura Rocha, Deputy City Manager
Paz Gomez, Deputy City Manager
Kristina Ray, Communication and Engagement Director