b. Emergency Treatment. The specialist's primary responsibilities are to
recognize a reaction, call a physician, take necessary life-saving action, and aid the
doctor in treatment. During special procedures using contrast media, the specialist
must be on guard for a reaction. Close observation of the patient and thorough
knowledge of the signs of a reaction are absolutely necessary. Never leave the patient
unattended at any time.
(1) In the event of a reaction, your immediate response should be to call a
doctor, preferably the physician who made the injection. It may become necessary to
treat the patient for shock by turning his head to the side, elevating his feet, and keeping
him warm or cool as the case warrants.
(2) In serious cases, breathing assistance or cardiac massage may be
required. Mouth-to-mouth resuscitation is the most effective respiratory method, and
you should learn external cardiac massage. Above all, do not panic. A calm,
professional demeanor will aid in keeping the patient calm and secure.
(3) When assisting the physician, you may be directed to prepare drugs for
injection. The bottle or vial from which the drug was drawn should be shown to the
doctor when handing him the filled syringe. The best assistance you can give the
physician is a fast and accurate response to his orders. Knowing exactly where to find
each item of the emergency equipment is a must!
(4) Remember that the specialist should not administer any drugs, use any
equipment, or perform any operations for which he is not completely trained.
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