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MEHDIKZ!

It's been so long since you've seen one that you can't even spell the word anymore. The paramedic puts her bags down on the bench seat and looks at you, awaiting a report.

Bob: "Hey - thanks for coming!"

Valerie:: "Hey - thanks for not waiting at the scene! What have you got?"

Bob: "Roughly 35 years old, collapsed with no explanation at work. Bystander CPR started almost immediately, I would guess less than a minute of anoxic time. Zapped him once at 200 about 6 minutes into the event with a return of spontaneous circulation. He just refibrillated again and I hit him again at 300 with similar results. It's been a while, but don't you guys usually come in pairs?"

Valerie:: "My partner is new. He'll be along as soon as he learns where the door handle is on the truck."

Bob: "Yes, I know the feeling..."

The paramedic asks you to switch spots as she opens her intubation kit. She slides the laryngoscope into the patient and peers inside. You decide to do something a little more productive, like take a blood pressure.

Bob: "The BP is 102/90."

You notice the medic is having trouble placing the ET tube. After seeing her reposition the laryngoscope twice and curse three times, you decide to offer some assistance:

Offer to push down on the cricoid cartilage
Offer to pull up on the cricoid cartilage
Offer to pinch the trachea