When I was working in the intensive care unit ( I worked in the surgical unit mainly and in coronary or medical unit as well.) we had what was called a heart mobile. Today we have EMS. Back then we went on calls mainly for heart attack victims. We did get a few odd ball calls and patients, but those are another bunch of stories.

One day we got a call from a housing project of a man believed to be having a heart attack. Another nurse, myself, respiratory tech, security guard (the driver) answered the call. The heartmobile was equipped with just about everything that would be needed in case of a code blue.

We got to the housing unit the patient lived in. The man's son was beating his father on the chest and yelling his father's name. This action is probably what really saved the old man's life. We got the patient on the floor and continued cpr, etc on him. Got an iv and meds started. Had to shock him a few times to get his heart beating again. He finally aroused enough to tell us the name of the hospital that he prefered to use. Of course, it was the OTHER hospital in town (they did not and never got a heart mobile). We got him loaded into the mobile and left when he was stable enough to travel.

Back then we wore white pant suits as uniforms. I looked down at my uniform and the other nurse's uniform. They were black from the filth and dirt on the patients floor. Well scratch that uniform, never came clean in spite of bleach.

When we arrived at the ER entrance and the driver and resp tech unloaded the stretcher and the other nurse got out of the mobile, I followed, only I fell face first on the pavement. I got up and ran into the er with the other crew and the patient. After giving the er doc and nurses report on the patient, we left to return to our hospital. Had to change into scrubs after returning to work.

A few days later the patient's family called us to let us know that their father lived because of our fast action and if he ever had another heart attack, they would come to our hospital instead.

I really enjoyed that day at work. Nursing paid off in full. The patient was not breathing and was cold and clammy when we arrived. The er doc said the quick action of the son helped save his fathers life. The beating on the chest kept the blood circulating enough so we had a fighting chance to bring the man back to life.