A girl in her 40s inadvertently consumed fish at a restaurant in Jerusalem final week, triggering anaphylaxis, a life-threatening response to a meals, drug, insect venom, or environmental substance. As her situation deteriorated, she contacted emergency companies.
After receiving an alert, Avraham Friedman, a United Hatzalah volunteer EMT, rode his ambucycle and was the primary to reach on the scene in underneath three minutes.
By that time, the lady had developed a rash on her chest and stomach and was struggling to breathe. Shalom Klein, one other EMT, joined Friedman. Collectively, they acknowledged the signs of a extreme anaphylactic response and understood that point was operating out.
Friedman administered an epinephrine auto-injector, however the preliminary dose was inadequate to halt the development of anaphylaxis.
The EMTs contacted United Hatzalah’s Dispatch and Command Middle to request authorization for a second injection, which was granted. Klein administered the injection, however once more, it had little impact in bettering the lady’s situation.
One other United Hatzalah volunteer, Dr Yosef Daniel Shakargy, was passing by the world on his bike when he encountered the emergency and stopped to assist.
Shakargy beneficial a 3rd epinephrine auto-injector which Klein administered, lastly bettering the affected person’s signs and elevating her oxygen saturation to a secure stage of 96%.
An ambulance arrived shortly afterward, and the lady was transported to a close-by hospital the place she is now in secure situation.
Stated Klein after the incident:
It was an exceptionally extreme response. I’ve witnessed quite a few circumstances of anaphylactic reactions and administered EpiPen injections on numerous events. Nevertheless, encountering a response of such depth, requiring not one however three injections earlier than we noticed any enchancment within the affected person’s situation, is uncommon in my expertise.
I have to additionally emphasize the invaluable function performed by Dr. Shakargy, who coincidentally arrived on the scene after a protracted shift at Hadassah Ein Kerem and dropped what he was doing with a purpose to assist. His presence introduced a way of reassurance in a extremely irritating state of affairs the place the primary two injections had yielded restricted outcomes.
Our congratulations and because of Klein, Friedman, and Shakargy for his or her heroic efforts, and our greatest needs exit to the lady for a speedy and full restoration.
We don’t know whether or not she carried her personal epinephrine auto-injector and whether or not she administered it to herself. We do know that the earlier you administer epinephrine in an anaphylactic emergency, the higher the result.
We urge all these prescribed epinephrine to at all times take two auto-injectors alongside in all places, each time, and to manage the primary and name emergency companies as quickly as anaphylaxis is suspected. If the signs don’t enhance in 5-10 minutes, administer the second auto-injector.
