What are the considerations for Do Not Resuscitate orders for Emergency Medical Technicians in Kern County?

What are the considerations for Do Not Resuscitate orders for Emergency Medical Technicians in Kern County?

• A. Respect valid DNR orders per policy, confirm documentation, and involve medical control/legal as required; do not perform resuscitation if DNR is valid
• B. Resuscitate regardless of DNR
• C. Validate DNR with family only
• D. Ignore DNR if patient has a pulse

Answer: (A)

Do Not Resuscitate orders guide EMTs to withhold CPR and related life‑sustaining measures when the patient experiences cardiac or respiratory arrest, as long as the order is valid and properly documented. The key idea is to honor a current, legally recognized DNR in the field. Before acting, you verify the documentation—check that the form bears a physician’s signature, has a valid date, correctly identifies the patient, and clearly applies to the current situation. If there is any doubt about validity, you should contact medical control (and involve legal authority if required by policy) to confirm the correct course of action. When the DNR is valid, resuscitation is not initiated or continued, and you shift focus to comfort and supportive care within the scope of the order. If there is no DNR or if the order cannot be verified as current and applicable, you proceed with resuscitation per protocol. In Kern County, this verification and escalation process helps ensure respect for patient wishes while staying aligned with EMS policy.

Do Not Resuscitate orders guide EMTs to withhold CPR and related life‑sustaining measures when the patient experiences cardiac or respiratory arrest, as long as the order is valid and properly documented. The key idea is to honor a current, legally recognized DNR in the field. Before acting, you verify the documentation—check that the form bears a physician’s signature, has a valid date, correctly identifies the patient, and clearly applies to the current situation. If there is any doubt about validity, you should contact medical control (and involve legal authority if required by policy) to confirm the correct course of action. When the DNR is valid, resuscitation is not initiated or continued, and you shift focus to comfort and supportive care within the scope of the order. If there is no DNR or if the order cannot be verified as current and applicable, you proceed with resuscitation per protocol. In Kern County, this verification and escalation process helps ensure respect for patient wishes while staying aligned with EMS policy.