Martin County EMS makes change to improve treatment of cardiac arrest

MARTIN COUNTY, N.C. (WNCT) — A recent change to emergency medical response teams in Martin County is aimed at improving the treatment of cardiac arrest.

EMS Medical Director for Martin County Brian Kitch said crews treating patients of cardiac arrest will be performing all medical care directly on the scene.

It’s referred to as “Pit Crew CPR.” Often people believe the job of the EMS crew is to get the patient to the hospital, but Kitch said it’s the trained staff on the team, not the ambulance that saves lives.

“Yes the crews will be at the scene longer and possibly in your homes longer, but these efforts are vital, and we encourage everyone to know the few steps of CPR so that they can be as helpful as possible while waiting on these emergency units,” Kitch said.

The emergency response staff trained hard to make this transition possible. They will be using this new method to stabilize patients and only transport them to a hospital if necessary.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WNCT.