Emergency responders turn to EXPIRED drugs as key lifesaving medicine supplies run low
[div class="excerpt" style="border: 1px solid #bfbfbf; border-bottom: none; border-radius: 0.3846em 0.3846em 0em 0em; box-shadow: 2px 2px 6px #bfbfbf;"][link:http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/emergency-responders-turn-to-expired-drugs-as-key-lifesaving-medicine-supplies-run-low/2012/07/12/gJQAd1KsfW_story.html|Emergency responders turn to expired drugs as key lifesaving medicine supplies run low
][div class="excerpt" style="border: 1px solid #bfbfbf; border-top: none; border-radius: 0em 0em 0.3846em 0.3846em; background-color: #f4f4f4; box-shadow: 2px 2px 6px #bfbfbf;"]SALEM, Ore. — When paramedics ran out of a critical drug used to treat irregular heartbeats, the Bend Fire Department in Central Oregon dug into its stash of expired medications, loaded up the trucks and kept treating patients.
Paramedics reported asking some of those facing medical emergencies: “Is it OK if we use this expired drug?”
Emergency responders in various jurisdictions have reported turning to last resort practices as they struggle to deal with a shortage of drug supplies created by manufacturing delays and industry changes. Some are injecting expired medications or substituting alternatives. Others are simply going without.
As the drug crisis mounted for the Bend Fire Department earlier this year, the agency had 11 medications in its drug kits that were expired, despite risks that the pharmaceuticals might not work as intended in life-or-death situations. The crisis has eased a bit, but the agency still carries expired doses of two drugs in serving a city of 80,000 people.
Well, at least they're asking.
(gasping) "Yes, I know"
"If you let us use expired drugs, we'll knock it down to $300. Deal?"
(gasping) "Yeah, do that."
"If you let us film the ride and put it on our Reality Show, it'll only be $100."
(gasping) "Okay, damn!"
"If you'll let us take your clothes off and film the same thing, but with you nude, the entire ride'll be free and we'll give you $50 on top."
(gasping) "Will they show my face?"
Much more at the link!
PB
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