r/emergencymedicine • u/[deleted] • Sep 27 '23
Advice How to cope with peds deaths
I worked my first peds arrest yesterday. He was under a year old. I can hear his family’s screams echoing in my head and see the defeat in my team when we called it. I know it’s part of the job we do, but it sucks and I know they don’t get easier. Does anyone have any advice or coping skills to offer? I could use it.
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u/Independent-Two5330 Physician Assistant Sep 28 '23
Been in the ED for the past 4 years in a similar position. Its dark stuff, really no positive about it. There are a few cases forever burned in my memory.
Prepping for school interviews rn and when I ran into the question "what patients impacted you the most?" In my interview book.... I started to think about the dead child cases and actually had to pace my house and shed a few tears. Really came outta nowhere, but nothing a few beers and shots of whisky didn't fix (JK, in all seriousness please don't do that).
I recommend talking to your co-workers, its easy to feel slightly embarrassed (I fell into that trap...... unwise!) but they fully understand. Plus it helps getting it out.
Family can be good too if you have someone close there.