An ER’s worst nightmare: AN EMS call on their way in with an unresponsive 3-year-old child. The child had been eating cherries and one became lodged in his throat obstructing his airway. EMS worked to dislodge the foreign body unsuccessfully and the child was in respiratory arrest. We immediately contacted anesthesia to notify them of a potential difficult airway situation in pediatric patient en route to our ER. If things could get worse they did- anesthesia was tied up in scheduled OR cases.

Only by chance did we learn that Derek Glover, CRNA had just left to go home from our sister hospital which is nearby. He was contacted by phone and told of the situation. He immediately diverted his journey home to come to come to our ER to be of assistance. Upon his arrival to the ER, several attempts to establish an airway had failed and the child had become unresponsive. Derek immediately went to work gathering the special equipment needed for the child. He successfully intubated the child and established a secure airway. This was instrumental in saving this child’s life. His decision to answer his phone and divert to our ER cannot be measured. His sense of teamwork and dedication to his profession are admirable!