Ambulance personnel
Meningococcal Septicaemia - Identification and Management for Ambulance Personnel
Working in collaboration with the Joint Royal Colleges Ambulance Liaison Committee (JRCALC), Meningitis Research Foundation has developed a resource for ambulance personnel to facilitate early recognition, prompt treatment and appropriate management of patients with meningococcal septicaemia.
Evidence has shown that early treatment with benzylpenicillin can reduce deaths from meningococcal infection and in 2000, paramedics in Scotland, Wales and England became the first in the world to give benzylpenicillin to patients with suspected meningococcal septicaemia. Although rapid identification and treatment of this disease provides the best chance of recovery, it can be very difficult to recognise, because in the early stages it resembles less serious viral illnesses.
To enable effective implementation of the benzylpenicillin mandate and achieve a better outcome for patients affected, the new resource gives ambulance personnel practical, accessible information to help them identify and manage this life threatening disease as early and effectively as possible.
It is available in two formats:
- a laminated pocket card measuring just 5 by 3 inches
- an A3 size poster for ambulance stations.
Anyone requiring further copies can obtain them, and other Foundation resources, free of charge by using our online ordering service or by contacting your local Foundation office.
Click on the icon below to view the resource which is provided here as an Adobe Acrobat document.
Meningococcal Septicaemia - Identification and Management for Ambulance Personnel.
From this year, copies of the standard Institute of Health and Care Development ambulance training manuals will also include the meningococcal septicaemia resource as an insert.
We are always pleased to receive feedback, which will be used to improve future updated versions of the resource. You can send your feedback by e-mail by clicking here
A separate resource is now being worked on for the Republic of Ireland.
Page last updated 26.02.08