A bad way to end a vacation

Although EMS units are frequently sent to calls that differ from their radio description, the fault for this does not necessarily lie with the dispatcher. The dispatcher can only relay information given over the phone, which is often a frantic, indecipherable description of an event. Dispatchers should be careful to avoid a premature diagnosis based on that information. They should relate only a chief complaint, event or presenting symptoms to crews. A description of anaphylaxis as a chief complaint should instead be given as "respiratory problems following a jellyfish sting." Once given a proper description, an astute EMS crew can begin a mental and verbal process of differential diagnoses on the way to the call. This will allow the crew to prepare for patient contact and avoid any tunnel vision caused by the dispatcher. Both crews in this situation performed admirably despite the darkened beach crowded with teenagers. They treated the presenting symptoms rather than focusing on the jellyfish sting and a possible anaphylaxis. An anaphylactic incident caused by a jellyfish sting is rare. The diagnosis at the hospital was an asthmatic attack induced by the anxiety of the sting. Ultimately, the sting only played a small part in the larger incident.