Had my first bad call in a while and just need to get it off my chest. Trying not to woulda coulda shoulda but still.
Dispatched to a p1 difficulty breathing. Dispatch informs us pt (82 y/o m) had gone unconscious before wife called, now conscious and breathing, had been in ER night before for unknown reason. Arrive on scene, pt is fully alert, sitting up and joking with us. Extensive emphysema history, but 99% on room air, good hr and bp. Wife tells us that pt has done this before, doctors don't know why but say there is no need to go in if he does it. She tells us that she freaked out and called us now doesn't need us, doesn't want pt to go in again. Very nice couple (of course). We tell them that if he doesn't want to go in its fine, call us if anything changes or she changes her mind.
Get back to the station get in bed dispatched to p1 diff breathing again same place. Dispatch informs us that pt had gone unconscious again is having difficulty breathing. We get there pt is brady at 30, agonal resp, and no response to sternal rub. Start bagging, and pacing. No gag, medics try to tube him a few times, no luck. Basic trys combi no luck. Decide to get going, check pulse, no pulse. Start CPR, couple rounds cpr, move him. Got a pulse.
Medics get him to ER, doc tubes him with difficulty. Next morning I hear they called it about an hour later.
Funny thing? He had the best CPR possible, two of us had just finished our AHA CPR instructor course the day before.