Aspirin

Small Study
This study looked at the reasons EMS personal did not give aspirin.  Patients were identified with a chief complaint of chest pain.

The EMS personal were surveyed if they had given;
  • aspirin
  • nitroglycerin
  • oxygen
  • cardiac monitor use
Over eight weeks, 53 patients were identified
  • 25% received aspirin
  • Reasons for not giving aspirin
      • chest pain not thought to be cardiac: 13 patients
      • patient has already taken aspirin: 10 patients
      • EMS provider was a basic EMT and could not administer aspirin: 6 patients
      • patient was pain free before arrival:  3 patients
      • multiple reasons given:  7 patients [10]
The bottom line
The number one reason found for not giving a patient aspirin was the belief that the chest pain was not cardiac.