If you have a terminally ill or elderly family member with numerous medical complications living with you, the Sugar Land Fire Department wants you to be fully informed about an Out of Hospital Do Not Resuscitate Order (OOH-DNR).  This legally binding form allows patients to direct emergency responders and health care professionals in an out-of-hospital setting to withhold specific life sustaining treatments in the event of respiratory or cardiac arrest.

A firefighter’s natural response is to act quickly and provide immediate life saving care for all patients. “We want to alleviate as much confusion about the at-home directive before an emergency situation exists, relieving stress on the family members and first arriving emergency responders,” said Captain Mike McLemore, public education specialist.

Individuals can obtain a copy of the OOH-DNR form from the Texas Department of Health’s website:  http://www.tdh.state.tx.us/hcqs/ems/dnr.pdf  This form is separate from Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) forms completed at hospitals and valid only in the hospital.  When the patient is at home, an OOH-DNR form is required to fulfill the patient and/or family wishes. 

“We stress a copy of the OOH-DNR always be with the patient so emergency responders and other healthcare providers can be provided the information immediately in a crisis situation,” said McLemore.  “The OOH-DNR can also be a specific identification device

in the form of a bracelet or necklace obtained from approved manufacturers.  Once an OOH-DNR is executed, the emergency responders are only able to administer pain control and comfort care.”

The following important rules for an executable OOH-DNR should be known:

·         OOH-DNR orders do not apply to pregnant women;

·         Health care professionals must honor the OOH-DNR unless it is revoked by the patient, physician directive or a person having medical power of attorney for health care for the patient;

·         If a patient is comatose or otherwise incompetent and unable to communicate, the person’s legal guardian or individual with medical power of attorney for the patient may execute the order;

·         There is no time related criteria or time limit to the OOH-DNR;

·         A copy and/or an out-of-state OOH-DNR with all necessary signatures are currently acceptable in Texas;

·         In all cases, the desire of a competent patient supersedes the OOH-DNR order.

“This is such a delicate subject to discuss and we know a OOH-DNR is not for everyone,” said McLemore.  “If it is your desire to utilize an OOH-DNR, you must prepare in advance.”

For more information about an OOH-DNR, ask your local healthcare provider or go to the Texas Department of Health’s website at: www.tdh.state.tx.us .