Aftercare, Records, Debrief, and Speaking Up

The incident does not end when the ambulance leaves or the patient stabilises. The practice must document events, restock equipment, check systems, support staff, and review the response to identify and fix gaps. Dental nurses often hold key information about timings, actions, equipment problems, patient comments, and staff difficulties.

What to record and hand over

• Events leading up to the collapse or symptoms.
• Times for recognition, 999 call, CPR start, AED arrival, shocks, drugs, oxygen, and ambulance arrival.
• Relevant medical history and details of the dental procedure.
• Which equipment and drugs were used.
• Who was present and what information or items were handed to ambulance staff.

A debrief should be factual, non-judgemental, and supportive. It should review what went well, what was difficult, whether roles were clear, whether AED and oxygen arrived promptly, whether building access was adequate, and whether any staff need follow-up support. RCUK recognises that attempting resuscitation can be traumatic for rescuers and bystanders.

Debriefing and governance

After a cardiac emergency, clear records, restocked equipment, debriefing, and staff support are part of safe care, not optional extras.