Misty,

I  met with our local EMS after my girls (SWCAH) were born. We live in a small town (less than 6000) and I was concerned that they wouldn’t have Solu-Cortef on board. What our EMS director suggested was that we set up a new protocol for my kids (and any other CAH patients if they were to move here--chances slim). I took him some information about CAH from my endo such as when to administer Solu-Cortef, signs of a crisis, etc. I talked with him and a couple of the Paramedics about the condition and the seriousness of it. We then had our endo send the dose of Solu-C0rtef as well as Solu-Medrol and Dexamethosone, which most ambulances carry.  Each ambulance service has a medical director (doctor) who writes the protocols that serve as standing orders for a call so that the Medics don’t have to call for permission to give meds, etc. So, they wrote up a protocol for my kids and entered it into their system. Our service did put Solu-Cortef on each of their units for free, but I have heard of some places making you pay for it if you want it carried. However, Solu-Medrol and Dexamethosone will do the job--they will just need to know the dose.

I think it is important though to speak with them, especially if you live in a small community. We have the 911 system and if we were to ever call 911, it will put out a flag that at this address we have kids with CAH and who are steroid dependent, so that the medics will know before they get here. Our EMS director was very happy to handle it and was glad that I talked with them before an event occurred. So far, we haven’t needed EMS, but I am much more confident now that they could handle it.

if you have any more questions, please let me know.

Cassy