Based on the aviation safety model, MH task cards are intended as a simple and reliable way to delegate the multiple high priority tasks to available theatre staff. The cards are self-explanatory to staff, even when the task is not their usual job. The cards should be kept with your dantrolene (see recommended contents for “MH box”) and distributed by the coordinating anaesthetist to the most appropriate staff members. In some situations staff will be required to complete more than one task card in an MH crisis.

The cards in this document represent a basic template for the management of MH crisis tasks. Fill in the appropriate local details on the cooling & logistics task cards. 

MHANZ actively encourages hospitals to modify the contents to suit your local needs.

It is recommended that each A6 card is laminated and the cards has a suitable neck-string attached (to avoid misplacing during a crisis)

The task cards are:

• Co-ordinator – An over-view of all required tasks (print as A4)
• Anaesthetist 1: Resuscitation (print as A6)
• Dantrolene (print as A6)  – x 3
• Anaesthetic assistant (print as A6)
• Anaesthetist 2: Lines & Investigations (print as A6)
• Cooling (print as A6)
• Surgical Team (print as A6)
• Logistics (normally the operating suite co-ordinator) (print as A6)

In addition it is recommended that the double-sided A4 sized card entitled “MH Crisis Initial Management” should be attached to each anaesthetic machine. This card will assist an anaesthetist in MH crisis diagnosis and provides initial management guidelines, while the MH box and extra staff are being sent for.  As colour coding is helpful, cards should be printed in colour.