spenac

I don't refuse riders for fear of lawsuits. I refuse as I do not want them interfering with patient care or even causing a wreck as in a panic they distract the driver.

So then as a tax payer maybe we should just vote to cancel all helicoptors as whats the odds I will ever need it? And even if I use it perhaps it is a waste based on your statement. So now I'm stuck with large bill and if I can't pay tax payers are stuck paying for it.

So heres the case. You are called for a heart attack. A patient that has no ID walks up to ambulance and says chest hurts. You run 12 lead and find PSVT, 200pulse, BP 146/100, cool,pale, moist skin, resp 24, clutching chest, but can still talk in short sentences. So in talking you realize obviously this guy needs medical care but also that he is illegally in the USA. So what would you do? Treat him? Refuse him? Report him? Take him to hospital and say nothing? What?

For the tax payers though it is more finacially responsible use of money. And as we see in ground EMS no one thinks of us till they need us. So hey save me some money I have never needed an ambulance or a helicoptor cheaper is better.

Good info Vent, This time I won't have to fight with you.

By not having a consistent policy it opens you to being accused of discrimination on which ever of those grounds they choose. If you say yes to me a calm white person but tell the hysterical Mexican no in court it becomes you denied because they were Mexican.

flapsdwn You can do anything a patient needs in a code w/o rolling. In fact you should be able to do what most hospitals will do which is ACLS. Unless you get ROSC you should not be rolling. CPR has been proven to be ineffective during rolling code per AHA. Glad you got lucky. But had you stayed on scene until you got ROSC outcome would have still worked. As to you transporting a dead person L&S you are placing the public and yourself at an unnecessary risk. Yes I said dead person because if CPR is in progress they are dead until a ROSC. You are right there is no one size fits all but when science backs a method and you chosse to ignore it that is just bad medicine. And as to rural EMS I am as rural if not more rural as you so you are not able to use this is the way it works in the rurals with me. Oh and you don't RSI a code you just intubate.

You that say decide case by case are opening yourselves and your company to discrimination law suits. You either have to live be set standard one way or the other. Case by case leaves to much open to scrutiny. This is why you should be consitent in patent care, documentation, etc. If taken to court you can bet the lawyers will be looking for any inconsistency so they can hang you. Mateo the harm and danger far out weighs the mental comfort. That 90 miles leads to a lot more being done and you do not want to have the driver or the medic with the patient having to fight with the family member. I do see your point but disagree. Again Tats are not comparing apples to apples, more like apples to watermelons.

Hey breaks a break. Tonight when I get to to sleep if I get toned out I'm going to say nope sorry I'm asleep call back in the morning. Sorry Just think he should have checked or even stayed with patient if not transported rather than wait for 3rd ambulance. Common sense has to come into play at some point. Regardless of what the dispatcher rated the call at until seen they could be wrong so hey take care of them then restart your break. Sad to hear his tea and crumpets were interrupted.

I'm speechless. http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,500364,00.html EMT Admits Incompetence After Refusing to Help Patient During His Break Wednesday, February 25, 2009 A paramedic in Britain who refused to drive a patient with a broken back to the hospital because he had just started a 30-minute lunch break appeared at a conduct and competence hearing of the Health Professions Council Thursday, the Daily Mail reported. Robert Chambers, the paramedic who was refueling his ambulance when a friend of the patient asked for assistance, allegedly told the man that he would have to wait for another ambulance before getting back into his vehicle and driving off, the Daily Mail reported. A transcript of a conversation between Chambers and the control center was read out during the hearing, according to the Daily Mail. "I know you're off the road at the moment but it looks like you're there -- I thought I would let you know in case you were approached," the operator said. According to the transcript the EMT responded: "I believe it's a gentleman who has hurt his back -- I explained there's probably an ambulance on its way." A second ambulance did arrive at the scene some time later but did not have the proper equipment necessary to treat a suspected back injury, nor the space to transport the man to the hospital, the Daily Mail reported. It took another 40 minutes for a third ambulance to arrive on the scene. Chambers admitted to lack of competence for refusing to help the patient, but denied misconduct.

Wow that sucks. But why are they upset they basically ignored him when he was living? If truly concerned wouldn't they have him live with them or provide him an apartment?

No firefighter rides in my ambulance unless they are a patient. Plus we do not do rolling codes. Any service worth anything does not do rolling codes they are against current guidelines.

http://www.kansascity.com/115/story/1052778.html Fire is still trying to lie to the people of KC and the news is being influenced to back them. Fire is getting much more air time for their side than MAST is getting.

Now thats a good cause. Wonder if the OP is doing similiar? If so maybe she could send hers to you so it could get done.

Here is fires hypocrisy at work: http://www.emsresponder.com/online/article...ment=y#post_msg They say its bad to do more than one thing yet they are still trying to forcibly take over EMS in KC.

Dust would never go to another site. He never stirs trouble elsewhere.

The states I have looked at require the first responder, basic, and intermediate to take a refresher course, pass their test, pay them money. At the Paramedic the states I have looked at just require my money. So I would say no for you as a basic. Besides even if NY goes NR they will not can you for not having it.

I did not say no family participation. I said no family allowed in the ambulance. The harm they can cause far outways any benefit to the patient. Those of you that allow passengers might want to get your company to check insurance many insurance companys even only cover the patient and crew, so any additional passengers would not be covered. And yes your right tats have no place in EMS but that is a whole unrelated arguement. As to the senile they are like the child and as such may have a family member go. Anyone w/o the right to make medical decisions are allowed a guardian with power to make decisions in the ambulance front seat. So guess what that means the 12 year old pregnant girl in labor has no one ride with her as she can make her own decisions at that point.

Your ambulance doesn't carry all those drugs? LOL. I think the large caliber weapon or two is the most crical part of any survival pack. Can get food with it and stop looters.

But in a disaster that he may need these drugs for himself. And he can download the when and how to use from the internet. But I agree he can't be to bright based on several points in the discussion. Now I do keep in my escape bag for natural disasters keep some pain killers and other meds myself but not to treat others just me and my family.

Probably only 8 hours. IV's are a monkey skill in their mind and they do not care that they do not know any thing besides how to stick a needle in the arm and they will just tell them to push the new drugs despite them having no real clue why or what they do.

Doctors are allowed to prescribe small amounts of meds for future use. Plus keep in mind as another topic discussed expiration dates mean nothing for most drugs.

We really need this moved to the humor section even though its not that funny.

LOL. Idiots. Here is a bigger article. OH bOy they get to start IV's now they're real life savers. http://www.newschannel9.com/news/level_975...l/emt_fire.html

Besides another way to take over EMS what is it? Chattanooga Firefighters to Begin Level-4 EMT Care February 24, 2009 - 12:43 PM Sarah Jennings Chattanooga firefighters will soon be better prepared to take care of you in a medical emergency. And, that means a better chance for you to survive. Starting later this week, Chattanooga firefighters will begin giving level four, E.M.T. care at emergency scenes. Right now they are just taking care of first responder needs. Details of the enhanced care will be released at a news conference later this afternoon. http://www.newschannel9.com/news/care_9759...refighters.html