Treating Patients While Off-duty

[hatelilpeepees]

So I was at a high school football game, off-duty, watching a relative play. Someone collapses in the stands about 40 yards from me. There is an ambulance on-site, but on the other side of the field. I did not immediately jump up and go to the patient, which shocked some of my family members (I have no equipment, no PPE). Sensing their disapproval, I went to the patients aid, it was just someone who got overheated and fainted. The ambulance crew got there about 5-6 minutes later and took over care.

What would you have done if you were there, not in uniform, and no one knew what you did for a living ? And I ask the same question for when you are the first one that pulls up on a wreck (again no equipment). Do you stop only on serious wrecks, do you stop at all wrecks, do you not stop at any of them ?

[codesurfer]

I have stopped on a few car accidents over the years, and keep an extra box of gloves in my car for that very reason, but sadly I will only stop if I see something nasty. However, as bad as it sounds I will not intervene in public if it can avoid it, I will pretend to be a bystander and call dispatch if I have to. Sometimes I just want to have nothing to do with medicine and EMS. I usually get the same response from friends and family if I don't help however....

[Just Plain Ruff]

So I was at a high school football game, off-duty, watching a relative play. Someone collapses in the stands about 40 yards from me. There is an ambulance on-site, but on the other side of the field. I did not immediately jump up and go to the patient, which shocked some of my family members (I have no equipment, no PPE). Sensing their disapproval, I went to the patients aid, it was just someone who got overheated and fainted. The ambulance crew got there about 5-6 minutes later and took over care.

What would you have done if you were there, not in uniform, and no one knew what you did for a living ? And I ask the same question for when you are the first one that pulls up on a wreck (again no equipment). Do you stop only on serious wrecks, do you stop at all wrecks, do you not stop at any of them ?

Nope don't stop, simple as that. Where I'm from the ambulance is little more than 5 minutes away. The backup ambulance is little more than 10 minutes away and I have no equipment on me, including gloves so I don't stop. What am I going to be able to do without any equipment. I can look pretty on scene though.

Of course, there are those on this site who have better equipped personal vehicles than many ambulance services.

[DFIB]

Where I'm from the BLS ambulance is sometimes up to an hour or more away, We are expected to stop and render aid. Life flight is a pipedream. I always carry a jump bag, and sometimes a KED and splints.

In my town everyone knows I am an EMT so I help pretty much with everything I see. I don't stop on the road that much because not having the possibility of transport diminishes the positive outcomes.

Also I once stopped to aid a rollover where the driver was a Zeta with a truckload of cocaine and the situation got kinda hairy. I was happy to get away.

I almost have to see a family or little kids to stop on the highway anymore.

Edited September 20, 2011 by DFIB

[tcripp]

As a new first responder (back in 2004), I found myself stopping more often than not providing what aid that I could. Of course, I kept a BLS bag including O2 because I was a volunteer and had that equipment at my disposal.

Now that I'm a paramedic and not carrying a jump bag of any kind, I find I can watch and wait. I'm always watching. If it's serious, I will act otherwise I stay out of it. And, if I do stop to offer aid, as soon as EMS arrives, I'm outta there.

[PCP]

It all depends on whether I fell I can help or not. I do carry a first aid kit in my car which has come in handy a few times. The road I drive on between the mine site has no cell service and is pretty dangerous due to the sharp cornors and logging trucks driving on the road. So if I come across an accident I do stop and help anyway I can until an ambulance arrives. Which can take up to half an hour or more.

If I see an accident in town and it looks minor then I usually don't stop as I know there will be an ambulance along with fire there pretty quick. If the MVA looks bad enough then I do stop as more hands on scene the better.

As DFIB mentioned when it comes to a family or kids that look like they need help then for sure I will stop and do what I can.

If I did not have any equipment I would probably still stop at a bad car accident and do what I could or for anything for that matter as I have the training and knowledge so why not put to use!

That is just me though

[hatelilpeepees]

OK, I feel a little better now, at least I know I am not alone.

[crotchitymedic1986]

I am sorry, but in a situation like the football game, you have a DUTY TO ACT. If you are so burned out that you no longer feel compassion towards your fellow man, then it is time to get a new profession. For all you know the person could have been choking on some food, and could have been saved by a simple maneuver.

You should stop at all wrecks too (unless everyone is out walking around), if for no other reason to keep some untrained idiot (or a trained idiot like a Dermatologist) who stopped from doing something dumb (dragging them out of the car before it explodes like they do on TV).

[akflightmedic]

I am sorry, but in a situation like the football game, you have a DUTY TO ACT. If you are so burned out that you no longer feel compassion towards your fellow man, then it is time to get a new profession. For all you know the person could have been choking on some food, and could have been saved by a simple maneuver.

You should stop at all wrecks too (unless everyone is out walking around), if for no other reason to keep some untrained idiot (or a trained idiot like a Dermatologist) who stopped from doing something dumb (dragging them out of the car before it explodes like they do on TV).

Yep. I simply cannot believe these dumb untrained idiots did what they did...too bad there was no trained EMT or Medic to instruct them to leave the victim alone!

[Just Plain Ruff]

I am sorry, but in a situation like the football game, you have a DUTY TO ACT. If you are so burned out that you no longer feel compassion towards your fellow man, then it is time to get a new profession. For all you know the person could have been choking on some food, and could have been saved by a simple maneuver.

You should stop at all wrecks too (unless everyone is out walking around), if for no other reason to keep some untrained idiot (or a trained idiot like a Dermatologist) who stopped from doing something dumb (dragging them out of the car before it explodes like they do on TV).

Ok, quote the law that says I have a duty to act? It's not my jurisdiction, I'm off duty. I don't believe I have a Duty to Act unless you use it altruistically and say that sense I'm higher trained that I should stop at every single scene no matter what the injuries and render aid.

I used to do that but not any more.