Do you ever feel annoyed?

[Inthecity]

When someone calls for an ambulance and its obvious they did not need one? I think I would feel like they were wasting my time and there might be someone else in an emergency who needs it more. I ask this because a few years back I dislocated my knee. It was literally on the side of my leg. I was home alone with mt 2 year old at the time and he was strapped in his high chair. I called my husband first and he was home within a few minutes. He called 911 because I obviously couldnt walk or even get in a car to get to the hospital to have it put back into place. After it happened a friend told me thats not an emergency so why go in an ambulance. Have you had people with dislocations in your ambulance?

[paramedicmike]

Offer to dislocate your friend's knee, leave her alone, and see if she feels a 911 call is in order.

Besides, who's to say that you didn't wind up with some sort of vascular compromise as part of your injury? That is certainly an emergency.

Yes. There are people who abuse the system. There are people who could probably manage under different circumstances. There are some who couldn't manage at all no matter the circumstances. It does get frustrating from time to time. But I'd rather come out for someone who may not necessarily need us than not be called by someone who desperately needs us.

[craig]

lets see.........

- dislocated knee

- unable to gain mobility due to it

- baby strapped in high chair

- at home alone

- husband comes and cannot do anything to assist

- knee still dislocated

- hospitalisation required to relocat kneecap

- no pain relief avaiable at scene

SO WHERE DOES THIS NOT QUALIFY AS AN EMERGENCY

you required assistance and it was medical assistance that was needed. in most normal people's book that is an emergency.

it wasnt like you had a splinter in your finger and didn't want to drive yourself to the doctor.......

tell your friend she is talking out her A$$..........

[mikeymedic1984]

I know your intentions are well intended, but once you start down this slope (who really needs an ambulance ?), you head down a slippery slope. It is our fault (EMS & Medical Community) that we get abused; for years we told everyone to call 911 for everything and there is a perceived notion in the community that calling 911 will get you in the ER faster. Treat the patient in front of you now, let your supervisor worry about the "possible" critical patient down the road that has not called yet.

[Arctickat]

I'm beginning to see a troll like trend here...

http://www.emtcity.c...h-this-patient/

Even an EMT student, which is what your profile claims, should know that a dislocated knee is a valid reason to call for an ambulance. It needs to be carefully immobilised and the distal circulatory system assessed for compromise because a dislocated knee can easily result in loss of circulation and loss of the limb within a few hours. Trying to pile into a car and get a ride to the hospital would be a stupid proposition at best, potentially life threatening at worst.

Your "friend" is a moron.

Now, to your actual question; Do I ever feel annoyed when someone calls an ambulance when they don't really need it. Yes, all the time, even if I do make money every time someone calls 911, I'd still prefer not to have to respond to a scene where someone's cat scratched them on the thumb and didn't even draw blood. Fortunately, I also have the ability to tell those idiots that they don't need an ambulance and they don't need a hospital.

Edited April 14, 2012 by Arctickat

[Inthecity]

I already said I am not an EMT student. I just thought in order to join you had to be in the EMT field. I seriously did dislocate my knee and also had sepsis. I also had 3 kidney infections and had to go to the ER for all 3 this year. I have horrible luck with medical issues.

I'm beginning to see a troll like trend here...

http://www.emtcity.c...h-this-patient/

Even an EMT student, which is what your profile claims, should know that a dislocated knee is a valid reason to call for an ambulance. It needs to be carefully immobilised and the distal circulatory system assessed for compromise because a dislocated knee can easily result in loss of circulation and loss of the limb within a few hours. Trying to pile into a car and get a ride to the hospital would be a stupid proposition at best, potentially life threatening at worst.

Your "friend" is a moron.

Now, to your actual question; Do I ever feel annoyed when someone calls an ambulance when they don't really need it. Yes, all the time, even if I do make money every time someone calls 911, I'd still prefer not to have to respond to a scene where someone's cat scratched them on the thumb and didn't even draw blood. Fortunately, I also have the ability to tell those idiots that they don't need an ambulance and they don't need a hospital.

I seriously had no idea you could lose your limb from a dislocation! Once I got to the ER I had to wait too because the regular ER doctor couldnt or wouldnt put into place and they had to call in the orthopedic specialist. I was so frustrated but luckily the nice paramedics had given me a lot of morphine in the ambulance.

[Arctickat]

I already said I am not an EMT student. I just thought in order to join you had to be in the EMT field.

My apologies, I did not read through all of your posts to learn that information. I'm pretty sure you can change that to something more appropriate in your profile.

Edited April 14, 2012 by Arctickat

[ERDoc]

Did you dislocate your patella, or did you truly dislocate your knee (yes there is a difference)? Either way, I would say an ambulance was necessary. A true knee dislocation can lean to vascular injury while a patellar dislocation is horribly painful and you will not be able to bend your knee to get in a car. You were probably cared for by a non-EM trained physician, as dealing with either one of these is pretty straightforward.

[Inthecity]

Honestly I dont know which one it was, I thought it was the same thing! My entire knee cap was on the side of my leg though. It was an actual doctor, actually they had an orthopedic doctor come to the hospital to put it back in place. When he put in back in place it was the WORST pain for about 10 seconds.

[croaker260]

When someone calls for an ambulance and its obvious they did not need one? I think I would feel like they were wasting my time and there might be someone else in an emergency who needs it more. I ask this because a few years back I dislocated my knee. It was literally on the side of my leg. I was home alone with mt 2 year old at the time and he was strapped in his high chair. I called my husband first and he was home within a few minutes. He called 911 because I obviously couldnt walk or even get in a car to get to the hospital to have it put back into place. After it happened a friend told me thats not an emergency so why go in an ambulance. Have you had people with dislocations in your ambulance?

That sounds like a PATELLAR dislocation, not a true KNEE dislocation, and yes we see them. We have a protocol for Patellar reduction, and depending on the time frame involved, frequently treat and release them.

True KNEE dislocations are a different matter, and are limb threatening. TRUST ME, you would know the difference.

For my fellow EMS'ers out there.....Here is the link to our protocol for this. http://www.adaweb.net/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=j1J9gJ5SK7I%3d&tabid=798