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Post by Medic13 on Sept 30, 2006 1:15:44 GMT -5
No one particular incident in mind. What are the legal and moral aspects of coming up on another incident while responding? Should that unit stop and give aid and/or determine what resources are needed, or should they be required to bypass and continue to the original scene? Should it matter if it's a single department response, or if the unit is part of a box alarm? Should it be conditional, or should it be a straight yes or no? I can't speak for the legal aspects, but personally, I think it would be justified in any situation to stop and at least assess the scene. Any thoughts?
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Post by fireman31 on Oct 1, 2006 4:32:48 GMT -5
i agree you should stop asses and also get more units on the road. in a situation like yours running with mem. your initial call might be in Rome & you might come up on an incident in Myrseburg or Wysox.
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Post by Medic13 on Oct 1, 2006 18:14:31 GMT -5
I was thinking more along the fire side though. EMS is a lot more of a grey area. Legally, it's a no if a patient is in the back, even if you have a provider with the patient. I also believe it's a no when responding to an incident according to the statewide BLS protocols (#112), although it doesn't directly mention coming up on an incident.
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Post by 4157 on Oct 1, 2006 21:12:21 GMT -5
I guess it all depends on what your responding to, and if anyone is already there. Speaking from a firefighter point of view, okay, a little of both; if it's a structure fire (The incident you were responding to initially) with no info on occupants- stop (at ficticious MVA you come upon), tell them help is on the way - radio it in- tell the next apparatus to stop. Of course, if the vehicle is like on fire, or there is a guy laying in the road bleeding to death... GTFO and let the rig behind you take the initial. If you are going out w/ apparatus already on scene of whatever it is, by all means stop and render aid. More or less, you can't really answer this, it's a case by case decision. It'd be fun to listen to the SOP plan for it get hashed out though.
People have to wake up and realize fire departments don't just fight fires anymore. I guess if all you want to do is fight fire, and nothing else... Not pulling someone out of a fire, not resuscitating them, etc.. You could letter your apparatus to say "Selective Services" instead of emergency services. The public recognizes the fire service more than EMS, you get that just from the media. When people step off the apparatus, they have to be ready to provide the basics in emergency services. That's basic firefighting techniques and rescue techniques. And with rescue, comes EMS, rather the basics of life support. All of our apparatus are well equipped for medical emergencies or injuries.
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Post by chief173 on Oct 11, 2006 17:17:51 GMT -5
I suppose it would depend what it was. I would assume that most everyone would stop and at least make sure there were no life threatening circumstances.
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