|
Post by Medic13 on Sept 22, 2006 23:52:09 GMT -5
Nice, Stermer. Just got unlocked and you're right back at it again Where did I say I didn't care, or that it's not cool or something? I gave my opinion... isn't that what this board is for? If you don't want it discussed, don't post it! What's wrong with wanting to see some statistics, or an example, before making changes? Just cause YOU want something doesn't mean everyone else does, or that the change will even make a difference. If you have a problem with a certain call or a certain dispatcher, talk to the 911 director. I took the bait... I shoulda known where you were going with this thread.
|
|
|
Post by 911wacker on Sept 23, 2006 1:06:14 GMT -5
No bait and I never siad where it occured, or even when or who in particular! Just that its happened, I gave an example....thats all. Aside from the fact that none of my co-workers (fellow EMS providers) had the common sense to check on us either.
All that I am saying is that it does happen, so what are we going to do about, any alternate suggestions Doc?
|
|
|
Post by Medic13 on Sept 23, 2006 1:56:52 GMT -5
In a roundabout way, we both answered the question.
|
|
911Mom
Full Member
Welcome to the real world!
Posts: 60
|
Post by 911Mom on Sept 23, 2006 21:11:11 GMT -5
Personally, if I am going to be logged onscene of a "routine" medical call for over 2 hours, I am either going to have one of my crew members call county and let them know what is going on or I am going to say "whoops forgot to let county know what my status is". Status checks on EMS units is something to think about. I can hardly wait for the first time I can't get ahold of an EMS crew and I send PSP balls to the wall to the scene only to find out either a) they were in a part of the county with crappy radio reception and didn't hear us or b) they had their radios turned down and didn't hear us. So essentially the onus is on the field units to keep in touch with county and if we are told the scene is not safe, don't ask a bunch of questions because you know this person and if you are uneasy about a scene, call PD.
|
|
|
Post by 911wacker on Sept 23, 2006 21:56:00 GMT -5
So essentially the onus is on the field units to keep in touch with county and if we are told the scene is not safe, don't ask a bunch of questions because you know this person and if you are uneasy about a scene, call PD. I understand that when capable field units are responsible to do this, however the question is how long does a unit have to be not heard from before people start to wonder about them, whether they are ok or if they need some type of assistance? With regards to my previous incident that was mentioned..........Its best left alone without explaining, I would not want anyone to get the wrong impression of what really happened.
|
|
|
Post by 911wacker on Sept 23, 2006 22:17:51 GMT -5
Ambulance staff in fear of attack
Aug 22 2006
By Mhairi Macfarlane hairimacfarlane@surreymirror.co.uk FINGERNAILS, belts, furniture and pillows are just some of the weapons being used by violent patients against ambulance staff in Surrey.
Having initial contact with patients on the streets and in their homes - some of whom have been drinking alcohol - can mean that ambulance staff sometimes receive threats and suffer abuse while trying to do their jobs.
The Surrey Mirror used the Freedom of Information Act (2000) to find out how much of a problem this is across the county.
While every case is an unwelcome and unacceptable side of the job,the amount of offences reported in East Surrey was relatively low.
The Surrey Ambulance Service NHS Trust merged with the former Ambulance Services in Kent and Sussex on July 1 2006 to form the South East Coast Ambulance Service NHS Trust.
In the past 12 months, the South East Coast Ambulance Service recorded seven members of East Surrey ambulance staff being physically assaulted through kicks, punches and being scratched with fingernails, or using other weapons such as belts and furniture.
Six ambulance staff reported verbal abuse from patients, out of a total of 69 reported incidents across the whole of Surrey.
The statistics show that male ambulance crew members in Surrey are more likely to be abused than women.
Out of the 69 reports of verbal abuse, only 15 were directed at female staff, and out of 28 reports of physical abuse, 16 were attacks against males.
A spokesman for the South East Coast Ambulance Service said: "The trust has a zero tolerance policy with regard to patient violence and works with the police to manage potentially violent situations."
The positive aspect of the results is that no patients have died or become seriously ill because paramedics were unable to reach them due to violence against them.
The figures were recorded over 12 months when the Surrey Ambulance Service responded to 107,500 emergency and 15,000 urgent calls, which resulted in 86,400 patients being taken to hospital.
**************
|
|
|
Post by 911wacker on Sept 23, 2006 23:29:26 GMT -5
North Carolina Paramedic Shot in Chest
August 2, 2006
Wolf Laurel, N.C.-- A Madison County paramedic was shot in the chest in Wolf Laurel, N.C., July 30 while on a routine call, according to the Madison County Sherriff's Department.
Tami Stephen, a paramedic for Mission Health and Hospitals in Asheville NC., was airlifted to Memorial Mission Hospital and is listed in stable condition.
The incident occurred at 11 p.m. when EMS workers responded to a call. While helping 68-year-old Joseph Boyer Candler Jr., the man pulled a pistol out of his pocket and shot Stephen once in the chest, the Sherriff's Department said.
Chandler is in custody on a charge of felony assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill or inflict serious injury. He was being held in the Madison County jail on $750,000 bond.
EMSResponder.com
|
|
|
Post by 4157 on Sept 24, 2006 14:41:20 GMT -5
Ambulance staff in fear of attack ************** Of course they are... I don't have the link, but I found it on EMTCity once, a UK Paramedic site. Have you ever read about how the general public treat ambulance personnel in England, France and Ireland? On a daily basis rigs are stolen, burned; crews kidnapped, beaten, raped; they have bricks thrown at them, molotov c*ocktails, shot at, car-jacked w/ a patient on board... Hardly comparable to North East PA. edit - Censor list needs updated.. Molotov thingytails?
|
|
|
Post by Valley3 on Sept 24, 2006 16:15:18 GMT -5
Status checks certainly would not hurt. I have been on numerous calls involving verbal and physical abuses. Luckily we usually had P.D. on scene also. Unfortunatly we are sometimes forgotten about out there. Recently I was on a call that was dispatched as second due, this happened two hours after the first due unit had called available and was given a DR #. If the comm. center thought we were still out on a routine local call for two hours you would think something would click.
|
|
|
Post by Medic13 on Sept 24, 2006 20:31:58 GMT -5
I don't like where this thread is heading... lets not make accusations unless that person is here to defend it. This thread is supposed to be a discussion about the pros/cons of status checks for EMS, not another anti-dispatcher thread.
Instead of wasting time talking about something that isn't even done in urban EMS, shouldn't we discuss safety issues that we're far more likely to encounter in this county... such as emergency driving, vehicle placement on MVA's, not walking into known unsafe scenes, and recognizing when a scene is turning sour? Statistics are everything. Sue brought up a good point... how many times will we be sending PSP's only car out to the middle of nowhere because a crappy little 4w UHF portable isn't working right? Who takes the responsibility when someone in another part of the county really needs that car, but it's out looking for EMS on a granny-fall-down-go-boom? I don't need to see more internet stories about EMS providers that are attacked... I know it happens, never said it didn't. I want to see something showing that EMS status checks work to SAVE LIVES. If that's what we're supposed to be talking about, it shouldn't be much to ask for.
|
|
|
Post by Valley3 on Sept 24, 2006 22:04:43 GMT -5
No accusations and not anti-dispatcher, just stating the facts.
|
|
|
Post by 911wacker on Sept 24, 2006 22:43:13 GMT -5
Texas A&M University Emergency Medical Services – Communications Department 20.32
7) The remainder of the alarm should consist of acknowledging radio traffic and recording times. Remember, you may acknowledge radio traffic by merely saying "Clear, (Unit #), (Time)" and recording the time in the CAD system. The only traffic besides the tone-out statement which must be repeated is when the ambulance calls enroute to the hospital. (See #10 below)
8) Status checks are to be performed during calls as follows:
a) 2 minutes after the tone out if 861 (862) has not called enroute.
b) 5 minutes after the unit has been on scene if the unit has not called “With Patient”.
[glow=red,2,300]c) 20 minutes after the last transmission received for medical calls (usually ”With Patinet”).[/glow]
d) 15 minutes after the last transmission received for trauma calls.
**********************
Here is one example of an agency that does them!
|
|
|
Post by 911wacker on Sept 24, 2006 22:50:22 GMT -5
I don't like where this thread is heading... lets not make accusations unless that person is here to defend it. This thread is supposed to be a discussion about the pros/cons of status checks for EMS, not another anti-dispatcher thread. Nobody has accused anyone of anything here, except you accusing me of "steering" this thread which I have not done! Doc, do you have any data/information to support your opposition to the question at hand? Now my position remains, status checks after extended scene times would be helpful......not because it will prevent something bad from happening but because someone will actually know that something is wrong. As it stands now the dispatchers, EMS council or whoever have no written SOP as to when or even if this should be done.
|
|
|
Post by Medic13 on Sept 25, 2006 9:15:05 GMT -5
So far in this thread, the center has been directly accused twice of "forgetting" a unit. Regardless of whether or not those situations are true, they don't belong in this thread unless that's what it was really intended for.
You provided my evidence. None of the stories you posted indicate that a status check would have helped anything. I'm sure you could find a story to fit your theory, but lets be real... what safety issues are providers in this county more likely to encounter? I see from the polls section that you already found one. Hindsight is 20/20. We already know that god forbid something happens, the fingers start pointing, and we all instantly know how that particular situation could have been prevented.
|
|
|
Post by 911wacker on Sept 25, 2006 20:12:43 GMT -5
You provided my evidence. None of the stories you posted indicate that a status check would have helped anything. At the same time no "evidence" has been provided that status checks would hinder anything either. I have begun to think that good old TRADITION is getting in the way agian here. I am still waiting to hear a plausable alternative from someone, anyone, any takers?
|
|