Re: Re: Great Posts on CareFlite!

[Guest guest]

A utilization review after each helo deployment will go a long way towards

educating the brethren...

TD

Re: Re: Great Posts on CareFlite!

>T,

>

>That's interesting. Most of our transport is on the open highway.

Although

>it seldom is necessary, we do run with red lights and siren at times, and I

>have never found it to be a problem. For us, all that means is asking

people to

>get out of our way. It does not mean reckless driving, fast starts and

>stops, taking corners fast, and so forth. If anything it means smoother

driving

>even than normal. We all drive at all times with the utmost regard for the

>patient's comfort and the medic's ability to work in the back since we do

>virtually everything on the move. Most of the time that means just smooth

highway

>driving. We are lucky that we only have a few blocks of city traffic to go

>through after we enter the city, so that greatly negates our need for

lights and

>siren. I can only remember one call in the last 9 months that we've run

Code 3

>from scene to hospital.

>

>I have started most of my IVs while moving for the last 20 years so have no

>problem whatsoever doing it. But we head em up and move em out ASAP.

>

>I completely agree with you on helo onscene times and on use of the bird.

We

>only use it when the patient needs to go somewhere other than Abilene or

when

>we're far out in the boondocks with miles and miles of rocky road to go

over

>getting back to the highway. We use birds when we have a stroke patient

who

>needs to go to the stroke center in Ft Worth, for amputations that are

going to

>the DFW area or Lubbock, critical burns and pedis going to the metroplex

>also. Otherwise, we're cutting down on our helo txps greatly.

>

>GG

>

>

>In a message dated 9/9/2003 4:56:50 AM Central Daylight Time,

>dinerman@... writes:

>Gene-

>

>On Code Three driving...

>

>I do not allow my drivers to drive Code Three from the scene to the

>hospital. I cannot do anything while being tossed about in the back of the

>unit, nor do the patients appreciate it.

>

>On Scene Time...

>

>I only perform the most necessary procedures on the scene, to allow me to

>continue care enroute: IV on scene, Rx enroute.... RSI/ET on scene, PPV

>enroute....etc. Generally, the only patient who sees all of the tricks on

>scene is the cardiac arrest.....

>

>On Helicopter Crews assessments....

>

>Our Life Flight crews have come to expect a thoroughly assessed and trended

>pt who has had all the necessary procedures performed and functional prior

>to landing. I mean, me do have at least 20 min to work with prior to

>landing, after all. A handoff here in Dogpatch is short, sweet and to the

>point. We even give a written report when we have sufficient hands.......

>

>On use of air transport at ALL.....

>

>If the patient needs some specialty that is not locally available to save

>life or limb or materially improve morbidity / mortality, they fly to

>Houston or Galveston. You have to know local resources intimately to make

>an informed decision.

>

>Regards-

>

>TD

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Ok, now I've got questions about code three driving and laws...anyone care to

answer them? We've been told for years and years (not that it is correct

mind you) that it is illegal for us to make a code 3 run, but drive code 1 (no

lights and sirens). Is there any even SIMILAR law on the books or is this a

local thing for us? Just curious and I never thought to even ask our

instructors--I trusted them until just recently.

Thanks..

Dana Garrett EMT-I 427

In a message dated 9/9/03 5:15:18 PM Central Daylight Time,

wegandy1938@... writes:

T,

That's interesting. Most of our transport is on the open highway. Although

it seldom is necessary, we do run with red lights and siren at times, and I

have never found it to be a problem. For us, all that means is asking people

to

get out of our way. It does not mean reckless driving, fast starts and

stops, taking corners fast, and so forth. If anything it means smoother

driving

even than normal. We all drive at all times with the utmost regard for the

patient's comfort and the medic's ability to work in the back since we do

virtually everything on the move. Most of the time that means just smooth

highway

driving. We are lucky that we only have a few blocks of city traffic to go

through after we enter the city, so that greatly negates our need for lights

and

siren. I can only remember one call in the last 9 months that we've run Code

3

from scene to hospital.

I have started most of my IVs while moving for the last 20 years so have no

problem whatsoever doing it. But we head em up and move em out ASAP.

I completely agree with you on helo onscene times and on use of the bird. We

only use it when the patient needs to go somewhere other than Abilene or when

we're far out in the boondocks with miles and miles of rocky road to go over

getting back to the highway. We use birds when we have a stroke patient who

needs to go to the stroke center in Ft Worth, for amputations that are going

to

the DFW area or Lubbock, critical burns and pedis going to the metroplex

also. Otherwise, we're cutting down on our helo txps greatly.

GG

In a message dated 9/9/2003 4:56:50 AM Central Daylight Time,

dinerman@... writes:

Gene-

On Code Three driving...

I do not allow my drivers to drive Code Three from the scene to the

hospital. I cannot do anything while being tossed about in the back of the

unit, nor do the patients appreciate it.

On Scene Time...

I only perform the most necessary procedures on the scene, to allow me to

continue care enroute: IV on scene, Rx enroute.... RSI/ET on scene, PPV

enroute....etc. Generally, the only patient who sees all of the tricks on

scene is the cardiac arrest.....

On Helicopter Crews assessments....

Our Life Flight crews have come to expect a thoroughly assessed and trended

pt who has had all the necessary procedures performed and functional prior

to landing. I mean, me do have at least 20 min to work with prior to

landing, after all. A handoff here in Dogpatch is short, sweet and to the

point. We even give a written report when we have sufficient hands.......

On use of air transport at ALL.....

If the patient needs some specialty that is not locally available to save

life or limb or materially improve morbidity / mortality, they fly to

Houston or Galveston. You have to know local resources intimately to make

an informed decision.

Regards-

TD

[Guest guest]

While we're on code three driving, I have a question.

Is there a law that REQUIRES you to reduce your speed while proceeding

through a school zone during the school zone hours? I know you MUST

stop for a school bus when they have their red flashers on and the stop

sign NO MATTER WHAT, but I don't know about the school zone.

Thanks for any and all help,

On Tuesday, Sep 9, 2003, at 23:01 US/Central, nails504@... wrote:

> Ok, now I've got questions about code three driving and laws...anyone

> care to

> answer them? We've been told for years and years (not that it is

> correct

> mind you) that it is illegal for us to make a code 3 run, but drive

> code 1 (no

> lights and sirens). Is there any even SIMILAR law on the books or is

> this a

> local thing for us? Just curious and I never thought to even ask our

> instructors--I trusted them until just recently.

>

> Thanks..

> Dana Garrett EMT-I 427

>

>

> In a message dated 9/9/03 5:15:18 PM Central Daylight Time,

> wegandy1938@... writes:

> T,

>

>

> That's interesting. Most of our transport is on the open highway.

> Although

> it seldom is necessary, we do run with red lights and siren at times,

> and I

> have never found it to be a problem. For us, all that means is asking

> people

> to

> get out of our way. It does not mean reckless driving, fast starts and

> stops, taking corners fast, and so forth. If anything it means

> smoother

> driving

> even than normal. We all drive at all times with the utmost regard

> for the

> patient's comfort and the medic's ability to work in the back since we

> do

> virtually everything on the move. Most of the time that means just

> smooth

> highway

> driving. We are lucky that we only have a few blocks of city traffic

> to go

> through after we enter the city, so that greatly negates our need for

> lights

> and

> siren. I can only remember one call in the last 9 months that we've

> run Code

> 3

> from scene to hospital.

>

> I have started most of my IVs while moving for the last 20 years so

> have no

> problem whatsoever doing it. But we head em up and move em out ASAP.

>

> I completely agree with you on helo onscene times and on use of the

> bird. We

> only use it when the patient needs to go somewhere other than Abilene

> or when

> we're far out in the boondocks with miles and miles of rocky road to

> go over

> getting back to the highway. We use birds when we have a stroke

> patient who

> needs to go to the stroke center in Ft Worth, for amputations that are

> going

> to

> the DFW area or Lubbock, critical burns and pedis going to the

> metroplex

> also. Otherwise, we're cutting down on our helo txps greatly.

>

> GG

>

>

> In a message dated 9/9/2003 4:56:50 AM Central Daylight Time,

> dinerman@... writes:

> Gene-

>

> On Code Three driving...

>

> I do not allow my drivers to drive Code Three from the scene to the

> hospital. I cannot do anything while being tossed about in the back

> of the

> unit, nor do the patients appreciate it.

>

> On Scene Time...

>

> I only perform the most necessary procedures on the scene, to allow me

> to

> continue care enroute: IV on scene, Rx enroute.... RSI/ET on scene,

> PPV

> enroute....etc. Generally, the only patient who sees all of the

> tricks on

> scene is the cardiac arrest.....

>

> On Helicopter Crews assessments....

>

> Our Life Flight crews have come to expect a thoroughly assessed and

> trended

> pt who has had all the necessary procedures performed and functional

> prior

> to landing. I mean, me do have at least 20 min to work with prior to

> landing, after all. A handoff here in Dogpatch is short, sweet and to

> the

> point. We even give a written report when we have sufficient

> hands.......

>

> On use of air transport at ALL.....

>

> If the patient needs some specialty that is not locally available to

> save

> life or limb or materially improve morbidity / mortality, they fly to

> Houston or Galveston. You have to know local resources intimately to

> make

> an informed decision.

>

> Regards-

>

> TD

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

I don't recall reading that it is law, but if it is not, it should be!

I have been taught and have taught the same for many years that when

entering a school zone *and other sensitive areas* that you SHALL turn off

your emergency lighting and siren. Remembering that a school zone is during

posted hours and likely when children are present. Running over a child

while responding to a call for help is not only bad forum, but gets you on

the 5, 6 and 10pm news for days and on the front page of the local

newspaper. Hard to live that blunder down.

I am sure that some of our Law Readers and those that actually have JD

behind their name will correct my errors. I look forward to the opportunity

to learn.

bkw

Re: Re: Great Posts on CareFlite!

> While we're on code three driving, I have a question.

>

> Is there a law that REQUIRES you to reduce your speed while proceeding

> through a school zone during the school zone hours? I know you MUST

> stop for a school bus when they have their red flashers on and the stop

> sign NO MATTER WHAT, but I don't know about the school zone.

>

> Thanks for any and all help,

>

***snipped a bunch***

[Guest guest]

No such law.

J. Hoskins

EMT/EMS Instructor

Licensed Peace Officer

Re: Re: Great Posts on CareFlite!

> While we're on code three driving, I have a question.

>

> Is there a law that REQUIRES you to reduce your speed while proceeding

> through a school zone during the school zone hours? I know you MUST

> stop for a school bus when they have their red flashers on and the stop

> sign NO MATTER WHAT, but I don't know about the school zone.

>

> Thanks for any and all help,

>

***snipped a bunch***

[Guest guest]

Local culture here in Dogpatch requires us to reduce speed in the school

zones to that posted......

TD

Re: Re: Great Posts on CareFlite!

>While we're on code three driving, I have a question.

>

>Is there a law that REQUIRES you to reduce your speed while proceeding

>through a school zone during the school zone hours? I know you MUST

>stop for a school bus when they have their red flashers on and the stop

>sign NO MATTER WHAT, but I don't know about the school zone.

>

>Thanks for any and all help,

>

>On Tuesday, Sep 9, 2003, at 23:01 US/Central, nails504@... wrote:

>

>> Ok, now I've got questions about code three driving and laws...anyone

>> care to

>> answer them? We've been told for years and years (not that it is

>> correct

>> mind you) that it is illegal for us to make a code 3 run, but drive

>> code 1 (no

>> lights and sirens). Is there any even SIMILAR law on the books or is

>> this a

>> local thing for us? Just curious and I never thought to even ask our

>> instructors--I trusted them until just recently.

>>

>> Thanks..

>> Dana Garrett EMT-I 427

>>

>>

>> In a message dated 9/9/03 5:15:18 PM Central Daylight Time,

>> wegandy1938@... writes:

>> T,

>>

>>

>> That's interesting. Most of our transport is on the open highway.

>> Although

>> it seldom is necessary, we do run with red lights and siren at times,

>> and I

>> have never found it to be a problem. For us, all that means is asking

>> people

>> to

>> get out of our way. It does not mean reckless driving, fast starts and

>> stops, taking corners fast, and so forth. If anything it means

>> smoother

>> driving

>> even than normal. We all drive at all times with the utmost regard

>> for the

>> patient's comfort and the medic's ability to work in the back since we

>> do

>> virtually everything on the move. Most of the time that means just

>> smooth

>> highway

>> driving. We are lucky that we only have a few blocks of city traffic

>> to go

>> through after we enter the city, so that greatly negates our need for

>> lights

>> and

>> siren. I can only remember one call in the last 9 months that we've

>> run Code

>> 3

>> from scene to hospital.

>>

>> I have started most of my IVs while moving for the last 20 years so

>> have no

>> problem whatsoever doing it. But we head em up and move em out ASAP.

>>

>> I completely agree with you on helo onscene times and on use of the

>> bird. We

>> only use it when the patient needs to go somewhere other than Abilene

>> or when

>> we're far out in the boondocks with miles and miles of rocky road to

>> go over

>> getting back to the highway. We use birds when we have a stroke

>> patient who

>> needs to go to the stroke center in Ft Worth, for amputations that are

>> going

>> to

>> the DFW area or Lubbock, critical burns and pedis going to the

>> metroplex

>> also. Otherwise, we're cutting down on our helo txps greatly.

>>

>> GG

>>

>>

>> In a message dated 9/9/2003 4:56:50 AM Central Daylight Time,

>> dinerman@... writes:

>> Gene-

>>

>> On Code Three driving...

>>

>> I do not allow my drivers to drive Code Three from the scene to the

>> hospital. I cannot do anything while being tossed about in the back

>> of the

>> unit, nor do the patients appreciate it.

>>

>> On Scene Time...

>>

>> I only perform the most necessary procedures on the scene, to allow me

>> to

>> continue care enroute: IV on scene, Rx enroute.... RSI/ET on scene,

>> PPV

>> enroute....etc. Generally, the only patient who sees all of the

>> tricks on

>> scene is the cardiac arrest.....

>>

>> On Helicopter Crews assessments....

>>

>> Our Life Flight crews have come to expect a thoroughly assessed and

>> trended

>> pt who has had all the necessary procedures performed and functional

>> prior

>> to landing. I mean, me do have at least 20 min to work with prior to

>> landing, after all. A handoff here in Dogpatch is short, sweet and to

>> the

>> point. We even give a written report when we have sufficient

>> hands.......

>>

>> On use of air transport at ALL.....

>>

>> If the patient needs some specialty that is not locally available to

>> save

>> life or limb or materially improve morbidity / mortality, they fly to

>> Houston or Galveston. You have to know local resources intimately to

>> make

>> an informed decision.

>>

>> Regards-

>>

>> TD

>>

>>

>>

[Guest guest]

The GETAC Air Medical Committee working on a draft for air transport

criteria this November. If the call takers/dispatchers had a protocol of

questions to ask, and certain criteria was meet, the Helo could be

launched prior to first responder arrival.

Ken Schaaf, EMT-P

At 06:07 PM 9/9/2003 -0400, you wrote:

>T,

>

>That's interesting. Most of our transport is on the open highway. Although

>it seldom is necessary, we do run with red lights and siren at times, and I

>have never found it to be a problem. For us, all that means is asking

>people to

>get out of our way. It does not mean reckless driving, fast starts and

>stops, taking corners fast, and so forth. If anything it means smoother

>driving

>even than normal. We all drive at all times with the utmost regard for the

>patient's comfort and the medic's ability to work in the back since we do

>virtually everything on the move. Most of the time that means just smooth

>highway

>driving. We are lucky that we only have a few blocks of city traffic to go

>through after we enter the city, so that greatly negates our need for

>lights and

>siren. I can only remember one call in the last 9 months that we've run

>Code 3

>from scene to hospital.

>

>I have started most of my IVs while moving for the last 20 years so have no

>problem whatsoever doing it. But we head em up and move em out ASAP.

>

>I completely agree with you on helo onscene times and on use of the bird. We

>only use it when the patient needs to go somewhere other than Abilene or when

>we're far out in the boondocks with miles and miles of rocky road to go over

>getting back to the highway. We use birds when we have a stroke patient who

>needs to go to the stroke center in Ft Worth, for amputations that are

>going to

>the DFW area or Lubbock, critical burns and pedis going to the metroplex

>also. Otherwise, we're cutting down on our helo txps greatly.

>

>GG

>

>

>In a message dated 9/9/2003 4:56:50 AM Central Daylight Time,

>dinerman@... writes:

>Gene-

>

>On Code Three driving...

>

>I do not allow my drivers to drive Code Three from the scene to the

>hospital. I cannot do anything while being tossed about in the back of the

>unit, nor do the patients appreciate it.

>

>On Scene Time...

>

>I only perform the most necessary procedures on the scene, to allow me to

>continue care enroute: IV on scene, Rx enroute.... RSI/ET on scene, PPV

>enroute....etc. Generally, the only patient who sees all of the tricks on

>scene is the cardiac arrest.....

>

>On Helicopter Crews assessments....

>

>Our Life Flight crews have come to expect a thoroughly assessed and trended

>pt who has had all the necessary procedures performed and functional prior

>to landing. I mean, me do have at least 20 min to work with prior to

>landing, after all. A handoff here in Dogpatch is short, sweet and to the

>point. We even give a written report when we have sufficient hands.......

>

>On use of air transport at ALL.....

>

>If the patient needs some specialty that is not locally available to save

>life or limb or materially improve morbidity / mortality, they fly to

>Houston or Galveston. You have to know local resources intimately to make

>an informed decision.

>

>Regards-

>

>TD

>

>

>