Re: Higher care needed?

[Guest guest]

Basically what you have is two Good Samaritans trying to provide care to

someone injured. Neither of you were the legally responsible " Care Giver " in

this situation (my opinion only). Regardless of Paramedic or Basic, unless

she was onduty or within some type of volunteer coverage area that she

works/volunteers in, she is a Basic just like you.

2 different approaches, one professional and one not!!!! I'd say the

paramedic was not.

btw, plenty of Paramedics live the " good life " on what we make. Don't judge

them just because they have a nicer vehicle then you. Some of us work very

hard for the things we have and work where we are compensated financially

well.

I'm sure the injured person was glad you stepped up to help her!

Higher care needed?

> The other day, while attending a sporting event, one of the players

> went down. Now this was at a college intramural game where there were

> no coaches or trainers in the area. When the pt went down I (an EMT-

> B..and proud of it I might add.) started to make my way over to the

> pt, whom I thought might actualy be laughing on the ground and not

> crying (The later being what she turned out to be). Well I stood by

> the fence for a minute...still not sure if one of the several people

> that came to her aid, might be a trainer. Well after about 30-45

> seconds of standing there, I finaly decided that no one there

> apparently know what to do becasue most of them seemed to be looking

> around for someone or something to come to help them. Well I walked

> over to the pt, and introduced myself, then told the pt. that I was

> an EMT. I started calming her down by talking to her, and trying to

> make light of this situation she had gotten herself into. After I

> managed to take her shoe off but cutting the laces, I check distal

> pulses, motor function, and sensory, all of which were present, I

> started to discuss with her her options. (I.E. calling an ambulance,

> ect.) I told her that she had apparently had an obvious fracture just

> right at ankle, and that there was a remarkable deformity, and some

> noted swelling. While I was performing my assessment (Which took

> about 1-2 mins.) she requested if she could call her mother, whom

> lived about 4hrs away, so she could talk to her, and get a second

> opinon more or less. As I explained that she really needed to have an

> ambulance come get her, this girl pushed me out of the way, and

> denounced the whole world, more or less, that she was a paramedic. I

> told her I was an EMT, but she just ignored me for the most part.

> The " Paramedic " requested someone run to her brand new tahoe (What

> kind of paramedic can afford that? LOL) and get her trauma bag. The

> paramedic and the bag were soon a team, and she began to splint it

> with a SAM splint. My question is, since this was other wise, a BLS

> type call, with no advanced interventions availible in the field, and

> the pt had already refused for us to call an ambulance for her, would

> I of been in the right to not turn over pt. care, or does the

> paramedic, in any situation (Even if it is an off-duty, 1st aid type

> ordeal) have the ability to " take " the pt from me? This pt was

> stable, and everything was undercontrol. Not to mention, that this

> paramedic must of forgot the basic's of splinting. (She wrapped the

> kerlex over the Fx site and she never marked the sites of the distal

> pulses, which I've always thought was elementary as far as splinting

> goes.) In the end, we splinted it, and put her in the Tahoe and

> the " Paramedic " took her to the hospital, which was only about 3-4

> blocks up the road from us. This really didn't make me mad or

> anything, but it really made me think. Could I of legally told the

> paramedic that this was " My " pt, or was there anything I did wrong?

> I'm just looking for feedback yall.

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Thanks for the opinion. I was just kidding bout the tahoe thing. I

drive a fairly nice car myself. Thanks for the info, I wasn't quite

sure if the BLS vs. MICU type stuff would apply in this situation. If

this was to happen to me again, which who's to say that it wouldn't,

would I be in the wrong, if I would of said " Everything is ok here,

but I appreciate your help. " ????????

> Basically what you have is two Good Samaritans trying to provide

care to

> someone injured. Neither of you were the legally responsible " Care

Giver " in

> this situation (my opinion only). Regardless of Paramedic or Basic,

unless

> she was onduty or within some type of volunteer coverage area that

she

> works/volunteers in, she is a Basic just like you.

>

> 2 different approaches, one professional and one not!!!! I'd say the

> paramedic was not.

>

> btw, plenty of Paramedics live the " good life " on what we make.

Don't judge

> them just because they have a nicer vehicle then you. Some of us

work very

> hard for the things we have and work where we are compensated

financially

> well.

>

> I'm sure the injured person was glad you stepped up to help her!

>

>

> Higher care needed?

>

>

> > The other day, while attending a sporting event, one of the

players

> > went down. Now this was at a college intramural game where there

were

> > no coaches or trainers in the area. When the pt went down I (an

EMT-

> > B..and proud of it I might add.) started to make my way over to

the

> > pt, whom I thought might actualy be laughing on the ground and not

> > crying (The later being what she turned out to be). Well I stood

by

> > the fence for a minute...still not sure if one of the several

people

> > that came to her aid, might be a trainer. Well after about 30-45

> > seconds of standing there, I finaly decided that no one there

> > apparently know what to do becasue most of them seemed to be

looking

> > around for someone or something to come to help them. Well I

walked

> > over to the pt, and introduced myself, then told the pt. that I

was

> > an EMT. I started calming her down by talking to her, and trying

to

> > make light of this situation she had gotten herself into. After I

> > managed to take her shoe off but cutting the laces, I check distal

> > pulses, motor function, and sensory, all of which were present, I

> > started to discuss with her her options. (I.E. calling an

ambulance,

> > ect.) I told her that she had apparently had an obvious fracture

just

> > right at ankle, and that there was a remarkable deformity, and

some

> > noted swelling. While I was performing my assessment (Which took

> > about 1-2 mins.) she requested if she could call her mother, whom

> > lived about 4hrs away, so she could talk to her, and get a second

> > opinon more or less. As I explained that she really needed to

have an

> > ambulance come get her, this girl pushed me out of the way, and

> > denounced the whole world, more or less, that she was a

paramedic. I

> > told her I was an EMT, but she just ignored me for the most part.

> > The " Paramedic " requested someone run to her brand new tahoe (What

> > kind of paramedic can afford that? LOL) and get her trauma bag.

The

> > paramedic and the bag were soon a team, and she began to splint it

> > with a SAM splint. My question is, since this was other wise, a

BLS

> > type call, with no advanced interventions availible in the field,

and

> > the pt had already refused for us to call an ambulance for her,

would

> > I of been in the right to not turn over pt. care, or does the

> > paramedic, in any situation (Even if it is an off-duty, 1st aid

type

> > ordeal) have the ability to " take " the pt from me? This pt was

> > stable, and everything was undercontrol. Not to mention, that this

> > paramedic must of forgot the basic's of splinting. (She wrapped

the

> > kerlex over the Fx site and she never marked the sites of the

distal

> > pulses, which I've always thought was elementary as far as

splinting

> > goes.) In the end, we splinted it, and put her in the Tahoe and

> > the " Paramedic " took her to the hospital, which was only about 3-4

> > blocks up the road from us. This really didn't make me mad or

> > anything, but it really made me think. Could I of legally told the

> > paramedic that this was " My " pt, or was there anything I did

wrong?

> > I'm just looking for feedback yall.

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

I would think that would be a great answer. Sounds to me like you had

everything well in hand.

Take care,

Higher care needed?

> >

> >

> > > The other day, while attending a sporting event, one of the

> players

> > > went down. Now this was at a college intramural game where there

> were

> > > no coaches or trainers in the area. When the pt went down I (an

> EMT-

> > > B..and proud of it I might add.) started to make my way over to

> the

> > > pt, whom I thought might actualy be laughing on the ground and not

> > > crying (The later being what she turned out to be). Well I stood

> by

> > > the fence for a minute...still not sure if one of the several

> people

> > > that came to her aid, might be a trainer. Well after about 30-45

> > > seconds of standing there, I finaly decided that no one there

> > > apparently know what to do becasue most of them seemed to be

> looking

> > > around for someone or something to come to help them. Well I

> walked

> > > over to the pt, and introduced myself, then told the pt. that I

> was

> > > an EMT. I started calming her down by talking to her, and trying

> to

> > > make light of this situation she had gotten herself into. After I

> > > managed to take her shoe off but cutting the laces, I check distal

> > > pulses, motor function, and sensory, all of which were present, I

> > > started to discuss with her her options. (I.E. calling an

> ambulance,

> > > ect.) I told her that she had apparently had an obvious fracture

> just

> > > right at ankle, and that there was a remarkable deformity, and

> some

> > > noted swelling. While I was performing my assessment (Which took

> > > about 1-2 mins.) she requested if she could call her mother, whom

> > > lived about 4hrs away, so she could talk to her, and get a second

> > > opinon more or less. As I explained that she really needed to

> have an

> > > ambulance come get her, this girl pushed me out of the way, and

> > > denounced the whole world, more or less, that she was a

> paramedic. I

> > > told her I was an EMT, but she just ignored me for the most part.

> > > The " Paramedic " requested someone run to her brand new tahoe (What

> > > kind of paramedic can afford that? LOL) and get her trauma bag.

> The

> > > paramedic and the bag were soon a team, and she began to splint it

> > > with a SAM splint. My question is, since this was other wise, a

> BLS

> > > type call, with no advanced interventions availible in the field,

> and

> > > the pt had already refused for us to call an ambulance for her,

> would

> > > I of been in the right to not turn over pt. care, or does the

> > > paramedic, in any situation (Even if it is an off-duty, 1st aid

> type

> > > ordeal) have the ability to " take " the pt from me? This pt was

> > > stable, and everything was undercontrol. Not to mention, that this

> > > paramedic must of forgot the basic's of splinting. (She wrapped

> the

> > > kerlex over the Fx site and she never marked the sites of the

> distal

> > > pulses, which I've always thought was elementary as far as

> splinting

> > > goes.) In the end, we splinted it, and put her in the Tahoe and

> > > the " Paramedic " took her to the hospital, which was only about 3-4

> > > blocks up the road from us. This really didn't make me mad or

> > > anything, but it really made me think. Could I of legally told the

> > > paramedic that this was " My " pt, or was there anything I did

> wrong?

> > > I'm just looking for feedback yall.

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

[Guest guest]

You did an excellent job. As a cranky old paramedic, I would have

rubbernecked and offered help if you needed it or got in over your head. Other

wise let

the EMT do what they do best (BLS and Save the ParaGod.)

Tom LeNeveu

Learning Paramedic

EMStock 2004 is just around the corner. Come join the fun and learn a little

while your at it.

[Guest guest]

Kudos to you, Tom. I totally agree !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Dago, LP (Learning

Paramedic-after twenty years in the field)

FireMedic1633@... wrote:You did an excellent job. As a cranky old

paramedic, I would have

rubbernecked and offered help if you needed it or got in over your head. Other

wise let

the EMT do what they do best (BLS and Save the ParaGod.)

Tom LeNeveu

Learning Paramedic

EMStock 2004 is just around the corner. Come join the fun and learn a little

while your at it.