Comments on: The Other Side

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Tue, 30 Oct 2007 15:44:00 +0000

In my state we are protected if we choose to stop and assist on something like a car crash or a medical scene we happen to come upon. The laws protect us as long as we do no more than what we are trained and licensed to do within the state.

By: PC

PC — Sun, 25 Mar 2007 20:41:00 +0000

Thanks for the comments.In our state you can only use your skills if you are acting as part of the emergency medical services system with a emergency medical services organization that is certified at your level and officially dispatched on the call.An example I can work with a partner who is also a paramedic and we can both do paramedic skills on the same call, but later in the week I can respond as a paramedic to a call in the town where he works as a firefighter/EMT or a call that he is a bystander at, and he cannot use his paramedic skills to help me. On one day he can push meds for me as a fellow paramedic/partner, on the next day if he pushed meds for me as a firefighter/EMT we both could lose our licenses. Part of the reason for the law is to prohibit freelancing and make sure the system is accountable and lines of authority are clearcut. I know of cases where medics have looked the other way in the interest of saving lives and I know of cases where even alone in the back of an ambulance, shielded from bystanders eyes, paramedics have either refused to help or refused to allow help from other medics becuase of the regulations.And I know of cases where EMS people have reported this type of help and people have been suspended and faced state investigation.

By: CD

CD — Fri, 23 Mar 2007 20:51:00 +0000

Seems like your system has major problems.Any law that makes it a difficult decision whether or not to use your skills to help someone off duty needs changing.Here in New Zealand there would be no problem with stopping at a scene and helping out. If I thought the scene couldn't wait, I'd help out until the first crew arrived, identify myself and my qual, handover then ask what help they wanted (if any)?And that Trooper needs a major attitude adjustment - what an unhelpful prick.

By: Blue Ridge Medic

Blue Ridge Medic — Tue, 20 Mar 2007 14:33:00 +0000

I’ve always heard that the emergency stops when you get to the ED, but I like your saying much better….BRM

By: C. Black NREMT-P

C. Black NREMT-P — Tue, 20 Mar 2007 02:43:00 +0000

Man are you reading my mind? I’m the same way. After 17 years in the field I really try to avoid scenes if at all possible. My wife will see something happening and say, “Aren’t you going to go over and help?” My general response is something to the effect of “If they need my help, they’ll ask.” I used to keep a scanner on 24/7 at my house. Now it is only turned on on rare occasions if I am bored and hear a siren in the distance. Even then I know that I’m not going anywhere. I’m just being a bit nosey and listening in on what is going on in the neighborhood. You spoke of the calming effect that responders can have at a scene. That’s true if those responders will actually enter a scene calmly and rationally. So many times i have seen responders make things many times worse than they innitially began by rushing in like Superman to save the day. I REFUSE to get in the kind of hurry that I see some people running at on a daily basis. I have found, over the years, that to really see what is going on with your patient you have to take the time to see everything that is going on. A hasty decision in our business will kill someone. That someone could be you, your partner, ypur patient, or a bystander. EMS has evolved today to a point where we must think ahead so that we don’t have to run and play catch-up. It’s no longer a business that is run alongside funeral homes. It’s time for us as professionals to act as such, on or off duty. Sorry, I got off topic, but I agree with you 100%.