From: chandler@whatever.cs.jhu.edu (Justin Chandler)
Subject: Re: EMT certified bystander
Organization: Johns Hopkins University CS Dept.
X-Newsreader: TIN [version 1.1 PL6]
Date: Tue, 29 Sep 1992 14:31:56 GMT

alanmoore@yang.earlham.edu wrote:
: In article <01GPA3SHC6Z6984UFW@gallua.bitnet>, 11AHILL@GALLUA.GALLAUDET.EDU (Audrey S. Hill, DC/NR/EMT-A) writes:
: >>So suppose you go on a call and an off-duty EMT is there to assist, what
: >>would you do?  Would you allow him/her to assist you on the field or
: >>what??
: 
: What bothers me the most about this is the fact that you had special skills
: that the medics responding might not have had and might not have been
: available.

	Any good emt work his/her salt would carry a pen/pencil and pad.  Might 
not be the most efficient method, but it usually works.  This is not to 
condone the action of the police/security guard, just saying they should have
been able to handle it with out intervention.  

	As for me personally, if there is someone who can sign, I'll take 'em
even if they don't know emergency medicine (my finger spelling is quite weak
and barely faster than writing).

: 
:We discussed this in regard to responding to fires; say you are next to a scene
:(or pass one), you have your gear, so you jump out and ask the chief if you can
: help.  I see nothing wrong with asking, but I don't see anything wrong with
: refusing help, either.  A lot of times you need more space, not more people.

	But how does that chief know that you know your stuff?  There are enough
crazies out there who want to play FF/EMT/Police officer that you can never
be sure who to trust other than your own crew.  (Admittedly, not many wierdos 
carry their own turn-out gear, but how do you know it wasn't stolen.)  Always
watch your back (and escape route).

: 
:>>in any medical emergencies on campus during the night.  I was told that since
:>>I am not part of the university student life staff so therefore they cannot
: 
:You can't join this staff (I don't know what it is, or what it involves, that's
: why I'm asking)?

	Because they might actually have to pay 'em! :-)  (Not cutting on you,
just saying that most (read all) school are stingier than the IRS).

	Here at JHU we have an entirely different situation (well almost).  The
first people to respond to incidents are students trained to AFA or EMT level.
However, even if they were paramedics, they can only operate at the AFA level,
and they must 'consult' with the physicain or nurse on duty at the health
center for every thing they do.  The carry a watered down jump bag, no O2,
but they do have radios with which to talk with security dispatch to get an
ambo if they need an 'upgrade' :-).

	This organization is useful since we are located in Baltimore whose 
overworked (what an understatement) EMS sytem has 18 medics for about one
million residents.  The squad has a three min ETA to scene (they have to run
there), as apposed to five to ten mins for the city medics.  But burnout is
high as 95% of their calls are even more BS that your worst ambo BS run (I've
been called out at 2am for a minor (read dime sized) abrasion to the knee that
wasn't even bleeding).


: 
: Alan Moore                         alanmoore@yang.earlham.edu
: Treasurer/Training/Safety Officer  (317)983-1437
: Boston Community Fire Department   (317)935-2449
: Boston, IN


						EMT/A (CRT in training)
						-- Justin Chandler
Comments: Gated by NETNEWS@AUVM.AMERICAN.EDU