Coop

I hate missing real calls because someone is abusing the EMS system. We don't have a fleet of vehicles --only two-- and 95% of the time, we only have staffing for one. If a non-patient is commanding our resources, then a real patient can't get them. Sure, another company will cover, but to make a patient wait for extended response time because some dolt doesn't know the difference between taxi and ambulance is criminal. And if it ain't, it oughta be. Later! --Coop

NB: I'd be calling the medic because they can push some drugs --and it's pretty clear she needs more than 02. Don't want to be accused of passing off my inexperience (although it exists) to them. Unless I'm reading WAY too into it (and I don't think I am) this is a bit more than a BLS call. If a medic was unavailable, I'd package her up and get to the closest ED while giving her 02 via NRB--and hope she doesn't fish out on me. Then, I'd find out if my kids would be going to that high school and make sure the nurse was out of there by the time they came of age to attend. Paper bag. "Teach her a lesson." Egad. Come to think of it, I'd ask if the cop could taze the nurse. And the principal: "Why aren't you listening to her (his nurse?)" I have an answer right here, on the tip of my tongue, but I'm fairly certain that giving it voice (while satisfying) would get me in a bit of trouble. Later! --Coop

Well, this has been interesting reading. If this were me on the scene, I'd be calling a medic--I'm about 3 weeks away from finishing off my EMT-B course, but for purposes of this scenario, I'm assuming I pass. I've been running as an observer and driver for about 18 months. So there's my (in)experience caveat. That said, a helo sounds excessive in this instance. At least in my area--we've got 3 hospitals within 15 mins. Actually, the only times I can think of a helo being suitable here (disclaimer about inexperience being noted) is if we had to send someone to a burn center or some other specialized facility (up to Hershey Med Center, down to Shock Trauma, whatever) where drive time would be putting the patient at undue risk. If, in some unimaginable reality, the medic deigned to ask my input (other than "ya know where to hook these up?" for his leads), I'd tell him that the slamming heart rate doesn't look kosher (yeah, that's me: understatement of the obvious), and considering she's in high school, I'd be thinking she's on something. I mean, Hell... that's why they call it high school, ain't it? Later! --Coop

I'd read Joe Conelly's BRINGING OUT THE DEAD (Knopf, 1998)--which your work, if published, will undoubtedly be compared against-- to get an idea of what's already been done with this type of fictional character. Best, --Coop

Yeah, paided... that's when you get your check and you realize that, after taxes and deductions, you owe your employer $50 for the honor of working for them for two weeks. Best, --Coop

My god, I'm such a geek --I actually UNDERSTOOD the above --and I found it funny! Best, --Coop

Egad. I used to live in Ft. Misery --I mean, Ft. Myers. Heh. Small world. I'm actually wearing a T-shirt from Ft. Myers right now --Medicine Man Music. This has been said countless other ways, but I think you did the right thing. If you were that close to the hospital, going in hot wouldn't have saved you much --if any-- time. It sounds to me as though your colleague may be upset more that you usurped what he believed was his authority --which is _his_ flipping problem. Best, --Coop

Interesting. We don't have an Explorer program or anything like that, but if we DID, I think I might be a little wary of responding to calls with a minor on-board. From the other side of the littler, I can say this: I've been transported as a Class I patient, and there was an Explorer on the bus. Kid was seventeen. I've got to admit, his presence didn't phase me either way: I was too worried about losing my hand (I'd really screwed it up). Best, --Coop

Buses, mostly... --Coop