TRTEmt

I think it is important for all of us to remember that we can not control everything. We save the ones that we can, and give dignity and respect to those we can't. We are a small group of people that are willing to see people on the worst day of there lifes. When they are pilled up in an accident and praying to be saved, god send us. When a man is sitting at the end of his bed in the tripod position barely able to breath with chest pains. He is praying to see his family one more time. We answer his prayers. But not always.... Be proud of what you do either as a full time job or a hobby. But remember we can not control everthing.

Oh I forgot to mention that I refuse to wear a thong, as previously suggested......... The rest of you go ahead.

In our derpartment, we wear black pants with large pockets. Either a black polo, blue pullover, or a blue T-shirt (usually not on Amb. calls). Oh and occassionally the ever fashionable and comfortable bunker gear. I really don't care what color my cloths are as long as they are comfortable and have lots of storage.

[ I have yet to have to use the 'protective custody "clause"' on a severely injured (or potential for) minor. The 'guardian' is usually more then willing to have the minor transported if they are complaining of pain/injury. I fear the day I meet an adult that refuses treatment of a minor, expecially if my gut instinct is telling me that the PT is critical.

A 13 year old could potentially refuse their own care assuming they were competent. Atleast here, there is no age that is set in stone in regards to the age of consent for medical treatment. It's on an individual basis. If the youth can understand the seriousness of their condition and understand the possible outcomes of refusing treatment then they can. As an example, I signed my own paperwork for my tonsilectomy when I was about 13. My parents didn't sign any of it. Here they can only refuse if they are 18 yo, emancipated, parent, member of the military, financially independent and not living at home, or pregnant.

My partner and I had a call last week. It was toned out as a single vehicle accident, too patients. When we arrived on scene, we saw a minivan that had slide off of the road. Air bags had not deployed, and there seemed to be no significant MI. The PT’s climbed up an embankment about 25 ft to the roadway. My partner, who took the lead, began a rapid trauma assessment palpitating for signs of tenderness. One of the patients did not want treated, he was an adult so no big. But the other patient was a 13yo. When my partner asked if the adult was the parent, the adult said no, I am his uncle. The parents could not be contacted, so the uncle refused treatment for the minor. After the run I asked my partner, what he would have done if the PT had a significant MI, or showed signs of major trauma. My partner said that he still would have allowed the “Uncle” to sign the release. This of course caused a S*** storm for me and a lengthy discussion. In our protocols we allow either a parent or a “Guardian” to refuse treatment of a minor, of course we can always play the “Neglect” card, but that involves LE and can be a lengthy process. I want to know how you have handled this situation, or what is your department policy on who is considered a “Guardian”.