catie

tskstorm.... You are right to keep doing your job "by the book", as I don't really think you are ready for anything less right now. Its always better to CYA than to just go along. In these situations you have to be capable of going to court to prove your actions worthy of keeping your patch.If your not then you don't need to even go in that direction. There are risks to everything and I think there are some who can go outside the box and some who cannot. I am not putting you down or saying your not a good EMT. I am saying I think you are right in what you believe. So don't let anyone try to make you into someone your not. So for now I will conceed to you,because I'm tired.

I know where I work that if someone is trying to get your attention by banging on the back doors they are going to give more than just two standard bangs on the back. To tskstorm- I am not really sure how you can be so certain they did not hear sirens or see lights? (unless maybe you were there?)You said they misunderstood the radio and yet they heard clear enough to know it would be a minute before ALS arrived? I seem to sense a defensive "tone". Could it be that you were one of these guys/girls and think you have to justify your actions? Thank you for the vast span of knowledge you have bestowed upon me, as I have only been in EMS for going on 10 years now, all of which has been 911. But I do appreciate it. :wink: I see your point. I would venture to say there are many arguments to this story. I was thinking in terms of a larger ball....say one you would get out of a quarter machine at wal-mart. If you provide compressions/chest thrust you would enable the ball to move up enough to at least provide some airflow.In turn, Using a BVM would push the ball back down and cause a seal so that no air would be able to get by.After all the kid ended up dying regardless of your "by the book CPR". Yes, I know what the book says. Everyone who has been through school should know this. Every Medic and EMT knows you can't always go "by the book". But, I do understand what you are saying. :-k Ultimately.... All the shoulda,coulda, woulda's are in vain. These people made choices that affected the rest of their lives and others. Nothing can bring this child back and I am sure these guys lay in bed at night and wonder,What if ........ We have all been to those calls and each one has asked that same question a thousand times over. If you haven't yet, then give it time....if you stay in EMS long enough your time will come.

Ok..Let me get this straight....Two EMT's are preforming CPR on a airway obstructed child...Does this sound a little strange to anyone but me? One is doing chest compressions I guess.. and the other is doing what? Please tell me they are not attempting to bag this kid!If they are only doing compressions,are they taking turns or is one just there for moral support?I just have a hard time picturing what this second person is doing. As an EMT myself I cannot understand at all what these guys are thinking!I have been to several calls for an unresponsive children and it certainly freaks everyone involved out. But as a person who is trained to handle these calls and who the public looks to, you have to remain calm and professional. These guys just freaked out and did what our supervisors always tell us as Basics to do -" haul arse and get there as fast as you can". When a minute seems like an eternity these guys made a spur of the moment decision to go.Maybe they felt like at least if they were moving they were doing something to save the child. Who knows? I am certainly not trying to judge these guys, I just hate the way this ended. The loss of an innocent child because of the ignorance of "trained professionals",if this kid was alive when they aos.

LMAO.....I thought I had issues!!! Too bad the majority reading this are EMS and know all that! Can we post this on the Home and Garden site?

I myself work for a private ambulance company and have seen what they do and don't do. More so what they "don't" do. It is such a hassel to get anything done at all. Its all about the money.Forget your employee's that actually make the money for you! They don't want to pay for proper equipment and training for newbies. They are always so concerned with what other companies think of them they forget about patient care. The pay sucks,the "insurance" sucks, and you can never find a supervisor around when you need one :x Not to mention all the ED's and City workers think we are the scum of the universe because we don't have a fire logo on our vehicles! :evil: I have a few....issues. Can you tell? Sorry for going off like that! :oops:

Hmmm....Well since I haven't posted but maybe 3 times and am a newbie here, I guess I cant really "bash" on the Devil. I have been reading a few of his post and it would seem EMT City would be quite boring without DustDevil. I just have one question "does he walk on water also?". I am looking forward to the time our paths cross........ :wink: