MikeEMT

A good site for review is www.EMTB.com

This website helped me through my class. I found it more useful than the website that came with our text book, which was full of errors and contradictions.

Very good website.

We have all been there, you are either enroute to an emergency or you are transporting a patient emergency, and you come upon an MVC. Let's take the lowest extreme and say it is a minor fender bender and everyone is out of their vehicles and walking around. You slow down, yell out the window are you OK, and everyone says yes. You state that you will call in their wreck to 911 and get help to them, and you continue on your call.

Are you at any risk for not stopping and waiting on help to arrive. Is it abandonment ? Can you cite a specific law in your jurisdiction that protects you should one of the accident victims later sues and says they had neck injuries that were worsened by your lack of care, and/or the delay in care ? I realize that you may have a policy in place, but does that policy protect you ? What do you do ?

I won't give legal advice, but having been a cop and PI I am very well versed in the law. Here is my interpretation and what I would do. The law may vary based on your area so consult your protocols and company lawyer for clarification.

The law is pretty clear that you cannot abandon your patient. This includes both while enroute to the scene and enroute to the hospital. Sounds simple.

However, the law is not about what is written but rather how it is interpreted. If it were based solely on how it was written, everyone convicted of murder would get life in prison and there would be no need for judges and lawyers (ah, what a perfect world that would be).

Interpretation comes down to a legal standard called the Reasonable Person Standard. Basicly, what would a reasonable person do in the same situation and given the same information that you had at the time.

Unfortunately, saying "I couldn't stop because I had a patient" is likely not going to fly. Stopping is also not going to fly either.

The simple answer is there is no simple answer. You need to make your decision to stop based on information you have at the time. The ability for you to justify your actions will save you. If you are responding to a call (we all know how accurate dispatch info is) do you think the call can be delayed or another unit respond? If you have a patient, will your actions be depriving your patient of the care they deserve? The public doesn't know or care if you have a patient, they just see an ambulance and EXPECT you to help.

When you are out and about and you see a cop do you ever think about the fact they might be on a call, or do you ASSUME that you can always go up to that cop for help? I can't tell you how many times I was on a traffic stop or working an accident only to have someone come up and ask me for directions. Nothing like having your gun drawn on a felony traffic stop and some old couple walks up and asks you where the nearest mcdonalds is.

Unfortunately the public expects you to help them. Whatever you do you need to be able to justify your actions. There is no way to accurately give a definitive answer on this.

Hi all, my name is Mike and I wanted to introduce myself.

I have been lurking on this site for a few months (several of you unknowingly helped me through my EMT class, lol) and finally decided to join.

I am a former cop and private investigator who decided to follow my dream and go into EMS. I took a class through AMR this year and recently got certified.

I currently work for a private ambulance company and am immensely enjoying my new career.

Hi, I have been lurking on this site for awhile, but decided to join to provide my insight on this topic.

As a former cop I understand where the author is coming from in writing this. First and foremost, the author does specify the need for the appropriate training. Last time I checked, chest decompression needles require MPD approval to even purchase yet alone use.

Events such as Columbine and 9/11 have scared us. Law enforcement has moved into a mindset of we can't rely on EMS anymore. No disrespect to EMS, but Scene Safety is important. We can't expect EMS to enter scenes that would endanger them, thereby making the situation worse.

Many Police Departments have encouraged officers to get advanced medical training. Usually First Responder or EMT, but sometimes even Paramedic - which is common on tactical teams. Departments which may have a lengthy response from EMS or a high crime rate would likely have more officers that are trained as medical providers.

The intent is to not replace EMS, but to provide immediate, life saving care in a high risk situation. Columbine was a learning experience for the entire country. It was very clear that the Teacher could have been saved had a SWAT Medic gone in. There was also speculation that some of the students might have been saved as well. However SWAT Medics were virtually unheard of at the time. Exception being NYPD's ESU and LAPD SWAT.

The author of the article is a cop and it was written for cops. Certain assumptions have likely been made about the viewership of the article. Most cops know what they are allowed to do and not do. Therefore, the need for ALS level training isn't stressed when mentioning Chest Decompression.

Many companies sell tactical medical kits for police officers. This is just one kit sold to tactical officers:http://www.galls.com/style-TK115-general_catalog-north-american-rescue-storm-operator-kit

Some SWAT schools even teach ALS skills now. Needle decompression is taught in the military and can be taught rather easily. Keep in mind, this isn't a medical need for decompression. Rather it is a trauma need, usually involving a GSW.

I have never personally gone through this level of training when I was a cop. I am a Basic now, having changed careers. I can tell you that here in WA State, police officers are allowed to obtain MPD permission providing they meet the training requirements. WSP is the only agency I can think of that would provide care above basic first aid / CPR.

I have never seen, nor heard of, any officer in this state carrying ALS level equipment. Even most SWAT Teams use a Doctor rather than a Medic.

Hope this clears it up.