What do YOU want (MedicAlert)

[mobey]

I checked a cell phone for the first time the other day.

The ICE thing is catching on here and I think we could see more and more of it. I have no quams with checkin a phone in the case of an unconcious pt given I have the time, but I won't let it disrupt the flow of my call.

[iMac]

With the caveat that I admit not knowing everything, even now, I have been working in the back of, dispatching, and driving, ambulances from the fall of 1973. Breaking that down, with overlap, Peninsula Volunteer Ambulance Corps 1973-1996, sequentially with 5 "private" inter-facility transport non 9-1-1 type services 1975-1985, and municipal EMS/FDNY EMS June 1985 to...

To the best of my knowledge, here in New York City, EMTs and Paramedics are not allowed to go through pockets and wallets of patients; we have to wait for hospital security or the NYPD to do such looking for us. There is NO restriction on looking for medical alerting necklaces, bracelets, wristbands, or ankle bracelets, or going to a patient's refrigerator looking for the "Vial Of Life".

While I have found such vials, I never found any decals on the front doors, windows, or the refrigerator itself, indicating that the vial was present. Nonetheless, it is a good idea, as almost every home, far as I know, has a refrigerator.

OK, fair enough. It's interesting to see how different things are from one state/country to another. Here "technically" we shouldn't be going thru personal belongings BUT we do it all the time.

It's a lot different here tho than how you crazy americans deal with things. Canadians don't care if that means it's for their care they will tell you to go ahead and grab whatever it is out of their purse/bad etc...happens all the time here in emerg. when asking for their health care card they just hand me their wallet

We are a lot more laid back and trusting I guess.

[Richard B the EMT]

...and, considering I'm a Noo Yawker, possibly more polite, per both our stereotypes.