Baveria(Germany) Standard Ambulance and System description

[krumel]

The judge decides;)

When something goes wrong the question is: Did it go wrong because the medic did something wrong? Then he medic...well... doomed...

When something goes wrong because of "risk of life" (etc. the patient discovers he is allergic to the drug you gave him for the first time of his life and dies...): By german law: None's responsible..

The rule of "break a law when you can safe a life" is on the "bürgerliches Gesetzbook" (general book of laws), this is the highest law beside the constitution...All other laws are "under" this law, so none's able to sue you as long as you can prove you tried to safe life/health of someone when breaking the law....

[itku2er]

When explained like that is doesnt sound as crazy as it did before. If i get annoying with these questions just tell me.

How is the helicopters staffed do you have to have special training extra than a regular paramedic does in order to fly?

[krumel]

No,No, youre not annoying me a bit, but I'm off to late shift in 5 min.

The helicopter EMT-P normally is a HEMS-Crew member. (Most of them rotate between helicopters and the ambulances)

some helicopters (especially the one's which an rescue wrench) also have "board mechanics" (mostly also EMT-P's) additonally.

Here in southern bavaria the Helicopters crews mostly are trained as mountain rescuers, too.

The emergency physicans of the helicopters mostly are anesthetists, sometimes also trauma surgeons and internal medicine specialists... They get also an special "heli training".

In case an severe pediatric emergency is reported some helicopters get an additonal pediatrian or pediatric anesthetists on Board.

[itku2er]

Ok have a great shift we can pick this up later if you dont mind.

[krumel]

Just ask, sometimes I find a WiFi spot in the city and enough time to answer.

[zippyRN]

That is interesting so I have learned something and they say you cant teach an OLD dog new tricks. Why are there no colleges over there no funding or just no requirements for advanced education?

i think krumel was actually saying that germany, like most EU member states and Commonwealth states has in theory direct entry to medical school rather than requiring a Bachelors before like the US system

also differences in terminology and 'false firends' in terminology of education can confuse

because a'college' in the UK generally refers to either a high school (<place name> community college) or a Further education college, not a University, although just to confuse things there are some smaller universities who can't issue post graduate degrees known as 'University Colleges' ...

Are Friday nights bad call nights there or just people not wanting to work the weekend?

increased call volumes due to people going out and drinking alcohol to excess because they don't need to get up for work in the morning or becasue their sports teams have lost (professional sports wise in the UK rugby league sides play on friday evening or saturday, a significant proboption of the football league and premier league games oare on saturdays, but more spread through the week now due to tv rights - but the none televised matches and the lower leagues many play on saturday, Rugby union generally play on Saturdays as well ) and amateur participation at the adult level is usually sunday morning or afternoon

[chbare]

Thank you for the discussion Krumel. I have to admit, I am always a little embarrassed when I explain our EMS system (especially educational standards) to my South African and Australian colleagues.

Take care,

chbare.

[krumel]

zippy said everything;)

Thanks:D

But, I have to admin that Friday night was very calm...Three call within 8 hours... Can't remember when Friday's late shift was so quiet the last time.

(One "Emergency door opening" with the FD..Old lady missing...But wasn't in her flat, too...Two -exucse me- extremly bariatric pregnant ladies with gravidity complications... )

I've got the allowance from the chief of rescue to take some pictures as long no patient or patient care is visible..I got to buy a new card-reader, afterwards you will get some more pics.

[itku2er]

Zippy explained alot to me in chat about what i was lacking in my understanding of the system and how it works. Looking forward to the new pics. Well on a personal note I dont do OB so you can keep the pregnant women!

[krumel]

^^

(The station. Parked in front is the car of the "Chief of Rescue" of my Company and the so called "House-Emergency-Car". This car responds to the S.O.S. Buttons older people who live alone can rent. If none answers an ambulance and this car is dispatched. The "House-Emergency-Dispatch" has keys to the apartments... So this car brings the key... Of course it's staffed with an trained EMT-I who can first-Responder if necessary.)

(Front picture of the "critical care transport vehicle". It's used mainly for long range intensiv care transport. The integrated light system -called Delfis- is the upcoming trend here... Especially for long range transports on the highways the driving comfort is much better than in an normal ambulance...as well as the fuel consumption)

(Patient transport ambulance. Normally used for dialysis transports, interfacility transports of non-urgent and non critical patients. Staffed with two EMT-I. Normally the hole place is crowded with them, but they were all "running".. So just this one's left -had an radio-problem-. Again due to the fact that we often do long range transports with an integrated light and signal system. )

(The control-console of my rig...Due to the fact that our new rig has been assigend to another station (they broke theirs) we have to use this piece of s*** again... Very old one, but as long as it's runs... On the left side you see the radio device. It uses an system called "FMS" which can transfer our status -etc. "on scene"- by pressing one button. The black thing on the upper part is the light control system with the electrical siren. the buttons on the lower part of the pic are for scene lighting, the compressor-driven siren, etc.)

The old rig from outside... Mercedes Benz 315 as well.

Note that this rig has it's own door to acess the equiptment from outside.

Patient compartment of that rig. Due to the fact that it's so old we have no room to store all stuff properly..So my helmet and on bag has to stay "on top"... Hate it...

On the left site you see the "action wall" with Respirator, LP12, syringe pump, suction... The photo is taken close to the roof, so you might not see it, but: It's 2m high...

The red pack on the left side contains all drugs...

The back of the patient compartment. Stryker stretcher, Vacuum matress (on the left side), Shovel stretcher (we don't use backboards here), kids-securing system in the orange back, ferno stair chair and 2 10l bottles of oxygen;) )

View inside one of the cabinets... i.V.'s, oxygen masks, etc....

Special view... Some of you might know where this is... It's in the middle of the "Theresienwiese"... Here the world famous "Oktoberfest" takes place;)

Greetings,

Phil

Edited March 10, 2009 by krumel