What role does/should EMS play in rescue?

[AnthonyM83]

Fifty bucks says he will rapidly re-think the process the very first time he is actually faced with that decision.

Too bad he wasn't in Floridia to save "Chubby" last week. We could have put his theory to the test!

Bet that depends on age, experience, and commitment to family/children.

I bet that at my age in your first LE job, if an officer called for cover, you didn't think twice about your speedometer (except maybe to see how high you could get it...too 'get to him quicker').

[Scaramedic]

In the movie the The Prophecy, Chris Walken plays an Angel who hates humans. He has a great line that applies to this situation.

"It's a big universe Jerry and some things in it are talking monkey work, monkeys like you."

Talking monkeys play with toys, like Hurst tools. I'll stay with my patient that's my job.

[RevMedic]

On our ambulances, our rescue equipment is: a crowbar. Some have a longer/larger tool, but that's pretty much it. We carry leather gloves, but only to change tires or put chains on. We don't have protective gear or helmets. We rely on the fire departments to do extrication. We rely on the SAR to go out into the woods to look for the lost.

Our policy is not to drive the ambulance off the road, either onto the beach, or off onto a deer trail or even a crappy logging road. We don't have 4 x 4 vehicles.

I've been a firefighter for longer than I've been an EMT, but all that learnin' has taught me when & where to use the info & techniques - and it ain't at work if I can't be protected.

[Dustdevil]

Now have a got enough posts for another star yet. I envy the likes of Dustdevil with all those stars.

You're not thinking like an American, my friend!

You don't have to earn all them stars. You can just buy them!

Just like all those losers who choose the 9 month paramedic school over the 2 year degree.

[Capman]

You're not thinking like an American, my friend!

You don't have to earn all them stars. You can just buy them!

Just like all those losers who choose the 9 month paramedic school over the 2 year degree.

Classic! :laughing3:

"save life and limb at any cost"

Not to beat a dead horse or anything, but....

.... may it be your cost!

Stick around for a little bit, you'll learn how it works.

[pennyj]

I am a volunteer EMT. We work very closely with our volunteer fire company (which I am also a member). When we arrive on a call such as a MVA the fire fighters first concern is to get the pt. out and if not possible then make the scene safe enough for an EMT to be put in with the pt. I have been on a number of calls where the fire fighters have put me right in the vehicle with the pt so that I was able to render pt. care as soon as possible while the fire company was getting the pt out of the vehicle. I feel the most important thing is to work closely with your rescue team. Everyone has to work together for the best outcome for the pt. Being volunteer and from a small area I know makes a big difference.

[pmedic623]

Talking monkeys play with toys, like Hurst tools. I'll stay with my patient that's my job.

Beautiful!! That is funny!!....623

[craig]

my two bobs worth

I am an ALS officer in a paid government service (3000 officers)

our service also supplies the public we serve with specialised services as well

one is our SCAT teams (special casualty access teams) that carry our the treat and access of patients in difficult terrain, high angle access, tactical police back up etc.

we also have dedicated rescue response units (technical rescue) and they are argueably the highest trained rescue units in the country.

yes i have a vested interest in this as i am one of the trained officers that supply rescue to the public.

in my position I 1: care for my patient first and 2: carry out the extrication.

the types of things that our rescue officers are trained in are

MVA's

Heavy vehicle

Aircraft

Domestic

Industrial

High Angle

depth

trenching

CBR (NBC)

SCBA and FE suits

Swift water

just o name a few.

the fire dept in this great state do not have all their people trained in such areas, where as ALL ambulance rescue officers do have to be fully trained in each area that is set out for them.

I feel that rescue is an integeral part of EMS, if a person is injured (in a mva for example) and need extrication, is it not better to have someone that understands what the medics are doing to the patient and what the ripping trearing and lacerating of the rescue will do to the patient whilst they are in the vehicle?

yes the hose monkeys do have their place. that is holding the hose to surpress any fire risk and assist with the lifting of things and carrying of the patient in a long lift. BUT if i was treating in the car and my patient was in a critical condition i would prefer that a person that had traing in ems was dismantling the vehicle, so that i knew that they ALSO had the best for my patient in mind, nad not the time to get the patient out of the vehicle

stay safe

craig

[triemal04]

the fire dept in this great state do not have all their people trained in such areas, where as ALL ambulance rescue officers do have to be fully trained in each area that is set out for them.

Slightly off topic, but can you explain that a bit better? Do you mean that each person is fully trained in each area you mentioned above, partially trained in all, or trained in one specific area only?

[aussiephil]

Do one thing and do it well.

To train a team up to minimum competency, and then to maintain that competency, is a major investment of time and money. If you are in an area that actually needs these services regularly, chances are that public safety is already handling this function. If so, stay off of their turf. It just creates friction we don't need.

Most stand-alone EMS agencies won't undertake the liability that comes along with such an operation. I don't blame them. Especially when there are other agencies that are specifically tasked by law and tradition to do it.

All that time and money I originally mentioned is time and money taken away from continuing medical education. There is no excuse for that. Again, do one thing and do it well. Or go be a firemonkey.

Couldn't the same be said for the crossover of Fire & EMS in the US? Are they not 2 seperate & unique professions?

I find it interesting that people will say rescue shouldn't be part of EMS, when we rescue people that need to have medical attention, but do not give both fire & ems the credence they deserve individually.

Keep rescue medical.