Thursday, November 11, 2010

A Safe Protocol

'Scene safe' protocol keeps Aurora Fire paramedics from helping man bleeding to death [More]
This is a job for Kenneth Stokes!

[Via Tom S]
Posted by David Codrea at 11/11/2010 02:06:00 PM

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

So what do you think about this article? I have been in this situation a couple of times. We have been using the “Scene safe” phrase for over 8 years. Me personally I would have gone down to the scene when the cops signaled with their flashlights. There is no way a scene can be complete safe. Bystanders are part of the job. I don’t know how many times I have told bystanders to back up and give me room to work. Who knows what they have under their shirts or how there positioning themselves for a “mob like attack”. Do you expect the cops to search every person outside of a bar or night hall? No. There is a saying in EMS. “Life over limb” You go in, grab his ass and drive around the block and THEN you start working on him. Yes he might have a bullet in his spine and buy going that I could paralyze him. But I rather have a paralyzed patent than a dead one.

11/11/2010 3:18 PM
Defender said...

Too close to Denver, I guess. Guns bad, helplessness good.
About the same distance as Littleton and Columbine High School.
Still, they urge us to leave it to the professionals.

11/11/2010 4:49 PM
hiro said...

i'm thinking if there are paramedics willing to go into the (potential) line of fire to save someone, then they should be able to.

the scene safe rule sounds fine to me as long as it doesn't prevent people who are willing to go in from doing their job. If a person lacks the conviction to save another person at the risk of their life, then so be it. let them hide behind "scene safe". otherwise, let the real men go in

11/11/2010 6:01 PM
Ed said...

There is no guarantee of safety anywhere. If the phrase "scene safe" is uttered and something happens, then what?

Dealing with reality can be tough.

11/11/2010 10:08 PM
Unknown said...

It is up to LEO to quickly secure the weapon and suspect and call scene safe. As a paramedic, I would have a hard time looking at a surviving spouse or parent of one of my crew who lost a son or daughter because I decided to charge in with an intoxicated shooter on scene. It sounds like the "victim" made some poor lifestyle choices in this scenario, I hope he learns from them. As an Army medic, I have treated those in unsafe areas under stressful situations, but I can not realistically expect someone for $12/hr to expose themselves to a shooter in the civilian world. That being said, when they had the signal from the police to move in, they should have. You have to understand too, that if they were injured and did not follow the protocol, they would have had an uphill battle int he world of workman's compensation. Bottom line: stay away from parties with heavy drinking and firearms.

11/12/2010 1:43 AM
Sean said...

I'm surprised they didn't ask him to sign a privacy act notice and fill out a medical history first, and get a co-payment. The very last time I asked for an ambulance(dislocated hip), a three mile ride to the hospital cost $550. The second time I dislocated, I had my wife drive me, and boy were them paramedics mad at me!

11/12/2010 8:22 AM

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