Just a quick intro...I am an explorer for a large career department that runs their own EMS system. As an explorer, when we get an EMS call, I am expected to grab the EMS equipment and bring it to the scene where it's needed. However, recently I've been stuck in a "sticky situation".
The station I ride out at consists of an engine and ambulance.The "sticky situation" I've encountered is whether to bring all the EMS equipment on every call. Our department does not categorize calls into severity/priority and there is no patient information on the MDC terminals inside the units.
Our EMS gear is set up this way on the engine and ambulance with the ambulance having a Lifepak 15 instead of an AED:
Red bag: BLS and ALS equipment (everything except O2 and an AED)
Blue bag: portable O2, NRB, NC, etc
Black bag: AED
Our department uses Locution and the sad part is...we do not get any patient information on the MDCs as the call-takers are not EMD certified. In fact...all the MDC usually says is just "Difficulty Breathing"...and that's all you get.
Given the following calls (and nothing else)...what would you bring (from the list above)?
Difficulty Breathing
Chest Pain
Abdominal Pain
Unconscious Person (we do not have a cardiac arrest call type...any cardiac arrest is dispatched as an unconscious person)
Stroke
Medical Emergency (yes...it's a broad call type)
Back pain
Injured person
Burn victim
Head injury
Headache
Assault
Gynecological problem
Emergency Childbirth
Seizure
Heat/Cold Emergency
I know that's a lot of call types...but I'd be interested in hearing what you'd bring.
Thanks!
The station I ride out at consists of an engine and ambulance.The "sticky situation" I've encountered is whether to bring all the EMS equipment on every call. Our department does not categorize calls into severity/priority and there is no patient information on the MDC terminals inside the units.
Our EMS gear is set up this way on the engine and ambulance with the ambulance having a Lifepak 15 instead of an AED:
Red bag: BLS and ALS equipment (everything except O2 and an AED)
Blue bag: portable O2, NRB, NC, etc
Black bag: AED
Our department uses Locution and the sad part is...we do not get any patient information on the MDCs as the call-takers are not EMD certified. In fact...all the MDC usually says is just "Difficulty Breathing"...and that's all you get.
Given the following calls (and nothing else)...what would you bring (from the list above)?
Difficulty Breathing
Chest Pain
Abdominal Pain
Unconscious Person (we do not have a cardiac arrest call type...any cardiac arrest is dispatched as an unconscious person)
Stroke
Medical Emergency (yes...it's a broad call type)
Back pain
Injured person
Burn victim
Head injury
Headache
Assault
Gynecological problem
Emergency Childbirth
Seizure
Heat/Cold Emergency
I know that's a lot of call types...but I'd be interested in hearing what you'd bring.
Thanks!
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