Duty to Act Question (I saw the sticky)

NPO

NPO

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I am aware of my state's duty to act law, and we do NOT have a duty to act when off duty.

If my neighbor, who knows I am an EMT, comes to my door and asks for my help in a medical emergency, has the duty to act been created because I have been identified as a medical professional? Am I obligated to provide SOME kind of assistance, morals aside?

Realistically, there is not much I can do at home, but do I have to?

This is just a theoretical question. If this were to actually happen, I would call 911 and go next door to see if I can do the neighborly thing and help until the on duty pros arrive, nothing crazy, just first aid or cpr if needed. I have a good conscious...
 
If you are off duty then no.
 
Thats what I though. But it would make for an awkward block party. Better bring extra potato salad.
 
NPO said:
Thats what I though. But it would make for an awkward block party. Better bring extra potato salad.
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Just don't let your neighbors know what you do..
 
NPO said:
When you show up in an ambulnace, it raises questions.
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You post at home?

Either way, wear that uniform with pride getting to and from work. Let them all know you're a hero. Or where a plain zip up coat or hoodie to hide your secret superhero identity. The choice is yours, but with great power comes great responsibility.
 
DesertEMT66 said:
Just don't let your neighbors know what you do..
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For the few people around these days that actually talk to and befriend their neighbors, this isn't so straightforward.

"So what do you do for a living?"
"Uhh... you know... stuff... and... things..."

But in that case you should know each other well enough to help out if you can, and they need to be told that you don't have an ambulance your back pocket and they should call 911 for anything serious. But there is no duty to act just because somebody knows you are an EMT.

Of course if you don't know your neighbors well and you've got EMS stickers plastered all over your POV and they come knocking, that's your problem. :P
 
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I live in a small town. My neighbors all know what I do. :) Matter of fact, a few weeks ago there was an "unconscious person" call at the house next door. I saw the ambulance out the kitchen window and walked over to see if they needed a hand. Turned out to be an OD, so we placed an NPA and waited for the medics.

We're not penalized for showing up on a scene if it's in the neighborhood and if we're needed, we're "activated" by the crew on scene and start earning OT pay.

But yeah, the neighbors all know what I do. Assistant Fire Chief lives across the street, police chief a few doors down, the mayor is catty corner across the street... Gotta love small towns.
 
DEmedic said:
We're not penalized for showing up on a scene if it's in the neighborhood and if we're needed, we're "activated" by the crew on scene and start earning OT pay.
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Woah. Now that is an interesting idea! Never heard of that before!
 
NPO said:
I am aware of my state's duty to act law, and we do NOT have a duty to act when off duty.

If my neighbor, who knows I am an EMT, comes to my door and asks for my help in a medical emergency, has the duty to act been created because I have been identified as a medical professional? Am I obligated to provide SOME kind of assistance, morals aside?

Realistically, there is not much I can do at home, but do I have to?

This is just a theoretical question. If this were to actually happen, I would call 911 and go next door to see if I can do the neighborly thing and help until the on duty pros arrive, nothing crazy, just first aid or cpr if needed. I have a good conscious...
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I become the EMT on scene as I work for the city. I would get paid etc. I would do whatever I could for my neighbors
 
EpiEMS said:
Woah. Now that is an interesting idea! Never heard of that before!
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In DE, you can't provide any ALS care unless you're working, so if I show up on a scene, and they legitimately need my help, I get paid.

If not, they've got an extra set of hand to carry a bag. :)
 
EpiEMS said:
Woah. Now that is an interesting idea! Never heard of that before!
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What I find even more interesting about this policy is the fact that it is statewide. As all DE paramedics are government employees and work off the same statewide protocols, we can be activated by any on duty paramedic in the state and receive OT pay from our county. The moment we are activated, we have our full scope.
 
DEmedic said:
We're not penalized for showing up on a scene if it's in the neighborhood and if we're needed, we're "activated" by the crew on scene and start earning OT pay.
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When I was there, same thing was true for many of the public fire departments in Phoenix, AZ. Although most people have no desire to work on their days off.

Remember you are not state farm - you don't have to be a good neighbor and be there.

Now how you will feel about not helping is a totally other story. As a general policy if I am driving in the boonies where there will be an extended response time, I will probably pull over and help. My BLS wacker bag may even come out, but in all reality they will only get bleeding control and BLS airway control (no supraglottic airways either). In the city EMS responds in about 4 minutes, and if they cant wait 4 minutes they are probably not going to make it anyways. Only exception to this would be chest compressions, kiddos, immediate family, and maybe bleeding control for a major arterial bleed (eg my neighbor lops his arm off when he sticks it in the lawn mower).
 
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SandpitMedic said:
You post at home?

Either way, wear that uniform with pride getting to and from work. Let them all know you're a hero. Or where a plain zip up coat or hoodie to hide your secret superhero identity. The choice is yours, but with great power comes great responsibility.
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I do if my post is close enough to my house.

Xbox, 55 inch flat screen, 700ish channels, food, drinks my bed. As long as I've got a sub 60 second chute time they don't care.
 
Robb said:
I do if my post is close enough to my house.

Xbox, 55 inch flat screen, 700ish channels, food, drinks my bed. As long as I've got a sub 60 second chute time they don't care.
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This. We have several employees houses that we will post at. As long as we have the wheels turning in 60 seconds and it's in our mile area of post then there are no issues.
 
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