First "off duty" experience

[DillR]

I will try to tell this story as objectively as possible as I am still flustered. It is important to note that I am only in training for my EMT-B, and only volunteer at the FD on the weekends.
I was loading groceries in my POV when a man crahed his donor cycle into the back of an impala parked at a red light going ~30mph. By the time I had got on scene he was sitting up against the front of the car trying to unlatch his helmet, I stopeed him and introduced myself. He did not know where he was, what the date/time was, etc. The only coherant sentances he could put together were: "My head hurts" and "My name is *withheld*" His eyes were extemely dialated and his nose and left ear started to bleed halfway through SAMPLE. The ambulance got there a few minutes later with two EMTs I know very vaugely. I introduced myself and the pt. and they said "Thanks, we will take it from here." I watched as they talked to him for about a minute, and then took his helmet off. Long story short: blood everywhere, he passed out and died on the way to the hospital (on scene probably.) My instuctor said that the helmet was probably holding his head together. I took it really hard the first few days (I have defused now.) This was my first death while dealing with this profession.

My biggest questions:
1.Did I do something wrong?
2.Why didn't they take spinal precautions?

Thanks in advance for all responces.
--Doc

 

[abckidsmom]

My biggest questions:
1.Did I do something wrong?
2.Why didn't they take spinal precautions?

1. Likely, no. Little you could do if the helmet was all that was holding his head together. I know all too well how shocking it is to go from a standard normal day to watching someone die, so I can empathize with you completely.

2. Because they are not very smart? Leaving the helmet on is awkward and not the normal thing you deal with when you're immobilizing.

Take this opportunity to realize that EMT is by no means an end point in the educational process. It is a glorified first aid course that will not even begin to teach you about the things you'll run into in the course of doing EMS.

 

[looker]

Why was BLS dispatched instead of ALS to this type of accident? Did you give those emt's your initial assessment? At anytime was medic on scene? Sounds like you did everything that you could have.

 

[DillR]

I have no idea why BLS was dispatched, but there were two basics on the truck, no medic. I did give my assesment and remember saying verbatim: "I didn't remove the helmet because I don't know the condition of his cervical spine, do you want me to go get blocks?" And he kind gave me a "go away probie" look. :S

 

[CAOX3]

Taking the helmet off is ideal, if you can do out without further injury.

Some helmets you can't access an airway if you leave it on, it has to be removed to address the airway complications.

I'm assuming the guys injuries were internal maybe head or chest, in that case it wouldn't of mattered if a trauma surgeon responded, his fate had probably already been determined.

You did everything you could, people die, it sucks but it happens.

 

[bigbaldguy]

There is a specific way of taking a helmet off that we were taught in class but it takes a little longer than just popping it off. Sounds like the guy was in pretty bad shape and I doubt anything done at the scene would have changed the outcome. Massive head injury possible cervical injuries (was he able to move his legs/arms). As someone mentioned BLS is just a little more than first aid with a few extra tools, even with a medic on scene if he was that jacked up not much could have been done. Just goes to show if he had been in a car he would have walked away most likely without a scratch but he was on a bike and died. These are the choices we make. You did good.

 

[firetender]

In this case the odds were QUITE against the biker; helmet on or helmet off. Under the circumstances your actions were very limited by you being the low man on the totem pole AND inexperienced. Your job was to hand over the pt. to the next highest authority, which you did. Your job was to report your findings, which you did. From then on, it's really all about letting go.

If you had more experience perhaps it would have been easier for you to meet the responding personnel as an equal, but you didn't have that available to you. Tragic that you had to witness this, but all that happened was time accelerated and you got smack into the middle of it all from the jump.

Welcome to the club!