Sorry, I dont think I am coming out from left field with this, but you dont have a jump bag. What assessment and treatment are you providing your patients? I guess I hope a transport truck automatically dispatched when you? What is your role in patient care with a pair of gloves and a flashlight? How many are on your EMS Team? Do you document your care? How are you dispatched? Supplied? Equipped? Insured? Trained?
There is a little bit of confusion here. I, myself, do not
own a jump bag, like some of the people here do. Also, when I am on foot patrol, I do not always carry a jump bag with me. When something happens, if somebody is on foot patrol without a jump bag, is the EMS car is dispatched to the scene, which has all the equipment in it. So in this situation, we would be acting as first responders until the equipment got there. Now, remember, sometimes we DO carry equipment while doing foot patrol. But carrying a bag all around campus, up and down stairs, and through dorms while just patrolling can be a little bit tiresome.
Like I said, when I (or any of the responders, either EMTs or other) don't have a bag on them, they would just act as FRs until the equipment gets there, which usually doesn't take too long. We don't have a transport truck dispatched automatically, but we do have an EMS vehicle dispatched, which has all the supplies we need.
On a normal shift, there are usually 3-4 people working. At least one of them is an EMT-B (sometimes more), and the rest are CPR/First aid certified (basically, first responders). Sometimes, there are observers who are just entering the program. All calls are dispatched over the 2-way radio by the campus dispatch center, and nearly everything is documented. We work very closely with the campus police. As far as equipment goes, we are equipped with BLS supplies (trauma bags, oxygen, OPAs, suction unit, BVMs, etc.) I know we have cervical collars, but I am not sure if we have a backboard. We might. As far as training goes, in order to have any patient contact, you must be CPR and first aid certified. Even then, it is an EMT who does most of the treatment. The FR basically just takes vitals (if they know how, obviously) and fills out the run form with that information, patient information, and anything the EMT tells them. Of course, it is up to the EMT to decide if they want to utilize the FRs in this way, but most do. As of now, this is all I do, but I am in the EMT class and, if I pass, I will obviously be able to do more.
As far as insurance goes, it's a joke. Unfortunately, we do not have malpractice insurance ourselves. It would probably go through the school. I wish we did. We are also not paid, because if we were, we would need the insurance. I think the club officers may be working on changing this, which would be good.
If we can not handle something, or somebody needs to be transported, the local fire department (Westfield Fire, ALS) is called, or the patient will be transported in the EMS car or by campus police to the hospital.
120 calls/year is not even 1/day. Figure school is in session 8.5 months a year, 255 days. Thats less then .5 calls/day. Do your weekend calls really make up for silent shifts during the week.
I probably shouldnt be one talking, but is it really worth your time?
Feel free to answer offline... there just is something wrong with this equation...
We do not do shifts every day, though that may change soon. We only run shifts Thursday, Friday, and Saturday evening (when the college kids are most likely drinking/doing things they shouldn't be doing). All shifts go from 5pm-3am. We also do stand-bys for special events, such as homecoming. As far as the question "is it worth your time?", I would say that yes, it is. We are able to do homework and stuff while working, so it's not too bad. Yes, it can become boring, but we do get calls.
As far as the shifts go, they can either be quiet, semi-busy, or busy. Sometimes there are no calls. Sometimes there's one. And sometimes there are about 5. It all depends on what is happening on campus.
I hope this clarifies everything. If you have any other question, don't hesitate to ask.
h34r:
I'll use my SureFire, as I have for years, and the only comments I get are people amazed that a flashlight can be so bright. Wait until you're the ONLY guy with a flashlight, or a multitool, or a pocket knife, or a lighter, and everyone else is scrambling around looking for theirs. Laugh silently to yourself as you pull your whatever out and apply the proper fix.
