MedicPrincess
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Our SOP's state the trucks have to be washed at least once every shift. It doesn't matter when, it just has to be done at least once before we leave at 0700. My partner and I cleaned ours at about 2000, inside and out. We only ran 2 more calls all night, one of which was an out of county transfer at 2230. We got back into county at 0009. We went to the road shop for fuel, since we were at 3/4. While fueling, my partner and I were talking and I wasn't paying attention to how full the tank was so some of the diesel splashed out. It landed on the door, the wheel well, the ground, and the step. As far as the step goes, it landed on the edge, and with the door open, the door covers the area of the step it landed on. Total amount splashed was probably less than 1 cup. My medic looked at it, asked me if the steps had fuel on them and I showed her where the door would cover it so she could get out. We went back to station.
When we got there, we both decided we would go up and do our reports (she had one and so did I) and then we would rewash the truck after our next call. Keep in mind, I am assigned to the busiest truck in the county with the biggest coverage area. We didn't go back out again. It was GLORIOUS!! My truck averages 15-17 calls/shift....yesterday we had 5.
Anyway, the next crew gets in at 0645 and wakes us up. Its the Medics first full shift back since being cleared off of Workers Comp a couple days ago. So we start pass on, letting them know everything they never wanted to know about the station/truck/info he missed while gone/whatever they need. The county purchased Nextel Blackberries for every truck, so we gave them a quick lesson on how to use it.
We told them we did have the truck clean, but since we didn't go back out we did not rewash it like we had planned. Asked if they wanted us to go ahead and do it for them...No, it was okay, they'd take care of it. We all walked down to the truck together. My medic started gathering up the trash. I showed the oncoming EMT where I splashed the Diesel. Asked him again if he wanted me to pull it out and hose it off for him. No, its fine, he'd take care of it. And home we went. Keep in mind, my medic and I had both climbed in and out of that door at least 2 times each after the diesel splash (gathering our stuff to leave, her getting out to get back to station, ect.)
A little bit ago my partner calls me (we left station at 0745, she called about 1500). The medic on the truck slipped and fell on the step of the truck and possibly broke his shoulder. She didn't have many details yet, but basically the EMT on the truck called her and told her I spilled so much diesel all over the steps that his partner slipped on it. 15 HOURS LATER!! 7 HOURS AFTER THEY CAME ON SHIFT!!!
My medic said she basically told him, he was told about the diesel splash, and even shown the areas the diesel hit, and he said he would take care of it. He had 7 hours from the time he was notified to let his partner know diesel was spilled there and wash off the truck. There is a hand rail to hold onto when getting in and out and its there to prevent you from falling. So his partner being hurt is not hers or my fault.
but...
I did cause the splash. And I should have washed if off when we got back, not counted on getting another call and doing it then (We are Medic 9 for crying out loud....we work that truck knowing we won't be sleeping...knowing we are going to get our butts handed to us over and over each shift...no crew on medic 9 has slept through the night in anybodies recent memory!)
So what do you think? Can I be held responsible for his injury? How long does diesel stay on a metal surface anyway? After it evaporates, how long does the surface stay slippery? From the road shop to our station its about 8 miles with the average speed being 50 MPH...so I drove it that far/fast after the splash....plus however far/fast they drove today before he fell....
When we got there, we both decided we would go up and do our reports (she had one and so did I) and then we would rewash the truck after our next call. Keep in mind, I am assigned to the busiest truck in the county with the biggest coverage area. We didn't go back out again. It was GLORIOUS!! My truck averages 15-17 calls/shift....yesterday we had 5.
Anyway, the next crew gets in at 0645 and wakes us up. Its the Medics first full shift back since being cleared off of Workers Comp a couple days ago. So we start pass on, letting them know everything they never wanted to know about the station/truck/info he missed while gone/whatever they need. The county purchased Nextel Blackberries for every truck, so we gave them a quick lesson on how to use it.
We told them we did have the truck clean, but since we didn't go back out we did not rewash it like we had planned. Asked if they wanted us to go ahead and do it for them...No, it was okay, they'd take care of it. We all walked down to the truck together. My medic started gathering up the trash. I showed the oncoming EMT where I splashed the Diesel. Asked him again if he wanted me to pull it out and hose it off for him. No, its fine, he'd take care of it. And home we went. Keep in mind, my medic and I had both climbed in and out of that door at least 2 times each after the diesel splash (gathering our stuff to leave, her getting out to get back to station, ect.)
A little bit ago my partner calls me (we left station at 0745, she called about 1500). The medic on the truck slipped and fell on the step of the truck and possibly broke his shoulder. She didn't have many details yet, but basically the EMT on the truck called her and told her I spilled so much diesel all over the steps that his partner slipped on it. 15 HOURS LATER!! 7 HOURS AFTER THEY CAME ON SHIFT!!!
My medic said she basically told him, he was told about the diesel splash, and even shown the areas the diesel hit, and he said he would take care of it. He had 7 hours from the time he was notified to let his partner know diesel was spilled there and wash off the truck. There is a hand rail to hold onto when getting in and out and its there to prevent you from falling. So his partner being hurt is not hers or my fault.
but...
I did cause the splash. And I should have washed if off when we got back, not counted on getting another call and doing it then (We are Medic 9 for crying out loud....we work that truck knowing we won't be sleeping...knowing we are going to get our butts handed to us over and over each shift...no crew on medic 9 has slept through the night in anybodies recent memory!)
So what do you think? Can I be held responsible for his injury? How long does diesel stay on a metal surface anyway? After it evaporates, how long does the surface stay slippery? From the road shop to our station its about 8 miles with the average speed being 50 MPH...so I drove it that far/fast after the splash....plus however far/fast they drove today before he fell....
