Questions...

I had this arguement last month at the vollie squad... I mentioned that I'd almost been first onscene of a nasty MVA the next local over - I was southbound on the highway when it was dispatched, and it was between the exit I was passing and the next one... in the median.

As I was 100 yards off, the fire chief arrived, and the 1st ambulance came up from the other direction... it was single vehicle MVA w/ ejection, 1 down in the median... As I passed it, there were enough resources onscene, so I didn't stop.

We had a long discussion on whether or not there is a legal and/or moral duty to act.

I argued, and had at least 1 person agree that my car was "marked" with the State's EMS license plate, as well as a squad front plate and an small PA EMT patch sticker on the back windshield, and that I was under the impression that such a vehicle could be pulled over and ticketed for not stopping... but I can't find PA Code to back it up.. any ideas?
 
Hey, I'm still in school but I'm pretty sure that if you assume the care of a pt. by starting CPR, and you have a BVM available and don't do resp. you could pretty easily be charged with negligence, by any lawyer worth anything in court. I double checked this with my brother in law who is a DA and he agreed.

Now the mouth to mouth and mouth to mask there is a personal saftey issue to take in to account there that you might be ok on (def. with mouth to mouth) but claiming that you wouldn't do resp. with a bvm available sounds like BS bravado to me.

.adam.
 
I'm kind of getting the impression that a few folks think I'm some kind of hero wanna-be.......which isn't the case. In 2 1/2 years I've stopped at one accident, only because there was no one there at all. Once the FD and PD arrived I went to take my leave, but once of the Firefighters asked me to stay because the little boy was attached to me like a leech....poor little guy was pretty scared. I was just posing questions. I do not expect ANYONE to render CPR without protection. That was not the intent of my question. I carry a shield with me in the event I must do CPR under those circumstances. I also indicated, after having received a few responses that there were some other things involved.....that require conflict resolution within my vollie FD. I appreciate those that answered with sincerity. I'm no freaking hero, I'm just an EMT. I'm just trying to figure out how to make things work in an FD full of strife. Yes, before any of you tell me tough :censored::censored::censored::censored:, vollie FD's are like that, I know this. However, when it interferes with patient care, and causes inappropriate actions/words in a public venue, then the entire department suffers, let alone the risk to those we render aid to.
 
Great points Maria... but yes, that IS the joys of the Volunteer Fire Service...
 
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