What makes you mad on scene?

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sksmedic

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Just wondering what makes you guys mad on scene. Family members, bystandrs, supposed doctors, RN's, first responders? Any of these people do anything to really piss you off. If so, I'd love to hear.

For example:
I work in Great Falls MT. We are fairly rural with a population of 70,000 and several very small, back woods, communities that surround us. My service covers 911 for all of it.

I get dispatched to SUV vs. Train with extrication needed in the county. This means that we will have a ton of volunteers running around like chickens with their heads cut off. En route we get an update that the occupant is pinned with the steering wheel crushing his chest. Also that he is choking on his own blood. This all being relayed through dispatch from a passer by on scene. Also that Mercy Flight is out of the area.
We get on scene to find one smashed up RAV 4, one pinned driver, and 30 volunteers. As I approach the vehicle I got my helmet and eyes on. I entered the vehicle through the passenger front door and began working on this poor guy that was cold, pale, and didn't have any radial pulses.The next thing I know is that I am now outside the vehicle. Someone has grabbed me by my belt and pulled me out of the vehicle. I am now officially PISSED. I turn to find a 45 yo woman with frizzy blonde hair telling me to get out of her way so she can get at the patient. This woman is a first responder volunteer that is the wife of the volunteer fire chief. I am the only paramedic on scene and this dumbass thinks that she has something to offer. I very elouently asked her to move so I could treat my patient. She refused stating that her husband is in command and he wants her in the vehicle. Normally I would have raised my voice but i didn't have too. Several cops on scene saw this and came over to assist me. She was escorted away from the vehicle. After an hour of cutting on this vehicle, we mannaged to free this guy and get him boarded. I walked over to my rig to find none other than Mrs Fire Chief herself sitting on the bench seat. She procalimed that she was riding in with me. Now that we are face to face I think I have figured out the problem. She is a mean drunk. Yes, DRUNK!!!! :wacko: My cop buddies were close by and ended up getting her for DUI. Her ems license is under state review. I managed to find a picture of this crazy scene too, Mrs FireChief will be the crazy blonde standing next to the passenger door.

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That's unique. What did Mr. Fire Chief have to say? I assume that you didn't work under Mr. Fire Chief!?

Been doing this a long time and it seems that there is one on every call of significance. I love the RN's that work in some out of the area department of the hospital running up and identifying themselves and then proclaiming that they out rank us, by virtue of their training, and that they are going to help. If you're really lucky, you'll get a doctor to do this to you sometime. Of course, all you have to do is start talking trauma protocol or ACLS or something like that and they realize that you may know something more about this setting than they do.
 
Oh gosh no, To be honest this was the first time i had ever even seen her. She has no affiliation with the ambulance company. It was understood by everyone on scene but her that I was in charge. Those first responders are in charge until ALS gets there, then they turn the scene over.
 
That's the way it is supposed to be in every system. I just wondered why Mr. Fire Chief didn't do something to get her out of the way. I'm glad for you, that you enjoy such a good relationship with your law enforcement officials. It could have wasted very precious time otherwise. How did your patient turn out, anyway?
 
This was a 30 y/o male, neg prior medical hx. BP on scene of 60 systolic rr 32 and shallow, sinus tach 120 w/ moderate st elavation O2 sat 82% ra.. Extrication was prolonged lasting just over an hour. Radial pulses present by the time we hit the ER doors with a bp of 88/52 rr 20 st 120 with O2 sat 96% 15L NRB. I was happy with it considering. He stayed concious and able to protect his own airway during extrication and transport. Head and neck were clear, Surprisingly no hemo, pneumo, or cardiac tamp. He did have a liver lac. He had an open L humerus fx which was repaired without incident. He had a pelvic fx with a L hip dislocation. He also had an open L tib/fib. All surgical repairs were made without incident. After a 2 day stay in ICU he was moved to a less acute unit where he is recovering. I am blown away that this guy even survived. I have never seen that much intrusion into a cab and pull something other than a corpse out. I was expecting to needle and intubate based on the dispatch info. The steering wheel was burried in his chest. It was impressive. This wasn't a train crossing incident either. This guy was doing hwy speeds when he lost control and went head on into the train that was going full speed. He must have had guardian angels looking out for him.
 
Control the scene, don't let the scene control you. I realize you were trying to be politically correct and cordial, but after the refusal then I would had her either escorted out of the scene or arrested. Sorry, the feces can hit the fan later... as well, I doubt the Chief would like everyone to know about his public drunk spouse interfering with emergency services.

This is part of the problem I have with so called volunteering services. The "good old boys" mentality, when other members should had stopped and not allowed her to even be on the scene. Unfortunately, it is occurrences that gives the good ones a black eye.

R/r 911
 
I hate to say it, but I wouldn't have seen this when I worked in suburban EMS with a clear command structure. I can definitely see it happening where I am now, with multiple volunteer agencies responding. It seems like everyone around here wears a white helmet and is related to the chief.
 
I listened to all of this on my portable radio. Sounded like you did a great job. From the vitals you posted It appears that you did an outstanding job. From the conversations I've had with others who were there (fire), you and others deserve a big pat on the back for saving that young man's life.

Good job !

I am a QRU in the Stockett area.

I'd really be intersted to know what department Mrs. Chief is related to. Sounds like she deserved to have her license yanked.
 
Wow ... machine-gun post ... sorry :unsure:
 
MMiz said:
I hate to say it, but I wouldn't have seen this when I worked in suburban EMS with a clear command structure. I can definitely see it happening where I am now, with multiple volunteer agencies responding. It seems like everyone around here wears a white helmet and is related to the chief.
Click to expand...

On an EMS call, what does being related to the Chief mean?
 
Giving Ms Chief the boot is nothing. I gave my chief the boot from the back of the bus X2. He might have been chief and in charge of the scene but I had the higher card and was in charge of the patient.
 
Hmm...I once was on a camping trip and it turned out this guy OD'd on opiate pain relievers. I always carry a BLS bag with me so I ran over when I heard people screaming for help. When I got there I saw a guy laying supine, ashen grey and agonal resps. As I gloved up and prepared to put in an OPA and bag him some guy kneeling over him looks up at me and says "I checked him out. He's fine. Just sleeping. You don't need to be here." I screamed for him to move away and the cops who showed up deferred to me as it was clear I knew what I was doing (and I had a hat on that said "EMT).

That's pretty much my only experience with interference.

Oh, once time a cop tried to PREVENT me from treating people who had been banged up in an automobile accident. They had hit his car and he was pretty steamed up about it. I guess cops can be the best of friends and the worst of friends.
 
bstone said:
some guy kneeling over him looks up at me and says "I checked him out. He's fine. Just sleeping. You don't need to be here."
Click to expand...


Was this guy the one who gave him the meds? I had to ask..... :P
 
Ridryder911 said:
This is part of the problem I have with so called volunteering services. The "good old boys" mentality, when other members should had stopped and not allowed her to even be on the scene. Unfortunately, it is occurrences that gives the good ones a black eye.

R/r 911
Click to expand...

It really has nothing to do with being a volunteer, but more to do with being a professional. We are volunteer and if you have anything to drink you may not respond to a call, be on a scene, handle equipment or breath on a patient, etc. Actually, you're not really very welcome even at the station.
 
Anyone ever had a doctor on scene try to throw their weight around? How did you handle it and what was the outcome?
 
sksmedic said:
Anyone ever had a doctor on scene try to throw their weight around? How did you handle it and what was the outcome?
Click to expand...

I have seen very few physicians ever really attempt to "throw their weight around". Usually, the smarter they are, the more they tend not to even get involved. (which EMT's have yet to learn)

One of the services I worked for, had a business card we handed out to them; stating :

If you are a physician, you can assume care for the patient by the following:

Provide proper I.D. and credentials ( must be current state licensed) out of state(s) does not count

Must discuss with on-line medical control

Must assume all liability and potential liability as well as the responsibility of all patient care.

Must travel with patient to hospital with patient and document event for EMS and Hospital.

If the above is not given, then the EMS crew can have such party escorted and possibly arrested for interfering in emergency services, if hindrance occurs.

If they agree, then yes they can participate. and play. otherwise, they are nothing more than by-standers. Usually, when I inform them we have it under control, they never become involved. I have only had one physician in 30 years ever attempt to "be in charge", he quickly declined after I informed him, hw would to enter the auto during the extrication.

Now, I have had a couple of non-medical doctors (chiropractor/dentists, even a PhD in music) etc. attempt, but were excused off the scene.

R/r 911
 
Yes, I have had a certain ER nurse appear mysteriously on alot of calls that I have been on. She used to be on the same dept I was on but couldn't hack the field stuff so she quit. She used to try to control the scene until I had a a little talk with the director who spoke with her and relieved her of her "duties".
 
I've not had seen a "nurse" on a scene in some time. Usually the newer ones are not as interested in stopping or realize that EMS will do their job. If I do see them, it is usually the non-emergency type(s).

Very few nurses I know of want to be involved on their days off. They have had enough providing care while on duty. Besides, there is nothing more they can do (or anyone else for that matters) than any other first responder other than perform first-aid.

R/r 911
 
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