Would You Volunteer in Another Country?

[MMiz]

Just a heads up, this post is anti-climatic.

A week ago I was on the Eurostar train from London to Paris.

About an hour into the trip they came over the PA and calmly asked for any medically trained person to came to the train car x.

Though ten years ago I helped out on a US airplane, I passed this time.

I'm not sure what happened to the patient. We continued to our destination, as normal, and I didn't notice anything when I left the train.

Would you have volunteered in a foreign country?

 

[chaz90]

I likely would have offered, as usual only to see if the patient needed CPR or hemorrhage control. When I likely found the patient with a completely unrelated issue, I would have simply offered that they carry on contacting the appropriate service and move on.

 

[habibti74]

I think it depends on the scenario as well - I wouldn't be putting my bare hands on a bloody person, but I wouldn't do that here. It probably depends on the acuity, language involved, lots of factors, but I might go look. Depending on where you were, what if you did something and the person died despite your best efforts? Foreigners who don't know you (and esp if you don't know their culture) might question if your behaviour was malicious.

 

[dutemplar]

In June I did a European tour. The tour company recommends everyone have a basic first aid kit. Mine happened to include a suture kit, CAT, hemo gauze and all... But hey (this did include Amsterdam, Brussels, Paris,...)

Generally speaking, I keep a pair of gloves in a pocket just in case of _whatever_. From someone falling over in front of me, puking in my direction "ewww," simply keeping my cigars dry or even "yeah, not putting my fingerprints on THAT..."

On international flights, I've done the "yea,.. what's up" assuming its before the scotch is served. Trains, no problem. General public, no problem if it's something I'm remotely geared to handle (CPR,...) and usually someone can translate if I can't muddle by. Considering where I work and that my arabic is only suitable for waterboarding really (although the one lady here was impressed at how well I can order coffee in arabic, as well as say that I wanted my coffee to be as sweet as the smile in her eyes... it's Army arabic, gimme a break...).

 

[Tigger]

Trains are my favorite mode of conveyance to imbibe on. Seems so classy. Trying to help out post cocktail is not classy.