Driving home last night, after working three straight shifts in the ER, I saw a two-car accident. I noticed that the police and fire department had arrived but no paramedics. I was very tempted to just stay out of it to be honest. But I pulled over anyways and asked if they needed medical assistance. No one was seriously hurt, thankfully. And five minutes after I pulled over the paramedics arrived.
This morning at our monthly RN brunch party, however, I was very surprised to hear more than half of my nurse friends say they would have just kept on driving, especially after a long and exhausting day.
I was taught that the men working on the firetruck are paramedics. I was told their response time is usually faster than the ambulance and have also observed this when out and around. I notice people at accident scenes seem to think the fire truck is "the wrong department," and do not seem to know that most firemen are advanced paramedics. If the fire department was there, I think this usually means they have paramedics there.
Specializes in Cardiac step-down, PICC/Midline insertion.
I am one that does not stop either.....if no PD I will make the 911 call, however.
Wasn't there a 'rule' from nursing school that we "had" to stop and help?
I remember it being mentioned that we are somehow obligated to stop and help too, but it never made sense to me. Without equipment, there's not much you can do, not to mention you are opening yourself up for liability issues if you do something wrong. I'm confident in my skills as a nurse but not as a first responder in an emergency situation without supplies. I guess it would be different if you witnessed the accident and did nothing, but if there is some sort of EMS personnel on the scene, it really makes no sense to stop, you're just another person in the way really.
Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.
I was taught that the men working on the firetruck are paramedics. I was told their response time is usually faster than the ambulance and have also observed this when out and around. I notice people at accident scenes seem to think the fire truck is "the wrong department," and do not seem to know that most firemen are advanced paramedics. If the fire department was there, I think this usually means they have paramedics there.
Not always. But most firemen are at least first responders and qualified to start triage and initiate care. Not all scenes require paramedics/ALS just like not all emergencies require the trauma team.
Not always. But most firemen are at least first responders and qualified to start triage and initiate care. Not all scenes require paramedics/ALS just like not all emergencies require the trauma team.
In my community firefighters are not paramedics. They are, however, usually the first on a scene and trained to manage that scene as first responders.
Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.
In my community firefighters are not paramedics. They are, however, usually the first on a scene and trained to manage that scene as first responders.
In my area paramedics are hospital based. Most firefighters are volunteer with some urban areas paid (bls is predominantly volunteer) police & Fire both go through ARC first responder training (advanced first aid, scene safety, patient stabilization, professional cpr with aed, oxygenation & blood borne pathogens). Both generally go through the state ICS training same as EMS & medics (incident command system). If police &/or Fire are on scene sufficient help is there. Keep driving as you may hinder more than you can help.
If police &/or Fire are on scene sufficient help is there. Keep driving as you may hinder more than you can help.
Exactly! In the vast majority of cases, a nurse (even an emergency nurse) is not going to add anything, if anything at all, to rescue efforts. Most likely the nurse, albeit with great intentions, is just going to get in the way.
Also, I want to echo what others have said about safety. Have you ever had a flat tire on the interstate? Even if you are standing on the passenger side of the car, it can be kinda scary with semis and the like going by at 70 mph. I am not going to want my rear end out in the driving lanes during a rescue to which I am not even providing a meaningful contribution.
Exactly! In the vast majority of cases, a nurse (even an emergency nurse) is not going to add anything, if anything at all, to rescue efforts. Most likely the nurse, albeit with great intentions, is just going to get in the way.
Also, I want to echo what others have said about safety. Have you ever had a flat tire on the interstate? Even if you are standing on the passenger side of the car, it can be kinda scary with semis and the like going by at 70 mph. I am not going to want my rear end out in the driving lanes during a rescue to which I am not even providing a meaningful contribution.
What I hate the most is when there is an accident and the Police are there, is all the cars slow down to gawk and create a major slow down. There needs to be a office there to direct traffic and move it along. Because when people stop to gawk, they are creating a potential accident.
If firefighters are on scene, leave it to them. They will have at least basic equipment and training. And that's a major point - do you have any equipment? If not what can you do? Do you even have gloves? An accident is an emergency scene, not a medical or hospital scene. If the PD and FD are on scene, they can't realistically verify your credentials so let them do their job without interference.
I'll let the EMTs and paramedics weigh in on this since I am neither. I was reading an EMT textbook that said the emergency responder's first obligation is to keep herself or himself safe. Seems like some PPE would be needed to stay safe.
Specializes in NICU, PICU, Transport, L&D, Hospice.
Twice I have literally been the first vehicle to encounter serious automobile accidents. In both cases serious injuries were suffered by victims and in one case a child died at the scene secondary to the injuries.
Yes I stopped and helped.
No I am not an EMT or a paramedic.
It would have been unacceptable to me and my familiy to have driven by and NOT helped.
Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.
Twice I have literally been the first vehicle to encounter serious automobile accidents. In both cases serious injuries were suffered by victims and in one case a child died at the scene secondary to the injuries.
Yes I stopped and helped.
No I am not an EMT or a paramedic.
It would have been unacceptable to me and my familiy to have driven by and NOT helped.
Very different if first on scene vs police & Fire on scene with EMS on the way...
Specializes in NICU, PICU, Transport, L&D, Hospice.
Very different if first on scene vs police & Fire on scene with EMS on the way...
I didn't suggest otherwise.
I will comment that the accidents both occurred in rural settings where response of emergency services was not immediate. Several vehicles drove by the accident where the vehicles were off the road in the ditch (where the child died) without stopping to offer help after I arrived and before the police, fire, or rescue professionals got to the scene.
EwaAnn
282 Posts
Thanks for the link