Medically trained police officers to patrol Tube network

[Martyn]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-18145265

[Tigger]

Every police officer in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts (sounds more fancy that way) is trained to the first responder level. Whether or not that actually helps in any meaningful way is debatable, but if you're in cardiac arrest in many of the suburbs with a POC ambulance, you're best bet of survival is the cops arriving fast (which they do) and getting that AED on you (which they carry).

[Jon]

I find it interesting they are training cops as medical responders, rather than working with NHS to get "tube medics"

The idea is solid, though. Will be interesting to see results.

[smokeater]

Originally Posted by Jon

I find it interesting they are training cops as medical responders, rather than working with NHS to get "tube medics"

The idea is solid, though. Will be interesting to see results.

Really good article in the May 2012 issue of JEMS. It actually goes into a good bit of detail for the logic behind providing the training, which to me seems like a no brainer, but their reasoning was quite different from what I reasoned. It also mentions the skills that they would be trained to employ. Some departments are teaching officers how to preform sutures. Dont remember what level of training they were bieng taught to, but the focus is on stopping hemorrhage in accessable and controlable reigons, hemorrhage in inaccessable and uncontrolable areas, and airway/respiratory management. Lastly they talked about the gear these guys would carry. Pretty interesting...might be able to find it online...the kits are called IFAK's and the primary department examined was Pima Co. in Arizona. Its really neat stuff...check it out.

[medichopeful]

Originally Posted by Tigger

Every police officer in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts (sounds more fancy that way) is trained to the first responder level. Whether or not that actually helps in any meaningful way is debatable, but if you're in cardiac arrest in many of the suburbs with a POC ambulance, you're best bet of survival is the cops arriving fast (which they do) and getting that AED on you (which they carry).

There was a case in my hometown a couple years ago where the police used an AED and the woman wound up living. Or the police were involved in an AED revival in some way.

[Martyn]

Originally Posted by medichopeful

There was a case in my hometown a couple years ago where the police used an AED and the woman wound up living. Or the police were involved in an AED revival in some way.

Hijacking my own thread, but:

+ YouTube Video

[medichopeful]

Originally Posted by Martyn

Hijacking my own thread, but:

Ironically the one in my town was near a car, but it wasn't that one!

That video is impressive, I watched it when it came out. Very well done on their part!

[DPM]

It's most likely Transport for London and the British Transport Police and not the NHS because the NHS budget is in turmoil at the minute. Regardless of what it says on the uniforms, this sounds like it could be a good idea.

[mycrofft]

The goal it to minimize tube delays. OK. Like their vests.

About suturing in the field...if you carry a hammer it's amazing howe many problems suddenly will suggest its use. Field suturing is very rarely necessary and carried the likelihood of needing to be re-opened to debride the wound, sometimes days or a week after the initial injury.

[Impulse]

About the video, who was the woman who came in around the 2:50 mark?