Scenario Question

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MiracleX2

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Scenario is you are flagged down by a bystander who claims a child is lying in the street possibly hit by a car and she is not sure if the child is breathing. You have the options of:

A.) Grab your equipment and immediately got to the child's aide.

B.) Tell the woman to call 911 because you are not designated to be there

C.) Call dispatch let them know that you have been flagged down and get the okay to go help.

I know for a fact B is out of the question. Now with the other two options I am kind of torn. I personally would say A because just as you would with an unresponsive cardiac patient you would aide then call it in because you do not know how much time you have already lost. It was not a witnessed accident therefore you do not want to chance the child's life by holding off to make a call. If dispatch were to assign you to a call at that point they could be told to assign a different unit because you were flagged down. I mean maybe that's just being a mom my instinct is to go straight to child.
I second guess myself because I know you have to radio dispatch on your every move basically and for good reasons. Any idea which would be the best option following protocol.
 
What is the background story behind it? Are you in an ambulance, flycar, POV? On duty I'm assuming?

If on duty, radio in you identifier, incident, location, and any other resources needed. While it may seem like a waste of time (because we are already there), if you need any more resources, or you become injured, etc, dispatch will need to know. It saves you all the trouble if you just tell them from the start.
 
Are you sure it's not a way to get you out of the ambulance to rob/kill/etc?

Number one you automatically put it over radio so if it is the above people know where you are. Number 2 law enforcement will be on way quickly because of it being a child so you are going to have cops soon in case above.
 
Yes you are on the ambulance and I assumed it was just my motherly instinct to go straight to the child that was making me consider the wrong option.
 
MiracleX2 said:
Yes you are on the ambulance and I assumed it was just my motherly instinct to go straight to the child that was making me consider the wrong option.
Click to expand...

It will take less than 30 seconds to give a concise but to the point radio message to dispatch. While do that you can be parking the ambulance and retrieving equipment.
 
Does your company not have protocol for this type of situation?

1)Radio in always, will take max 30 sec
2)Do quick assessment of pt
3)Assume you're bls, if hospital is with in 3-4 min drive grab and go unless moving the patient will do more harm or you can already hear the siren from another ambulance responding.
4)Advice dispatch you're moving with pt and ask them to notify 911
 
I am a student in basics and it was just a scenario question on a quiz.
 
NYBLS said:
What is the background story behind it? Are you in an ambulance, flycar, POV? On duty I'm assuming?

If on duty, radio in you identifier, incident, location, and any other resources needed. While it may seem like a waste of time (because we are already there), if you need any more resources, or you become injured, etc, dispatch will need to know. It saves you all the trouble if you just tell them from the start.
Click to expand...

Seconded.

You: Unit 75.
Dispatch: Go ahead unit 75.
Unit 75 on scene of a still alarm of a reported child struck by car. Please send police (and if EMTs, send paramedics). Located at ____.

Maybe 30 seconds, if you're unlucky.
 
A couple subtleties here

You're on duty. You're in an ambulance. You are told a child is in danger.

Sure, just hang out for a while, worrying should I call dispatch, what will I tell them, am I in danger? You just have to live with yourself if, by your delay, it costs the kid!

Or maybe, since you ARE in an ambulance. Tell the person to lead you over to the scene - or point you to it. Do NOT get out of the unit, slowly roll over to the site AS you notify dispatch to wait for "further" (i.e. need for backup/PD/Fire) and GO to where you can SEE the child and the scene, assess and then take the appropriate action.
 
Kinda with Fire on this one. Yes, please let dispatch know right away where your exact location is and what's happened... that you've been flagged down for a possible auto ped and you're going to get further. They can start a cop... but until you can confirm what's actually going on there's no need to start the cavalry in my opinion.

I can't tell you how many auto vs. ped accidents we have that people call in hysterical about, like oh god it's like Armageddon here they're hurt really bad, but the ped is actually fine and leaves before anyone gets there - wasting a whole ton of resources as they drive around looking for a patient. Happens ALL the time.

No need to get all these people hyped up about a kiddo not breathing and running to your location emergent for nothing.
 
You: "Dispatch, we've just been flagged down for a reported pedestrian struck at X intersection. We'll be out checking the scene, will advise."

Then go over there and do the thing. After confirming what other resources you need, get back with dispatch.

"Dispatch, we've got a 5 yo female, struck by a vehicle still on scene. She's alert and oriented, complaining of leg pain and chest pain. Will need PD and fire."

or

"Dispatch, we've got a 5 yo female, struck by a vehicle that has left the scene...bystanders report it was a green minivan. The patient is unconscious, with head and chest injuries. We'll need ALS assistance."

There's really no question that one of the ways to activate EMS is to approach a posted ambulance. Just let the dispatcher know what you're doing as you go to it.
 
I'm just going to be an echo here...but I believe that when ever you're flagged down for a situation you should notify dispatch
 
EMS/LEO505 said:
I'm just going to be an echo here...but I believe that when ever you're flagged down for a situation you should notify dispatch
Click to expand...

Echo echo echo...

If you don't let them know, you are going to delay response times to the next call in your area, which is unacceptable. Even if dispatch doesn't move units to cover, they are going to wait a minute for your response before sending out another unit, and every minute counts.
 
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