We really had no choice at this point. Looking back on the situation now, as a Paramedic, I would do the same thing my partner did.
We got one of the firefighters to start driving back towards our district which was on the way towards the highway and the trauma center, at least an hour away.
In the back I was able to start IVs while he finished his assessment and prepared to intubate. Soon after the intubation, the head injury began to show and the seizures began. Had an experienced set of hands not been there to assist, I'm not sure what would have happened.
We pulled into the driveway of the station where a police officer/EMT was awaiting to jump in and take over driving to the trauma center. Our friend eventually got picked up a tthe firehouse and a viable poatient was delivered. All was well.
That is until administration found out. We were yelled at from all sides about the liability issues, what if he had been drinking, a suspended license, etc etc. After all the yelling was done my partenr looked at our Battalion Commander and simply told him, "It was a patient care decision and I was the highest ranking EMT on the scene. My decision was sound and proved to be in the patient's best interest."
If you said grab a driver and get moving, you made the right call.
We got one of the firefighters to start driving back towards our district which was on the way towards the highway and the trauma center, at least an hour away.
In the back I was able to start IVs while he finished his assessment and prepared to intubate. Soon after the intubation, the head injury began to show and the seizures began. Had an experienced set of hands not been there to assist, I'm not sure what would have happened.
We pulled into the driveway of the station where a police officer/EMT was awaiting to jump in and take over driving to the trauma center. Our friend eventually got picked up a tthe firehouse and a viable poatient was delivered. All was well.
That is until administration found out. We were yelled at from all sides about the liability issues, what if he had been drinking, a suspended license, etc etc. After all the yelling was done my partenr looked at our Battalion Commander and simply told him, "It was a patient care decision and I was the highest ranking EMT on the scene. My decision was sound and proved to be in the patient's best interest."
If you said grab a driver and get moving, you made the right call.
Comments
Rural EMS does what it has to.