Jumping off bridges

No, this isn't a post about the Golden Gate Bridge.

Although it could be.

More a comment a bout blind allegiance without question.

I think everyone's mother at one time uttered the phrase "If all your friends were jumping off a bridge would you do that too?" when our defense of a choice was "But all my friends are doing it!"

I was wondering recently why so many systems are running full speed towards certain treatments that have a great effect, but not necessarily pre-hospital.  If the beneficial time of application is within 3 hours of illness or injury and my average time from patient contact to hospital is 30 minutes, is that worth the investment for the system?

What if the time of application is 6 hours?

If studies show that applying treatments within 6 hours is beneficial, is that a good investment for my system?

So many systems are running towards therapeutic htpothermia and judging by the studies it is a beneficial treatment.  But do we need to be starting it immediately?  From what I can tell systems with prolonged transport times, only Intermediate Life Support, most rural areas, could see a great improvement in patient outcomes.

But in the urban settings, when even the ER could wait to apply it, is it something we need on the rigs, in our continuing education, and yes I'll go there, additional opportunity for misapplication (liability)?

When does the risk/cost outweigh the benefit?

I think it is similar to the decisions I make in starting an IV pre-hospital.  We have nifty little saline locks attached to tubing for "gaining access."  With the risk of infection in the back of my rig, or worse yet in the street, I will only take that risk if the benefit is there.  Why am I breaking the skin simply to attach tubing?  If I am not anticipating the administration of life saving fluid or medication, then why even do it?

When these pricey little guys arrived in our bags there was a training session and now 4 saline tubes and tubing are in my overflowing 40 pound bag.  In the early days someone (I don't know who...) put a little paper in the baggie with the saline lock that read:  "Peripheral venous puncture is not a benign procedure.  If you do not anticipate the administration of life saving fluid or medication, does the benefit of administration outweigh the risk of infection?"

I still don't use them and am quite within policy, protocol and the one that should be first on the list, the patient's best interests.

BUT, on the other side of the bridge jumping argument, I like to think I surround myself with people who are like minded, forward thinking individuals.  If Ted Setla, Radom Ward, Chris Montera and Jeremiah Bush jumped off a bridge I would have to ask some serious questions as to why.  Or trust my friends.

I have made some blind leaps in the past that I now find foolish, probably still a few left in my future, but a blind allegiance is the thing I want to bring to your attention.  It is said that the most dangerous person is the true believer and someone who will blindly jump off that bridge with their friends no questions asked is the same in my mind.  However, a constant doubter, someone who refuses to jump or stay, but wants to see what the majority of folks do first is equally as foolish.

So when Mom asks  "If all your friends jumped off a bridge, would you jump too?"

I'll answer:

"Well...is there a train coming?"