Report: EMTs on Break Refused to Help Pregnant Woman

[karl_1052]

Originally Posted by tommymac

They would def be out of a job if they did something like that.

I think what paco is referring to are the good samaratin laws, which basically means you dont HAVE to do anything to help someone aside from offer to help and do what any layperson would do which is call 911. This is to protect them from being sued, which is sad but its what society has become.

They are already suspended without pay and FDNY and the mayor are already trying ot ostracize them, I guess in preparation for all the lawsuits that will come of this.

There are still a lot of facts that havent come out yet esp since its the girls mother who is getting all the face time on the news and she wasnt there, so I am curious to see how all this shakes out.

Whether they could have helped or not, they will be made scapegoats.

[Trip]

So are they EMTs or untrained desk jockeys? If they are desk jockeys, they did the right thing and stayed out of it. If you aren't trained, there really isn't anything you can do except call 911. They shouldn't of said they were "on break" though. Should of said, "we aren't trained."

[tommymac]

Originally Posted by Trip

So are they EMTs or untrained desk jockeys? If they are desk jockeys, they did the right thing and stayed out of it. If you aren't trained, there really isn't anything you can do except call 911. They shouldn't of said they were "on break" though. Should of said, "we aren't trained."

Both, apparently they are certified emt's, but thats being looked into right now. I think FDNY and the city will be interviewing them today so we will see how that goes.

[Speedracer42]

The article I read said they were EMT's working as dispatchers that particular day. The truth is had they done nothing more than stay by the womans side and make sure she kept breathing while they called this in we would never be hearing about this. It would have taken little more than NOT leaving to seam as though they tried to help. It really is pathetic and inexcusable what they did.

[Trip]

All I have is simple first responder training and I would try to assist anyone/anywhere I saw in need of help even though there is not much I could do besides simple stuff. These guys are dicks.

[Smittie61984]

Originally Posted by tommymac

They would def be out of a job if they did something like that.

Loss of job would be the least of their worries. Jail time is the bigger worry. Infact I don't believe EMTs are even allowed to do traches. Just paramedics and doctors I believe are the one ones allowed.

Which is another thing. There is a big difference between an EMT and a paramedic.

[tommymac]

Originally Posted by Smittie61984

Loss of job would be the least of their worries. Jail time is the bigger worry. Infact I don't believe EMTs are even allowed to do traches. Just paramedics and doctors I believe are the one ones allowed.

Which is another thing. There is a big difference between an EMT and a paramedic.

Thats what a lot of people dont get. They couldnt do much aside from stand and watch or perform cpr when she arrested.

I may be wrong but I dont think paramedics can do tracheostomies in the field, they def can intubate though and I bet she was a tough one to tube given her size.

Tom

[Smittie61984]

I know at my school our paramedic program has a "respiratory emergencies" class that you have to take. EMT 1 has airway management but I'm sure there's a big difference between respiratory emergency.

[karl_1052]

Originally Posted by Smittie61984

Which is another thing. There is a big difference between an EMT and a paramedic.

What is the difference?
Up here there are only paramedics.

[Smittie61984]

Originally Posted by karl_1052

What is the difference?
Up here there are only paramedics.

EMT is Emergency Medical Technician. It'd be like the difference between a Radiology Technician and a Radiologist.

Here are classes for EMT 1 (which most firefighters have training in) and it's a certificate program.

Introduction to the EMT Profession EMS 1101 4
Patient Assessment for the EMT EMS 1103 2
Airway Management for the EMT EMS 1105 2
Medical and Behavioral Emergencies for the EMT EMS 1107 3
Assessment & Management Across the Lifespan-EMT EMS 1109 2
Trauma Emergencies & WMD Response EMS 1111 4
Clinical Applications for the EMT Basic EMS 1113 1
Practical Applications for the EMT Basic EMS 1115 2
Pharmacology and Shock/Trauma EMT - intermediate EMS 1201 3
Clinical Applications for the EMT-Intermediate I EMS 1203 1
Clinical Applications for the EMT-Intermediate II EMS 1205 1
Practical Applications for the EMT-Intermediate EMS 1207 2

Then classes for paramedics where you come out with an associates degree...

Area I - Humanities/Fine Arts
Composition and Rhetoric ENG 1101 5
Literature and Composition OR ENG 1102 5
Introduction to Humanities OR HUM 1101 (5)
Art Appreciation OR ART 1101 (5)
Music Appreciation MUS 1101 (5)
Public Speaking SPC 1101 5
Area II - Social/Behavioral Sciences (Choose TWO of the following)
Principles of Macroeconomics ECO 2105 5
Principles of Microeconomics ECO 2106 (5)
Introductory Psychology PSY 1101 (5)
Abnormal Psychology PSY 2250 (5)
Human Development PSY 2103 (5)
Introduction to Sociology SOC 1101 (5)
Area III - Natural Sciences/Mathematics
Anatomy and Physiology I BIO 2113 5
Anatomy and Physiology II BIO 2114 5
Choose ONE of the following
College Algebra MAT 1111 5
Math Modeling MAT 1101 (5)
Quantitative Skills and Reasoning MAT 1100 (6)
Essential Technical Courses 64
Introduction to Microcomputers SCT 100 3
Introduction to Paramedic Profession EMS 126 3
Patient Assessment EMS 127 4
Applied Physiology & Pathophysiology EMS 128 3
Pharmacology EMS 129 4
Respiratory Emergencies EMS 130 5
Trauma EMS 131 5
Cardiology I EMS 132 5
Cardiology II EMS 133 4
Medical Emergencies EMS 134 5
Maternal/Pediatric Emergencies EMS 135 5
Special Patients EMS 136 2
Clinical Applications for the EMT-Paramedic I EMS 210 2
Clinical Applications for the EMT-Paramedic II EMS 211 2
Clinical Applications for the EMT-Paramedic III EMS 212 2
Clinical Applications for the EMT-Paramedic IV EMS 213 2
Clinical Applications for the EMT-Paramedic V EMS 214 2
Clinical Applications for the EMT-Paramedic VI EMS 215 1
Summative Evaluations EMS 201 5
Total Hours 104

EMTs are trained in basic life saving procedures or say moving a person with a broken neck. Even if a fully stocked ambulance was there, they may not have been able to do much.