Man trapped in car films himself being cut out with Jaws of life.

[Braineack]

we already do that in the form of taxes.

if you dont like how public services work, disband public services.

you think I like being in the minority group of people that pay federal taxes and get nothing in return for them? I have much better things to spend MY earned money on than other people's cell phone bills.

 

[kathyt]

...We as providers are not there to judge; we are there to do our jobs. Period.

I agree; 100%, which is why the decision should be made by someone outside of the medical profession and based on law, not emotion.

A lot of times you don't know if someone is "under the influence" until much later after a traumatic event. Blood work is a staple in knowing for sure. First responders only have so much time to stablize the patient before we get them. Their #1 concern is if they are responsive, breathing with a clear airway, and if they have a pulse! The rest we can deal with later. This isn't about emotions. It's about following BLS/ALS protocols with an ER physician guiding the medications (via radio) en route. That's all I have on this topic. Everyone should be entitled to advanced life support when needed.

 

[kathyt]

I really wish that laws could be changed so that the first act by any first responder was to breathlyze someone in that situation; if they're drunk/stoned, then they get left where they are. If they figure out how to get out on their own fine. If not... oh well.

Say you had a son who had just turned 21. He was an excellent student, never breaks the rules, and basically an overall great kid. Then he decided to drink and drive ONE time. He makes one poor choice. Just one. An accident occurs, and he needs EMS NOW! What do you do? People make mistakes. It is a part of life. It is a part of growing up, and it is not the role of the first responders to judge. They are there to save lives in those very critical moments when it could be a life or death situation. There are those people who are repeat offenders that we see in the ER all the time that are escorted by the police, because they were pulled over for drinking and driving for the 10th time.....but that is a different story. It Illinois, we do a blood draw and tox screen, and they are off to jail. Simple as that. If they refuse blood work, they lose their license instantly.

That's a deliberate choice not a mistake.

I said he made ONE poor choice. Do we let him die? Absolutely not. We as providers are not there to judge; we are there to do our jobs. Period.

If someone is drinking and driving and they get into a similar situation, I think we should make him/her pay. Pay the salaries of the EMT/police/fire for the time they spent at the site. Pay for any gas/services required to treat him/her. Pay for any damages he made to property. Pay for all of that. Have it deducted directly from their paychecks.

Having tens of thousands of dollars worth of debt for drinking and driving will likely be enough of a punishment to stop a lot of that nonsense.

9 times out of 10 when I look on the chart of a public assistance patient to verify employment it states unemployed. We are legally obligated to refer them to a specialist for whatever problem they are having to follow up with. For example, if it is orthopedics, I must find a physician that accepts public aid. Which most of them don't. It is really frustrating for us.

 

[Braineack]

hence romneycare.

 

[tirediron]

I really wish that laws could be changed so that the first act by any first responder was to breathlyze someone in that situation; if they're drunk/stoned, then they get left where they are. If they figure out how to get out on their own fine. If not... oh well.

Say you had a son who had just turned 21. He was an excellent student, never breaks the rules, and basically an overall great kid. Then he decided to drink and drive ONE time. He makes one poor choice. Just one. An accident occurs, and he needs EMS NOW! What do you do? People make mistakes. It is a part of life. It is a part of growing up, and it is not the role of the first responders to judge. They are there to save lives in those very critical moments when it could be a life or death situation. There are those people who are repeat offenders that we see in the ER all the time that are escorted by the police, because they were pulled over for drinking and driving for the 10th time.....but that is a different story. It Illinois, we do a blood draw and tox screen, and they are off to jail. Simple as that. If they refuse blood work, they lose their license instantly.

That's a deliberate choice not a mistake.

I said he made ONE poor choice. Do we let him die? Absolutely not. We as providers are not there to judge; we are there to do our jobs. Period.

If someone is drinking and driving and they get into a similar situation, I think we should make him/her pay. Pay the salaries of the EMT/police/fire for the time they spent at the site. Pay for any gas/services required to treat him/her. Pay for any damages he made to property. Pay for all of that. Have it deducted directly from their paychecks.

Having tens of thousands of dollars worth of debt for drinking and driving will likely be enough of a punishment to stop a lot of that nonsense.

Absolutely - just like people who go skiing in out of bounds areas and get into trouble. Tens or even hundreds of thousands of dollars is wasted on people who can't be bothered to follow the rules.

 

[waday]