I was seriously injured while transporting a non critical patient from a rural setting to an urban hospital. A volunteer First Responder with numerous years of experience was driving too fast for the conditions of the road. With ice and snow covered roads he lost control of the ambulance and hit a 20 foot deep irrigation ditch at 60mph. I have lost a 14 year full-time career due to this one vehicle accident. Is speed really a factor in these kind of transports? In dangerous weather conditions we need to ask first does the benefit outweigh the risk? If not we should have the right to refuse these type of calls. The driver and patient were not injured and were treated and released from a small community hospital, the First Responder driver was back to volunteering two days later. EDITOR'S NOTE: Unfortunately a case where history can't be changed. Aeromedical services have a standing policy across the board that may be one to learn from...in their circles regarding the decision to launch on a mission it takes all to say GO or one to say NO. Whether you are the pilot or the paramedic or the nurse...if you don't feel that conditions are safe then you have the ability to scrub and abort the mission. If you don't believe that the conditions are safe then you too should have the right to influence the mission and cause a closer look at whether or not it is the safest decision. After all, it is your life and livelihood on the line and you are the one that has to go home at the end of the shift.

My partner and I responded to a diabetic call for service.

On arrival at the residence I recognized the house and remembered that the patient is usually unconscious, usually requires D50 and usually is quite friendly once we wake him up.

We were greeted by his mother as had happened before.  On this occasion she informed us that the 40+ year old male patient was in the back bedroom. 

We approached the bedroom and saw that he was in the back corner between the bed and the wall.  He was conscious with a glare in his eye that sent my sixth sense into overdrive. 

I called his name and he pushed himself further into the corner. It felt as if we were dealing with a rabid dog.

We backed out of the room and told his mother that we would like her to come outside with us while we called for help from law enforcement.  Before going outside I re-entered the bedroom to tell the patient that we were going outside and would be back.  I wasn't sure if he remembered me or could understand me but part of me struggled with just leaving him there.  This guy in the past has invited me to his house for breakfast after he get his D-50 - and is known for being a really is a nice man. 

While in the room with him in noticed something.  On the other side of the room, completely out of his reach, was a gun cabinet. Also, hanging from the gun cabinet was a shoulder holster for a pistol.

This is not anything unusual by any means but what was was that there was no pistol in the shoulder holster!

I immediately told my partner to get out. 

I backed out of the room, facing the patient as I left, and took his mother with me.

We awaited the arrival of the police. The first officer on scene did a walk around and decided to wait for more back-up. Shortly four arrived and entered the residence and brought our patient to us.

We treated the patient and again he responded well and again invited me to breakfast following my shift.

No loose firearm was ever located in the bedroom.  The patient to this day does not recall any of our conversation nor can he account for ALL of his firearms. He essentially has them in strategic places throughout the residence. I explained to him that from this point on, we will no longer be entering his house unless the police have cleared it first.

The patient said he understood the reasoning behind this.

Our communications center, law enforcement, and several neighboring agencies have been notified of this and hopefully none of us will ever be put in this situation again.

What lesson did I learn? One that I already knew . . . No matter how much you think you know someone, you can't let your guard down.  Thankfully, we didn't.

My experience came when I was not on duty.

I was on my friend's boat with another friend who has an implanted defibrillator following a major heart attack at the age of 33. Against our advice, this friend wanted to water ski and the captain of the boat allowed it.

Needless to say, the strain was too much on the heart and my friend collapsed in the water.

As we brought my friend into the boat they became conscious. As I was assessing my friend's pulse their internal defibrillator fired. Being that we were both wet, I felt part of the shock. It was not a big shock but enough to certainly get my attention and cause me to let go of my friend very quickly.

Never in all my studies has anyone ever told me that I could receive a

  shock from a patient's defibrillator. The nurses at the ER were also

  surprised, they said they knew you could receive a shock, but it is

  usually just minor and causes no problems.

        I was transporting a patient to the ER last night and just as I advanced

  the catheter for his IV his internal defibrillator fired. Let me tell

  you, that hurt. My heart felt like it was balled up in a tight fist and

  coming through my chest wall. I had significant pain up through my neck

  and jaw, respirations became labored, and skin cool, pale and clammy.

  After I transferred care of my patient to the ER staff, I calmly walked

  over to the nurse's station and told the ER Doc that I think I needed to

  be evaluated. The doctor was finally able to tell me that my heart was

  not damaged, but I would have muscle spasms and soreness for a couple of

  days. He was right. Today, I feel like I have had the flu. I ache all

  over. As the Doc discussed the incident with me he determined that the

  shock I received was due to the way things happened. Before I started

  my patients IV, I ran the 0.9 sodium chloride through the tubing, and my

  jeans got a little wet. I normally let it run on the floor, but for

  some reason this time it ended up on me. Then my patients hand was

  resting on my leg in about the same place as I steadied it to start his

  IV. I had both hands on his as I was advancing the catheter, and the

  shock was delivered at that very moment. Anyway, that was an experience

  that I will not soon forget.

   

      ...  [  more  ]  

 While responding on a lifeline medical call we gained entry to the residence via the keys in the possession of our department. The house was dark and quiet. We called loudly to the known occupant of the home, receiving no answer, we proceeded to check the house for the patient. As we started to climb the stairs to the 2nd floor we heard the unmistakable sound of a round being jacked into a shotgun. We yelled loudly at the occupant while scrambling down the stairs and around the corner of the hallway.
After a short discussion the occupant, an 80 year old male, realized who we were and put the gun away. The occupant had rolled over on his lifeline activator and had no idea we were coming, just thought he was protecting his home from intruders

 This isn't my close call but I wanted to make you aware of an incident involving an ALS ambulance returning from a call in poor weather conditions.  The EMS unit staffed with 1 EMT-Paramedic and 1 EMT-B lost control rolling over on interstate 81 in Hanover Twp., Luzerne Co. PA.  Neither the driver or the passenger was wearing a seat belt.  The paramedic was ejected from the vehcile and sustained severe injuries, was transported to locat truama center and ultimately to a neurological trauma center with cervical neck fractures, bilateral clavical fractures and other injuries.  The EMT-B (the driver we think) had undisclosed injuries.  No seatbelt NO SEATBELT NO SEATBELT..  Why is no one listening.  Local media may have more information at:
http://www.wnep.com
http://www.wyou.com
http://www.wbre.com

 ...and in this case-maybe the BEST solution is to give THEM the tools??  
Approx 2345 on 7 February 2006 Engine 4 was Dispatched to assist Police by Forcing-entry on a residence where "shots were reportedly fired." Call location was a Condo complex consisting of long buildings. Numerous Police cruisers were parked all the way into the complex, but none met us until we had driven right up to within 40 feet of the rear of the unit they wanted to enter. On arrival we made contact with an officer (not the incident commander) who advised us they had received reports of five shots being fired in the complex and had narrowed the source down to this center unit. They further stated that the Grandmother who lived there left right after the shots were heard with her grandson who was holding his head, and returned shortly after without him. PD had gotten no answer at the door and wished the FD to force-entry so they could make sure everyone was ok in the house. PD had numerous officers surrounding the unit, prepared to make entry. Due to the driveway layout our approach was to the rear of the unit in a common parking area. We used irons to force the door, and as the PD ran in, a young male opened a window above us demanding to know what was going on. We shined a hand light on him and told him the PD were on the way up, notifying the PD as well to his presence. Needless to say, we decided it was time for us to return to the Engine and move back a bit until we were sure there was no EMS required at the scene.

These people were trying to avoid contact with the Police after some type of incident. Had this young male been armed, and wanted to shoot us - we were too close, with no cover or escape route.

 Recently, I responded to a call in the rural Adirondack community where I volunteer on the Ambulance Corps that involved a pickup truck and an 8 year old on a State Highway. I'm somewhat of seasonal on the squad and most of my calls are miles away in "suburbia" outside a city that are mostly medical in nature, so needless to say the adrenaline got going as I acknowledged the call. I met the Ambulance as the driver arrived, I'm an EMT-B, and proceeded to the call. Other members were responding directly to the scene. The "scene" was a State Highway and when I got there others were arriving and there were numerous family members and pedestrians milling about, I immediately assumed stabilization of the head and c-spine as our Medic was beginning the patients physical exam. As we were preparing to log roll our 8 year old onto the back board I had the sudden realization that I am kneeling on a State Highway in the oncoming lane WITH MY BACK TURNED TO ANY TRAFFIC AND EVERYONE IS FOCUSED ON WHAT WE ARE DOING! I calmly asked "is anyone watching or backs for traffic? The answer, quickly and confidently came back "YES". I needless to say felt relieved as I continued and we continued our patient care. But this reminded me of something my "paid boss in suburbia" recently said at a CME class, that if "something doesn't feel right, it probably isn't"! Situational awareness is very important and when the adrenaline is flowing and your heart rate goes up, it is said that the IQ goes down. So, slow down, think, if it doesn't feel right it probably isn't and SPEAK UP for the safety of your team and yourself. I guess this was MY close (wake up) call.

Reported by: 9NewsWeb produced by: Neil RelyeaPhotographed by: 9News8/28/2005 12:03:48 PM Four Tri-state teens are facing serious charges after authorities say they fired pellet guns at paramedics. The medics were shot in the shoulder while on the job on Newtown Road in Newtown. Police say they're not sure if the four teens were staking out the paramedics while hiding in the woods around 10:30 p.m. Saturday night. Investigators say the pellets did not penetrate the skin. However, the two medics were taken out of service temporarily to be checked out. "It took an emergency unit out of service," said Fred Buop, Battalion Chief for the Anderson Township fire department, "We had multiple runs going on so it really taxes our system when things like this happen." There were three other ambulances on duty at the time, but they were all on runs. The Anderson Township battalion chief says residents safety was compromised during the incident. Watch this 9News video

"....its not the door pops and the cuts that kill rescuers on the scene, its the hazards associated with the accident that causes tragedy...." Well Chief, I never thought I would have to write you about a personal close call, but I just finished the call and its eating on me mind. We were dispatched for a vehicle accident. At first it came in unknown injuries, then a police officer on scene confirming entrapment. The officer was mistaken in calling it entrapment, when it was that the vehicle had struck a utility (power) pole and had wires down around it. When I arrived on scene, all the normal precautions were taken to ensure that safe operations occurred around the power lines. We had to remove the branch of a tree to try access from the passengers side front door, then we tried access from the rear hatch (which proved more difficult then we thought.) Finally we settled on the drivers rear door. We needed to cut to remove the door. After the cutting was completed my chief handed me the o-cutters to put into staging. Here is where my mistake came in. The staging area I chose was close to the vehicle but outside the working zone, like we are taught. I set down the cutter. In the process of doing so, I realized my poor judgement in choosing a location. As I bent down to put down the cutter, my helmet was pushed back. I had come in contact with a wire still attached to the power line. I'm counting my blessings right now that the pole was broken in such a way that it must have de energized the line. My initial reaction after coming up and backing away from the line was of how stupid I was. It really kicks you in the butt to do everything according to your procedure and to almost compromise your own life by making a poor error in judgement. I'm attributing my "close call" to tunnel vision. Its very easy to be aware and navigate the hazards initially, however as time moves on and we begging to operate in our comfort zones, it gets easier to put the hazards out of our minds and focus on purely the rescue. I'm lucky, and as our crew was joking I've only used up one of my nine lives. I just hope I don't need to use another one for a long time. I know its not as dramatic as the firefighters falling through floors, but I hope this can serve as a lesson for rescuers. Its not the door pops and the cuts that kill rescuers on the scene, its the hazards associated with the accident that causes tragedy.

Story by nbc5.com CHICAGO -- A 15-year veteran Chicago Fire Department paramedic was doing her job tending to a beating victim Saturday night when she became a victim herself. Images: Paramedic Attacked

Images: More NBC5.com Slideshows She spoke with NBC5's Natalie Martinez in an effort to find her attacker and bring him to justice. Martinez said Renee Perry wasn't even supposed to be at work Saturday, but she had agreed to fill in for someone else. She and her partner responded to a call on the far West Side and were tending to a man who had been beaten near the corner of Thomas Street and Kostner Avenue. At about 2:30 a.m., a group of teens came out of nowhere. "The next thing I know, somebody hit me with a pipe across the face and I went to the ground," Perry told NBC5. "I think it's a new thing for these kids to show that they're tough or something. But, it's not. It's cowardly." "I would hate to think that this was his sister or mother, and somebody hit them," she said. A paramedic for seven years, Perry said that she's been in tough neighborhoods before and always felt safe ... until now. "I've never been afraid," she told Martinez. "I have a little trouble with this now, because I was helping somebody." Perry said she wants to make sure those responsible for her injuries are apprehended and prosecuted. She never wants the same thing to happen to anyone else. The Chicago fire union president said he is working toward that end, as are the police. "It's an aggressive investigation and they're doing everything that they can to see that this violent individual is brought to justice," said John Chwarzynski, president of the Chicago Firefighter's Union. Perry hopes now that the police department gives her and others in her line of work an extra vigilante eye. Despite her new fears, she said nothing will stop her from helping others. "I keep on seeing my head getting cracked and it's very hard for me because I'm usually not afraid of anything. So, that's a little hard for me," she said. "I don't know how long that will take to get over, but I love my job and I do want to go back." Perry said she didn't get a good look at the person who did it, but she hopes a witness can help in the investigation. She spent Wednesday morning with doctors, Martinez said. Her eye is damaged and her vision is foggy, but she said her injuries are improving. Police have no one in custody for the crime.

Our reader sent in: Fellow Fire Fighters Please read this email closely and see how important it is to remain diligent in ensuring our safety on all calls. Over the course of my career I now of at least 3 other times this exact same scenario has occurred. One of those times I was the person that disarmed the patient as they reached into the nightstand to grab a loaded gun. There seem to be some common elements that you should understand about such incidents without having to experience it for yourself:. 1) Patients were not combative, only that they inside they were thinking that the really did not wish any help (even thought they might need medical help) 2) The patient made attempts to get into an area of the house where they could reach the weapon they knew they had. Usually under the guise of needing to get a pair of glasses or medicine or some other excuse before they went to the hospital. They were ambulatory and were insistent about getting things. 3) The patient was not allowed to go off by themselves, but rather due diligence on behalf of the crew had someone stay in close proximity to the patient at all times. 4) The emergency responders were always in control of the situation and took steps to maintain scene safety and control. in this case that took the form of an instant decision by Steve Colbert to prevent this patient from accessing a weapon. 5) The patients may or may not have had criminal intent in reaching for the weapon. In Steve's case and the case I was involved in, the patient had a medical condition and was confused. She knew only that strangers were in her house and she moved to protect herself. One can only hope she would not have fired if she were to have obtained the weapon. 6) This came out of no where from a rather routine medical call, no "Staging situation" or no apparent violence demonstrated by the patient. Please learn the lessons that this crew has offered to teach you by sharing what occurred to them. If you pay attention particularly if you are the officer expected to anticipate these things, you might just save a few lives as Steve clearly did on this call Chief, I would like to let you know of an incident on 6/11/05 that could have turned out disastrous. E51 responded for a medical call. Just another "normal call." The patient was the only occupant in the apartment, FM Steve did an outstanding job. He followed the patient around the apartment, as usual, while my partner and myself looked for medications and other paperwork information. Seems like just another day on the job, helping the citizens of Clearwater. Then everything changed in an instance. FM Steve followed the patient into their bedroom, the patient opened a drawer to a nightstand and reached for a gun. The patient had no indication of being "combative," just a "routine call". FM Steve grabbed the patient hand from the drawer before the patient could pull the gun out. We then escorted the patient out of the apartment and responded CPD. CPD stated the gun was a 38 fully loaded with 6 rounds of hollow point bullets. Although everyone performed their job functions as normal, this could have turned out worse if FM Steve relaxed in job performance. Since FM Steve kept his high diligence to stay with the patient, we all were able to go home. I would like to thank FM Steve for a job that was well done. You just never know, and this should remind all of us that there are no "routine calls."