Let say you eat at McDonalds and there are two EMT’s in uniform sitting down the table next to you. You fall down to the floor with chest pains. Is it the EMT’s job to immediately come to your rescue and provide medical EMS service… or do the EMT’s there call another EMS to do it?
2007-03-17 22:35:30 · 11 answers · asked by Cyrillus R 1 in Health ➔ General Health Care ➔ First Aid
I do not believe that "being in uniform" has anything to do with it other than easier identification. They have both a moral and a professional obligation to help. Good Samaritin law?
2007-03-18 03:07:09 · answer #1 · answered by rer348 4 · 2⤊ 3⤋
The EMTs at the scene are should respond immediately. Under no circumstances should they walk away and let someone else assume responsibility. An EMS crew may call for another crew for backup. An example of this is say the crew at McDs is a basic life support unit. While they can perform an assessment and initiate care, they are under limits of what all they can do. EMTs cannot administer cardiac medications, use a defibrillator or intubate. That all must be done by a paramedic. The basic life support unit would call for an advanced life support unit. Until the advanced unit arrived, the basic crew would perform the life saving measures that are allowed under the stated protocols.
The EMTs already there would come to your aid. However, sometimes, an additional crew would be needed. Care would still be given.
Depending on where you are, there are different levels of EMTs. Actually, we are all EMTs with just a different letter after the "EMT". I'm an EMT-I/85. That means I'm an intermediate at the I85 level. There is an intermediate at the I99 level. That is the equivalent of a cardiac technician. There is EMT-B. That is a basic. Then there is EMT-P. That is a paramedic. Lastly, there is EMT-P/CCP. That is paramedic at critical care. That requires additional training and certification.
A basic life support unit would consist of 2 EMT intermediates. An advanced life support unit would consists of an EMT intermediate and a paramedic. A critical care unit (also called MICU) would consist of an EMT intermediate and a critical care paramedic. Sometimes a critical care unit will have 2 medics on board.
Whether I was on duty or not, if a situation arises where my skills are needed, I would not pass it by. It would be morally and ethically wrong. I'm trained to handle emergencies. When you think of it, EMTs are never really off duty.
2007-03-18 04:55:31 · answer #2 · answered by emt_me911 7 · 5⤊ 0⤋
One thing must be established. That is a duty to act; for an EMT to have a duty to act they must be under contract/ employed by the city/ county in which they are in before they must provide services. If these EMTs were from a different county they have no duty to act, but if they were employed by the county which this occured they must act. This doesn't mean that they can't call additional help or a higher level of care to transport. Most any EMT that is certified would act under their moral duty to act.
2007-03-18 17:42:02 · answer #3 · answered by James S 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
In addition to the EMT answer, the EMT's may be from a Private Ambulance. If so, they would treat you and call for the Fire Department Ambulance or Ambulance Service for that response area. Bear in mind, a Private Ambulance that is not the 911 Provider, DOES NOT have to transport. I didn't say not treat, just not transport unless you have the funds to pay. That's why they would call the FD or Ambulance Service. EMT for Fire/Private Amb/Contract 30 yrs.
2007-03-18 11:10:05 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I like this question. I think any moral human being should stop what they're doing....eating...talking, or what not to help someone in need. It's funny that the person with chest pains is eating @ McDonalds, stop doing that, and that person probably will not have that problem again..and why are the EMT'S eating there?, they know better. Anyways, it would be assnine of them to not do something and to call someone else...but weirder things happen everyday....
2007-03-21 18:02:30 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It would depend on the state you are in, to some extent, because some states have laws saying that, if you are trained as an EMT and you see a situation occure where your help is needed, you must stop in help. Either way, ethically they should help. I know I would.
2007-03-18 10:32:14 · answer #6 · answered by jefftechcrew2006 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
As an EMT, if they are on duty and in uniform, they MUST treat the pt. Also if I wasn't on duty, it would still be a moral obligation to help that person.
2007-03-17 22:48:08 · answer #7 · answered by recondragon392 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I think it is some kind of aoth they take to help at any time needed is why they are labeled EMT they just assist until you arrive at the Dr. so I am guessing yes it would be thier duty to react
2007-03-17 22:40:04 · answer #8 · answered by sonialynnl 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
they would help you and call some on duty emts
2007-03-20 15:55:58 · answer #9 · answered by everlasten25 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
McDonald's should have their own in-house EMTs at every location because of the heart attack specials they serve.
2007-03-17 22:58:38 · answer #10 · answered by Tumbleweed 5 · 1⤊ 2⤋