I know that I have been quite remiss in writing lately, but I have been busy with the Holidays ( as surmised at by Soupeater) and have not really had much to rant about ( prescient once again, Soupy!)
Until recently.
As many of you know, I am an EMT who is part of a volunteer EMS organization.
I was in Court last Thursday. As I was meandering the halls trying to track down other lawyers to finish my cases, I saw an older woman being escorted out of a courtroom by an officer and assisted in sitting down outside of the room. She appeared to be having some medical issue that involved the use of an inhaler. I asked the officer if he had called the EMTs and he informed me that everything was under control and I should step away.
So I did, but I didn't go far. I had no equipment on me, and without going into detail, I didn't think it was appropriate at that point for me to step in. Eventually, the officers who are purportedly EMTs did show up, and leisurely went about assessing the patient. I again offered my services to help, but was once again rebuffed. The pace that they were working is not one that I would approve of, and I felt a long time passed from when they got there until they actually put oxygen on the patient, but it was not my scene.
However, it got me thinking.
A few years ago I was asked what the purpose is for the volunteer EMS organization that I am a part of if there is a "perfectly good" EMS system in place. So the quick answer is no one does it the same way as our organization, which uses embedded members of the community. But more importantly, I can prove my point be an example. A call comes out 530 in the morning for difficulty breathing, and within 10 minutes you have three EMTs, two medics and an ambulance, as well as a breathing treatment along with the oxygen already initiated. That's the difference. A level of caring and zeal not seen in the EMS services or by other in house EMTs.
Hopefully, no one should need it, but it is nice to know that the organization is there.
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9 comments:
yay for hatzolah and take that all those hatzolah bashers hope you never have to call them "the locals are perfectly alright why do we need you"
"which uses embedded members of the community."
As great as they are...I still don't think I'd call if I was in labor, and needing the services of a paramedic!!!!
OK -
I waited a bit to comment on this because I wanted to make sure that my words did not convey in any way any lack of support of the wonderful work done by the majority of these tireless volunteers.
I did want to make the point though, as I've mentioned to you personally, that there should be some "maturity test" in place for some of these guys, to keep the "my radio is louder than your radio" / "my flashing lights are fancier than your flashing lights" guys out of the system.
Come on, you can see those "kids" coming a mile away and their lack of restraint and abuse of the privileges puts a stain on a wonderful organization.
Case in point: Tonight - at the simchas beis hasho'eva that YOU attended, a young "volunteer member" used his placard to double park in front of the event almost COMPLETELY BLOCKING TRAFFIC. When the guard politely asked him to move up and pointed out a better location a bit further up the block, he totally disregarded the request.
Unfortunate.......
[and I know you don't, but I tend to agree w/ FBB.... I wouldn't want to be fodder for after minyan discussions (which do go on though they shouldn't - don't kid yourself)].
There're always going to be some bad apples in the bunch, but I think if you lined up the force, I think you'll see that they've got a fairly upstanding crew who care about the patient.
As far as fodder for their conversations (post birth)... think about it, when was the last time you heard them discussing a particular person, rather than the case itself, which is likely a good thing. They share the experience and learn from it.
Heck - if I were in labor, I'm not sure that I'd want those guys from the court house respnding to my situation. I would rather have the embedded guys, who would actually rejoice in my Simcha and sincerely care about the welfare of my child and myself, rather than it being a hassle.
Anyway - at that point in time, I'm not sure I would care what anybody thinks... I just want the pain to be over with.
i'm sorry you all feel that way about this organization. i hate to see you paint the whole organization with the same brush. the problem with your views is that you are limiting it to what you see and not what you don't see. the rockland branch of this organization limits its membership to married men who are above the age of 25 and are vetted through recomendations by their rabbonim, members of the community and even their wives. in order to be accepted the answer to "would you want this man in your bedroom at 3 in the morning?" must be a resounding yes.
do you realize that we respond to over 5,000 calls a year?
i would bet that 90% of the members are people you would not even know where on until you saw them on a call. i can attest to the "tz'nea leches" of this very fine blogger as an example. although most of you know of his affiliation, how many outsiders would recognize him as a member on first glance. realize too that most of what goes on happens after all of you have gone off to bed at night, there aren't many people who would give up their sleep time to tend to other peoples' needs if they weren't in it for the mitzvah.
each call takes a minimum of 1 hour - the two minute glory the member may get for going on a call in the middle of the day with their lights and sirens should be overlooked for the greater good...
Dr. U -
While I agree with you that most members of this fine organization deserves the highest accolades, regarding the birth thing, I cannot forget what happened to my neighbor and good friend after being transported in labor. Some weeks later she ran into her 'responder' in the grocery store who loudly said to her in front of a big crowd, "Well, you look A LOT better than the last time I saw you!!!". SHEESH.....
Regarding Dr. G's "tznea leches" - how I wish others would take a page from his book!! I think that there should be a rule instituted that in order to gain access to this organization, you have to keep your involvement a secret for 6 months or they throw you out. I'm sick of seeing trainees sporting jackets and radios (why are trainees allowed to wear radios on Shabbos anyway???) and installing all sorts of fancy strobe lighting in their cars. Grow up already guys.
to get back to the original concern, the time element. thank you for the quick response and sincere dedication. it sounds like a wonderful brotherhood. sometimes the seriousness of the job is offset by joking and humor in order to dispell some difficult moments. what responsibility and dedication. of course you will always have some tactless jokers and vishtigmachers in for the assumed glory . but thank you all related
G6,
He was trying to make conversation. Okay, granted, he's a bit tactless, though I'm also pretty sure he was not walking around to his friends, neighbors or fellow EMT's talking about how your neighbor did or didn't look (I'm pretty confident, unless it was an extremely unusual case, such as twins/triplets and so on...)
More than likely, awkward guy (member), awkward moment, and just didn't know how to address your neighbor at that juncture. I truly don't think he meant anything rude by the comment and highly doubt that he's going to be hanging posters anytime soon.
THIS CAME IN ANONYMOUSLY, BUT IT IS SO VITALLY TRUE AND GERMAINE TO THE DISCUSSION THAT I AM POSTING IT.
-Dr. G
G6, regarding your question "why are trainees allowed to wear radios on Shabbos anyway???" you are absolutely right. I happen to know for a fact that trainees aren't allowed to carry their radios on Shabbos. Thus, it is safe to assume that the gentleman wearing a radio, was not a trainee.
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