First aid kit

[Rovertrader]

It’s a sad society when we have to think am I in deep trouble if I try to help/aide/save this person instead of jumping in to do the right thing…

We pack our own kits and include ‘advanced’ supplies if even just for our immediate group. Can’t get rid of the ‘Be Prepared’ moto engrained in my head for 60+ years!!

 

[Pacific Northwest yetti]

My understanding is that EMTs are legally obligated to provide immediate medical care in emergency situations. They are also expected to adhere to the scope of practice for their state or county. Non-licensed persons are generally protected by good Samaritan laws. If I'm being naive I'd like to know why. I have difficulty understanding how you could let someone bleed out because you weren't sure where/when the TQ was made.

Is it really that complex an issue? If you are not a Dr, EMT or paramedic and you are trying to render aid , the Good Samaritan laws will protect you unless you are doing something way outside any basic training that you may or may not have( amputate a limb, tracheotomy with a pen etc)


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Kwill, Ripperj how long have you been practicing medicine? I have been at it since 2006…

Like was stated, the good Samaritan law should protect you if you are a layperson. It is not a guarantee if you are licensed. The law states something along the lines of “ It’s important to note that Good Samaritan laws do not provide absolute immunity and may not apply in cases of gross negligence, willful misconduct, or actions that go beyond the scope of training or expertise. If an EMT’s actions are deemed reckless or grossly negligent, they may still be held accountable for any harm caused.”


Generally using equipment that is beyond a first aid level, sooo any BLS/ALS equipment, medications can and *have* been used in courts as negligence, or recklessness of the provider. If expired, fails. Like equipment, TQ’s, medications.

In this thread, the comment “Even if you don’t know how to use it, someone else may”

Just like, if someone breaks into my ambulance and steals my narcotics, then dies. Also “my” fault.

Nope, not required to provide care when off duty.
Duty of care is when you are on duty, expected to provide care, if you are advertising yourself as such. OR if you initiate contact with the patient, you are there until someone of equal or higher level can take the patient. And at that point leaving the PT is abonnement and also a criminal charge.

I never said I would let them bleed out, however since courts have established that a licensed provider can be found negligent, or reckless by knowingly using equipment that is faulty/expired.....if something goes wrong.



I am sure it all seems simple/dumb, if you have nothing to lose…..

 

[Pacific Northwest yetti]

It’s a sad society when we have to think am I in deep trouble if I try to help/aide/save this person instead of jumping in to do the right thing…

We pack our own kits and include ‘advanced’ supplies if even just for our immediate group. Can’t get rid of the ‘Be Prepared’ moto engrained in my head for 60+ years!!

I agree, its heart breaking.

 

[ripperj]

I’m not claiming to be a Dr
I have been Medic First Aid and CPR qualified for 30 years, and during all the biennial training (at 4 different companies) they have all stressed that you are very unlikely to get sued for helping


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[Pacific Northwest yetti]

* unlikely*. Hope is rarely a good plan.

That being said, i honestly hope you never have to be on the stand for doing the right thing.

For what it’s worth, I am not trying to be argumentative.

Unfortunately, I have seen it happen, just trying to make sure folks know. It can be a grey area, and unfortunately not everyone is good. When someone dies, part of the grief process seems to be who they can blame these days. ;(

 

[kwill]

I don't practice medicine...just common sense and decency. I would rather take my chances with a jury on a negligence charge than watch someone die when I might have prevented it.

Quoting Texas law: Under the EMT Code of Ethics, emergency medical technicians and emergency medical technician-paramedics have an obligation to society to conserve life and alleviate suffering. They must do this without any restrictions based on color, status, race or nationality. EMTs also have a duty not to delegate an emergency medical service to anyone less qualified if that service reasonably requires the professional care of an EMT. An EMT present at the scene of an emergency, therefore, could not ethically sit back and allow someone less qualified to attempt to aid the injured person – even if the EMT is off duty.

 

[Rovertrader]

To attest to the points made above, my wife was critical care transport- via air or ground weather dependent, from a facility with limited resources to one of a higher level of care. They were transporting a critical patient via ground d/t weather conditions. A car runs a stop sign so fast it blew the rear axle off the ambulance!! Huge mess is an understatement. They COULD NOT attend to the injured driver per protocol (nurses not EMT/Paramedics).
It’s bad enough to be making life and death decisions, titrating meds, bagging, etc and then be helpless to another human! Yet again, our society loves to blame the rescuers, not the violators.
Similar mindset in the wild so to speak. Look at all the events of tourist approaching wild animals for selfies and get attacked- then want to sue the land owners for not providing protection from the animals that the tourist interrupt! So the lawmakers make tighter restrictions for everyone to protect the 1% from themselves…
We are on a very slippery slope socially! I’m sorry if I’ve derailed the OP intentions of this thread, but at some point people have to accept responsibility for themselves and not blame the well intentioned folks trying to help -much less save them…
In the end, remember the pearls offered above concerning what’s in your kit and the knowledge and responsibility to use same!! It can and does backfire on the well intentioned. Perhaps 2 kits- one for ‘public’ situations, and an extended kit for personal use??

 

[jgaz]

OP. Look at the kits available from Rescue Essentials.
I can’t speak to other suppliers but I’ve had good luck with some of their products, especially their flat packed items. (Lower bulk)

 

[smbisig]

I have the TrailRecon Trauma kit, it has a lot stored in a pretty small package and is well thought out. I move it from vehicle to vehicle depending on the trip.

TrailRecon Vehicle Trauma Kit

Before starting TrailRecon, Brad served as a Hospital Corpsman in the U.S. Navy for 26 years. He deployed multiple times during his career aboard U.S. Navy ships, in support of international humanitarian missions, while serving with the Marines, and a combat tour in Fallujah, Iraq. He retired...

trailrecon.com

 

[craig333]

I have removed items from my kit that I am no longer qualified to use. I also just updated my kits. I am ashamed to say how old some of my stuff was when I dumped out my trauma kit. Modern versions of many items are so much better. New easier to use and more effective tourniquets are now in my kit. Wound care products that won't adhere to the wound etc.

It was when I recently ripped open my finger that really got me motivated to look at my stuff. I hope it doesn't take another incident for me to keep my kits current.