Guest guest Posted August 17, 2008 Report Share Posted August 17, 2008 you obvioulsy did not manage to understand the situation on a small ship in the middle of the ocean and from all the helpful and varied responses to this I must say that I take exception to your snide comment re " sitting in the clinic, waiting for patient's to arrive " , that was in no way implied nor suggested as a reponse OK.  Our helideck is 5 meters out from the clinic and 2.5 meters above the deck...the access is via outside stairs and internal stairs opening out onto the helideck...internally there is a large reception lounge which is out the clinic door and where the emergency equipment would be set up to treat casualties as it is 4 times the size of the clinic with room to manouver....the internal stairs are very narrow and are also connect to a TV room which would be used for recovery or those waiting for treatment and receiving First Aid....  All the medical equipment is in the clinic and in the event of a situation would be set up in the initial rush with some items being moved to the recetion lounge ie dressings - IVs - O2 - defib/monitor - Intubation/Airways - splints - burns dressings etc where they could be seen and easily indicated for access by those helping - as the clinic can only take 1 patient on a small couch and is a small cramped area....  Taking a response bag and portable O2 up to the helideck amidst the mayhem that would ensue would not be that efective with possibly 10 casualites amidst fire crews - hoses - foam - smoke and hysteria then having to triage - treat priorities from the bag and organise their movement out of the danger zone down to the treatment centre (to receive treatment from whom and with what?) and then extricating oneself from this scenaro to go down and start re triaging and emergency treatment after now setting up the equipment from the clinic....and also being involved in radio comms on the progress of things and directing extra crew into helpful teams to assist as best they can........  Having read the various responses I am comfortable with the idea of organising an emergency treatment area to be ready to start life saving treatments in an organised safe area as casualties are bought down from the scene....  I cannot see how you could even envisage a medic, " sitting in the clinic, waiting for patient's to arrive " , as with such a stituation one would already be admidst the carnage and fire just above one's head....  Regretably your response was the one less heeded and I wonder if you have ever worked solo in a remote location ?  P. From: Chellew <pchel_1999@...> Subject: Re: Emergency response... Date: Monday, 18 August, 2008, 3:11 AM I agree with Mike. I have spent most of my life in EMS and have been involved in many disaster situations both large and small. Too often people try to move the disaster, wasting valuable time and energy. What is needed first, and done by the most qualified individual, is an assessment of the situation because no disaster is going to follow your pre-planned exercise. Type and number of injured, current evacuation options, level of available help, treatment area, what will work from your pre-plan and what won't. This is your first priority, not sitting in the clinic and waiting for patients to arrive. At my current site I'm assigned to the ERT (emergency response team). If a situation occurs I respond and assess. The IC checks on available resources for evacuation. Loss of heliport leaves only a boat as an option. Boat available immediately, so all patient to be move to loading area once packaged and ready, along with additional medical equipment. In this situation nobody goes to the clinic. > > From: peter mitchell <treetop_bay@ ...> > Subject: [Remotemedics. co.uk] Emergency response... > @groups. com > Date: Sunday, August 17, 2008, 2:30 AM > > Dear all, >  > Here is an interesting point for discussion; >  > We have just had a drill with a helicopter crashing on the helideck - to cut a > long story short my position is that in such a situation I would be setting up > the emergency medical equipment in the area designated for such an emergency > ready to treat casualties as they arrive from the crash site... >  > The marine crew feel that I should be in the close vicinity of > the event with a crash bag and portable oxygen treating casualties while > also doing triage at the crash site...and sending them down to the clinic.....? >  > My understanding from training courses is there should be 1 or 2 other non > medical people trained in triage who would be up there and sending the selected > casualites down to the casualty station for treatment.. >  > I do not feel it is the place of medical teams to put themselves close to fires > to be treating casualties. >  > What is the opinion out there...? >  > P > > Send instant messages to your online friends http://uk.messenger . > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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