I was going to write a post about the new bloggers I met at the NRA Meetings. Those would be new to me bloggers who I am adding to the blog roll. Then I clicked on an email from EMS1.com which had the following story.
Shoals EMTs required to wear helmets
Which included this quote,
“The back of an ambulance is an unsafe place. We’re driving high rates of speed through red lights and stop signs,” said Gibson. “Hopefully they stop and they should, but things happen and sometimes people don’t see us and we get hit.”
Here’s a better solution Mr. Gibson. Have your crews stop driving at high rates of speed through red lights and stop signs. Have them come to a complete stop at red lights and stop signs and then proceed with caution when it is safe to do so. The few seconds that doing this will add to every response are are going to be more than offset by the increased safety not only to your crews, but to the public in general and your patients.
Are you going to require your patients to wear helmets when the are in the back of the ambulance?
That’s a rhetorical question, I know the answer.
I’m not against EMS systems issuing helmets to their employees, not at all. In fact, it’s long overdue. What’s not overdue are stupid one size fits none policies about wearing a helmet all the time while working.
“It’s a professionalism too. We feel more professional, nice uniform, nice helmets,” Hargett said. “We feel more comfortable, more involved, more professional – like the police or the fire department.”
Professionalism? I think that most patients are going to snicker at a paramedic coming into their house wearing a helmet, not consider them professionals. While fire fighters wear helmets when indicated, they don’t (at least in my area) wear them on routine medical calls. The police have helmets, but they too don’t wear them except when circumstances dictate.
Oh, if Gibson is concerned about the safety of his crews, maybe he could buy ambulances with some space in the patient module instead of cramped flower delivery trucks with stretchers.
Ambulance officials said the use of helmets is a growing trend across the country.
While this may be true, that doesn’t mean that EMTs and medics are increasingly wearing them all the time while working. It just means that finally ambulance services that aren’t affiliated with fire departments are providing helmets for use when needed, not wearing all the time. Maybe Gibson just wants to make sure he gets his money’s worth out of the purchase.
I think you’re taking his statement about the red lights too literally. If he’s safety-conscious enough to be thinking about helmets, I’m sure they not only have a stringent driving policy, but I bet he also has a black box driver reporting system.
I wouldn’t make any such assumption. If nothing else, it reinforces the public perception of the wild eyed ambulance driver, as opposed to Ambulance Driver. I think he’s also over stating the benefit of helmet of that type in motor vehicle accidents. I doubt that they are intended for that type of protection.
DOT FMVSS 218 Certified, so yeah, they basically are.
Maybe, but if I were a regular citizen, I’d take it literally too. If you want to talk in the media, you should probably plan something out that sounds less…well, “crazed ambulance driver” like.
Based on your claim of DOT certification, they’re essentially motorcycle helmets. So, they may work well to protect you in the vehicle, but may not meet the OSHA requirements to use them for other head-injury-prone areas.
Perhaps it’ll work…but it’s hard to say, since I don’t know that we have enough information on injury rates and types (maybe in the future with more EMS vehicle crash testing).
As for the “black box”. I fear ambulance drivers using those systems more than almost anything else. Why? Because too often they “drive the box”. A nearby agency has used them for 3 decades. They have more wrecks than we do. Why? Because if it’s a choice of braking a little harder than anticipated or running a light…they’ll run the light and take the chance. OTOH, we have regularly scheduled mandatory driving training (class and range…high range time) and a robust crash review program, and emphasize prevention.
I agree with you about the black boxes. I know a number of systems use them and one I’m familiar with has cameras tied to the system to turn on if the box detects sudden changes in inertia. I don’t know if that helps them with crash prevention or review, but I do know that crews would make the cameras turn on purposely when they weren’t on responses so they could video in cab comedy routines. The boss of that service took that graciously and even shared some of the comedy with others. Other than that, I don’t know if there is any value to them.
Thanks for covering this topic. I watched that news video about four times myself, and kept thinking that it seemed like an awkward introduction of the concept.
You’re right; this is generally a good idea. I also agree that the interview and the “always on” policy aren’t going to help sway the minds of the average EMS provider.
I applaud them for the effort towards better EMS safety standards and look forward to hearing more about it.
I would just say that you saw a different interview than I did. Or at least saw it in a different light than I did. While there are certainly times when I wore my helmet, especially during automobile extrications or when working in a scene were there was danger of debris falling, I don’t know of anyone, anywhere who has a similar policy. Unless he’s a big Emergency fan and remembers those LASO officers who always wore their helmets. Which I bet they hated. Helmets are hot and uncomfortable even when well ventilated, and these weren’t. When fire fighters come out of a building fire, the first thing that they do is take off their air and helmets. Those helmets look to be built like fire fighting helmets without the big brim in the back. I’ve worn both types and neither is particularly comfortable.
Yep, that is a strange way to ‘introduce’ them… And questionable comments too!
We’re driving high rates of speed through red lights and stop signs
What’s a “high rate of speed”?
Speed is itself already a “rate” – of travel.
“High speed”, is the sane way to put that.
(And you’re right. They shouldn’t blow through traffic controls.)