EMS World Magazine is the most authoritative source in the world for clinical and educational material designed to improve the delivery of prehospital emergency medical care.
Issue link: https://emsworld.epubxp.com/i/35512
CASE REVIEW could medical events have on the situa- tion? Who can make decisions if police offi cers request advice? What if they ask if the perpetrator can be sedated or paralyzed using medication? At some point a standoff will be resolved, preferably through peaceful means with no casualties. What are the medical treatment priorities then? What will happen when the police need the perpetrator restrained? Who is in charge of that patient at that time? What if he is very ill or injured? Where will he be transported? When and how will incident management meetings be conducted? How can rotating crews be briefed and carry forward operational plans? Since the operation may come to a crisis at any time, on any shift, it is critical that each group of fi re-EMS providers assigned to the scene get a precise and detailed briefi ng. Media presence is a planned element of these operations. Joint Information Center operations are mandatory, and it is likely that the law enforcement PIO will be the lead. Fire-EMS members working the scene need to be prepared for precise operations as the incident comes to resolution, as the media will be recording every detail. In prolonged incidents, all disciplines will need to rotate crews. This includes chief offi cers, technical rescue leaders, safety offi cers and PIOs. There is a clear need for consistency of planning and communications, and the potential that crews will need to be rotated on unusual shift schedules to reduce the impact of the incident on ongoing routine opera- tions, and to allow a smaller cadre of members to be familiar with its details. For example, in this incident members of the Command staff and the high- angle rescue crews could be rotated on a 12-hours-on/12-hours-off schedule, involving overtime coverage, to remain fresh and prepared for the operations taking place high up on the crane. Crew members responsible for the most complex operations are likely to be rotated in such a manner. Prior arrangements for these unusual events should be made with the local trauma center and with any hospitals that usually accept jail prisoners or burn patients. If there are lengthy transport times following an incident in a rural setting, plan with local air ambulance crews far ahead of time what they can do to transport non-dangerous patients. Most air ambulance services are not prepared to manage potentially dangerous persons in police custody. James J. Augustine, MD, FACEP, is medical advisor for Washington Township Fire Department in the Dayton, OH, area. He is director of clinical operations at EMP Man- agement in Canton, OH, a clinical associate profes- sor in the Department of Emergency Medicine at Wright State University in Dayton, and a member of EMS World Magazine’s editorial advisory board. Contact him at jaugustine@emp.com. Mobile Printing Solutions for Emergency Services FIRE – AMBULANCE – POLICE Printrex is introducing a lower-profile mobile printer for ambulance and police. The Printrex 812 is widely used in fire trucks, but the smaller confines of ambulance and police vehicles demand a smaller envelope. The wall-mounted Printrex 811 projects a tiny profile that is less than 4 inches high and less than 3 inches deep. An optional quick release system is available. The 811 will be available in the fourth quarter of 2011. &BTU; (JTI 3PBE 4BO +PTF $" t 3-1 Printrex has been supplying printers for mobile emergency services since 1996, beginning with installations at the Hereford & Worcester Fire Brigade in the UK. That initial installation was very successful and now installation of 4,000 + units for the UK FireLink program is nearing completion. www.printrex.com Visit us at EMSWORLD EXPO Booth 3328 For More Information Circle 15 on Reader Service Card 34 JULY 2011 | EMSWORLD.com