Can/Can't Treat?

[mikie333]

So for some background, i am 17, a Fire Explorer...i have taken the Red Cross First Aid Course, AHA BLS for HCP, and took the local CERT class ( i don't know if that counts for anything...)

Anyways, i am working at a local summer day camp for kids (preK-6) and their first-aid policy is that we CAN'T treat any injuries (other than giving some tylenol and bandaids/neospoirn and ice for the minor stuff) unless there is an RN (which we don't have) becuase of the insurance policy...

so my question...since i have some background in minor medical emergencys, would should I do in the event of some major injury occurs (other than inform the superiors and possibly call 911)...do i go ahead and treat to the best of my ability (of course not to over step my training...) or just wait?

Of course, this is hypothetical and the 'worst case scenerio' (i.e. major bleeding, head/neck/back trauma, chocking, CPR, etc)

If it helps, this is the Missouri law regarding "Good Samaritan Law" *i cut out all the other mumbojumbo (stuff regarding to physicians and nurses)

Emergency care, no civil liability, exceptions (Good Samaritan law).

2. Any other person who has been trained to provide first aid in a standard recognized training program may, without compensation, render emergency care or assistance to the level for which he or she has been trained, at the scene of an emergency or accident, and shall not be liable for civil damages for acts or omissions other than damages occasioned by gross negligence or by willful or wanton acts or omissions by such person in rendering such emergency care.


thanks y'all, i really appreciate it!

p.s, one of these days, im goign to get my EMT-P, but i have to finish high school first!

[sleepyemt]

screw the insurance....if you are certified in BASIC first aid, AHA CPR then i really dont see a problem with you starting CPR on a kid or splinting a broken arm....i honestly dont think a parent would sue the camp for you starting CPR on their kid as long as you are certified....

best bet though is to talk to camp director and give him photocopies of your certs and let him decide but get it in writing if he says not to do anything that way if it comes back to you and them questioning why you didn't start CPR on a pulseless code you have in writing from a superior that you were not supposed to do this.

Always make sure you don't over step your certs in the heat of the moment.

[RyanEMVFD]

Another thing you can do is if something happens, you call 911 and if the PSAP has EMD then you ask "Do you want me to do CPR?", or "Do you want me to bandage the cut?" or something along those lines. That way you can say I was instructed to do this or that by 911.

[FireMedAS]

If you always do what's in the patient's best interest, you can't go wrong. Be a patient advocate. What's a part time job compared to the shame of letting someone die? If you have to render life saving care, and your employer protests, smile politely and say, "I quit."

[SPFTMEDIC]

Wait hold on here, I agree with being a pt advocate and treating up to what you have been taught but there is one huge issue. The facility that he works for does not allow employees to treat without an RN. As bogus as a policy as this may be he is an employee and would be open for liability if something happened and not covered under Good Sam. Unless they dont require him to have any sort of medical training, CPR, first aid, etc.... Then it would be a grey area and a good laywer could dispute the intrepretation. As far as the EMD stuff goes he would be fine if he was directed by a 911 dispatcher to preform CPR. I would talk to the facility supervisor and propose a change to the policy.

[MutualAidSupply]

Never heard of such a BS thing/ Here in Florida a First responder,First aid,EMT or medic must act on thier BLS training level until equal or higher trained medical personnal arrive. State Statues override any Companies policies. Actually, the Company could get sued because thier "policy" is to have medical trained people refrain from doing what they are trained to do. But that is not the case here in Florida, Insurance Companies actually give $$ breaks to Companies that have trained medical personnal present.