It could always be worse

[deleted109597]

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If you get stabbed in England, make sure you're not at a party. Lest you die.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1046010/Knife-crime-Britain-claims-teenage-lives-boys-aged-16-17-brutally-killed.html

“as incidents have occurred before, we cannot send an ambulance if we can hear more than five people in the background”.

 

[pseudoknot]

I guess their police are a bit less confrontational than ours.

 

[TerraMedicX]

Don't be so surprised, this happens in the United States as well! I have a very distinct feeling that the reporter is intentionally sensationalizing it. In nearly EVERY area, it is standard procedure for ambulances to NOT go on scene with violent crime related injuries until the police have ensured that it is safe for them. I've personally done it, and I know for a fact that occasionally, patients have died because we had to wait for PD to clear the scene. It is sad, but I can also say from personal experience that it is FAR better than the alternative. Dead paramedics can't save ANYONE...and then you need two MORE ambulances. I fully agree that it is a tragedy that these young men died, but don't start blaming the ambulance personnel!

 

[pseudoknot]

I don't think anyone is blaming EMS. The quote was a little weird though. Obviously here we would send PD and have an ambulance stage, but they made it sound like if there was a crowd they would just be like "sorry, call back another time..."

EDIT: according to the article the ambulance crew was onscene 15 minutes after the call was received, which sounds about right especially if they were waiting for PD first. So my guess is that they do things the same way as here and the guy who called 911 just didn't know what was going on.

 

[TerraMedicX]

I don't think anyone is blaming EMS. The quote was a little weird though. Obviously here we would send PD and have an ambulance stage, but they made it sound like if there was a crowd they would just be like "sorry, call back another time..."

EDIT: according to the article the ambulance crew was onscene 15 minutes after the call was received, which sounds about right especially if they were waiting for PD first. So my guess is that they do things the same way as here and the guy who called 911 just didn't know what was going on.

Yes, this is all very true. I guess I wasn't as concerned about what people here thought, most of us understand how the system works. I just find it to be irresponsible journalism on the reporter's part because it give the general public that impression. It makes the whole "Why weren't you here sooner" thing a LOT more prevalent...and people start to think you're intentionally letting people die and such...not so good...and EMS is REALLY bad at the whole PR thing...we could really learn for the fire service on that one!

 

[polygonal]

On another note, I recall a move in the UK to ban pointed knives. They feel they are "too dangerous." It's similar to the slippery slope with gun control.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/4581871.stm

I like my kitchen knives!