Calling An Amubulance Question

[Prudie]

Hi, can anybody help with these questions if you've had to call an ambulance.  I was in that difficult situation of having to call  for a work colleague recently, luckily not had to do it for years. I didn't really know him and the 999 operator asked me loads of questions before she would release an ambulance. I was getting frustrated as I didn't know the answers to most questions (was his last stool black????). I asked if while I was answering these questions an ambulance was on its way, no not until we've gone through this triage list. She asked me nearly 20 things while he was going into cardiac arrest in the office next door (he's OK now after an emergency operation) and only then send an ambulance. I had to call again because the patient deteriorated quickly and it turned up 30 minutes after the first call.

As a lessons learned I have to put some words together for staff to know what to expect when they ring 999 (I didn't). Is my experience what was expected - tons of questions first? I'm not sure who to ask to prepare this mini briefing note.

[schoolster]

It's very frustrating. When I was a first aider, I'd get called to students (I work in a school), have to try and phone an ambulance, no phone near student, and answer a battery of questions which I can't answer as phone not near student. And round and round it went.

A colleague once used his mobile to phone for an ambulance and then had to stay with the child and first aider (me) for 3 hours, until the ambulance came as they would need to call, which they did after 2 and half hours. Poor sod got no work done that afternoon. Nor did I but at least I was the first aider. I've since let my certificate lapse so I can't be called on now. Thank God.

[ubasses]

How about asking staff to register an emergency contact number, the personal calling the ambulance could then put a call into the contact to get answers to all the questions.

Peoples health situation can change over time, so any records the employer holds would probably go out of date.

[jourdain2]

Well your experience was different from the one I had, but that was about 8 years ago.

OH got up as usual, went downstairs, began to make breakfast - I was in the shower and didn't see him at this point.  When I got down he looked ill and admitted to me that he had a pain in his chest. I sat him down and rang 999.

The questions were pertinent, but I began with name, address, 86 yr.old male, had triple heart bypass, now has chest pains.  This led to the questions being very directed; Was he conscious? Could he stand? Was he breathing? When did they start? (turns out they began about 4 a.m. but the silly man didn't wake me  etc.) Then some sensible advice and about 10 mins. later the ambulance arrived.

I can only say that the clearer the information is that can be given, the better.

Perhaps each member of staff should have a precis - age, height, weight, any health issues etc. to be referred to in such an emergency as you describe.  I do know that 111 etc. do go all around the houses with questions - many totally irrelevant.  Best I can offer, good luck!

 

[Dukedelorca]

Too many Ambulances at Minor RTA's in my experience 😩

[Prudie]

Ironically all staff register their emergency contact - do you know what happened in this situation? HR refused to give it out because of GDPR - laughable.

The questions though were about his immediate health state (colour, breathing, vomit etc). Not what a NOK would know.

[choux]

Well done, Prudie. At least you did get him an ambulance. I have called a total of 4 times and have never had that problem as I was NOK and an ambulance was sent within minutes of starting the Q&A system. Having inclusive knowledge of the patient and able to quote a health history did shorten the list of questions so I was fortunate in that respect.

This will sound obvious so I apologise in advance, but the crux of the matter in this situation is to get the call-handler to realise the severity of the emergency and explain that general knowledge of the patient's health is not known/available. I would readily have said it looked like a cardiac episode.

Your HR is not fit for purpose, but you probably knew that anyway. I would advocate that all employees are made aware of what happened in this instance and invited to write to HR to give permission for contact details to be released if they wish to do so. Glad your colleague is doing ok now.

I advocate that anyone with health issues should carry an up to date list of medications that they take, paramedics are always grateful for the information.

[webbo3]

I've had people come to my hospital who have rang 999 for toothache

[choux]

webbo, no wonder you like foxes so much ;)

[Maydup]

My experience was very unlike yours when calling for an ambulance in response to chest pains.

Simple questions such as is he conscious, is he responsive and has he had chest pains or heart condition before. Amulance dispatched.

There should be no need to have to access HR records to answer these questions unless the patient has a very specific health issue in which case it would be best for them to have a card or necklace to indicate so.

We often had to call ambulances for customers when i was at work and had very little to go on.