Disinterested ambulance service?
Discussion
At the station, about 23:00.
Loud, horrible, hollow thud echoes along the platform behind me.
Turn around and see an asian guy, in his 30s, flat on his back, motionless.
It's clear what's happened: he's fell backwards, unrestrained, straight onto his head.
He's slurring, trying to get up but falling, and most importantly/worst of all, bleeding from the crown of his head.
Onlookers are doing just that (looking), with everyone backing away muttering "he's drunk...", and I'm sure one even said "Just leave him".
s. I hope they never fall, "drunk" or not. But I digress...
Restrain the bloke to stop him staggering over the edge of the platform, or falling again. I think I smell alcohol, but that could be him, me, my mate, or any rail platform on a Friday night.
I call an ambulance. After describing the injuries and the casualty, the possibility that he might be drunk (thinking back, I couldn't be sure, so stupidly let others cloud my judgement) and trying to ask him a few questions on the instruction of the operator (two questions, one slurred answer, one massively wrong: he was getting worse), two British Transport Police arrive, called by the station staff. I relay this to the operator who (and this is where my problem begins) says to me:
"OK, if he gets worse get them to call us back. Your call reference is..."
...and that's it
Of course, the police immediately radio for an ambulance upon hearing this, but still, a guy's hit hit head HARD, he's bleeding, not "with it" and getting worse, and all they can do is give me the kind of answer I'd get from IT support at work?
Now, GRANTED, it may have been an over-reaction (was it? Head injuries are st, from first-hand experience), and yes, I may have had a couple (although I don't think I sounded so) and yes, I may've let my judgement slip re. him drinking or not, but I can't help feel a bit pissed off with the response I got.
Loud, horrible, hollow thud echoes along the platform behind me.
Turn around and see an asian guy, in his 30s, flat on his back, motionless.
It's clear what's happened: he's fell backwards, unrestrained, straight onto his head.
He's slurring, trying to get up but falling, and most importantly/worst of all, bleeding from the crown of his head.
Onlookers are doing just that (looking), with everyone backing away muttering "he's drunk...", and I'm sure one even said "Just leave him".
s. I hope they never fall, "drunk" or not. But I digress...Restrain the bloke to stop him staggering over the edge of the platform, or falling again. I think I smell alcohol, but that could be him, me, my mate, or any rail platform on a Friday night.
I call an ambulance. After describing the injuries and the casualty, the possibility that he might be drunk (thinking back, I couldn't be sure, so stupidly let others cloud my judgement) and trying to ask him a few questions on the instruction of the operator (two questions, one slurred answer, one massively wrong: he was getting worse), two British Transport Police arrive, called by the station staff. I relay this to the operator who (and this is where my problem begins) says to me:
"OK, if he gets worse get them to call us back. Your call reference is..."
...and that's it
Of course, the police immediately radio for an ambulance upon hearing this, but still, a guy's hit hit head HARD, he's bleeding, not "with it" and getting worse, and all they can do is give me the kind of answer I'd get from IT support at work?Now, GRANTED, it may have been an over-reaction (was it? Head injuries are s
t, from first-hand experience), and yes, I may have had a couple (although I don't think I sounded so) and yes, I may've let my judgement slip re. him drinking or not, but I can't help feel a bit pissed off with the response I got.Although not your job to do so, you should have insisted they send someone.
If I genuinely thought someone needed an ambulance I'd probably make it sound a bit worse to try and speed up the response a bit.
Anyway, on the bright side you did the right thing and hopefully did the guy a huge favour.
If I genuinely thought someone needed an ambulance I'd probably make it sound a bit worse to try and speed up the response a bit.
Anyway, on the bright side you did the right thing and hopefully did the guy a huge favour.
Hmm doesn't sound great, does it?
I guess the ambulance service get rather busy on friday nights, especially with drunk people falling over. Maybe they didn't 'get' your conveyance of how hard he hit his head?
I hope you were able to leave him with the transport police? It's a bit 'off' of the 999 operator to just ask you to watch him and call back if he gets worse! But as said, they probably have a LOT to be dealing with, and maybe there was other stuff happening elsewhere in town (big brawl etc) that the operator thought was more pressing?
I guess the ambulance service get rather busy on friday nights, especially with drunk people falling over. Maybe they didn't 'get' your conveyance of how hard he hit his head?
I hope you were able to leave him with the transport police? It's a bit 'off' of the 999 operator to just ask you to watch him and call back if he gets worse! But as said, they probably have a LOT to be dealing with, and maybe there was other stuff happening elsewhere in town (big brawl etc) that the operator thought was more pressing?
They had already sent you the Ambulance before the BTP had made the second call, they gave you the call reference number because you were ringing in on a mobile rather than a land line and without it it can be difficult to marry your call back to the job.
Head injuries always get a response, particularly possibly intoxicated head injuries. They didn't give you further advice because the BTP guys had turned up and they have more than enough experience of looking after injured people in and around the railway.
Head injuries always get a response, particularly possibly intoxicated head injuries. They didn't give you further advice because the BTP guys had turned up and they have more than enough experience of looking after injured people in and around the railway.
Midas said:
They had already sent you the Ambulance before the BTP had made the second call, they gave you the call reference number because you were ringing in on a mobile rather than a land line and without it it can be difficult to marry your call back to the job.
Head injuries always get a response, particularly possibly intoxicated head injuries. They didn't give you further advice because the BTP guys had turned up and they have more than enough experience of looking after injured people in and around the railway.
OK, thanks, and indeed, thanks all. Feel a bit of a dick now for assuming they'd just left it! Hope the poor bugger's OK...Head injuries always get a response, particularly possibly intoxicated head injuries. They didn't give you further advice because the BTP guys had turned up and they have more than enough experience of looking after injured people in and around the railway.
Jimbo. said:
Midas said:
They had already sent you the Ambulance before the BTP had made the second call, they gave you the call reference number because you were ringing in on a mobile rather than a land line and without it it can be difficult to marry your call back to the job.
Head injuries always get a response, particularly possibly intoxicated head injuries. They didn't give you further advice because the BTP guys had turned up and they have more than enough experience of looking after injured people in and around the railway.
OK, thanks, and indeed, thanks all. Feel a bit of a dick now for assuming they'd just left it! Hope the poor bugger's OK...Head injuries always get a response, particularly possibly intoxicated head injuries. They didn't give you further advice because the BTP guys had turned up and they have more than enough experience of looking after injured people in and around the railway.
Gassing Station | Health Matters | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff