[DownTownTonyBrown]

Drinkeii

I think you are missing some of the point. We are not the last opportunity for someone to receive definitive medical care.

As an EMT performing his work, you are the beginning point of providing care and you are the TRANSPORTATION.

As a medically knowledgeable person that just happens to be officiating the game, I can begin the care (ABC's) and have stated that I would do so. However, I'm not going to leave the court (and leave the patient) to get equipment. And surely, I'm not going to leave the game to transport this patient to a hospital. If you are an EMT, you are completely aware that these kind of efforts only complicate the EMT's work once they arrive at the accident.

I could probably figure out some way to splint a broken leg but why? The EMTs, with equipment and transportation, will be there immediately (I am not the last person in line to provide care). The EMTs will surely remove whatever table leg or trombone slide I might have applied to stabilize a fracture. The removal process and resplinting will only add to the patient's discomfort. (I have offered nothing to the situation)

I will protect the patient. I will protect myself. I will protect those around me. I cannot meet these objectives without equipment and will not attempt to provide further care unless there is immediate need (e.g. patient is in trouble; I'm snowed in and the ambulance can't get there... I will do my utmost to help).

I am very compassionate... that's why I'm a volunteer. My only compensation is the thank-you and the satisfaction of being able to show my compassion by offerring assistance. Quite frankly, the feeling of successfully offerring medical assistance is similar to the feeling of successfully officiating a hard fought basketball game. Both are positions of leardership/authority. Thank-yous for being in charge and performing well as the leader are rare.