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Post by Leslie Myers on Jan 22, 2016 4:37:12 GMT
Well some of wondered if winter was coming and here it is...
What challenges does this weather present when you are on calls...there are a lot of answers to this one! And some may depend on whether you do rescue or just ambulance!
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Post by katecardinali on Jan 23, 2016 5:25:27 GMT
Response time is the biggest one I can think of...the weather might slow overall response time, but you're of no help to the patient if you cannot get there in one piece due to conditions.
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Post by kathleenedgin on Jan 25, 2016 15:57:07 GMT
Response times, road conditions, access to houses (if walkways/doorways have been cleared of snow) and your own safety (making sure you are carefully walking when facing slippery conditions.
As seen in cities that had the most snowfall after this past weekends' blizzard, ambulances and rescue vehicles can also get stuck in the snow.
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toddc
New Member
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Post by toddc on Jan 25, 2016 17:42:57 GMT
It definitely impacts response times. From having to clear your windshield when you try to respond to traveling much slower when the roads are icy and snow covered or it is snowing hard. It all has an impact. And, once you arrive on scene, there are the slippery steps, sidewalks, driveways etc. which many times aren't cleared.
But, this Winter has been pretty darn good all things considered. Remember, it was 70 degrees on Xmas Eve.
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Post by smahoney on Jan 25, 2016 18:11:38 GMT
Responding to calls for rescue in this weather is difficult due to constant changes and road conditions. The elderly often cannot get out to clear paths and that in and of itself makes responding more dangerous. Trying to reach the fire dept before the rescue truck leaves is an even more difficult feat with snow and ice covered roads. Oftentimes it makes it necessary to drive yourself there .
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Post by Brian Sweatman on Jan 25, 2016 18:37:43 GMT
Weather plays a big role for the first responders in the volunteer sector. It fist beings with the initial call with getting to the station. Depending on how road conditions are and how the weather is, there is more than likely a delay in travel time. It takes longer to get the appropriate staffing to the station before you can respond. Same as travel time to the station, response time to the call will also increase. Even though you are responding to the emergency, your safety in getting there is your first priority. You can’t assist anybody if you don’t get there safely yourself.
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Post by Jeff Schenk on Jan 26, 2016 1:25:13 GMT
Pt.'s in vehicle accidents with prolonged extrication suffer also. Then are in the elements before we even get the call. We had one recently. Warm blankets and IV warmer in the rig was put to use.
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Post by Mark Nell on Jan 26, 2016 2:47:53 GMT
Along with what was already mentioned, a challenge faced is that sometimes upon arrival, you discover that outside compartments, gauges, etc have been affected by the elements, either frozen or they could be covered with ice , snow etc. There are also times when responding to an address, you can't see the numerals on a residence or a mail box due to being covered by snow and ice
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Post by durfeew on Jan 26, 2016 3:55:55 GMT
In addition to responding to the scenes and the hospitals moving patients can also be a struggle with a lot of snow and ice on the ground. Frequently patients steps aren't properly shoveled making extrication more difficult, and sidewalks and driveways covered with snow make moving stretchers more difficult. Furthermore with patients experiencing difficulty breathing the cold air can sometimes make that worse in between the residence and the ambulance.
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Post by Matt W. on Jan 28, 2016 17:23:38 GMT
Yes response times are impacted greatly with the winter weather. Also patient removal for transport can be a issue. When there is about 6 inches of snow on the ground the stretcher becomes difficult to get through. Also this can pose a fall hazard to the providers as well with slippery conditions out there. ultimately take your time don't rush and don't be afraid to ask for help even if it means asking fire control to tone for manpower.
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Post by jasontiffin on Feb 1, 2016 4:27:15 GMT
Well we can all point out the obvious issue being that we encounter with winter weather and that's delayed response times, but lets not forget once we do arrive on the scene, caring for our patient's in the cold weather conditions can also pose problems and risks as well. Trying to keep our patient's warm and if our patient's can't be kept warm, what effect will the medications that I may need to administer have. Will the med do it's job or not? And if not, what do we need to so and do it safely to be able to treat our patients the best we can with all the winter factors we deal with.
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aldo
New Member
Posts: 10
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Post by aldo on Feb 4, 2016 1:50:10 GMT
We as a department responding to emergencies have to use caution in all aspects. When the weather is bad take your time getting t the station, and then when getting in the fire trucks or rescue always remember its not only yourself, you have other members with you. we are no help to the patient if we cant get to them.
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Post by andrewfischer on Feb 11, 2016 6:58:55 GMT
Even though we're a non-transporting agency, we see many of the same problems. It's more difficult for our medical van to reach the location of call, especially given the hill on the Hamilton College campus. Response time is longer. Most of our EMTs respond on foot, so I'll echo earlier comments about uncleared sidewalks and roadways.
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Post by andrewfischer on Feb 11, 2016 7:06:33 GMT
Given that we respond on foot, we spend significant time outside. Cold temperatures, especially, are a concern. Because Hamilton College is located at the top of a hill, the wind can be intense.
It's important to be prepared. Getting across campus takes longer, especially when the weather's bad (snowstorm, etc.). Occasionally, we're also called to outside locations. Hamilton is a pedestrian campus, so sometimes emergencies take place in locations inconvenient during winter weather. Especially on weekends, we're always concerned about intoxicated students "passing out" in snow banks. There's potential for hours to pass before someone reports a peer missing or happens upon them. Sports injuries constitute a significant number of our calls.Several sports teams practice outside, no matter the weather.
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Post by Jwalts07 on Feb 11, 2016 14:59:35 GMT
I think along with the obvious challenges of poor road conditions, visibility, delayed response times, as well as safety for both the patient and the providers. We have a challenge of really needing to know our service area. Especially in Central New York you deal with the snow and ice which many times will lead to impassible and closed roads. You need to be able to think on your feet in order to find a secondary route to the patient, or calling for support whether it be from DPW or another entity. depending on the nature of the emergency time may be of the essence and just a few minutes could make a difference in the outcome of the patient either short term or long term. As EMS providers we need to stay on our feet and at the top f our game in all situations, but especially during poor weather events.
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