Do you think a medic should have been dispatched as well?

Question

The original dispatch of the call indicated a 302 (psych) commitment for a 28 year old male threatening to harm himself.  Police were on location requesting an ambulance to transport (as they always do), and stated the suspect would not be cooperative.  They also stated that he had harmed himself with a razor.  
With this information, the 911 center dispatched a BLS-only volunteer ambulance company to respond.  The BLS ambulance went en route with a full BLS crew about 5 minutes later (no one wants to run 302's with uncooperative patients).  They were then advised that the male was probably also intox and his bleeding wounds were uncontrolled due to his fighting with the police.  They acknowledged this and continued to the scene emergency (with lights and sirens) and arrived about 5-7 minutes later.
A few minutes later, the BLS crew requested information on a medical helicopter and if they had capacity for a police officer to fly with them.  911 notified them that a medical helicopter would have 10 minutes and would have room for 1 officer.
The BLS crew then canceled their request for a helicopter, stating they would transport via ground.  A short time later (I would say about 5-10 minutes later), the BLS ambulance went en route to the hospital with a police officer on board.  They also advised that the patient had ingested an unknown amount of unknown pills that they believed to be painkillers.  A few minutes later, the BLS advised 911 that the patient was coding and they needed a medic to intercept and assist.  They met the medic (who happened to be in the area from another call) about 5 minutes later and then continued to the hospital.
I don't know the outcome of the patient but my question is: why didn't a medic get dispatched as soon as they realized the patient ingested the pills or even before that, when the bleeding was uncontrolled?  Also, do you think they should have continued with the medical helicopter? 
Thanks for your thoughts (and no, I will not disclose where this happened or when to protect those involved).
Also, this information was assertained through radio communication only.

med109 · Accepted Answer

I would also say that considering the info, the call was handled correctly. But in my area as a BLS crew, I can start IVs. So with the intial info, of ETOH, and bleeding the only thing I would do (as BLS) is control bleeding, and oxygen, an IV and a BG heart monitor. (all things my BLS service can do). Than once on scene we learn the patient took pills of unknown substance. Again, what is ALS gonna do, that I can't? With the exception of IV BG and heart monitor, if a BLS can't. As far as the chopper goes, it's hard to say. They were cancelled before the patient coded, so.... I really don't see the need for a chopper for bleeding and ETOH, and some pills. As far as when the patient coded... our chopper service won't transport an unstable patient, so we would not call a chopper for a code. If my patient coded in the rig, I would do 1 of 2 things, 1. having a cop with me I would call for a medic intercept, and me and the cop begin CPR, or if it was just me and a driver I would call for a medic, pull over and me and the driver do CPR.

Bryan · Answer

To be completely honest they did the right thing according to their training.  I was volunteer ambulance squad for 3 years before i became a certified EMT-ie medic. Their training should have covered that type of situation and no you wouldn't call for a medic for simple possible overdose.  At the absolute worst if the bleeding was extreme and they did not have the necessary equipment to handle the bleeding they would have requested a Transfer in route.  But like i said normally that's only if they didn't have what they needed to stop the bleeding or at least get it managed

Henry · Answer

You need to get out of your house more often and see how the rest of the world lives.

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Do you think a medic should have been dispatched as well?

3 Answers