Rescue workers say first responders not ready for new training rule

[webfact]

Rescue workers say first responders not ready for new training rule

By THE NATION

 

File photo

 

OVER THE next six months, a big change to Thailand’s medical-emergency regulations should lead to better-trained rescue workers.

Yet, while the National Institute of Emergency Medicine (NIEMS) believes the upcoming changes will be for the better, several foundations that have long provided emergency help have concerns about them. 

 

“I am worried that the new rule imposed by the NIEMS will not suit the reality in Thailand,” Kusolsattha Surat Thani Foundation member Nitisak Boonmanont said recently. 

 

He was referring to the regulation approved by the NIEMS board on November 15 that will take effect within 180 days of that date. Under the new rule, rescuers must have completed at least 40 hours of training – not just 24 hours. 

 

“We have long voiced our concerns. We believe the rule should be introduced, but only when we are really ready,” Nitisak said. 

 

He said systems must be prepared first to ensure personnel in the field can comply with the requirements. 

 

“Has the NIEMS ever asked people working in the field?” he said.

 

Nitisak said that, on October 18, the Rescue Network of Thailand had called on Public Health Minister Dr Piyasakol

Sakolsatayadorn to suspend introduction of the rule. In response, Piyasakol assigned a legal specialist to talk to representatives of 11 non-profit organisations on November 10. At their meeting, it was agreed that the draft announcement for the rule should be suspended until further review by relevant parties was completed.

 

“But then, the NIEMS board approved the draft on November 15 and wanted it to go into effect within 180 days,” Nitisak said. 

 

Today, there are three levels of medical-emergency help in Thailand starting from first responders (FR) level to basic life support (BLS) level and advanced life support (ALS) level. 

 

Most personnel in this field have attained the FR level. They are affiliated with foundations and local administrative bodies. 

 

The 1669 Medical Emergency Hotline centre has responded to 1.5 million cases of medical emergency each year. Of them, about a million involved FR teams transporting patients to medical facilities. BLS and ALS teams handled about 200,000 cases each.

 

Although FR personnel receive some training before they are out in the field, the NIEMS believe they should receive more. 

 

The new rule introduced by the NIEMS will prevent FR teams from transporting patients to medical facilities. 

 

They can only provide pre-hospital care and wait for more advanced teams to handle the transportation. 

 

Nitisak believes that this process may be too complicated, especially given that some patients in emergency cases need immediate medical attention from health professionals. The faster they reach hospital, the greater their chance of recovery. 

 

NIEMS secretary-general Dr Atchariya Pangma, so far, has stood firm by the decision. 

 

“We have introduced this rule in the best interests of patients in medical emergencies. This rule will raise the standards of rescue vehicles that are now in practice,” he said. 

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/national/30333257

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2017-12-06

[ukrules]

Does anyone have the number of a private ambulance service which uses properly trained paramedics ?

Edited December 5, 2017 by ukrules

[Get Real]

Just maybe they will get the knowledge that it´s just not to rip open the door and drag the injured out. There is a need to check what might be wrong first.
I know, it´s far fetched.

[Get Real]

1 minute ago, ukrules said:

Does anyone have the number of a private ambulance service which uses properly trained paramedics ?

You do understand that this article states that the existing paramedics needs more training and education to have the possibility to be called properly trained?

[ukrules]

2 minutes ago, Get Real said:

You do understand that this article states that the existing paramedics needs more training and education to have the possibility to be called properly trained?

Do you realise that it takes at least a year of full time training to become a paramedic ?

[Oziex1]

1 hour ago, ukrules said:

Does anyone have the number of a private ambulance service which uses properly trained paramedics ?

I think it is 555

[Chris Lawrence]

Minimum of 40 hrs training? That's 1 week of school work. They are not ready for this amount of intense training. Your kidding.

[Get Real]

1 hour ago, ukrules said:

Do you realise that it takes at least a year of full time training to become a paramedic ?

I guess so, based on my earlier comment. 

[Chang_paarp]

They receive training?  

 

I think the number of hours of training is not the issue but the quality of the the training. Also the testing and retention of the training.

[lemonjelly]

Don’t know if it’s improved much, but I remember noting not so long ago that many of these “first responder” teams were crewed by yabaa’d up lads charging around in a converted but somewhat knackered pick up with low profile tyres.... and they’d get into occasional gun fights with competing first response crewes too !!! Haven’t seen them in this neck of the woods for a while, they seem to have been replaced by hospital ambulances... don’t know about the rest of the country though

 

 

Sent from my toaster using Thaivisa Connect

 

[ChrisY1]

2 hours ago, ukrules said:

Do you realise that it takes at least a year of full time training to become a paramedic ?

24 hrs training here, but soon to be  40hrs!.....

Hope I never have an accident that requires these medics to attend me!

[r136dg]

My wife trains these guys. The transition from 24 hours to 40 was implemented years ago. But that's only 1 week of training for these guys. Anyone with a spinal injury is screwed! I sure as hell wouldn't want to end up in one of those trucks.

[thhMan]

I thought they where just motorbike taxi guys that just moved up in the world...
 

[samsensam]

 

having seen these guys in action in bangkok the first thing i would suggest is that they calm down, they often seem hyped up and even excited, compare to paramedics back home who place great emphasis on being calm and and ensuring those involved in any accident also remain calm and reassured

[George Bowman]

Lousy pic from many years ago, but it shows the patient on the backboard. The medics dragged him out of the street and over the curb first. The police wanted to keep the traffic moving.

Edited December 6, 2017 by missoura

[sammieuk1]

I wonder how many times its been said he was very lucky to survive the crash unfortunately he died on the way to hospital .

[tifino]

Why don't they simply admit it?

 

- that they need all the extra 15hrs per that they can get! 

 

 to have a fighting chance to get the amended CPR procedure; 

of (Compression Only No Puffs)

 

into their heads...

[wvavin]

They don't really need a lot of skill on the job because 90% of their job is collecting dead bodies in accidents.

[8OA8]

40 hrs training for the first responders and how much effort will be put into educating every driver on the road to make way for the ambulance sitting behind them in gridlocked traffic

[tracker1]

So FR have had previously 24 hours training most seem determined to get their commission from delivering whoever to the hospital of their choice !

[Bluespunk]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

“I am worried that the new rule imposed by the NIEMS will not suit the reality in Thailand,” Kusolsattha Surat Thani Foundation member Nitisak Boonmanont said recently. 

Then change the reality. 

[wonder6281]

Training should be on going to skill these people up to a better standard. 

[Katipo]

4 hours ago, Get Real said:

You do understand that this article states that the existing paramedics needs more training and education to have the possibility to be called properly trained?

Yes, and that the Foundations are resisting such additional training. I would have thought they'd leap at the chance. Then I remembered they are not really in it to save lives.

And 40 hours? That's a week of training. A week! McDonald's workers go through more training than that (really).

[blackcab]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

They can only provide pre-hospital care and wait for more advanced teams to handle the transportation. 

 

I wonder how this will affect the statistics for road traffic desths?

 

More people counted as dead at the scene, and less people dying at hospital?

[hobobo]

1 hour ago, samsensam said:

 

having seen these guys in action in bangkok the first thing i would suggest is that they calm down, they often seem hyped up and even excited, compare to paramedics back home who place great emphasis on being calm and and ensuring those involved in any accident also remain calm and reassured

And having established whether the patient is dead or alive, the next step is often taking some pics on their smart phone.

[soistalker]

I saw an accident on pattaya klang a few months ago. The lead paramedic, I.e. the guy working, was a white guy. I didn't take note of the company though.

[sawadee1947]

Try "learning by doing". Some more than 30 Tsd fatal deaths a year....who cares

[nahkit]

3 hours ago, Chris Lawrence said:

Minimum of 40 hrs training? That's 1 week of school work. They are not ready for this amount of intense training. Your kidding.

According to the op, they are already supposed to have had 24 hrs of training so it's only actually an additional 16 hrs which makes the statement that they are not ready for this even worse.

[robblok]

22 minutes ago, Katipo said:

Yes, and that the Foundations are resisting such additional training. I would have thought they'd leap at the chance. Then I remembered they are not really in it to save lives.

And 40 hours? That's a week of training. A week! McDonald's workers go through more training than that (really).

I think they are resisting no longer being able to transport people to the hospitals thus losing part of their income (they get commission for bringing people in) I doubt the education is the problem it might be used as an excuse. 

 

The new rule introduced by the NIEMS will prevent FR teams from transporting patients to medical facilities. 

 

It also might be bad for patients, im not sure how many ambulances there are that are allowed to bring people in.

[edwardflory]

I was a Safety Tech in a oil refinery in the States.  For EMT-B ( BLS )

We were required to take:

 

 A 21 week, 4 hour a day, 5 days a week EMT course. Class limit 20. 

Example of our training: We spent 1 week on the heart and the sounds - hands on, 1 week on the lungs and the sounds - hands on, 1 week in CPR class and  required to take BOTH the Red Cross and American Heart Institute CPR taining outside class time and be certified. Pass the school test.

A 2 day COMPANY EMT test with the passing grade being 90 - FAR ABOVE the EMT national standards, 12 hour test.

Also Company Training with certification in Hazmat First responder upgrading to Command Level, 40 hours and additional 8 hours Company training, 2 hour test for both.

3 different OHSA courses of our choice and pass.

 

Then take the State and National EMT test and pass BOTH - normal pass grade.

 

It doesn't take a year, it takes Qualified Instructors and a Company that sets Ultra High Standards.

 

 

Edited December 6, 2017 by edwardflory