Rescue Workers

[Starlifter]

The other day while traveling south toward Khon Kaen I noticed an overturned pickup truck (apparently blown tire while overloaded with vestables). It look like the accident had just happened minutes earlier. There were several individuals standing around and one man on the ground with an apparent head injury. Continuing south (i was a passenger) I notice at least three POV " rescue vechile, lights flashing heading to the scene. It got me thinking how does the emergency response process work in Thailand? Are these individuals strictly volunteers with minimum training? Are they paid for their services? Is it first on scene who gets paid? Is there a certification process for those who provide this service. Let me say I'm very appreciated of anyone who comes to aid of others. Hopefully there is good training as it is possible to cause more injuries (neck, spine etc.) if not careful.

[tonywebster]

As ex police I am aware how to deal with accident victims and in my 5 years in Thailand I have only seen one of the volunteer teams once at an accident treating someone (I have seen many accidents but normally before or after they arrive and not during treatment). It would be fair to say that the arrival followed by immediately lifting the injured person who screamed in pain left a bad taste in the mouth.

That said I am sure they can't all be that bad, if I recall rightly one of these teams also has a western guy working with them, but I would never expect the same type of training for either the volunteers or hospital ambulances that people get in the west.

[Starlifter]

Again, I applaud anyone who steps forward to assist in emergencies. I was just wandering as I have seen these vehicles with the RESCUE wording and lights and some with no emergency lights. I guess it's like volunteer fire fighters we have in the states. I have also witnessed marked ambulances with lights flashing trying to get through traffic and individuals not yielding the right of way to them. This is something I found odd.

[noahvail]

These 'rescue' folk get paid by the hospital for bringing in the victim. And I do mean victim. In this province, gunfights have broken out between responders who want the fee. Not a calming influence on the patient.

I was very surprised last week. I actually saw a rescue pickup with a backboard, b/p machine, and stretcher in addition to a sizable first response kit.

Up to this point, I'd never even seen a backboard in any of these trucks. And the kit I carry is a good deal more comprehensive than the J&J 1,200 baht kit they run with. I come from a medical background, but never took more than a basic Red Cross first aid course. But I did a lot of climbing in my younger days, and Medicine for Mountaineering book came in handy on more occasions than I'd like to tell; and an ex-wife who was 2IC of our local rescue organization. (Ah, the good old days when I'd direct traffic as she tried to pry some poor sod's forehead off a windshield while trying to stabilize the head.)

Sad thing is, it has been explained to me in no uncertain terms that I do not stop for accidents or injuries. I am told by hospital types it is the fastest way for a foreigner to get slapped with a civil suit - or a visit by the BiB.

Of course, I'm just in a little town 3 kms north-east of nowhere. The cities near me have hospital based ambulances that are well-staffed and well-equipped. I just hope I never have to be in the back of one of those pickups.