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billybeat t1_ixxv13m wrote

Unless you flashed your official I’m an EMT credentials. The staff did exactly what they were supposed to do. They have no idea who you are.

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Salutatorian t1_ixxx937 wrote

> palpated a weak irregular carotid but they quickly went pulseless

Especially if op is touching the person. As an EMT, how would they react showing up to a scene and random people are all over the person they're supposed to treat? In a space that already has contracted medical service providers, letting people from the crowd jump in unprompted could be seen as a big liability.

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Kyrthis t1_ixy0y2p wrote

Good Samaritan laws cover the rescuer, and medically-trained people recognize each other by the handoff they give. I’ve begun an EMS work up on a train with no tools, praying I wouldn’t have to start CPR before we reached the next station, and gave a quick EMS/ALS history on a patient with an allergic reaction affecting his tongue. Sweeping airways are a bitch when you have no tools. An OD, you can breathe for them until someone arrives with an ambu-bag.

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aguafiestas t1_ixxyi7o wrote

I don't know if this is what they are "supposed" to do by their job description, but it is bad for the person who is in cardiac arrest. Bystander CPR is better than no CPR at all, and based on OP's description it seems that while an EMT was on the premises, they weren't with the person in cardiac arrest.

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New_Land4575 t1_ixxyr2b wrote

This is the only response. Time to compressions and narcan is the vital difference between rehab and the donor pool

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abigdumbrocket t1_ixyz2cj wrote

Going to second this as the best response. While high-quality chest compressions take practice, it isn't rocket science and even if someone had no idea what they're doing, anything is better than nothing. If someone's heart isn't beating their brain is dying by the second. It's not like if you did the worst CPR in the world you could hasten their rapidly advancing brain death.

To OP, I understand your frustration. I had a similar experience years ago. If you feel guilty, try not to. You did what you could with what you had. Thank you.

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oramirite t1_ixy1ir0 wrote

That's extremely fair, but we can't use this as a reason to overlook the obvious carelessness on the venues part here. OP was a qualified professional attempting to help in a situation they obviously saw being handled terrible, not to mention a life at risk. Terrible situation but don't get on the OP for being pissed they couldn't help. I don't get the vibe they're trashing the EMTs already there.

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