Breaking News: Paramedics are saving lives
When you open a newspaper or view an online news site and see a headline that contains Ambulance or Paramedic you usually expect to find yourself reading a piece of journalistic embellishment regarding one of three topics:
- Dirty Ambulances
- Waiting times
- Paramedic struck off
Imagine my surprise when on this occasion I open up my bookmarks, click on Times Online and am presented with the headline – Murder rate drops as Paramedics get better at keeping people alive.
Finally a bit of recognition for the life saving skills that Paramedics and Technicians possess rather than being slated for not making the 8 minute target for somebody that has faked unconsciousness meanwhile somebody’s 50 year old mother lies on the floor in asystole.
The basic outline of the article is that although violent crime is at an all time high the number of deaths are at a 20 year low, a trend that is due mainly to the increased skill set of Paramedics, better equipment and faster response times.
Brian Moore, Chief Constable of Wiltshire, said that police believe that the main reason for the fall in murders is the speed at which paramedics now arrive at incidents.
He said: “We would say it is the faster and better application of medical skills and science by paramedics. They now get to the scenes of crimes very quickly. Faster medical engagement and the paramedic approach is a fact all of my colleagues mention as the key reason for the fall in the number of murders.” Mr Moore, the Association of Chief Police Officers’ spokesman on violence and public protection, said that the communications revolution was also helping to save lives. In the past it could take between 30 and 45 minutes for help to arrive at the scene of a violent incident but now paramedics are often there within 15 minutes, he said.
Paramedics are using fast cars, motorbikes and even helicopters to get to crime scenes. Mr Moore said: “People have mobile phones and so they can call the emergency services more quickly than in the past. The paramedics can get to the scenes more speedily, can stabilise the casualty and take immediate steps to protect life.
“They can open up somebody’s chest, work on the wound, sew it up there and then.”
Source: Times Online
I’m not so sure about the last sentence, maybe he’s referring to a Doctor there?
I’m just happy to see that after months of only ever reading about the negatives of the Ambulance service we finally have some well deserved recognition. A pat on the back to Richard Ford the Times correspondent and Brian Moore, Chief Constable of Wiltshire.
What do you think of the story? Do the press focus too much on the negatives with little regard for the tremendous efforts that 99% of the Ambulance service put in?
My biggest fear from reading that is that the politicians will read it and go “Excellent – way to bring down the murder rate? Lets cut the ORCON target to 6 minutes…the faster we force our ambulances to be there the better we’ll look!”
I was surprised to read that Paramedics had been praised for something! Well done for finding it.
My local service (before the snow) were in the press for a negative reason every week for about 6 weeks….
….and I don’t think that we are that bad!
Why is it that paramedics get struck off for the most minor things (e.g. having a blazing row with another motorist when off duty) whereas most other health professionals seem to have to try really hard to get chucked out?
I think paramedics should be praised more often for the great work you guys do! Glad one media outlet could finally take the time to recognize it.