EMERGENCY SERVICE

A STUDY CONDUCTED BY UNIVERSITY OF IOWA'S BUREAU OF POLICE SCIENCE REVEALED A PROBLEM OF CRISIS PROPORTIONS IN THE AREA OF EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES IN THE STATE: HIRING AND TRAINING STANDARDS FOR AMBULANCE ATTENDANTS ARE EITHER NONEXISTENT OR TOO LAX; THE WITHDRAWAL OF PRIVATE AMBULANCE SERVICES (MOSTLY BY FUNERAL HOMES) FOR ECONOMIC REASONS ARE CAUSING A SHORTAGE OF AVAILABLE EMERGENCY UNITS; AND BECAUSE OF THESE WEAKNESSES, ACCIDENT VICTIMS WHOSE LIVES COULD BE SAVED ARE DYING EVEY YEAR. FOUR POSSIBLE ALTERNATIVES FOR SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM ARE DISCUSSED: (1) USE OF FEDERAL SUBSIDY, (2) PUBLIC SUPPORT TO PRIVATE OPERATORS, (3) USE OF MUNICIPAL POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENTS (REQUIRES INTENSIVE TRAINING BY PROFESSIONAL MEDICAL PERSONNEL) AND (4) VOLUNTEER AMBULANCE SERVICE FOR LOW POPULATION DENSITY AREAS. ANOTHER SOLUTION, WHICH IS REGARDED AS THE BEST, IS A COOPERATIVE SERVICE PROVIDED BY A GROUP OF HOSPITALS; HIGH- QUALITY AMBULANCE SERVICE IS AVAILABLE AT A REASONABLE CHARGE AND IS ECONOMICALLY FEASIBLE FOR THE HOSPITALS. THE SERVICE IS BASED ON THE AVAILABILITY OF AMBULANCE ORDERLIES; EACH HOSPITAL ORDERLY CARRIES A SMALL ELECTRONIC DEVICE BY WHICH EMERGENCY CALLS CAN BE RECEIVED. HE STOPS WHAT HE IS DOING AND RESPONDS. HE IS NOT ONLY PROPERLY DRESSED AND CAN GET TO THE EMERGENCY VEHICLE WITHIN A FEW MINUTES, BUT IS AN EXTENSIVELY TRAINED PERSON WHO IS CONSTANTLY LEARNING MORE. ALSO HIS EVERYDAY WORK IS A CONTINUOUS TRAINING GROUND. THIS SOLUTION IS ESPECIALLY APPLICABLE TO RURAL AREAS SO DESPERATELY IN NEED.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • Vol 17, No 12, PP 19-21, 1 PHOT
• Authors:
  • Sink, S
• Publication Date: 1969-12

Media Info

• Serial:
  • TRAFFIC DIGEST AND REVIEW
  • Publisher: Northwestern University, Evanston

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Cooperatives; Disasters and emergency operations; Emergency vehicles; Fatalities; Hazards and emergency operations; Hospitals; Injuries; Medical services; Traffic crashes; Training
• Subject Areas: Education and Training; Highways; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00220723
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Apr 20 1970 12:00AM