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Unneccessary rushes to the ER

Tue, 11/14/2006 - 04:29
What can ever be done to get local officials to understand that, in the case of a seizure, no rush to the hospital is necesary unless it has caused a severe injury or has become status epilepticus? In my hometown, I've long tried to explain to them that such a useless trip is only a waste of time and sometimes requires the expense of a cab fare upon dismissal from ER. I've already tried to prove my explanation by sharing a collection of EFA brochures with them. And they later thanked me for this and returned them, but they still haven't acknowledged the instructions of the proper way to deal with seizures. Therefore, they still pay no attention to the fact that once a seizure has ended, you're "back to normal" unless you were injured. How can I ever get them to follow the instructions on properly dealing with (or ignoring) a seizure?

Comments

Re: Unneccessary rushes to the ER

Submitted by wldhrt13 on Tue, 2006-11-14 - 08:51
Let me first preface my comment by saying that I am NOT defending the actions of the EMT’s etc… That being said, one reason why they must take you to the ER for an unessecary trip is LIABILITY. Let’s just say they let you stay home etc…You could be that one potential patient that 5 minutes after they leave, goes into another seizure, and then another and then another. You get the idea. They don’t want to be on a Dateline NBC expose, being interrogated as to why their ambulance company didn’t take the patient to the ER for examination; that their lack of action resulted in the patient’s death. They're only trying to protect their ass…ets from going into litigation.

Re: Unneccessary rushes to the ER

Submitted by sunshine4ever2006 on Tue, 2006-11-14 - 09:39
Sweetie as an EMT student who is on the brink of finishing, as well as a seizure patient. In order for the EMT's and Paramedics to let you go you have to be alert and oriented to person place and time. If you are not alert to that then they have to transport. I know it get's on your nerves it is hard. If an EMT were to leave you there they could losse their cert or liscence and never get to practice anywhere in the US. So be patient with them don't get to mad cause it is not their fault it is the standard of the country we live up to and alway's will be.

Re: Re: Unneccessary rushes to the ER

Submitted by wichitarick on Tue, 2006-11-14 - 10:23
hi this is my first response here. I have had seizures for 13/14 yrs and this is also the way I think BUT..... s4e is correct and this just happened to me recently My wife was in distress because it was my second one of the evening and they came for the second time, and I was saying the same thing and when they asked me where I was I told them a town about 50 mls away and my friends ph. no. oops bye bye. But it is better to do the right thing .when I first started having these ,they thought it was because of alcohol and dismissed me right away after a major g/m once I was sent home with three sedatives and I know now that this was entirely the wrong treatment and with the seizure meds could have killed me? It is better to ride it out and they tell me now I should wear a bracelet. take care Rick

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