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As a Paramedic with 18 years experience, I can tell you the sudden rush of fear, adrenalin and excitement can put the most calm, cool person in a state of mental flux
that can impair memory, judgment and what you used to call common sense.

The most important inforequired by a Disptcher is like the real-estate axiom, location, location, location! If at all possible have someone meet the EMS on the street, on the highway, (safely of course), or if at night in rural area have a car flash their lights when they see the Ambulance. This applies to incidents where the victim is believed to be in critical condition and is brought in to the city in a private vehicle. While I'm reluctant to recommend this, as you can do much damage to a victim with neck, spinal or head injuries by moving them.

PLEASE,take the time and attend a First Aid Course! It is always the basics,
Airway, Breathing Circulation, then bleeding fractures etc. Give as clear of a description as possible, i.e., Sex, age, breathing, obvious mode of injury,history,i.e. heart patient, diabetic etc. This helps us prepare our equipment en-route in some cases. Most people with Medical issues will have a Medic-Alert on
the wrist opposite their wath hand. Or some wear it as a necklace. I want to point out that as a bystander with or withput First- Aid, you are protected from lawsuits
bt the Good Samaritan Act.

ALWAYS ensure it is safe for you to approach a victim, so we don't have 2 patients.........! Someone should take charge, i.e. send somebody to meet/signal ambulance, direct traffic until Police arrive etc. (This also helps calm bystanders. Remember to ask if anyone knows first-aid... this will, by virtue of their training put them in charge until we arrive.
After our arrival, the Patient reverts to the "Highest Trained Person on Scene"

Never move a Patient that hasn't been examined and immobilized, to prevent worsening the injury, or in rare cases causing death, unless to fail to do so may cause further injury or death to the Victim

At the risk of redundancy, we cannot help those we can't find! So please get the addresss right, stay Safe..stay Calm.

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