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Let me first start by saying I've been an active member of a volunteer rescue squad for four years. I'm on my second term as Captain.

When an emergency situation arises it is important to step back and take a look at the whole picture before deciding on what to do. It is very important to make sure that you remain safe before helping someone in danger. If you get hurt who will call for 911. Scene safety is very important.

It is understandable that family members panic and call 911 asap for transport. What is really bothersome is that as soon as they call they take the patient themselves and sometimes do not even bother to call 911 back to say so. We are here to help and save people and if we are on the way to a patient's home to get there to find no one home we have wasted time for another call that could have made a difference. I know it very hard in an emergency situation to step back and view the situation as whole but it is beneficial in the end.

If you are ever in an emergency situation step back, take a deep breath and think of the following before calling 911:
Can I help patient to my vehicle?
Is patient going to wait for EMS?

I know that it seems like eternity for the squad to get to you. In reality it is not as long as you think. When you are waiting a minute feels like 10 minutes or longer. Please remember we are trying to get there as fast as we can. Your main objective is keep calm. Stay with the patient and do whatever is necessary to keep patient calm and comfortable. If you need to maintain airway or control bleeding please do so. It is nice if CPR is needed that you start it and not just stand there and wait. Please learn CPR. It will help in situations more than you can imagine.

Learn more about this author, Samantha L. Walton.
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