1st responder
 

Was thinking about becoming a 1st responder. Anyone know the requirements or what it takes to become one ? My dad is an EMT-P and I always see accidents and stop to help. This past Sunday a lady locked her car up to miss a deer and flipped 6-8 times. I got out to help and the trooper actually got onto me for stopping and helping because I had no certification. Im the kind of person who likes to help anyone who needs it and I think being a 1st responder would be for me. Any help from anyone is appreciated on what to expect, etc. Blood, gore doesnt bother me.

We get certified for work and they tell you not to help anyone without getting their permission first. Can set yourself up for a lawsuit. Best bet would be to join volunteer fire dept where they would take care of getting you certified.

Thanks for the help.

If i am not mistaken.... the Good Summaritan Law protects people from such lawsuits. Alot of people are misinformed and therefore are hesitant to help.

Yeah I don't know the law, just repeating what instructor told us. Don't take it as gospel.

Good Samaritan protects those without training. If you have training it is a different standard.

First responder is a broad term Jordan. Best bet is to join a volunteer FD. That is probably the only way you will get any training.

If you have specific questions, post them and I will answer them.

You could definitely join up with a local volunteer department. That way they would more than likely cover the expense of the class. I believe the first responder class is around a 58hr class and the next step up is Basic EMT which is around 150hrs.
The problem with acting without a certification these days is opening yourself up for the lawsuits. Louisiana has the Good Samaritan Laws which protect people who are trying to help in the event of an emergency but I believe it is real limited in what it will protect you from.
Even once you do get certified you must still act within your scope of practice. This means you are still limited to certain things when giving help. It's a great thing t get into I have been certified both first respo see an EMT for the better part of ten years now.
Let me know if you have any other questions.

Johnny you are correct. You must identify yourself and ask for their permission to treat them.

Just reread your post. You are talking about medical first responder. The only way you can get the training is to be a member of a FD, rescue squad, etc.

The base is covered by full time FD. Mike Kuk was the Chief there. He is familiar with volunteers, but I think he may have just retired. If he is there, go talk to him and tell him I told you to.

Don't know how old u r but if you like that kind of work try applying to a career fire dept,one that has paid firemen,ambulances etc.I've been in the fire service for 19 years and it's the best.You can help people and make a living at the same time.

Yeah Jude I am only "medic / first aid certified" whatever that means. Check for a pulse and do CPR or stop bleeding. Not much else. With all the blood borne stuff these days I don't know if I could work on a stranger. You guys who are full timers have my respect.

This is the situation. A deer ran out in front of a lady about 60 yard in front of me. She locked up the brakes and flipped like a nascar driver. Lady was wearing seatbelt. I stopped and got knife and 1st aid bag (that my dad put together for me; bandages, tape, scissors, flares, 4x4's, etc) and ran to help. Lady was trapped in the seatbelt and I asked her if she needed help. Lady was in a "daze" and I was just fixing to cut the seatbelt and she got out of it. She pulled herself out of the passenger side broken window because the car was laying on its side. She got out and I put a blanket over her because she said she was cold. Lady had an open compound fracture (Bone sticking out? ) of her right arm and glass/road rash on her face. The trooper arrived 35 minutes later and got onto me for helping and threatened to write me a ticket for hindering an investigation. He told me he could arrest me for something else. I told him I was just helping.

im 27; not looking for a career change, but i live on a dangerous rd and sometimes find myself in situations on where I feel the need to help.

Had the case been serious they would possibly be investigating a death instead of a crash!!! Good for you Jordan. stand up for what you think is right.

Good job helping out because there's a lot of people that wouldn't have even stopped and as far as cop goes I would report him for being a *****.... I know that wouldn't do anything but then again cops like that give them all bad names

I was nice to the trooper and said "next time, it might be someone in your immediate family and I won't stop to help because you told me not to".

I would join a VFD and get the certs from them.... Been a local VFD member for the last 8 years, and it's one of the best things I've every done in my life!! Makes you chest stick out a little after you've helped somebody. Just don't take any classes with JCredeur....... Dude sucks a fat one :p !!!!!!!J/J

First of all, he can't arrest you for rendering aid at the scene of an accident when no one else is there. Secondly, the Good Samaritan Law protects you as long as you don't treat someone outside of your training level. Ex. If you go McGyver on someone and try to give them a tracheotomy with a straw. Covering someone with a blanket and monitoring someone who was most likely in shock was well within your rights Jordan and GOOD FOR YOU for stopping!!

Kinda worried cause I had a flexible splint I put against her arm and lightly taped her arm to splint to stabilize it. Emts that arrived on scene said I did an awesome job and gave me some free supplies like a new pair of scissors, splints, more tape. New 4x4's,etc

That is basic first aid and you did good Pookie, don't let that jerk worry you!

I don't think the trooper could have ticketed you for anything unless you would have moved the vehicle or taken something from the occupants of the vehicle to hide it for them.

Our department is strictly volunteer and we often have bystanders on scene before we arrive helping and have never had a trooper get cross with anyone willing to help. Usually he questions the witnesses that stopped to help and lets them on their way after getting a statement.

Kudos to you stopping to help the lady until fire/medical arrived.


Warren

I totally understand and tip my hat to you for what you did,if a career in this doesn't intrest you then you shoul join a VFD and get some training through them.Good Luck

he never took my information. He said " you seen the accident" ?, I let him know exactly what happened (deer jumping in front of her and her locking the car up) He then told me that I saved her a ticket and I (trooper) could give you (me) a ticket for hindering a vehicular crash investigation and there was something else that i cant recall. I wanna say it was providing aide w/o proper identification ??? Not sure. I just thought he was being a ****head and throwing out his ego. Im just glad i was able to help what little I did and that the lady was ok.

I know it's not all of them but I have to say there are always troopers out there who don't see eye to eye not only with bystanders but also other emergency agencies..... In my experience as long as the trooper can write a few tickets and not get his shiny shoes muddy they won't mess with you. Again I know its not all but there are definitely a few out there!
Like Matt said it is a great feeling to help and to be involved in your community and a VFD is a great way to do that. There is great training opportunities out there for the volunteers. You just need to take the initiative to go after the training.

are there any tests (physically or mentally) that needs to be taken in order to get on as a VFF ?

Probably going to vary from dept. to dept,we have written and physical agility tests for our paid FF but not volunteers,they only have to make so many trainings.

Not to join depending on the department. Now when it comes to the different certifications there are written and practical tests that go along with getting the cert. Nothing too too bad a little studying and practice along with some real world experience and you should be fine.

Well before we judge too much, lets schedule something besides Hazmat Ops!! Lol.... I think the Flashover rotates into Lafayette in April. We'll see then how fun my classes can be! Lol.... I don't think there is anyone in the History of the Fire Service who thoroughly enjoined basic Hazmat classes! Lol

Uhhh, beg to differ.

My classes were great.:grinpimp:

one other question..... Does it help or hurt to know someone in order to join the force ?? I know people in the 2 surrounding towns that are on the FD and get paid for it. Do I go in and ask to talk to the cheif specifically or who would I approach and talk with in order to ask them about being a VFF ?

Chief.

Jordan, check out this link

http://sfm.dps.louisiana.gov/sfm_directory.htm

And the chief in Rosepine is still Donnie Marshall.

If you know someone in the department, doesn't hurt to talk to them first. I guarantee the Chief is going to ask if anyone in the department knows you.

thanks Jude !!

Lol..... But you have to admit in comparison to Extrication or fire suppression Hazmat can be a dry subject.... But like I always say, are we here for education or entertainment!

Jordan, first and foremost, thanks for helping the lady when she crashed! You did right by stopping and assisting how you saw fit. As a former full time paramedic/fire fighter, and now part time cop...........one thing stands in my mind! An old Captain of mine at a sheriff department I worked for told me the last week of the academy for LSP was spent on teaching them to be A**holes. Take it for what it is worth, because he retired after 30 years with them.

It boils down to people. I have never seen a trooper give me or anyone else trouble at a scene, but have heard stories. I would hope it is an isolated incident. If you want to discuss it further, call 337-491-2513 and askf or the desk sargent. Tell him you would like to discuss the incident to see what you did wrong. I would bet the young trooper would apologize and come up with something you said or did that made him respond like that. Quite possibly, it is all caught on tape if his light bar was activated.

Now, I have had to get loud with some bystanders that were trying to do too much, or were doing something detrimental to the patient. For instance, pulling someone out of a car because there is "smoke". Air bags produce a smoke when deployed, but that is the powder they are packed in. I do not want patients moved until the EMS crew gets there - period. Of course that goes out the window in case of fire, or drowning needless to say.

And, if you live in a rural area, and have the stomach to handle accident scenes, then please put in an application to the local volunteer service of your area. Without them, the communities have nothing.

Hey man I take what they pay for.... We gotta save that money cause we getting a new truck!!! And for the record your 1403 class was very informative and we ate good during it! Bring your box cause I ain't skerd..... I melted one helment already, what's another one!

Suspension for destroying dept property:shaking:

Does LSU supply the helmet protectors for the flashover?

He (the trooper) has pulled me over a time or 2. His vehicle was about 70 yards from the accident. He stopped in the curve to use his vehicle as a warning to others. People drive 100+mph on my rd and these accidents happen all the time. The lady pulled herself out of her vehicle with a broken arm, then wanted a cigarette.

We had the Departments Supply tin foil to cover the helmets.
We did multiple burns in St Landry and Acadia parish this passed December and we were able to get multiple "flashes" for each group without it being unbearably hot. We are not allowed to see how " hot" we can get it anymore...lol... I used a Cairns 1010 from My VFD and didn't have it wrapped and didn't melt it. Now my SCBA mask didn't fare as well. But I guess I had that Moth effect when we saw fire..

Do not allow one negative interaction inhibit your desire to help....There is nothing he could have charged you with....at all...You were, IN FACT, covered by the good samaritan act...You don't need to worry about that, as it is apparent you have very little knowlege and no organized training at this time. You have a desire to help and in the absence of trained individuals, I would welcome you to do whatever you could to help me or my family...That comment he made to you is a fine example of what is wrong with the world today. If you have someone's best interest at heart and have the desire to help, definately do that and persue formal training from your local volunteer fire dept. That is how I got my start and I'm sure FFF and others as well. We need more people that want to help...The mere fact that you said she was dazed and confused means that you had what is called implied consent...Keeping someone's c-spine in place manually until help arrives, stopping any major bleeding, keeping the person warm and someone to talk to, to maintain consiousness is more than enough on most occasions...Kudos to Acadian for encouraging and re-stocking you...Life and limb are to be handled first before preservation of any accident investigation. He was probably a shiney new boot that hasn't been on the street long...He too will get over it, especially if/when he rolls that suburban late one night and some guy comes to help him out...Trust me, he won't care what class you had been to or what certification you held, the fact that someone was there with him, when he needed them, will be all that matters...He's got a little seasoning yet to do!

Thanks Frank. I dont mind helping, just dont want to get arrested for being a good person trying to help out a little. Now if they would give me my flare I used (only thought it was necessary because of the road). Its about 4 "s" curves marked at 35mph. No straight away's, just left, right, left, right, left, right, etc. Its a bad curve and people take them 60,70,80+ all the time. This lady was under the speed limit (which is 55) because I was doing just under 50 when I seen her start rolling (and I was gaining on her a little). I told her, "next time, hit the damn deer, it aint worth dying over". She was in good spirits. I did keep "c-spine" in place until more help arrived. More good sumaritans, which turned out to be her mother, father and daughter, of all people was behind me after she flipped. Had dad hold c-spine while I attended her compound open fracture (im assuming this is the correct term) since her arm was broken in half and bone sticking out. Like I said, I splinted it as best I knew how until EMS got there. Felt good to get an "attaboy" from EMS for the splint job. Only part I felt bad about was not giving her a cigarette. I told her she would get one at the ER later.

Them LSU boys know how to light a fire in their box!!!! My portable was my fault though. I didn't have it secured and dropped it in a large hay fire.... It didn't make it.

Well, keep a pack of smokes with you from now on! LOL I was hit by a car on my crotch rocket in 2000 and, it was the first thing I asked for after making sure my arms and legs hadn't "traded places" from the force of the impact!

BTW, it was good samaritans that were first on the scene to help me. I would love to remember who they were and shake their hands for keeping me from losing my mind! I can testify as to how comforting it is to hear words, even from a stranger, when two seconds prior you thought you were as good as dead.

My hat is off to you and, keep up the good work. You've got my number if ya ever need bail $ for helping a fellow citizen!