Mistreatment of skydivers by EMTs

[KillerKimmy 0]

You know the story I'm sure we're all familiar with the horrible treatment of skydivers once they are in the hands of the EMTs and then the hospitals. I was reminded of this amazing attitude again this weekend when a fellow jumper hurt himself and onlookers heard one woman say "thats what happens when you jump out of a plane".

Though this is by far one of the nicest treatments I beared witness too, it did just remind me of the previous treatment of other friends in need. A nurse forcing a skydiver into a sitting position when they knew she had broken her back in several places. Then what she said afterwards was a kicker "Thats what you get when you skydive".

What I'm looking for is some advice as to how to handle this. Will going to the papers help? Is there any way to approach them that might make them more interested in what I have to say on the side of the jumpers? Also I heard a place called Jako, something like that, will come down hard on hospitals if they hear of mistreatment within a hospital. Can anyone get me information on that?

Thanks
Captain Kim

[pilotdave 0]

You really believe that injured skydivers get worse medical treatment than people injured in other ways? Attitudes toward skydiving are one thing... they can say what they want (they're right anyway, aren't they?), but actual medical mistreatment is another thing. Prove it, sue, and expect really quick response after the next skydiver gets what he has coming...

Dave

[Silverchic 0]

That's terrible! I hurt myself about 3 months ago and I did get some comments but all of the nurses and doctors were fantastic! I even managed to convince some of them to try it (by putting their life in the hands of our TM - not ME!).

I don't know whether this is just because it is a small town or not - but still, skydivers don't deserve that!

How is it that we put man on the moon before we figured out it would be a good idea to put wheels on luggage?

[skydivermom 0]

I left the dropzone in an ambulance on my very first AFF jump. I wasn't injured because of the jump, I just went into shock and had a bit of vertigo, but they were super sweet to me. They even babied me a bit when they had to start the IV (I HATE IVs)

When I got to the hospital the only feedback I got in relation to skydiving was a bunch of jokes. If anyone would have treated me badly, they would have been glad they were already in a hospital

[Silverchic 0]

Oh no! That's even worse! Did it happen to you again? Or just one bad hit and it was over and done with?

How is it that we put man on the moon before we figured out it would be a good idea to put wheels on luggage?

[diablopilot 2]

I'd say your DZ needs to work on it's relationship with the local EMTs.

The DZ's I've called home have had great relationships, even going so far as to allow us to visit them and give breifings on the best way to remove gear from an injured person, rather than just cutting it off first.

----------------------------------------------
You're not as good as you think you are. Seriously.

[mjosparky 4]

I spent 30 years as an EMT and Firefighter. When you jump out of airplanes you are going to get off the wall comments. After all not many people do it.

Quote

A nurse forcing a skydiver into a sitting position when they knew she had broken her back in several places.

This I find hard to believe. If it in fact happened, did the jumper mention it to anyone at the time? If so who and did she follow up on it. If it did happen as you say, the nurse knew her back was broken and made her sit up just to inflict pain, how come your friend has not talked with an attorney.

As a patient you are sometimes asked or required to do things you may not like but are for treatment or for the purpose of diagnosis. Just because someone does not understand what the reasons are does not make it contraindicated.

I call "Bull shit"

Sparky

My idea of a fair fight is clubbing baby seals

[airtwardo 7]

And don't forget to tip your EMT 20% of the total bill!

~ If you choke a Smurf, what color does it turn? ~

[jbrasher 1]

I'd have to agree with Sparky.

All the times I've been picked up I was treated very well.
God bless EMTs and especially nurses

Red, White and Blue Skies,

John T. Brasher D-5166

[Travman 6]

The nurse was fine to me when I frapped in. They did the usual "Why were you jumping out of a plane at night time", but got good treatment. The nurse even called me later that night to see how I was feeling.

[riddler 0]

The few times I've seen EMT treatment of jumpers, they were professional and courteous. But your references are for a bystander and a nurse, not EMTs. Everyone who's been in the hospital a few times has had at least one bad nurse. And bystanders - well, they're bystanders, so who cares?

Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD

[anewempire 0]

doctors will always give you crap. i rode dirt bikes hardcore for 5 years. only 4 broken bones over the whole time but 3 of them were all within the same year. broken wrist... 6 months later nearly to the day i cracked a vertebre in my back... 6 months later nearly to the day after that i broke my collar bone. then about 8 months later i was back in physical theropy for my back and then 2 months later i was back there with a broken foot. my doctor gave me crap every time i went in there. they just don't understand. it's not about the risks. we have goals. our hearts are into these things the way their hearts are into working on people. how can i live without having goals and determination? i'm at that point right now where i don't really have anything to put my determination into and i'm just floating by until opportunites arise. i thank the doctors for their work and we do get crap but you can't blame them for not understanding why it is that we do the things we do

[artistcalledian 0]

It's all true

i once witnessed a doctor forcing a skydiver to walk who had two broken legs... he said "that will teach you to go and enjoy yourself"

and what about the doctor who cut off both arms of a skydiver he was heard to say "that will teach you to go and have fun, try doing it now..biiiiatch"

________________________________________
drive it like you stole it and f*ck the police

[sunshine 2]

I've never seen bad treatment like that. All the times i've seen EMT's at the dropzone (which is a lot ), they've been very professional and very nice. Both times i was hauled off in an ambulance i was treated very well.

___________________________________________
meow

I get a Mike hug! I get a Mike hug!

[selbbub78 0]

Quote

That's terrible! I hurt myself about 3 months ago and I did get some comments but all of the nurses and doctors were fantastic! I even managed to convince some of them to try it (by putting their life in the hands of our TM - not ME!).

I don't know whether this is just because it is a small town or not - but still, skydivers don't deserve that!

the same thing happened to me the 2 times i hurt myself! They were wonderful both times (2 different locations), and a bunch of them planned on trying it!

CReW Skies,

"Women fake orgasms - men fake whole relationships" – Sharon Stone
"The world is my dropzone" (wise crewdog quote)
"The light dims, until full darkness pierces into the world."-KDM

[Leapfreak 0]

"Also I heard a place called Jako, something like that, will come down hard on hospitals if they hear of mistreatment within a hospital."

Calling JCAHO or Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations will only work if the hospital pays for their accreditation. Hospitals pay JCAHO for their accreditation for Medicare and the such.

[NickDG 23]

This works both ways. I've heard EMTs ask skydivers standing around an injured jumper what happened, and they answer, "he didn't flare." Like an EMT is going to understand that . . .

Then the same skydivers get overly concerned about a rig being cut off the injured.

On the other hand most expereinced EMTs around a big DZ know what's up as they've been out on similar calls many times.

NickD BASE 194

[KillerKimmy 0]

Quote

You really believe that injured skydivers get worse medical treatment than people injured in other ways? Dave

Yes Dave at my drop zone it is understood that this is what happens. Last year we wound up having a fatality. A jumper hit hard into the runway and was practically jelly. We have a few jumpers who were paramedics that were working on him until they handded it off to the paramedics who showed up. When they did, there was a lot of time wasted while they argued on who should do the cpr, and when one person was done holding the patients head, he just dropped him.

The reference to the girl who was forced to sit up while having a back injury did happen like 3-4 years ago (little after I started jumping), and to tell you the truth I would have tried to contact authorities if I understood what was happening. As far as I know, and I don't know much because it didn't happen to me, but nothing was done perhaps because nothing was said.

I'm glad you all have had great relationships with the local hospital and the paramedics. I wish having a better relationship with the paramedics would help, but being as sweet as pie to everyone doesn't seem to work. There seems to be a lot of political crap going on that I'm not fully knowledgeable about, but it's there. Local rock climbers that I've asked have never been chastised for their sport, neither have the snow boarders.

Before I write a book here, what I'm saying/venting is that paramedics should keep their comments and biased feelings out of their work. It takes a lot to ride in that ambulance and see injury after injury, deal with the politics, and still have a smile on your face. But being nasty and hurtful towards someone because you disagree with their choice of sport, is just plain malicious.

Oh and thanks for the JCAHCO

[tigra 0]

As you can see from the responses you got, your area seems to be an anomoly. I've never experienced or seen anything but completely professional care.

[mailin 0]

My DZ is very friendly with the EMTs and Police in the town - the police even use a parachutist as their logo.

An elderly member of my DZ came down from a jump and was sitting in the packing area when he passed a blood clot in his lung and was dying. Member of the staff were there to help him immediately, while waiting for the EMTs

I have never seen such passe action by the EMTs in my life - they had to make several trips back to the ambulance (which for some odd reason they had parked far away from the packing area) to get equipment - and they WALKED back - not running.

I've never been so aggrivated by EMTs in my life. Does this have to be a skydiver specific thing? I"m not sure, but it left a sour taste in my mouth regarding the EMTs in that town. I hope I never require their services...


Jen

Arianna Frances

[dharma1976 0]

I convinced the guy who took my X-Rays to come skydiving the next summer ;)

and he did

Cheers

Dave

http://www.skyjunky.com

CSpenceFLY - I can't believe the number of people willing to bet their life on someone else doing the right thing.

[Airman1270 0]

I broke an ankle while playing softball in high school (outfield collision.) Several years later I broke my other ankle on my first jump (brain fart on the PLF.) The same doctor treated me both times. After the jumping injury, he strayed from his field of expertise by commenting that I shouldn't be jumping out of airplanes. I asked him why he didn't tell me to give up baseball. He didn't have an answer.

On another occasion I witnessed an injury. The jumper had a bad landing on the grass near the runway. The EMT staff was doing their thing while the Otter slowly circled the DZ. When someone asked one of them to move their vehicle so the plane could land, he received a boatload of attitude, something along the lines of "we're helping your friend, etc. etc." However, I did not think the question was unreasonable. They had plenty of people there, and the injured guy was being treated. Several EMT's were standing around watching. It would not have compromised their professional efforts if one of them broke away from the group briefly and moved the truck.

It was neat watching that Otter, though. That thing can fly almost as slowly as a hot air balloon.

Cheers,
Jon S.

[skydivermom 0]

***Did it happen to you again? Or just one bad hit and it was over and done with?

__________________________________________________
I shouldn't have jumped that day. I had just gotten over an ear infection and I guess it wasn't completely healed. I had never jumped without anyone strapped to me and I was completely unstable the whole skydive. I believe that is what scared me so bad. I have not had a problem with stability since

Mrs. WaltAppel

All things work together for good to them that love God...Romans 8:28

[mjosparky 4]

Quote

My DZ is very friendly with the EMTs and Police in the town - the police even use a parachutist as their logo.

An elderly member of my DZ came down from a jump and was sitting in the packing area when he passed a blood clot in his lung and was dying. Member of the staff were there to help him immediately, while waiting for the EMTs

I have never seen such passe action by the EMTs in my life - they had to make several trips back to the ambulance (which for some odd reason they had parked far away from the packing area) to get equipment - and they WALKED back - not running.

I've never been so aggrivated by EMTs in my life. Does this have to be a skydiver specific thing? I"m not sure, but it left a sour taste in my mouth regarding the EMTs in that town. I hope I never require their services...

Jen

Did you follow up with a call to the manager/owner of the company? If you felt their action was that bad, why not? You just might need their services.

If anyone has a story about what they feel was terrible service from a first responder company and do not follow up on it they are part of the problem.

Sparky

My idea of a fair fight is clubbing baby seals

[rsmn17 0]

That's terrible! I'm a nursing student graduating this month and I would NEVER do or say anything like that! I've had lots of patients who have been hurt and I think to myself, "why did u do that"? But I would NEVER say anything to them about it or treat them any differently. IMO, people like this should look for a different job!