Stupid Laws

Over the weekend I read a story in the Journal Star that defies a lot of common sense. It delt with an emergency situation where a firefighter collapsed and appearently needed medical attention.

While on a routine call, the Dunlap Volunteer Fire Department arrived with 11 members including Chief John Doering. The call they received was a cardiac emergency call. As the firemen brought the patient out and wait for an ambulance, one of the firemen collapsed. Immediately, Doering radioed to see if there was an additional ambulance nearby and available. There was not.

Doering ordered a couple of his men, who were EMT-trained by the way, to transport the fallen firefighter to the hospital in one of their vehicles. Fortunately, the fireman was later released from Methodist after taking a number of tests and is fine. Unfortunately, the Peoria-Area Emergency Medical System (PAEMS) is throwing a big stink as they claim Doering violated state law by transporting a patient in a Dunlap Fire Protection District vehicle. Dunlap is not a licensed transport provider.

Good grief!! What was Chief Doering suppose to do; go to the neighbors house and ask for their vehicle to drive their injured firefighter to the hospital. How about leaving the patient they originally came to help behind and use the ambulance that was on the way for the firefighter?

This was an emergency situation. There were trained, qualified people taking care of the situation. If a patient needs to get to the hospital ASAP, and no ambulance is available, as was reported to Doering, then you should use whatever means are open. I know if I was the patient and every minute counted, I would want Chief Doering making the right decision to get me to the hospital rather than wait for the "proper" transportation.

Corrent me if I'm wrong, but it sounds to me PAEMS is a bureaucratic system with officials who have hardly been in the field, if at all. Sitting behind a desk all the time, they don't know what happens out there. In addition, they are probably afraid their missing a billable fee so then they have to do a lot of whining and complaining.

Common Sense of it All: Chief Doering made a logical decision, one that conflicted with a stupid law. Stupid laws originate from bureaucrats unfamiliar with the situation or subject matter. Stupid laws will always be broken eventually.