Photos - Peekskill Bicyclist Struck 8-22-14

[x635 4,066]

Peekskill Bicyclist Struck 8-22-14 13:40

Hudson Ave. @ South St

Peekskill VAC 75-B-1, 35-M-1, 35-M-2, Peekskill FD Rescue 134 and 2344, Peekskill PD

Lifestar 1 declined response due to weather

All photos by me.

[somebuffyguy 190]

Would Medevac really have been necessary in this situation? According to google maps its 21 minutes from that corner to the med center. Were there any circumstances that required it?

[16fire5 693]

Would Medevac really have been necessary in this situation? According to google maps its 21 minutes from that corner to the med center. Were there any circumstances that required it?

A valid question. When you take into account the time spent transferring a patient to the helicopter crew and their scene time ground transport is probably faster.

[FFEMT150 214]

Would Medevac really have been necessary in this situation? According to google maps its 21 minutes from that corner to the med center. Were there any circumstances that required it?

I have always been against calling the bird for anything other than a prolonged extrication in that area (13 years in the next town south from peekskill) for that reason. I can make it to WMC is about 25 min in my POV during the morning commute why wouldn't I be able to make it in the same time or faster with RLS? Ask me, too many people rely on ALS and medivacs.

[dave0820 50]

A valid question. When you take into account the time spent transferring a patient to the helicopter crew and their scene time ground transport is probably faster.

Maybe the injuries required the victim be taken to a trauma center and I don't believe the hospital in Peekskill is a trauma center. Med flight would be much faster to Westchester Medical then ground transport I would imagine.

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[FFEMT150 214]

Maybe the injuries required the victim be taken to a trauma center and I don't believe the hospital in Peekskill is a trauma center. Med flight would be much faster to Westchester Medical then ground transport I would imagine.

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From that area it's only about 20 min to WMC normal driving. The incident occurred less than 1 mile from the highway on ramp that would be used to travel to WMC. When you take in the time for the bird to land, the crew to do their assessment and time to load and take off, you haven't saved any real time as opposed to code 3 ground transport. Just my opinion.

[dave0820 50]

From that area it's only about 20 min to WMC normal driving. The incident occurred less than 1 mile from the highway on ramp that would be used to travel to WMC. When you take in the time for the bird to land, the crew to do their assessment and time to load and take off, you haven't saved any real time as opposed to code 3 ground transport. Just my opinion.

I haven't lived in that area in over 25 years my guess would have been closer to an hour by ground, If it is 20 Mins like you say, I agree with you.

[x635 4,066]

I just wanted to note whether it matters or not...........9A is a very windy, hilly, bumpy, and heavily trafficked by large trucks taking up both lanes at times. A Code 3 trip to the hospital would make it even harder, as in many places on that road drivers have no where to pull over. Lifestar initially gave a less the 12 minute ETA. Given the traction splint the was out, I'm guessing he had at least one fracture.

[wedgeclose 59]

From a non medical standpoint that location is 15 to 20 minutes from the Medical Center at most..maybe a little less if a police escort helps out at the lights in Ossining and Briarcliff which is not as difficult as it sounds. Because there was "no extrication" required from the time patient contact was made to delivery at the Med Center it should have required no more than 30 minutes total. No question ground could have gotten the patient there much quicker than waiting for a bird. The medics could have "worked" the patient enroute to save time. The roadway is level and smooth for the most part with only one curve to negotiate. I've driven that route many times in the past with TRAUMA patients being worked and never had a problem getting them there without incident and safely.

[Dinosaur 844]

I just wanted to note whether it matters or not...........9A is a very windy, hilly, bumpy, and heavily trafficked by large trucks taking up both lanes at times. A Code 3 trip to the hospital would make it even harder, as in many places on that road drivers have no where to pull over. Lifestar initially gave a less the 12 minute ETA. Given the traction splint the was out, I'm guessing he had at least one fracture.

Is road conditions and traffic in the protocol for deciding on whether or not to use a helicopter?

My EMT expired years ago but since when do you mess with a traction splint on someone unstable enough to require a helicopter?

If they gave an ETA of 12 minutes they could have been more than half way to the medical center by then. There's no extrication time and most ALS could be done en route so why the delay?

[FireMedic049 597]

If they gave an ETA of 12 minutes they could have been more than half way to the medical center by then. There's no extrication time and most ALS could be done en route so why the delay?

Possibly for the reason I stated in the thread that spun off from this one - lack of confidence in treating a trauma patient for the duration of ground transport.

[BBBMF 158]

How's the patient???

[sympathomedic 383]

As a 30+ year EMT/28+ medic and 4+ CPRP medic, I just can't imagine waking up and seeing a call that I did getting a 13 post thread. You give it your best. You make critical decisions in the span of seconds, decisions based on presentation, training and experience. If it works, you feel great for little while. If it doesn't, you feel like s*** for a long while. We all know that when we show up. I wasn't anywhere near this call, but I sure do feel bad if the person who was is watching it get dissected here.

That said, the Bird thread is valid.

[Just asking 1]

Possibly for the reason I stated in the thread that spun off from this one - lack of confidence in treating a trauma patient for the duration of ground transport.

pretty strong words there.i would put these guys up against anyone any day.i know the reason but you sit here and run your mouth.In your eyes your the best.

[FireMedic049 597]

pretty strong words there.i would put these guys up against anyone any day.i know the reason but you sit here and run your mouth.In your eyes your the best.

Yes, they are pretty strong words, but I stand by them based on my experiences. I also didn't say that was specifically the case for this incident, only that it was a possibility.

I've spent a significant part of my 20+ years in EMS working in areas that are 15-30 minutes from a trauma center by ground. I've seen it first hand on many occasions. I've discussed incidents with co-workers that have seen it first hand on many occasions. In my experiences in these areas, many patients that get flown, don't get flown because it's truly faster or because they specifically require an intervention that cannot be performed by a street paramedic. Far too many times they get flown because the ground crew either lacks confidence in their own ability to treat the patient or they are poor providers that find themselves "in the weeds" anytime they get a bad patient.

I've never claimed to be the best and readily admit that I'm not. I'd say that I'm confident, above average and have plenty of people that I've run calls with that would concur.

[x635 4,066]

There's no way to cast definitive judgment on this incident without knowing the circumstances and facts. This thread has run it's course and is now locked.