Event Emergency Care Services
Professional Emergency Pre-Hospital Care
The care expected based on the provider’s training and experience, taking into account the conditions under which care is rendered (Bergeron&Bizjak:1996).
First Aider:
The first aider is part of the EMS system. They are trained to reach casualties, assess and provide emergency care and only when necessary, move a casualty. The level of training is set by the Ontario Workplace Safety and Insurance Board as “Standard First Aid”.
When acting as a first aider, while on duty with EECS, you must act within the guidelines of WSIB Standard First Aid. Under no conditions or circumstance will you care for a casualty beyond the limit of standard first aid -- regardless of training -- All acts which are considered ‘controlled acts’ under the Regulated Health Professions Act RSO 1990 are not permitted. In the event that, while on duty, a member of an EECS team provides care beyond Standard First Aid, they are doing so on their own accord and immediately discharge all responsibility for their actions from EECS.
Duty to Act
While on duty with EECS, the first aider has a duty to act. Therefore, you are required to provide care according to these standards of care. Once care is offered to a casualty, and then is accepted by the casualty, it is assumed that care has begun and the first aider has a duty to act.
The duty to act also is applicable when care is given. It must be given at the standard level. The first aider is not fulfilling their duty to act when sub-standard care or excessive care (beyond standard first aid) is given.
Failing to provide care while on duty with EECS is considered neglect.
Abandonment
Once care has begun, the first aider has a legal requirement to continue care. If the first aider leaves the scene before more highly trained personnel arrive, the first aider has abandoned the casualty and are then subject to legal action under the laws of abandonment. Since the first aider is not trained to diagnose or predict the stability of a casualty, they will, under no circumstance, leave the casualty.
Abandonment may include the failure to turn over care records to EMS personnel during the transfer of the casualty. You must turn over a copy of records to paramedics or EMT’s upon their arrival.
Consent
Adults, when conscious and of sound mind have the legal right to refuse care. The reasons for their refusal may be diverse, but the fact remains that if the casualty refuses care, the first aider must not begin care nor can you restrain them until EMT’s arrive. Refusal may be verbal “No” or may be through non-verbal actions; shaking head, holding up hand to signal you to stop.
When your services are refused:
Parents have the legal right to refuse care for their children. In cases where a parent or adult takes the child from the scene before paramedics arrive, you must report the incident to paramedics or the police.
Actual Consent: An adult who is conscious and clear of mind giving consent (usually verbal).
Informed Consent:Providing the casualty with:
You may not provide care for a casualty, then speak about that care to others, including family members, friends, media or press. Doing so invades the privacy of a casualty.
Duty
While on duty with EECS, all Standard of Care policies must be followed. On regular duty, there will be at minimum two (2) first aiders available. At larger venues, or higher risk events, more will be present as required.
Under no circumstances will any person while on duty with EECS transport a casualty off site.
While travelling to or from an event, the EECS team has a duty to act at any motor vehicle collision, or other incident where emergency care may be required, unless more highly trained personnel are already present (first responders, paramedics). Return to EECS homepage