[widgeon13]

Interesting discussion.

I'm an volunteer EMT/Fire (BLS) in a rural community. It takes an hour under the best conditions to get to a hospital and longer to get to a trauma center. Based on conditions and signs and symptoms, we need to transport as quickly as possible under almost any conditions. If it is clearly life threatening we will call for life flight. There are four volunteer EMT's and we have ALS that we can request en route. We have a very good record on getting patients to the hospital alive.

I have never heard of protocols that would delay transport, sounds like these folks are operating outside the system. I wouldn't belong to an organization that behaved in that manner. It jeopardizes the welfare of every patient and at best is unethical.

I hope I never witness behavior that delays the best treatment for any patient from either paid or volunteer EMS personnel.