To the Hawaiians

[Gonz]

Beware!

Gag order for EMS crews on suspected SARS calls


By KAREN IWAMOTO/ West Hawaii Today


The state Department of Health (DOH) issued an SARS update Tuesday instructing emergency medical service personnel not to communicate possible SARS cases over medicom radios.

The update instructs EMS personnel to use a cell phone or landline when discussing possible SARS cases.

Ambulance drivers typically use VHS UHS radios, a line of open communication that anyone who owns a scanner can hear.

"We know the public monitors our communications," said Donna Maiava, director of DOH's emergency branch. "For an ambulance driver to communicate over the radio that they have a possible SARS case, far from making the public feel safe, will raise the anxiety level of the public unnecessarily.

"There is no way for the ambulance driver to know for sure, without an X - ray and all that, that it is indeed SARS," Maiava said.

Global health officials Wednesday warned travelers to avoid Toronto - a warning Canadian officials are strongly challenging for fear of ruining the visitor industry.

But Maiava said issuing the update had no connection to Hawaii's visitor industry.

"That wasn't even discussed at our meetings," she said. "This has nothing to do with tourism. Our concern is public safety."

Health care providers currently are required to report to DOH any suspected SARS cases.

There are five suspected SARS cases in Hawaii - three on Maui and two on Oahu. None of the cases have been fatal and none of the patients have shown severe symptoms, DOH has reported.

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[greenfreak]

"There is no way for the ambulance driver to know for sure, without an X - ray and all that, that it is indeed SARS," Maiava said.

That's the point--EMS isn't supposed to diagnose anyone even though they want to. We're not even allowed to say if someone is obviously drunk--we had to say something like, "Fruity smell on breath" which could also apply to a diabetic.

But listening to those channels can be interesting if you know what they're talking about and they leave the speaker on, then you get to hear everything.

 

[Mirlyn]

But listening to those channels can be interesting if you know what they're talking about and they leave the speaker on, then you get to hear everything.

Yes you can.

 

[greenfreak]

I've been on the other side of that phone and *never* put that speaker on. But I know plenty of people who did if they were running a code (heart attack). But with us, we were never really that far from the hospitals so the calls were never all that long.