EMT official defends on-scene treatment after crash delay criticism

A senior ambulance official has defended Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) emergency crews after public criticism of an apparent delay in rushing a young motorcyclist to hospital, insisting that stabilising patients at the roadside now takes priority over speed.

Senior ambulance officer Trevor Bynoe stressed that what bystanders saw as a delay was in fact adherence to essential on-scene treatment protocols rather.

Responding to criticism after a serious collision on Baxters Road involving a young motorcyclist, Bynoe said what looked like inaction was actually a full patient assessment and stabilisation at the roadside.

“Pre-hospital emergency care doesn’t start when the ambulance pulls up, it begins with dispatch,” Bynoe explained to journalists at a press briefing on Friday.

“Our dispatchers ask scripted questions so that by the time we’re en route, EMTs and paramedics already have a mental picture of what they’re going into.”

Bynoe referred to concerns from onlookers, who said the injured man remained in the ambulance for what seemed an extended period before being taken to hospital. Bystanders questioned why he was not immediately rushed away, but Bynoe said that notion is outdated.

“Once upon a time it was all about speed. Now, it’s about treatment, care, and getting there safely,” he said.

“We don’t do ‘load and go’ anymore. That was over 40 years ago when [EMTs] had no formal training.”

“It’s not about delay, it’s about doing a full assessment before moving the patient. That includes spine, neck, chest, abdomen, pelvis. If you miss one thing, it can be detrimental.”

The crew on scene consisted of EMTs who are trained to conduct thorough examinations, administer oxygen, dress wounds and stabilise injuries prior to moving a patient.

Paramedics, where available, can conduct more invasive procedures, such as treating cardiac conditions, starting intravenous feeds (IVs) and assisting diabetics.

Bynoe noted that in this case, the patient had abrasions.

“So they dressed all [the wounds], and then they communicated to [Accident & Emergency] so that staff there would know what to expect…,” he said.

He also stressed that every scene begins with a safety survey, both for the crew and the patient.

The QEH’s Chief Operations Officer Christine Greenidge added that much of the misunderstanding stems from the public not being familiar with how emergency services prioritise treatment.

“It’s not understood by the general public. It’s the whole idea of triaging,” she said.

“There’s going to be certain levels of priorities and that process of triaging allows the medical practitioner to discern whether your injuries are life or death and you become priority.”

Bynoe acknowledged that public perception has not caught up with the realities of modern emergency care.

“People think we just throw the person in and go. No. That was before 1984. Today, EMTs are trained in CPR [cardio-pulmonary resuscitation], oxygen delivery, even childbirth,” he said.

“And our teams work hard to constantly improve the service.”

He also revealed that the hospital has implemented speed caps on ambulances in the interest of safety.

“At a certain speed, say 100 kilometres, the vehicle gives an alert. If it’s exceeded for a justified reason, I’m alerted, and I review it. But there’s a cap. It’s not all about speed anymore.”

Hospital officials urged the public and media not to rush to judgement or portray emergency crews unfairly.

“Sometimes the environment is hazardous. Sometimes the patient is unstable. The goal is to treat, not just to move fast,” Bynoe said.

“There’s a reason we ask questions, assess on scene, and communicate clearly with A&E.”

The condition of the motorcyclist injured in the Baxters Road collision was not revealed up to the time of publication. Police investigations into the crash are ongoing. 

shannamoore@barbadostoday.bb