Comments on: How To Get Them to Hang-Up The Cell Phone http://theemtspot.com/2010/02/11/how-to-get-them-to-hang-up-the-cell-phone/ Medicine Moves Fast ... Keep Up. Sun, 05 Sep 2010 16:11:19 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: The EMT Spot » To Walk or Not To Walk? http://theemtspot.com/2010/02/11/how-to-get-them-to-hang-up-the-cell-phone/comment-page-1/#comment-3266 The EMT Spot » To Walk or Not To Walk? Thu, 11 Mar 2010 12:02:11 +0000 http://theemtspot.com/?p=2612#comment-3266 [...] How To Get Them To Put Down The Cell Phone [...] [...] How To Get Them To Put Down The Cell Phone [...]

]]> By: Heather http://theemtspot.com/2010/02/11/how-to-get-them-to-hang-up-the-cell-phone/comment-page-1/#comment-3224 Heather Wed, 03 Mar 2010 03:06:34 +0000 http://theemtspot.com/?p=2612#comment-3224 I agree on the nice approciate at first, ask them politely to hang up the phone, Some times i've noticed its not even the patient its the person who called 911 for the patient that wont get off the phone, Say you have a unconcious patient, and a loved one or neighbor calls 911 for them, When I have showen up to scene, I of course start to asses the down patient, but it would be nice to speak to the actually person who placed the call to 911 to begin with... and maybe could give me a idea what happen... I have tried the polite thing on these people and somtimes doesnt work, what should I do then...? besides the obvious continue taking vitals and everything nesscary to stabilize my patient, but it would be nice if the person who called 911 orginally could answer the questions I ask instead of talking on their cell phone. I agree on the nice approciate at first, ask them politely to hang up the phone, Some times i’ve noticed its not even the patient its the person who called 911 for the patient that wont get off the phone, Say you have a unconcious patient, and a loved one or neighbor calls 911 for them, When I have showen up to scene, I of course start to asses the down patient, but it would be nice to speak to the actually person who placed the call to 911 to begin with… and maybe could give me a idea what happen… I have tried the polite thing on these people and somtimes doesnt work, what should I do then…? besides the obvious continue taking vitals and everything nesscary to stabilize my patient, but it would be nice if the person who called 911 orginally could answer the questions I ask instead of talking on their cell phone.

]]> By: Steve Whitehead http://theemtspot.com/2010/02/11/how-to-get-them-to-hang-up-the-cell-phone/comment-page-1/#comment-3172 Steve Whitehead Sun, 21 Feb 2010 15:58:09 +0000 http://theemtspot.com/?p=2612#comment-3172 @Greg, I think it's doable without being confrontational, but I agree that you should start with the polite request. The key here is that once you ask, you don't give them permission to ignore you by taking a big step back. @Greg and Sean. I understand that nicotine is a phenomenally addictive drug and I get that some folks feel like they can breathe better immediately after a cigarette. I don't like grabbing stuff from patients if I don't have to. (But I will.) I like to use the oxygen as an excuse. "Lets get you on some O2 and were going to need to put that flame out so we don't accidentally burn you." @EPI. Well that's an extreme version of the technique, but I'm glad you found it effective. @Greg, I think it’s doable without being confrontational, but I agree that you should start with the polite request. The key here is that once you ask, you don’t give them permission to ignore you by taking a big step back.

@Greg and Sean. I understand that nicotine is a phenomenally addictive drug and I get that some folks feel like they can breathe better immediately after a cigarette. I don’t like grabbing stuff from patients if I don’t have to. (But I will.) I like to use the oxygen as an excuse. “Lets get you on some O2 and were going to need to put that flame out so we don’t accidentally burn you.”

@EPI. Well that’s an extreme version of the technique, but I’m glad you found it effective.

]]> By: EPI http://theemtspot.com/2010/02/11/how-to-get-them-to-hang-up-the-cell-phone/comment-page-1/#comment-3158 EPI Thu, 18 Feb 2010 00:51:18 +0000 http://theemtspot.com/?p=2612#comment-3158 Recently at work we had a kid pull the fire alarm so we had to evacute the building. this happened on a very busy day so we had to clear out a ton of people. so I took this method of staring politely in the mens locker room as people got dressed because they would NOT LEAVE i had asked them serveral times so i just stood in there and watched after a while.... Im here to say it works. Recently at work we had a kid pull the fire alarm so we had to evacute the building. this happened on a very busy day so we had to clear out a ton of people. so I took this method of staring politely in the mens locker room as people got dressed because they would NOT LEAVE i had asked them serveral times so i just stood in there and watched after a while…. Im here to say it works.

]]> By: Sean Fontaine http://theemtspot.com/2010/02/11/how-to-get-them-to-hang-up-the-cell-phone/comment-page-1/#comment-3156 Sean Fontaine Wed, 17 Feb 2010 16:41:01 +0000 http://theemtspot.com/?p=2612#comment-3156 This is just beautiful I can't wait to give it a try, because cell phones on scene are the bane of my existence some days. Greg, your last comment reminds me of a patient I had when I worked in the privates. My partner (whom Steve knows well) and I responded to a C/C of CP @ an ETOH rehab facility, were greeted outside by a staff member sitting on a bench smoking, when we asked where the pt was he stated it was him. My partner and I looked @ each other w/disbelief, my partner then took the cigarette out of the patients mouth and threw it away, put him on the monitor and he was having an inferolateral MI. Steve, would this have been your approach? This is just beautiful I can’t wait to give it a try, because cell phones on scene are the bane of my existence some days.

Greg, your last comment reminds me of a patient I had when I worked in the privates. My partner (whom Steve knows well) and I responded to a C/C of CP @ an ETOH rehab facility, were greeted outside by a staff member sitting on a bench smoking, when we asked where the pt was he stated it was him. My partner and I looked @ each other w/disbelief, my partner then took the cigarette out of the patients mouth and threw it away, put him on the monitor and he was having an inferolateral MI.
Steve, would this have been your approach?

]]> By: Greg Friese http://theemtspot.com/2010/02/11/how-to-get-them-to-hang-up-the-cell-phone/comment-page-1/#comment-3145 Greg Friese Tue, 16 Feb 2010 01:37:53 +0000 http://theemtspot.com/?p=2612#comment-3145 It is tough to be all up in someone's face without being aggressive or confrontational. If the patient is on a cell phone they are probably not having an emergency. Me pushing them to get off the phone could communicate that I believe they are having an emergency when they are not. Fortunately, in my experience asking nicely goes along way towards solving the problem. I also have a well practiced "look" that 99% of the population is able to interpret as this guy needs my attention now. I would be interested in how you handle a respiratory distress patient that is smoking when you arrive. It is tough to be all up in someone’s face without being aggressive or confrontational.

If the patient is on a cell phone they are probably not having an emergency. Me pushing them to get off the phone could communicate that I believe they are having an emergency when they are not.

Fortunately, in my experience asking nicely goes along way towards solving the problem. I also have a well practiced “look” that 99% of the population is able to interpret as this guy needs my attention now.

I would be interested in how you handle a respiratory distress patient that is smoking when you arrive.

]]> By: JP http://theemtspot.com/2010/02/11/how-to-get-them-to-hang-up-the-cell-phone/comment-page-1/#comment-3138 JP Fri, 12 Feb 2010 21:00:44 +0000 http://theemtspot.com/?p=2612#comment-3138 just a joke ;) just a joke ;)

]]> By: Steve Whitehead http://theemtspot.com/2010/02/11/how-to-get-them-to-hang-up-the-cell-phone/comment-page-1/#comment-3135 Steve Whitehead Fri, 12 Feb 2010 00:22:16 +0000 http://theemtspot.com/?p=2612#comment-3135 @JP Well, that's certainly...aggressive. @JP Well, that’s certainly…aggressive.

]]> By: JP http://theemtspot.com/2010/02/11/how-to-get-them-to-hang-up-the-cell-phone/comment-page-1/#comment-3134 JP Thu, 11 Feb 2010 22:26:40 +0000 http://theemtspot.com/?p=2612#comment-3134 All you have to do is pull out the IV start kit. As soon as they see a needle they usually snap to and ask you whats up :) If you REALLY want to push the issue, grab the IO gun and start looking at their legs. All you have to do is pull out the IV start kit. As soon as they see a needle they usually snap to and ask you whats up :)
If you REALLY want to push the issue, grab the IO gun and start looking at their legs.

]]> By: Firefighter/Paramedic http://theemtspot.com/2010/02/11/how-to-get-them-to-hang-up-the-cell-phone/comment-page-1/#comment-3132 Firefighter/Paramedic Thu, 11 Feb 2010 20:27:44 +0000 http://theemtspot.com/?p=2612#comment-3132 I like your suggestion about the paperwork. I'm going to try that one. I do one of two things usually. One, start vitals...on both arms (BP on the arms they are using to hold the phone and pulse on the other). Two, ask to talk to the other person on the phone. Identify yourself and tell them that they will be called back later. Both have worked so far. I like your suggestion about the paperwork. I’m going to try that one. I do one of two things usually. One, start vitals…on both arms (BP on the arms they are using to hold the phone and pulse on the other). Two, ask to talk to the other person on the phone. Identify yourself and tell them that they will be called back later. Both have worked so far.

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