The Annoyed Man wrote:<SNIP>
And oh, by the way, I never tried to climb into an RA or helicopter where I wasn't invited, and I never tried to manage a case once the paramedics showed up, although I did volunteer to help, even in the menial things like lifting a gurney into the RA or fetching something for the paramedic. Those guys were always classy and never abusive. Heck, I knew half of them anyway since they were transporting to the same trauma center where I worked. Still, there's no reason for nastiness, and the help I gave them was appreciated. Nobody ever tried to pull a superiority attitude with me. It simply wasn't called for or ncessary, and they always had other fish to fry.....like the patient's health.
Here, here. I started as a volunteer and that is why I always tried to utilize them or off duty medics if they were at seen. But as I said, that time on the DNT almost blew up on me, so I curtailed that practice. There were times after that someone might be securing a c-spine when we rolled up, that I would ask them to hold what they had until I got the collar(s) and board. Then I would thank them and some would hang around and watch but I never had that particular scenario repeat itself.
Likewise, there was a bad one on I-35 a number of years back up towards Denton, they were short handed and I displayed my credentials to the Sheriff and he waved me in. The FFs on scene had one medic and when I tried to identify myself a pair of gloves hit me in the face. That time the chief told me, as one of to PMs on scene that I'd need to go to the hospital (you can't reduce level of care in Texas) but as I was loading up, their additional equipment showed and an additional PM was there. I let him have it but treated four other people before the chief released me.
We had been returning from vacation and after we got home from that little deal and unloaded I ran in to get some Braum's. People were staring and looking at me like I had crawled from under a rock. I was thinking, "I know I've been on the road but c'mon...I can't look that bad." Well, as I went out to the car and was fiddling for my keys, I noticed that both legs of my white cargo pants (YES, cargo pants...it was the 90's) were caked in blood and brain matter from the knees down.
BTW, I DO carry my badge as if I need to offer assist, it is more easily read and recognized than an ID card.