Oddly enough, my understanding was that it was the POLICE in control once we
are talking cordons and hence major incidents. I'm sure they are.
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Accident and Emergency Academic List
> [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of Rob Dawes
> Sent: 22 March 2002 18:14
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: so who is in control at the roadside?
>
>
> I thought i'd post this fact as well, but Vic beat me to it.
>
> Just for completeness, the Senior Fire officer is responsible for "health
> and safety" in the inner cordon (which can be any size he deems fit), but
> the "overall" management of the RTA scene still rests with the
> police. This
> changes if the scene involves Fire.
>
> In my experience, the senior fire officer is not necessarily the
> one making
> the decisions, (usually an SO/ADO) and will leave it to the OIC of the
> appliance(s) who are already dealing with the extrication or have attended
> because of specialist knowledge, i.e OIC of the major rescue unit or
> whatever it's called in your area.
>
> If the senior fire officer deems that someone is not complying with his
> wishes, he can "request" that the police remove that person, but will have
> to justify that request to the HSE, should it be challenged at a
> later date.
>
> Cheers
>
> Dr Rob Dawes
> (ex Fire Officer WMFS)
>
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Accident and Emergency Academic List
> > [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of Victor Calland
> > Sent: 22 March 2002 15:00
> > To: [log in to unmask]
> > Subject: Re: so who is in control at the roadside?
> >
> >
> > I've been sitting in the background quietly reading all of this
> debate and
> > would like to offer a contraversial thought.
> >
> > Within the inner cordon or 10 metre action circle (which ever
> you want to
> > call it) the person ultimately in charge is the senior fire officer. The
> > reasons for this are:
> >
> > 1. He is designated as responsible by the Police, and don't
> > argue with
> > them because the Crown and the Government say they are in overall
> > authority.
> >
> > 2. He is the person ultimately responsible for your safety
> >
> > 3. He has at least four other guys who will paste you if
> you disagree
> > with him
> >
> > 4. He has the rescue gear and if he takes his bat & ball
> home you're
> > stuffed.
> >
> > 5. He actually knows what can & cannot be done.
> >
> > 6. Strangely enough he wants to get a live casualty to
> hospital too.
> > And knowing you know more about medicine than he ever will, he
> will, if he
> > has any sense, listen to you provided that you are properly
> equipped to be
> > at the scene and you have authority to be there.
> >
> > As soon as the person has been removed from danger you have the absolute
> > authority for the patient, provided you can identify yourself
> as a doctor.
> > It does not matter if you are the local dermatologist, but your
> > professional responsibility is not to interfere unless you know
> you can do
> > better.
> >
> > If you take responsibility for the patient, then you can say where the
> > ambulance goes. Once you are no longer with the patient however, the
> > ambulance crew can always change your decision based on what
> they percieve
> > to be the changing needs of the patient.
> >
> > Vic Calland
> >
> >
>
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