Question on the medical side of Anthrocon
Please visit our forums for the latest announcements and discussion.
 Location: Edmonton, Alberta Canada
|
Howdy. I know that this is probably already covered and we won't have much to worry about if a medical concern comes up at the con; but do we have registered first aiders from the con staff side of things? Are all of the dorsai regulars registered first aiders? If I have a medical emergency, or need medical attention that I can just drive to the hospital for, where would the nearest one be in relation to the hotel? If I'm doing con stuff and injure myself or need minor medical attention that I _don't_ need a hospital for or any first aid outside of what I can give myself, should I still let con staff know what happened? If I'm a fur with medical needs (epipen, epileptic, diabetic, other) and I don't have any kind of medical I.D. like medic alert, should I still let the con staff know before hand just incase? |
Delicious
Digg
Facebook
Google
Yahoo
Technorati
Icerocket
Location: Ardmore, PA
Website: [Link]
Blog: [Link]
To answer your questions: No, no, over here, not unless there is a biohazard involved, no.
The reason for those answers is that if we were to offer any sort of medical services, this would create what is known as an "expectation of care" under Pennsylvania State Law. That in turn creates increased liability for us, which is something we'd like to avoid. Yes, we could insure ourselves against that kind of liability, but it would be expensive.
--
My LJ - My Website
- Login or register to post comments
permalinkLocation: Harrisonburg, VA 22802
Website: [Link]
Blog: [Link]
I know there are EMTs, paramedics, and other medically-trained furs who attend AC, whom I imagine would lend aid if they saw need for it. But, the presence of such folks (as Giza mentioned) would not be an official offering of the con. Thus, in a situation requiring medical attention, the best idea would be to act like you would if you were at a mall, restaurant, or busy street corner. Unless someone swoops in and says "I'm a medic!", call 911 yourself or get someone to do it for you.
And if you have a special medical issue that someone administering care would need to know about, find some way to write/print it and carry it with you. Medic Alert bracelets are kinda dorky, I know, but if it's a super-critical problem, that's the best thing you can do. Otherwise, a printed or written card carried semi-conspicuously in your wallet or pocket should do the trick.
-Felix Softpaw, working on a Virginia EMS certification
- Login or register to post comments
permalinkLocation: Roseville, CA, USA
Pardon - I wouldn't be able to answer any of your questions, myself; but I am curious about something!
If you were a fur (or even if not) and you had a medical condition such as you describe - and you happened to know it - then why wouldn't you wish to have a medicAlert bracelet, or at least a card in your wallet, stating that condition to potential aid-givers?
- Login or register to post comments
permalinkBlog: [Link]
Thank you, Vulpes, I was about to ask that myself.
If you have such a medical condition, for goodness' sake, wear the appropriate MedicAlert tag. We can't help you if we don't know what's wrong.
And to follow up on what everyone else said, the short answer is, "No, we don't, but there are enough people present, such as myself, who are trained first responders that any medical emergencies should be seen to fairly quickly."
If you have a medical emergency, report it to the hotel staff first. They have emergency plans in place to handle just about any crisis, and they would be the first ones we would call anyway, so don't waste time.
- Login or register to post comments
permalinkI was thinking as far as "other" was concerned, something more along the lines of having certain food allergies or serious psychological disorder. I don't know if MedicAlert puts out bracelets to cover that kinda stuff. I remember there was an incident at AC 2004 at the Appleby's at the Adam's Mark where a fur had ordered a meal and had an allergic reaction to whatever was in the food. He turned out alright though.
Speaking from experience myself, I had or may still have a medical condition that I could wear the bracelet for. But it's depressing to have to wear something like that on my wrist to remind me every day that I have it. Not to mention that for the first little while it feels nice to get sympathetic attention from people because it makes one feel appreciated (just like when little Billy's the only kid in class with a cast on after he fell off the jungle gym), but it gets old after a while and then the last thing you find yourself wanting is for people not to think of you as the person they've known for X amount of time as opposed to your condition being the first thing to pop into their head before they think of your name.
But for me, I'm pretty much out of the woods now and I'll find out in 6 months when I have my next test
- Login or register to post comments
permalinkSpeaking from the Security Side of the Force...
We do not officially offer medical services.
If there is a medical emergency, we all do everything in our power to connect the patient with the proper medical authority as would any caring citizen.
We may be in a position, thanks to the communication backbone we have in place, to be the best conduit to the authorities and would encourage anyone encountering a medical problem to immediately involve Security.
It MAY happen that an individual who happens to work with the Security Crew may be qualified to offer more immediate support or perhaps treatment, but they would be doing this as individuals and not in any official capacity as an agent of the Security Crew or the convention committee.
IF you have a medical condition that may require special care it is your responsibility to carry some form of recognized medical alert tag or paperwork covering. The convention cannot take responsibility for your medical condition.
-----------------------------------------------
David M Stein, DI
"Not Unlike the Toaster, I Control the Darkness"
-- Abby Normal, "You Suck"
- Login or register to post comments
permalinkLocation: NJ
Well, you could also let me have a crack at it. Of course, you might not have the same genome when I'm through with you. You know how we geneticists get once we get started; it's always "Gee, what happens if I splice this chromosome?" And before you know it, yer a Smurf. >:}
- Login or register to post comments
permalinkbut I dun wanna be blue.....
PIRATE
Member: Stuck In The Elevator Club
- Login or register to post comments
permalinkLocation: Philadelphia area, PA
No? How about fuschia?
- Login or register to post comments
permalinkNooooooooooo, I would rather be blue
- Login or register to post comments
permalinkLocation: Somewhere over the rainbow in a land far far away
As said there are people trained in handling such things, Myself am trained in first aid and cpr
And this is off topic, but I'll be trained as CERT this fall... For all you who don't know what that is
https://www.citizencorps.gov/cert/ so if next anthrocon rolls around and we have a big ole disaster I'll be trained to handle that to ^_^
- Login or register to post comments
permalinkLocation: NJ
Meh, I tend just to cut and stitch whatever and hope for the best. I'm still back in the barber age of medicine. It was more fun back then... for the barber at least. >:}
- Login or register to post comments
permalinkI don't even use stitches. If you want proof I will e-mail you a picture of my leg's latest injury.
- Login or register to post comments
permalink