CMs and First Aid

[Randy B]

I thought nobody ever dies at Disneyland/WDW????

They don't...officially. Until the pieces of the injured person get to the hospital and are seen by a doctor who officially declares the person dead they are officially "injured". Even if the "injury" has seperated the injured into several discrete components. About the only way this could be over-ruled would be if there was foul play involved and thus the police authorities would insist that the evidence remains undisturbed until the coroner and investigators had completed their jobs (and incidentaly declairing the staus of the decedent).

JMHO

Randy

[mechurchlady]

I thought nobody ever dies at Disneyland/WDW????

A lot of people of died at the parks but you rarely hear of it.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Incidents_at_Disney_parks

It is a twisting of words and legal stuff. A person usually is sent to a hospital to be declared dead there. As you see other deaths such as heart attacks are not reported in the news.

[Syndrome]

Snopes says people have indeed been declared dead on WDW property. As an example, they say there was a guy in a plane that crashed in the Epcot parking lot. Most of the time they come over here and "die" at Celebration Health tho'.

[EeyoresButterfly]

People (even CMs) will tell you that it is Disney policy that nobody is ever declared dead on property. I have no patience for rumors like that. A lot of it has to do with state law. Once CPR has been started, under Florida state law it cannot be stopped until the person is declared dead by a doctor at a hospital. Since most people will at least attempt CPR on an injured person, the majority of people will not be able to be declared dead until they reach the hospital under the laws of the state. If a person was obviously DOA, there is nothing to keep them from being declared dead on property if the proper authorities are there to do so (I'm not sure if EMT's are allowed to make that decision or not).

[DisneyMom]

People (even CMs) will tell you that it is Disney policy that nobody is ever declared dead on property. I have no patience for rumors like that. A lot of it has to do with state law. Once CPR has been started, under Florida state law it cannot be stopped until the person is declared dead by a doctor at a hospital. Since most people will at least attempt CPR on an injured person, the majority of people will not be able to be declared dead until they reach the hospital under the laws of the state. If a person was obviously DOA, there is nothing to keep them from being declared dead on property if the proper authorities are there to do so (I'm not sure if EMT's are allowed to make that decision or not).

I'm not sure about EMT's, but the last hospital I worked at would give some sort of minimal training so nurses could pronounce(sometimes it took too long for a MD to come and pronounce say in the middle of the night)
This was right around the time there was a child here in California who was pronounced dead by a physician after drowning, and later was discovered moving by someone else (I do not know too much about it, but it appears that some sort of miracle occured, I'm sure the doctor had every indication the child had actually died) anyway, the parents who had let the child drown in the first place were suing for "potential brain damage due to lack of medical treatment" I don't know how it all came out, but I decided that even though I had plenty of experience assessing people who had died, I did not want to pay if somehow a miracle occured and they were somehow resurrected! Doctors make enough and pay dearly for their malpractice insurance, so I would let them shoulder that burden.

We are taught that it is ok to stop CPR before other help arrives if you will do yourself harm by continuing, so always activate EMS as soon as possible to avoid that-CPR is exhausting!

[Anna]

People (even CMs) will tell you that it is Disney policy that nobody is ever declared dead on property. I have no patience for rumors like that. A lot of it has to do with state law. Once CPR has been started, under Florida state law it cannot be stopped until the person is declared dead by a doctor at a hospital. Since most people will at least attempt CPR on an injured person, the majority of people will not be able to be declared dead until they reach the hospital under the laws of the state. If a person was obviously DOA, there is nothing to keep them from being declared dead on property if the proper authorities are there to do so (I'm not sure if EMT's are allowed to make that decision or not).

Yes, you are exactly right: http://www.snopes.com/disney/parks/declare.asp There have been some people declared dead on property. Others who are given CPR, etc. are not declared dead until at the hospital.

[dizanimator]

I'm not sure about EMT's, but the last hospital I worked at would give some sort of minimal training so nurses could pronounce(sometimes it took too long for a MD to come and pronounce say in the middle of the night)
This was right around the time there was a child here in California who was pronounced dead by a physician after drowning, and later was discovered moving by someone else (I do not know too much about it, but it appears that some sort of miracle occured, I'm sure the doctor had every indication the child had actually died) anyway, the parents who had let the child drown in the first place were suing for "potential brain damage due to lack of medical treatment" I don't know how it all came out, but I decided that even though I had plenty of experience assessing people who had died, I did not want to pay if somehow a miracle occured and they were somehow resurrected! Doctors make enough and pay dearly for their malpractice insurance, so I would let them shoulder that burden.

We are taught that it is ok to stop CPR before other help arrives if you will do yourself harm by continuing, so always activate EMS as soon as possible to avoid that-CPR is exhausting!

If I was that kid I'd demand a death certificate to bring to the Haunted mansion. Then see what could happen. Leota does say to "Be sure you bring your death certificate" so I'd want to see what would happen if someone actually did bring one.

[DisneyMom]

If I was that kid I'd demand a death certificate to bring to the Haunted mansion. Then see what could happen. Leota does say to "Be sure you bring your death certificate" so I'd want to see what would happen if someone actually did bring one.

Oh My Goodness! never thought of that!
hopefully said child made a full recovery.

[Teddykeiko86]

Yeah, it really sucks to send the guest across the park for a band-aide, I just tell them that we are not allowed to give band-aids because we are simply not allowed and the possibilty of latex allergies. I do appologize and offer a napkin

[danmedix]

(It's kinda funny that I make my first post on HERE, replying to THIS. Those that know me will understand.)

Speaking for myself, I can understand where it would be easier for CM's to give someone a band-aid if necessary. But, in our UBER-LITIGOUS society, somebody's bound to sue, if they feel that they can get a few bucks from you.

As far as medical treatment is concerned, I personally haven't had any experiences with the staff at the first aid stations, although I haven't heard any complaints. I've seen the alpha units running in and out of the parks, but haven't had a chance to speak with any of them. (and I'm kinda curious to, seeing as I'm a ff/paramedic myself. But, I don't wanna delay care, or get anybody in trouble. So, I don't get in their way, and let them do their job. Hey, I'd want the same thing. But, I digress...)

As for the original topic, with the child who got the black eye from the water..... I'd definitely take care of the girl if it were my patient. However, I'd be cautious with the situation as well. (and I'm sorry, but I'd have to stifle my laughter, and frustration at the parents. But that's just me).

...oh, and btw, howdy.