Emergency transport decisions are complex


October 2, 2008 · Updated 3:57 PM 

  • 0
  • Print Story
  • Letter/Editor

Suppose you are badly hurt in a car accident or suffer a nasty cut, stroke or heart attack. Firefighters and paramedics arrive on the scene. Where will the ambulance take you?

Where an emergency patient goes is determined by a complex set of decisions at the paramedic, firefighter and patient levels.

In the case of a severe injury or major medical issue such as heart attack or stroke, paramedics make the call as to where a patient will go. In other cases, you make the decision in conjunction with a firefighter or emergency medical technician (EMT).

And while the closest hospital, Snoqualmie Valley Hospital, is ready to help you, you may not always get sent there.

For the complete story, subscribe to the Valley Record, (425) 888-2311

Comment on this story.

COMMENTING RULES: We encourage an open exchange of ideas in our online community, but we ask you to follow our guidelines for respecting community standards. In a nutshell, don't say anything you wouldn't want your mother to read. Please see our FAQ if you have questions or concerns about using Facebook to comment.

So keep your comments:

  • Civil
  • Smart
  • On-topic
  • Free of profanity

We ask that all participants own their words by logging in with their Facebook account. It's a simple process that will take seconds and helps keep our comments free of trolls, cranks, and “drive-by” commenters. We reserve the right to remove comments from anyone using screen names, pseudonyms or false identities. Please refer to our Terms of Use for full detail on participating on our site.

blog comments powered by Disqus