Yes, but 911 will provide pre-approval instructions for you and also start EMS
Source- am a 911 dispatcher
That said, a lot of our instructions fall a bit short of what you would learn from pretty much any first aid class, and we’re not really allowed to deviate from our approved instructions for liability reasons. So if you’re able to, everyone take some first aid classes. At the very least, you don’t want the first time you’re learning something to be in an actual emergency situation
So first of all, I’m not a medical professional nor am I certified as a CPR instructor, I have a lot more training and experience than the average person, but still take my advice for what it’s worth.
So first of all, most of the time unless someone was trying to hork down a whole fish head or something, most fish bones in most circumstances aren’t going to really obstruct a person’s airway enough to asphyxiate them. It’s going to uncomfortable as fuck, but they’re not in immediate danger of dying. If they’re able to talk, cough, make noises, etc. which I’m pretty sure is the majority of fish bone choking cases, you’re not even going to do the heimlich, it probably wouldn’t work anyway, you’re probably not going to get enough pressure behind that fish bone to pop it out since air is moving around it. Encourage them to try to cough it up themselves, don’t give them anything else to eat or drink, try to keep them calm, and if that doesn’t work, get them to a doctor.
If they aren’t able to make any noise then you’re going to keep doing the heimlich until they pass out, at which point you switch to cpr, and you keep at it until the ambulance gets there and takes over. Call 911 first, even if your able to get in up with the heimlich you want to have the ambulance already on the way if they pass out even if it’s not necessary in the end.
Unless you can see the obstruction and can sweep it out with your fingers, don’t go sticking anything in their mouth, you’re probably not going to get it, and you might cause more damage.
I posted that as a joke but being serious, I got my Wilderness First Responder cert last year and honestly believe that these are skills I should have learned in high school. It was only a three week course but it gave such great information and preparation that it should be standard in education. The 911 operator I engaged with relayed information to and from the EMS that was heading to the site and I don’t think anyone is really going to use YouTube or similar for this purpose. Chances are, if they need YouTube, they are probably panicking and if not, then the operator can relay basics. Good on you for doing a damn hard job I know I couldn’t pull off.
The pay could definitely be better, but the benefits are solid, and I like the hours (at my agency they’re 12 hour days, but you work less days overall.) I’m certainly not rolling in it, but I’m making enough to cover my bills without too much worry. And overall I enjoy my job, it’s always interesting, it feels good to be helping my community, and it’s air conditioned (none of which applied to my previous job working in a warehouse)
Everyone experiences and deals with trauma and stress differently, and not that it doesn’t or can’t happen but I think people who are particularly susceptible to dealing with it poorly tend to weed themselves out of this job pretty fast, usually before they even apply.
I think I deal with it pretty well, stuff doesn’t tend to stick with me, I have a pretty good support system at home, etc. I’ve been here for almost 5 years, and I feel like I’m set for another 20 years, if I leave here I don’t think it will be stress, burnout, trauma, etc. that makes me leave, but finding a better paying job somewhere (but honestly it would be probably one I wouldn’t enjoy as much, I probably could have found a higher paying job if I wanted to but short of being an eccentric millionaire, I don’t know that there are many jobs out there that I’d rather have)
Something I like to put out there whenever this comes up, is that in general we tend to be classified as clerical staff, and getting us reclassified as first responders could help get us better pay, access to different benefits, etc. A few states have done it, and there is/was a bill (the 911 SAVES act) that would have reclassified us at the federal level. So if thats something you support, consider writing a letter to your elected officials supporting it.
Yes, but 911 will provide pre-approval instructions for you and also start EMS
Source- am a 911 dispatcher
That said, a lot of our instructions fall a bit short of what you would learn from pretty much any first aid class, and we’re not really allowed to deviate from our approved instructions for liability reasons. So if you’re able to, everyone take some first aid classes. At the very least, you don’t want the first time you’re learning something to be in an actual emergency situation
Ah, someone with knowledge and experience in the field 👍
Can we ask, what would you suggest, assuming the Heimlich Maneuver has already been tried but didn’t work because the bone is sharp and stuck?
Needle nose pliers? Running out of time here…
So first of all, I’m not a medical professional nor am I certified as a CPR instructor, I have a lot more training and experience than the average person, but still take my advice for what it’s worth.
So first of all, most of the time unless someone was trying to hork down a whole fish head or something, most fish bones in most circumstances aren’t going to really obstruct a person’s airway enough to asphyxiate them. It’s going to uncomfortable as fuck, but they’re not in immediate danger of dying. If they’re able to talk, cough, make noises, etc. which I’m pretty sure is the majority of fish bone choking cases, you’re not even going to do the heimlich, it probably wouldn’t work anyway, you’re probably not going to get enough pressure behind that fish bone to pop it out since air is moving around it. Encourage them to try to cough it up themselves, don’t give them anything else to eat or drink, try to keep them calm, and if that doesn’t work, get them to a doctor.
If they aren’t able to make any noise then you’re going to keep doing the heimlich until they pass out, at which point you switch to cpr, and you keep at it until the ambulance gets there and takes over. Call 911 first, even if your able to get in up with the heimlich you want to have the ambulance already on the way if they pass out even if it’s not necessary in the end.
Unless you can see the obstruction and can sweep it out with your fingers, don’t go sticking anything in their mouth, you’re probably not going to get it, and you might cause more damage.
Have you tried turning it off and back on again?
Genius! How long should I leave it turned off?..
By now, it doesn’t really matter anymore. Let me patch you through to legal.
I posted that as a joke but being serious, I got my Wilderness First Responder cert last year and honestly believe that these are skills I should have learned in high school. It was only a three week course but it gave such great information and preparation that it should be standard in education. The 911 operator I engaged with relayed information to and from the EMS that was heading to the site and I don’t think anyone is really going to use YouTube or similar for this purpose. Chances are, if they need YouTube, they are probably panicking and if not, then the operator can relay basics. Good on you for doing a damn hard job I know I couldn’t pull off.
How’s the pay? Enough to make up for probable trauma?
The pay could definitely be better, but the benefits are solid, and I like the hours (at my agency they’re 12 hour days, but you work less days overall.) I’m certainly not rolling in it, but I’m making enough to cover my bills without too much worry. And overall I enjoy my job, it’s always interesting, it feels good to be helping my community, and it’s air conditioned (none of which applied to my previous job working in a warehouse)
Everyone experiences and deals with trauma and stress differently, and not that it doesn’t or can’t happen but I think people who are particularly susceptible to dealing with it poorly tend to weed themselves out of this job pretty fast, usually before they even apply.
I think I deal with it pretty well, stuff doesn’t tend to stick with me, I have a pretty good support system at home, etc. I’ve been here for almost 5 years, and I feel like I’m set for another 20 years, if I leave here I don’t think it will be stress, burnout, trauma, etc. that makes me leave, but finding a better paying job somewhere (but honestly it would be probably one I wouldn’t enjoy as much, I probably could have found a higher paying job if I wanted to but short of being an eccentric millionaire, I don’t know that there are many jobs out there that I’d rather have)
Something I like to put out there whenever this comes up, is that in general we tend to be classified as clerical staff, and getting us reclassified as first responders could help get us better pay, access to different benefits, etc. A few states have done it, and there is/was a bill (the 911 SAVES act) that would have reclassified us at the federal level. So if thats something you support, consider writing a letter to your elected officials supporting it.
Thank you for sharing your perspective. I’m Canadian but hopefully you guys can get reclassed soon.