Mixed messages about medical services

[RiverAux]

As most of us know, CAP has tried its best to devise language that makes it pretty clear that we're not here to provide medical care for anyone, but at the same one of our reasons for being here is responding to emergencies  that have the potential need for CAP members to provide care for those who have been injured.  Personally, I don't think they've come up with a rational approach to this whole situation, but lets look at a specific example that cropped up on VolunteerNow: http://www.capvolunteernow.com/news.cfm/nev_cadets_call_on_emergency_skills_at_scout_expo?show=news&newsID=7619

In this case, dozens of CAP members performed a roving "safety patrol" at a Boy Scout encampment and apparently had "first aid response teams" that were called when needed.

Does this sound like a proper duty for CAP members given our regulations regarding first aid?  In this case we're looking at a planned non-CAP event where CAP members were tasked with being first responders in incidents where first aid might be necessary. 

That is worlds apart from happening to be at someone else's event and spontaneously responding to an emergency which I think is what CAP would really prefer.

The applicable langauge from 60-3 would seem to be this:

CAP is not an emergency medical care or paramedic organization and should not advertise itself as such. CAP will not be the primary provider of medical support on missions or training events though qualified personnel can be used to support such activities.

One might claim that CAP was just supporting the camp nurse and therefore would be covered, but that would be a close call in my book.

To be clear, I actually think CAP should be able to provide advanced medical care and I think this sort of thing is a great mission for CAP, but it seems to me that it goes against what CAP wants us to do, yet here it is being trumpeted by our PA folks. 

Incidentally, shouldn't the Boy Scouts have had plenty of their own folks with First Aid merit badges walking around?

[Eclipse]

Incidentally, shouldn't the Boy Scouts have had plenty of their own folks with First Aid merit badges walking around?

As I read that all I could think was how many noses were out of joint that CAP was the responder in that situation.  I know I'd have an
"opinion" if Boy Scouts were helping CAP members at an airshow or something - it doesn't really make any sense.

I don't think they were really over the line, but I don't understand why we were there to start with.

[Flying Pig]

Reminds me of that deal when the CAP cadets were driving around assisting stranded motorists a couple of years ago. I think some people just want to help way to much.

[SJFedor]

Yeahhhh. That's a huge liability right there. Ambulance services can provide standby EMS crews for these types of events, who are licensed and insured to provide these services. Not a good call.

[JayT]

"Emergency First Aid Response Teams" sounds like an emergency medic or paramedical response.

[Short Field]

Or maybe a PAO is just a little too good at trying to write an exciting news story...

[Short Field]

CAP is very clear about what we can and cannot do.  There is no mixed message except in the minds of people who don't want to be restrained in their actions.

[AirAux]

Might have evolved out of a combination CAP/BSA squadron??

[RiverAux]

Or maybe a PAO is just a little too good at trying to write an exciting news story...

Well, I don't entirely discount that as a possibility, but in this case they would have had to radically mistate or make up the statements of concern.

CAP is very clear about what we can and cannot do.  There is no mixed message except in the minds of people who don't want to be restrained in their actions.

By this do you mean that you believe that having CAP members specifically tasked to be available to perform first aid at a non-CAP event falls within our regulations? Or are you saying that it was clearly not allowed and they messed up by taking on that task?

[JayT]

Or maybe a PAO is just a little too good at trying to write an exciting news story...

Well, I don't entirely discount that as a possibility, but in this case they would have had to radically mistate or make up the statements of concern.

CAP is very clear about what we can and cannot do.  There is no mixed message except in the minds of people who don't want to be restrained in their actions.

By this do you mean that you believe that having CAP members specifically tasked to be available to perform first aid at a non-CAP event falls within our regulations? Or are you saying that it was clearly not allowed and they messed up by taking on that task?

Having CAP memebers specifically tasked with "emergency first aid responders" is pretty clearly against the regulation.

[Short Field]

Having CAP memebers specifically tasked with "emergency first aid responders" is pretty clearly against the regulation.

Especially considering that neither of the cadets had first aid training, BCUT, or any of the FEMA courses.  One cadet did have his GES qualification.  This is from Ops Quals.

but in this case they would have had to radically mistate or make up the statements of concern.

Oh, someone passes out, a distress call goes out, and the CAP command post sends out a C/AIC and a C/SrA to take care of the situation - neither of whom has any first aid training. No CAP adult supervision was provided?  The cadets made an initial medical assessment and then called a nurse?  The nurse is asking the cadets "What should you do next?".   Yep, you are right, this had to have happened exactly as written without any exaggeration at all. 

[Gung Ho]

Sure sounds like two cadets responded without any adult members with them. With the way I understand what CAP does not want us to do this doesn't sound right at all. I'm not saying it might not be a good mission for CAP but they don't want us doing this for our own people why would they let cadets do it for anybody else? And then to put it up on a web page for all to see

[High Speed Low Drag]

I noticed that the PAO was from the same squadorn as the Sq. CC and wrote this:  "Capt. David Henderson, commander of the Jim Bridger unit, led the 36-cadet safety team with organization and precision."   I agree with an earlier poster that this is a lot of extra hype; you would have thought Capt. Henderson was preparing for an OER.

My big question:  Why the heck did VolunteerNow even publish this news given how far agianst regulations it was?  I have more of a beef with that then I do the original "story."

[RiverAux]

I don't think anyone blames the cadets as in this case they were pretty clearly doing what they were told to do. 

[Redbird Leader]

I'm pretty impressed with the First Aid Response Team acronym.  What would the patch look like?

[AirAux]

Motto could be, "There she blows". hehe..

[Short Field]

Lots of clouds and lighting bolts on the patch?

[SarDragon]

Brown clouds, maybe. 

[Short Field]

Brown is ok but they need to make sure they don't put a torch on the patch to help light the way...

[High Speed Low Drag]

Torch would actually be good if they have a long blue flame on the other side.