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A barrier to entry that tried to kill someone.
Apparently, in Kentucky, you have to have a wilderness EMS license to administer antivenom.
In this case, normal EMT's did the deed and saved the patient.
"The Kentucky Board of Emergency Medical Services (KBEMS) implemented a policy two years ago mandating that only wilderness paramedics can administer antivenom. Now, the first responders will have to show the administrative agency why they should not lose their licenses."
I'd think bringing Mr Harrison, the bite victim, to the hearing would do.
Speaking of these licenses, the story mentions that the zookeepers knew what and how much antivenom and adrenaline was going to be needed to save Mr Harrison from the mamba bite. They have no medical licenses at all as far as I know.
The information isn't cryptic, complicated or even secret.
This is a super clear case.
The victim, and the zookeeper, knew exactly what kind of snake had bitten them and what they needed to administer. The EMT's did that.
I'm willing to bet that the wilderness EMS training is centered around, "the victim says that they got bit by some kind of snake, and they don't have any idea what kind."
You don't wanna administer the wrong antivenom and you wanna make sure the person giving it out knows how to determine the correct kind from "some kind of snake" and symptoms.
But like so many of these things, the politicians have no clue about the real world...
PS: Before you comment; antivenom is a synonym for antivenin and it's a perfectly cromulent word. Also, I couldn't be arsed to verify the spelling of antivenin when slamming out the post.
Just once I'd like to see the moron law makers ask, "and then what happens?" That would be the first time in history. Asking if it's worth doing or if it should be done is a dream.
ReplyDeleteFortunately, we don't have many mambas running loose in the backwoods of Kentucky. I doubt the zoo was in the wilderness. There for this regulation is invalid. I would gladly buy the EMTs a beer.
ReplyDelete