K.I.S.S.

Waaaaiiiiit a second. I thought the federal government (think Military) was supposed to be the first responders??

A least that is what the media would lead us to believe.
<img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Just kidding. I needed to get my media jab in.
To all you REAL first responders out there ... hats off to you!!

Actually, we saw a DNR Tatoo a few months ago...right on the guy's CCHEST

DNR ORDER
SEE WALLET CARD

And I've seen quite a few "WARNING- PACEMAKER" tatoos.

I work as a Paramedic. Police, Fire, EMS are all first responders.

actually, I've been thinking about a chest tatoo with my drug allergies and blood type for a few years, but that would mean shaving my chest.

I'm not sure if I want a weedwacker that close to my ribs. <img src="/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />

It is also an issue of confidentially. Although we can look for stuff that may help us understand why you are the way you are i.e. unconscious, seizure or otherwise. I am not sure it is appropriate to look through pics of your wife on your data stick.

Martin, as usual, I find messages from you and a few specific others to be very informative. Yours are on my "must read" list of messages.

With regards to your comment:
b) is it safe for me to get and be near the patient?

Is this where you include "Secure the scene so that no one else gets hurt" including me.

I do tend to help at accidents when I might be the first person on the scene and my first thought is "What can I do to make sure it gets no worse and no one else gets hurt."
If someone needs critical first aid and it is attempted by a trained individual who stops to offer assistance, the situation only gets worse if failure to warn oncoming traffic creates more trouble and perhaps additional injured; excluding a large vehicle with flashing lights, etc.

I am sure it is part of your "process" in these situations and I think you automatically include it as opposed to pointing it out specifically.

How extensive is your medical file that you need a usb flash-drive?

somethings I would like to know about you if I find you unconcious are: past medical history, allergies and medications... but I will settle down for a med alert tag that will have most of the stuff engraved.

I will not look thru your pda, usb drive, documents or other private stuff due to privacy.

Yes, that's exactly what I mean. The patient may not like it much, but it's worth it for me to delay aid for 120 seconds so I can park a truck the correct way to block traffic and still be useful on the scene.

I'm not going to run up to a vehicle leaking fuel without first advancing a CHARGED handline - and that's a hard instict to overcome, but a dead or disabled me isn't going to do anyone any good later.

Scene safety is SO important.

Here's why:
http://www.big-boys.com/articles/badaccident7.html

I think he knew the encrypted data was useless, and was asking about adding unencrypted data.