There is a good Samaritan law in place in order to protect people from law suits such as those.

Now if you have received formal training, are an EMT/Medic/Dr./Nurse or even first aid trained then you inherit a lot more liability.

You are both correct though, which is why formal training is so important, not only from a liability standpoint but from a situational standpoint where you are trained not to do more harm than good based on the mechanism of injury, signs and symptoms, etc.

Its sad that we live in a world where you risk being sued for trying to help out someone who is in need.

http://www.aaos.org/AAOSNow/2014/Jan...ging3/?ssopc=1

Moral of the story is if the person is alert and oriented ALWAYS ask first if you may help them. Also dont put yourself in harms way and possibly become another victim, your safety is first.

 

I agree with what all three of you are saying.

• Lack, I do intend to eventually get myself signed up for a first aid class. there is only so much you can learn by reading and watching videos.
• As for the liability side of issues, I intend the kit to be more for myself and/or my passengers. But none of us can ever be too sure about what kinds of situations or circumstances we find ourselves in.
• I know a great guy who runs a great tire/muffler shop who was sued because some woman went where she wasn't supposed to, even though there were 'watch your step' signs, twisted her ankle and sued him. And won.

In any case, as I mentioned the kit will mostly be for personal use but if the need was ever dire enough i would certainly apply it toward someone else, but i feel this particular scenario is beyond the scope of the thread.


The kit that Lack posted is actually very similar to what I am assembling, myself. I understand the issues with TQ and hemostatics, which is why i wasnt planning on using the latter. I was however somewhat torn between the SWAT-T, which would seem simpler to use, or the SOF-t which looks infinitely easier to apply one-handed.


again for these 'serious' tools im doubting there will be a need, but as the old addage goes, id much rather have and not need, then need and not have.

 

Sounds like you're on the right track. If you have any questions feel free to either post them up in here or shoot me a PM.



Im definitely in the "rather have and not need" group.

 

So true! Good samaritan laws are useless with a slick lawyers.
In that roll over accident i described above, lawsuits were definitely on my mind. So i waited for the police to show up which they did in only a few minutes. When the driver crawled out of that broken rear window, she had noticeable cuts from the broken glass.

If her vehicle would of started on fire though, i wouldn't of hesitated to break the window myself to get her out, law suit or not.

 

Exactly. Without getting into it too much, I think there is definitely a level of urgency which would dictate the situation.

Im not going to standby and watch someone burn to death, or something else of comparable desperation.


Im still toying with where to place the kit, but i should be ordering the materials tomorrow. once i do i can list the things i chose, or just wait till they arrive and take pictures.

 

Everyone should watch the Youtube video with the police detective and the class of law students "Why you should never talk to the police". They (good Samaritan laws) can't hurt you after all they are words to protect you right.. right? The correct answer may be WRONG!

 

The more kits the merrier IMO. I carry a small one in a backpack on me, a little larger kit in all my vehicles, and a fully stocked one at home. Always good to have supplies on hand.

Of course it can add up to be a substantial investment, but if/when you may need it, its invaluable. Medical supplies rank right up there with fire extinguishers in my book.

No doubt there inherent risks with helping people no matter how good your intentions are. Which is sad but absolutely true.

Thats one of the reasons I recommend formal training so much, not only do those classes give you training on actual treatment, but the good ones also address the legal aspects of it as well.

 

Well, the pouch i ordered came, but i seem to have ordered the "full" EMT pouc instead of the "lite" version i was intending.

So now i have an apps 6x8x3 pouch instead of the smaller, roughly 6x4x2 sized one. It has a lot more room but its too big to mount up front where i had wanted.

But it fits nice in the cubby hole!

Offhand it has
6" Compression bandage, forceps, shears,
large and small bandages, ACE wrap, tape, iodine prep pads, medication (Benadryl, aspirin, ibuprofen), triple antibiotic. I want to further add a tourniquet, some tongue depressors, and gauze.

I should be able to throw a pic up tomorrow