Submitted by Anomaly-Friend t3_11ymdjl in askscience
jackyj888 t1_jddj23y wrote
Reply to comment by Nimelennar in (Biology) How far down your spine can you break before respiratory impairment? by Anomaly-Friend
>Sure, but as a first aider, you're not typically trained to use it. I mean, it's not rocket science, but (IANAL, just someone who has taken a lot of first aid courses) Good Samaritan laws only tend to protect you within the scope of your training, and for anything you do outside of that training (like taking even a tiny blood sample), you can be held liable for if things go wrong.
It's more in scope than administration of sugars or insulin to a diabetic, which is typically a medic though sometimes an EMT skill.
Ting a first aid course or being first aid certified doesn't even include a scope of practice anyways.
>Of course, if the 911 operator instructs you to, that's fine (at that point, you're acting under their authority, rather than your own as a first aider), but it's not something I'd recommend taking initiative on.
Again, you can get someone killed by administration of sugar or insulin, and administration of sugar or insulin is beyond first aiders/Emr anyways.
Unlike using insulin or sugar, using a glucometer poses 0 risk to the patient unless you somehow manage to miss the finger and poke them in the eye or something.
>I was taught this is the only exception to that rule; a small amount of sugary gel (e.g. honey or icing), deposited in the cheek.
Big no no. Absolutely do not do this and this hasn't been recommended for like over 20 years, at least in the USA. An unconcious diabetic needs a line, not stuff put in their mouth.
Source: Degree in Paramedicine, and a career working as a medic on the ambulance.
[deleted] t1_jddoqjv wrote
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