Poor communication strands MERT volunteer

Miscommunication led to a new Medical Emergency Response Team (MERT) volunteer's inability to reach an accident scene in a timely manner early Saturday morning, both Joe Becker, interim director of Safety and Security, and Joseph O'Halloran, chief of MERT, said.

A new volunteer for MERT serving on her first night of active duty received a page to report to an accident scene in Francis Hall. She reported to the Office of Safety and Security to inquire about a ride to Francis Hall but found herself running to the scene.

Becker said a misunderstanding created the situation.

"She's a freshman, she just got certified as an EMT (Emergency Medical Technician), so it was her first call," Becker said. "When the call came out at 3:13 in the morning, she ran downstairs here to our office - she doesn't have a vehicle - and she asked the dispatcher, 'What am I supposed to do? Run over there?' Well she didn't ask for a ride, she said 'Am I supposed to run over there?' The dispatcher said 'Yeah, you're supposed to go.'"

Neither Becker nor O'Halloran would give the EMT's or dispatcher's names.

O'Halloran said the protocol for Safety and Security/MERT relations during a MERT call is for MERT volunteers to contact the Office of Safety and Security if they do not have a car and need transportation to the scene. He said certain exceptions apply, but that is the standard agreement.

In this particular instance, the MERT volunteer served as the assistant to the on-call EMT.

"Usually what will happen is the EMT will respond along with the assistant," O'Halloran said. "Unbeknownst to me, until the next day, she finally got to the alarm, but she wasn't able to help that much."

O'Halloran said the assistant ran to Francis Hall from Robinson Hall, where the Office of Safety and Security is located.

"She had said that by the time she did get up to the scene of the emergency, she was so winded from running, and from walking up the steps, that she couldn't assist," O'Halloran said. "She had told me she felt like she was going to need oxygen. She felt like she was going to need help."

Becker said the people involved were unclear on what exactly the other meant when the assistant came to the office.

"(The assistant) kind of thought she was asking for a ride when she didn't come right out and ask for a ride, and the dispatcher just thought she was saying, 'I'm new, what am Isupposed to do, go to it?' And so that's what happened. It was just a misunderstanding."

Becker said better communication can solve the question of whether or not MERT volunteers require transportation.

"I think there could have been better communication on the MERT side, that when they have an orientation for the new EMT members, that they can let them know that security offers rides, but they have to let us know that they need a ride," Becker said.

He said security has begun working with MERT and Health Services to create a better plan for MERT volunteers who do not have cars.

"We're going to work with MERT and Health Services, and we're going to try and set up something where people that know they're going to need rides, when they start their shift to let us know," Becker said.

O'Halloran agreed the miscommunication was present but still expressed concern that Safety and Security did not offer a ride anyway.

"The MERT member was basically saying, 'How do I get to the MERT call?' when she should have been straight up and forward." O'Halloran said. "On the same side, security, I feel, and this is a matter of personal opinion, could have easily radioed the guards at the location, because they were already on the scene with the EMT."

O'Halloran said the nature of the call proved to be one of minor urgency but expressed fear over what might have been.

"The nature of the incident, as superficially as I can put it, was not that severe," O'Halloran said. "Had this been a serious incident, a matter of life and death, I think this issue might have gotten more immediate attention."e-mail: mccartdf@sbu.edu