Emergencies while in the Parks

[ladyjubilee]

what do you do if you have anemergency while in the park? We had an issue a couple of years ago and asked for Emts and were told we would have to go to first aid and that we could not get medical help. At the time I could not set cell phone reception and couldn't call 911 myself. Now my son's siezures are worse.

Do you call 911 yourself? Do you have to make your way to first aid? What do you have to say to CMs to get medical help?

 

[anonymousegirl]

I would notify a CM, any CM, immediately. They can call first aid who will not only come to you immediately, but phone the EMTs as well.

 

[ttintagel]

My experience when I broke my foot in 2011 was that the first CM I spoke to immediately got her supervisor, who called an ambulance right away. It's just horrible that they made you go all the way to First Aid!

More and more it seems like there's no coherent policy for anything, and it's just down to luck of the draw depending on what CM happens to be on duty wherever you happen to be at the moment.

 

[KathyRN137]

I'm also surprised that the CM did not call for EMS; especially since they usually have EMTs from Reedy Creek in the parks. If the first CM you talk to can't help you in a medical emergency, ask for a supervisor.

Best of luck with your upcoming trip!


Kathy

 

[ttintagel]

If all else fails and the CM won't help, I'd probably yell for help.* There's usually more than one CM in the general area, and if not, other guests would hear you and get someone more on the ball than the CM who told you to go to First Aid.

*I actually did that once - it was my first time in the Haunted Mansion since my eyesight got bad. I told the CM I wouldn’t be able to find my way once the lights went down and that it wasn’t safe for me, or for the other guests, for me to walk through the stretching room and the corridor that leads to the load area, but he insisted I would be fine and refused to let me enter through the exit like wheelchair users used to do.

Well, it turned out I was right; I couldn’t see a thing. The crowd started moving around me, with little kids running and screaming and adults pushing and shoving; I ran smack into the door frame, and that’s when I broke down and yelled, “HELP! I CAN’T SEE!” None of the CM’s lifted a damn finger, but a kind guest took my arm, led me the rest of the way, and even helped me into a Doombuggy.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

. . . None of the CM’s lifted a damn finger, but a kind guest took my arm, led me the rest of the way . . .

1) Yep.
2) The CM's are not supposed to assist very much.
3) If you fell while being assisted, it would be permanent employment for lawyers.
4) Due to lawsuits, there are MANY things CM's are not permitted to do to/for guests.
5) It is a shame, but the sign of the times.

NOTE: I know it sounds cruel, but I once had a guest slip in the lobby. I went over, but
was asked by the manager to not assist. If she needed help, I could call an "Alpha"
(EMT Unit), or she can get up herself. Hate to say it, but greedy people and lawyers
are ruining the world. In the same vein, we are NEVER to say, "We are sorry.", as
that could be a expression of guilt or wrong doing.

 

[pampam]

1) Yep.
2) The CM's are not supposed to assist very much.
3) If you fell while being assisted, it would be permanent employment for lawyers.
4) Due to lawsuits, there are MANY things CM's are not permitted to do to/for guests.
5) It is a shame, but the sign of the times.

NOTE: I know it sounds cruel, but I once had a guest slip in the lobby. I went over, but
was asked by the manager to not assist. If she needed help, I could call an "Alpha"
(EMT Unit), or she can get up herself. Hate to say it, but greedy people and lawyers
are ruining the world. In the same vein, we are NEVER to say, "We are sorry.", as
that could be a expression of guilt or wrong doing.

Wow!

I had heard this before, but it still astounds me.

 

[dsneygirl]

My son ran full speed into the rails at the bus stop and had a massive goose egg. We carried him back to the entrance and grabbed the first security CM we saw. They called a unit and a couple of managers were also there within seconds. Gave him the once over, instructions to go to emerg if things got worse or to call EMTs again any time.

 

[ttintagel]

Well, since they're the ones who put me in danger in the first place, they could hardly have made it worse!

 

[Coonhound]

Wow!

I had heard this before, but it still astounds me.

MOST places have policies like this. They have gotten sued too many times or been at risk of being used, our world is a sue-happy world...as a result, they have to do these things to protect themselves.
In every job I have ever held, I have been told NEVER to say the words "I'm sorry", because once you say you're sorry, you have admitted guilt.
It's too bad that's how it is, but that's just how it is.

 

[deb010305]

My DS13 had an asthma attack a few years ago at HS. We went to first aid and the nurse there tried to reach the EMTs assigned to HS. When she couldn't get them she called 911 and EMTs from Reedy Creek were there in minutes. Also there in minutes, appearing almost as if by magic were 3 or 4 management type CMs. Luckily he was didn't require transport to the hospital.

 

[Talking Hands]

what do you do if you have anemergency while in the park? We had an issue a couple of years ago and asked for Emts and were told we would have to go to first aid and that we could not get medical help. At the time I could not set cell phone reception and couldn't call 911 myself. Now my son's siezures are worse.

Do you call 911 yourself? Do you have to make your way to first aid? What do you have to say to CMs to get medical help?

Had several emergencies in regard to my diabetes and each time a CM has helped me. All have been low sugar and the CM has gotten me OJ or a coke to bring it up. All I had to do was to explain the issue and I was told to wait right where I was and they would bring it to me.

 

[mdvlprof]

DS & wheelchair went off a curb at CS hotel a couple years ago. Manager, several staff, were at the scene in moments, calling EMT en route.
Manager couldn't do 'medical' stuff, but rescheduled our ADRs and hard-ticket event we were on our way to.

Haven't had emergency in park itself.

 

[maxiesmom]

Well, since they're the ones who put me in danger in the first place, they could hardly have made it worse!

If you knew you couldn't go through the "normal" line, maybe you should have gotten a GAC? If you knew you couldn't do the ride safely the way they were forcing you to go, why on earth did you go? Sounds like there is blame on both sides here.

 

[ttintagel]

If you knew you couldn't go through the "normal" line, maybe you should have gotten a GAC?

As I said, it was the first time I had gone since my eyesight had gotten bad, so I couldn't be 100% certain, and the CM kept saying it wasn't that dark and that I would be fine. So, it wasn;t a matter of "knowing."

And I I DID have a GAC. The CM's just wouldn't give me any accommodation based on it.

If you knew you couldn't do the ride safely the way they were forcing you to go, why on earth did you go?

See above about "knowing."

Sounds like there is blame on both sides here.

If they're not willing to make any accommodation for the visually impaired, they should have a policy whereby visually impaired people aren't allowed in the attraction. When a ride isn't safe for people under a certain height, they don't let people under that height in. When a ride isn't safe for people with a heart condition, they have a sign up saying "If you have a heart condition, don't ride this." There's no sign up at the Haunted Mansion saying "You Must Be Able to Read This Line on the Eye Chart to Ride," so there's a reasonable expectation that everybody's welcome and disabilities will be accommodated.

They have an alternate entrance for people who can't use the normal one. I read all the time on the DIS about people who ask to go in that way just because their kids are afraid of the stretching room, and get waved through without a question. I had been waiting and saving years for that trip, and I had gone through A LOT to get there. It would have been asking way too much to expect me to miss out because of some snot-nosed kid's tinpot dictator attitude. This isn't about me being irresponsible; this is about CM's with bugs up their bottoms.

 

[ladyjubilee]

My experience when I broke my foot in 2011 was that the first CM I spoke to immediately got her supervisor, who called an ambulance right away. It's just horrible that they made you go all the way to First Aid!.

I think they just thought my son was misbehaving as he was having A major meltdown. I was too overwhelmed to explain that it wasn't autism meltdown, but secure related overheating. Even I backed down. Only later when his numerologist was warning us what could to have happened did I realize I Should never had take no for an answer.

His siezures have gotten alot worse so I want to be prepared.