I'm appalled at emergency response time on WDW property

[Happyinwonerland]

Tonight as we were waiting in line for the Tram a woman passed out and went unresopnsive. Her traveling companion explained she was hypoglycemic and her sugar was low. A CM was there before I got to her and radioed EM. I jumped over and did a quick assessment and helped stabilize her while waiting for help.. A member of the crowd had oral glucose coalition so we helped her get that in and she was responsive but still in rough shape when paramedics arrived. It took a good 15 -20 minutes or so before medics arrived. I'm just shocked at such a slow Emergency response at such a densely populated park. You'd think they would be right on that.

 

[Shanti]

Tonight as we were waiting in line for the Tram a woman passed out and went unresopnsive. Her traveling companion explained she was hypoglycemic and her sugar was low. A CM was there before I got to her and radioed EM. I jumped over and did a quick assessment and helped stabilize her while waiting for help.. A member of the crowd had oral glucose coalition so we helped her get that in and she was responsive but still in rough shape when paramedics arrived. It took a good 15 -20 minutes or so before medics arrived. I'm just shocked at such a slow Emergency response at such a densely populated park. You'd think they would be right on that.

Glad you were there to pitch in and help her.

 

[Happyinwonerland]

Glad you were there to pitch in and help her.

Thanks. There were a few of us there helping. No big thing to me, it's what I do for a living.

The slow response by ems concerns me greatly. I hope it was a fluke and that they are normally much quicker.

 

[katie01]

Deleted for privacy

 

[katie01]

Sorry, I posted about a friend of mine's experience as an EMT but deleted it for privacy reasons, but the gist of it was I believe there is probably a shortage of EMTs--the job is tremendously stressful on top of being low paying. This could possibly contribute to longer wait times

 

[Happyinwonerland]

Sorry, I posted about a friend of mine's experience as an EMT but deleted it for privacy reasons, but the gist of it was I believe there is probably a shortage of EMTs--the job is tremendously stressful on top of being low paying. This could possibly contribute to longer wait times

That's a good point. I work alongside Paramedics with 30 years of experience who make around $14/hr. Not much money for a job that comes with exposure to so much trauma.

 

[Albort]

I can shed some light with Disneyland side. There is no EMT on standby within the resort, they are called in based on needs. A nurse is dispatched first from first aid first to evaluate the problem, is possible, moving them to first aid and link up with the EMTs there, if not, EMT will be called to guided to the nearest gate for transport...

A nurse usually gets out pretty quick with priority traffic behind the gates... Im guessing maybe WDW is bigger, takes a lot more time to get it through the chain of command and dispatched... probably no excuses though...

 

[Dentam]

What does it say about our society that EMT's, teachers, etc are paid so little while sports and "reality" stars are rolling in millions? It makes me sick.

Glad you were able to help the woman until help arrived.

 

[King Schultz]

First of all, much credit to you for jumping in and helping. It might not seem like a big deal to you, but I'm sure it did to the woman in distress and those with her. I admire what you did.

Second, I wonder if the response time is that much different than any other place with a similar amount a traffic, area, etc.

I honestly don't know.

 

[Rhie]

Actually, that's a pretty good response time given the conditions, the fact they come from off-site, the fact they are probably coming from at least 10 minutes from the park then into the park. I live in a smallish city and that's about the response time (which I have cause to know all too well *sigh*).

Good for you for using your skills to help. That's highly unusual and very commendable.

 

[jevs]

I too live in a small community and that is pretty much the response time for ambos and firies here as well.
As an example, when we had a fire a few years ago it was only the actions of a neighbour that saved our property. Had we waited for the firies we would have lost the lot.
With regards to ambos, should we ever be bitten by a king brown the best idea is to strap it up yourself, phone ambos giving a route you are taking to the hospital, then get in the car, throw some hazards on and drive.

I must add that it is not the fault of the medic of fire services at all, they do their best with what they have.

 

[winterman]

Last Nov. I passed out from dehydration, while waiting at Animal Kingdom for a bus back to my resort. I was very happy with the response. I woke up to a nurse checking my pulse and very quickly a CM arrived. After assessing the situation, they called for an ambulance. I didn't time it, but the arrival time seemed fine to me, especially since I was alert and talking. PP Rhie said they come from off site but that is not usually the case. The ambulance was from Reedy Creek, which is near CBR.

 

[ravenclawtrekkie]

I used to be an EMT (although not for Reedy Creek). Response time depends on a lot of things - mostly how far away they are when dispatched, how bad the traffic is, and how much people on the road want to yield the right of way.

Last month, one of my co-workers collapsed and an alpha unit arrived almost immediately - but they'd been stationed backstage because it was one of the first super-hot days of the year and they were expecting lots of heat illness. (Which there was.)

 

[mjkacmom]

Wow! Response time in my town is about 3 minutes for fire and ambulance, with police shooing up at least a minute sooner. I'm surprised Disney doesn't have its own staff - it's like a city.

 

[Happyinwonerland]

I live in a large-ish city and our response time is almost immediately. I was in a car accident where my car was totalled by a bus and the ambulance was there in maybe 5 minutes or less. Which I guess is why the slow response here at WDW surprised me.

The CM helping didn't seem to be a nurse, although she was very helpful and did what she could. I wonder if all the nurses had gone home for the day at that time of night.

 

[Bianca and Bernard]

Wow! Response time in my town is about 3 minutes for fire and ambulance, with police shooing up at least a minute sooner. I'm surprised Disney doesn't have its own staff - it's like a city.

The Reedy FD could have been otherwise occupied. Maybe another person down or something, so they may have had to get a city ambulance to come in. That would account for the longer response time. Also, busy traffic, because it seems like no one gives right of way to the response units anymore. Driving down Blanding in Orange Park last week, ambulance and 2 fire trucks come screaming by, lights and sirens, and both firetrucks nearly took out 4 vehicles at an intersection because the cars didn't stop for the units to go (they were waiting to make a left turn and I think since the traffic coming the other way was pulled over for the firetrucks behind them, they all decided it was a good time to make the turn.)

 

[Hikergirl]

What does it say about our society that EMT's, teachers, etc are paid so little while sports and "reality" stars are rolling in millions? It makes me sick.

Glad you were able to help the woman until help arrived.

Actually I was thinking, what does it say about our society when fast food workers demand as much pay as EMT workers. That makes me sick.

I hope that it was just a fluke, that is way to long to arrive to an emergency. Thank goodness you were there OP and there were others who could help.

 

[wilkeliza]

This has to be a fluke. They don't radiot EMS they have to call
9-1-1. If the person calling 911 does it from a non-company phone it goes to Orlando. Yes the response time for Orlando can be 20-30 minutes. If it came from Reedy Creek it should have been much less. I've had to make that call from Epcot and it was 2 minutes to get EMS on stage by American Adventure.

So just a reminder if you as a guest call 911 for an emergency on Disney property the first words should be I'm at Disney world please transfer me to Reedy Creek if you hear Orlando pick up.

 

[sam_gordon]

So just a reminder if you as a guest call 911 for an emergency on Disney property the first words should be I'm at Disney world please transfer me to Reedy Creek if you hear Orlando pick up.

1) How would a guest know it's Orlando picking up?
2) That sounds like a problem with the 911 system that it sends 911 calls from Disney to Orlando dispatch.
3) Dispatchers should be smart enough to know if someone says they're at the MK parking lot, or Spaceship Earth, that means Disney, which means transfer to Reedy Creek.

 

[minnie56]

Unfortunately I've witnessed 2 nasty accidents on Disney property - one involving my husband and can say Disney responded promptly and Reedy Creek and in one instance a helicopter were on site in a matter of minutes. It's very scary and time is of the essence indeed!