WWYD: 911 related

[LoveTrains]

Call 911.

[sjh722]

911.

The EMTs or paramedics can help to move him/stabilize the arm and you can assess from there whether he needs an ambulance ride or not.

[tine]

call 911. BTW I have never been told 911 is only for life or death situations.

[Poppy]

I called the police dispatcher instead of 911 once (long story involving stolen car) and they acted like I was crazy and told me I should call 911 if the situation was urgent.

[LoveTrains]

Oct 20, 2014 14:07:28 GMT -5 tine said:

call 911. BTW I have never been told 911 is only for life or death situations.

I agree, I have never heard that. 

[ewall]

Call 911. That's what they tell you to do in Red Cross first aid/CPR class. Check, call, care.

[ijack]

Well first I would find his parents and ask what they wanted me to do.

[Ashley&Scott]

Call 911

[Deleted]

If it were just an arm and not spine or head related, I would take him to the ER myself and contact the parents.

Are you in a rural area where ambulances and fire and volunteer run?

[aurora]

If it were my child and it was obviously just an arm injury (even break) and I could drive safely without being distracted, I'd probably take the child to the ER myself.

If it were a friend's child I would call the friend and ask what they wanted done (again assuming I could drive safely).

If it were a stranger, I'd call 911 for sure.

I have never once heard that 911 is only for life or death. It's not for minor things like stubbing a toe, but a possible broken arm is absolutely OK for 911 in my experience.

[shell24]

Lofreakingl at 911 for life and death. My fireman H would dispute that

In that scenario, if moving him was causing so much pain, I would absolutely call 911.

[MixedBerryJam]

Considering that a fall that was hard enough to break his arm might also have damaged his spine, I wouldn't hesitate to call 911 and jot move the kid until the ambulance got there.

[my3bears]

I've called 911 5 times in 8 years. I've never been told that any of the calls were an overreaction.

I'm also first aid/CPR trained for my job every year. In a situation like that I wouldn't hesitate to call 911.

[macmars45]

I just re-took my CPR/first aid class (every two years like clockwork in in my field of education). Always call if you're unsure. The firemen/other emergency personnel would rather be called and not be needed than not be called and something horrible happening.

[lime]

Life or death? Really?

So if someone is being assaulted - but not murdered - they will be upset that you called?

[imojoebunny]

Our police/fire/ambulance do not have a "non-emergency" number. It's all 911. They were just at my house today.