Sign-language is used by paramedic during rescue
A paramedic used sign language to communicate with and treat a non-English speaking lorry driver who was injured as he unloaded his vehicle.
The 31-year-old driver from Portugal, was unloading pallets from his lorry when he fell off the back of the vehicle and trapped his right leg, leaving him hanging from the vehicle in the car park of a warehouse near Coalville at about 1.45pm.
The Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Ruitland air ambulance landed in a field opposite to treat the man who had been freed by his colleagues with a forklift truck.
Air ambulance paramedic Dan Evans, said: "On arrival, the patient was on the phone to a Portuguese friend who could speak English so we were able to tell his friend who we were and that we wanted to assess the man, treat him and fly him to hospital.
"His friend was able to translate for us and the patient gave us permission to help him. It wasn't practical to continue passing the phone backwards and forwards so we then used our people skills and limited sign language to continue our work and treat the patient before airlifting him. "It is our job to set the patient's mind at ease at make them feel as comfortable as possible. I had some sign language training as part of my paramedic training with the NHS, it's fairly basic but has been useful from time to time."
On assessing the patient's injuries paramedics treated him with pain relief and put a vacuum splint on his right leg. He was carried to the aircraft on a scoop stretcher and airlifted to Royal Derby Hospital for further treatment.
The incident happened at about 1.45pm on Wednesday.
2 Comments
by 22FARAWAYFOX
Saturday, February 25 2012, 7:32PM
“I am lost here, The Paramedic was on the phone to a Portugese guy who spoke English, so then having told this bloke in English what they wanted to do to the victim, why didn't the Paramedic simply hold the phone to his ear so that the the two Portugese guys could speak to each other in their native tongue I don't see the need for any sign language unless I have missed something here.....But I am not going to **** the Emergency Services off so well done.”
by gchq19
Friday, February 24 2012, 8:42AM
“Somewhat misleading headline. Almost implies the victim was a deaf guy who luckily enough happened to be found by a paramedic who, incredibly, happens to have deaf relative - and therefore knew sign language and was able to communicate with the victim, much to the delight and relief of all.
The reality is somewhat duller and could be summed up with the headline 'Paramedic does job'.”