Automatic External Defibrillators and Amtrak

[~guest~]

Just as aside, I thought there already was an AED... was assured this a previous post.

The discussion was, on any silver service run, odds are the train will stop to take off a sick passenger. Given the average age of the passenger onboard, does not this happen frequently? I would not want to be on the white hair express without one!

 

[Dutchrailnut]

Not that I've heard.

Installing these devices only will shift liability to railroad. currently a radio call to nearest EMT's will shift liability away from Railroad.

besides anything not welded , rivited or glued down gets stolen.

This would be the absolute dumbest possible reason for making a decision on equipping trains with an AED.

Also, most AEDs that I've seen in public places are in some type of a box that has an audible alarm/strobe attached to it (it stands to reason that a situation need an AED would want to be visible and easily located), so your concerns about theft are equally misplaced.

After 25 years on Railroad, I know how everything walks, including emergency tools, medical kits etc.

For railroad if they placed the device, it would be a guaranteed money loser as soon as the device is not working or if it is missing, remember Jury's go for deepest pockets.

So don't expect the railroads to go for them, they simply can not be protected in yards etc.

 

[Ryan]

Not that I've heard.

Installing these devices only will shift liability to railroad. currently a radio call to nearest EMT's will shift liability away from Railroad.

besides anything not welded , rivited or glued down gets stolen.

This would be the absolute dumbest possible reason for making a decision on equipping trains with an AED.

Also, most AEDs that I've seen in public places are in some type of a box that has an audible alarm/strobe attached to it (it stands to reason that a situation need an AED would want to be visible and easily located), so your concerns about theft are equally misplaced.

After 25 years on Railroad, I know how everything walks, including emergency tools, medical kits etc.

For railroad if they placed the device, it would be a guaranteed money loser as soon as the device is not working or if it is missing, remember Jury's go for deepest pockets.

So don't expect the railroads to go for them, they simply can not be protected in yards etc.

Sure thing Dutch, Amtrak isn't going to go for a life saving device because maybe one time it doesn't work and maybe someone sues and then a jury decides to ignore the law and take it out on the railroad because they have deep pockets. Instead, lets just kill some passengers by not having the equipment, because dead pax are better than a lawsuit.
As far as the theft aspect of it, I suppose that all of the emergency equipment that I see in the train I ride every day is just a figment of my imagination, since anything not welded in place is stolen by railroad workers.

 

[mercedeslove]

Not that I've heard.

Installing these devices only will shift liability to railroad. currently a radio call to nearest EMT's will shift liability away from Railroad.

besides anything not welded , rivited or glued down gets stolen.

Not exactly true. Being that AED's are available in most public places, the lack of them on a train is deemed a liability as well. The use of the AED's is covered under the Good Samaritan Act, as long as it is used as trained.

So, I would expect to see these on board an Amtrak train soon.

And yes, I work in the EMS field...so, not just flapping my jaws!

Thank you. I was going to have to say all this if you didn't. They have them at my school and not many people are trained to use them. I have been trained since like 1999.

 

[Dutchrailnut]

Not that I've heard.

Installing these devices only will shift liability to railroad. currently a radio call to nearest EMT's will shift liability away from Railroad.

besides anything not welded , rivited or glued down gets stolen.

This would be the absolute dumbest possible reason for making a decision on equipping trains with an AED.

Also, most AEDs that I've seen in public places are in some type of a box that has an audible alarm/strobe attached to it (it stands to reason that a situation need an AED would want to be visible and easily located), so your concerns about theft are equally misplaced.

After 25 years on Railroad, I know how everything walks, including emergency tools, medical kits etc.

For railroad if they placed the device, it would be a guaranteed money loser as soon as the device is not working or if it is missing, remember Jury's go for deepest pockets.

So don't expect the railroads to go for them, they simply can not be protected in yards etc.

Sure thing Dutch, Amtrak isn't going to go for a life saving device because maybe one time it doesn't work and maybe someone sues and then a jury decides to ignore the law and take it out on the railroad because they have deep pockets. Instead, lets just kill some passengers by not having the equipment, because dead pax are better than a lawsuit.
As far as the theft aspect of it, I suppose that all of the emergency equipment that I see in the train I ride every day is just a figment of my imagination, since anything not welded in place is stolen by railroad workers.

Well Matt, in your extreeme vast experience of railroading, and few hundred miles you traveled on Amtrak, you have seen emergency tools, correct, as the FRA makes railroad replace such items or car can not be dispatched, yes emergency tools are federal requirement, a defibrilator is not, so so far 99% of railroads has not put them on trains.

Did I say railworkers steel this stuff ??? nope you did, how about homeless people, tresspassers railbuffs etc.

 

[Ryan]

Well Matt, in your extreeme vast experience of railroading, and few hundred miles you traveled on Amtrak, you have seen emergency tools, correct, as the FRA makes railroad replace such items or car can not be dispatched, yes emergency tools are federal requirement, a defibrilator is not, so so far 99% of railroads has not put them on trains.Did I say railworkers steel this stuff ??? nope you did, how about homeless people, tresspassers railbuffs etc.

My name's not Matt, but thanks for playing. I also never claimed to have vast experience in railroading. I said that not including safety equipment for liability reasons was dumb, and that AED theft usually isn't a problem as they're stored in containers with alarms. It's not like you can just slip one out of the box and wander off with it unnoticed.

I'd feel much safer with an AED onboard, and the first time they save a life it'll be worthwhile.

 

[GG-1]

Aloha

I just hid a couple of messages, to give others on the team to review them. I did this because the attitudes and Language was not respectful of members.