Pre-arrival instructions
When we receive a 999 call, depending on the nature of the problem, the call taker may be able to offer first aid guidance to improve the care to the patient before the arrival of the ambulance response, and be able to describe how to undertake life-saving actions.
These pre-arrival instructions (PAIs) are scripted and are governed by the Emergency Medical Dispatch Academy in USA (NAEMD). They represent the best way of describing how care can be provided by description over the telephone to someone who has no first aid knowledge. They often do not describe or follow conventional first aid practice.
This apparent variation from standard first aid instruction causes concern, but the balance that has to be reached is between the enormous variation in the settings that an emergency can take place against the possibility of doing harm before the arrival of the emergency services.
The PAIs are regularly reviewed to ensure the advice that is given is the best that will benefit the patient.
This is one area of practice where feedback is essential. If you have any comments about the advice you may have been given or have heard about please contact the Trust PALS service as follows:
Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire
Please call 0800 028 3382 or e-mail pals@eastamb.nhs.uk
Essex
Please call 0800 028 3021e-mail pals@essexamb.nhs.uk
Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire
Please call 01234 408999 extn 247 or e-mail lpickering@bhamb.nhs.uk
