Creative Billboards

Posted by David at 23 June, 2010, 9:00 am

Last week during EMS Garage Episode 91: Fava Beans, Jamie Davis was kind enough to play the Australian PSAs regarding calling 9-1-1 for emergencies. I often find myself unable to fully support the whole issue of being able to refuse transportation for those who call 9-1-1.

I have both the same reservations as Kelly Grayson and I have the fear that by telling people when they do call 9-1-1 that their condition isn’t an emergency, when they truly do have an emergency they won’t be calling 9-1-1 again.

What I would ideally like to see is an educational initiative. Something where we can educate the public voluntarily as opposed to these hard line transport refusals and elongated ETAs for conditions that are not deemed life threatening by a dispatch center. We need to stop treating the public like a liability to our cause, and more as an asset to help us accomplish our mission. While the Australian PSAs are a great example, we already have some great examples right here in the good old United States…

That billboard was set up by Lake-Sumter Emergency Medical Services in Florida. The website WhenToCall911.com is full of information in an easily consumable format for the average citizen to help them make the correct decision when and when not to call 911. Most notable, on the bottom of every page it reads:

Make the right call. If it’s potentially life-threatening, or you’re in doubt, don’t guess… call 911

I think creative billboards that are backed by deeper information are one option to educate the public. Audio and video PSAs are another option. These are the types of community outreach programs we should be doing year round, and not relegated to one week in May.

Hey, if other groups can put some effort into educating the public on safety related matters…

… then why can’t we try to educate them on subjects that affect EMS?

What do you think is holding us back?

emtsteve13

I think what's holding us back is fear of insulting people or the old attitude that serving the public doesn't include telling them what to do. I posted the following on my sign out front.

RED LIGHTS - PULL TO THE RIGHT
AND STOP, YES STOP, THAT'S STOP

It was only up a few days before managment asked that I take it down. Do now when I do talks at schools I tell the kids to ask their parents what to do when they see red lights coming up behind them. I tell them their parents will probably only know half the answer but I'll give them the other half and tell them about stopping and why. I also mention to tell them not to play leap frog with other cars and they all get a kick out of the reference. Hopefully most of them go home and at least have the conversation.

Dave Konig

Funny, The Happy Medic commented on another one of my posts about how we often handle information to the public with "kid gloves". I can't help but agree with him, and in a similar fashion you as well, because there comes a certain point where the message has to get through.

My big problem is that EMS as an industry is attempting to do none of this type of education. Church organizations deem it important enough, so why wouldn't the organizations charged with your acute health and well being? It just doesn't make much sense to me.