When can EMT's eneter your home?

fuzzybuddy

fuzzybuddy

SF VIP
Location
The Sticks, Northeast PA.
Years ago, I found myself on the floor, and just like that commercial, "I couldn't get up". I called 911. They came, but they kept looking for a "lock box" which I don't have. I kept telling the phone operator the door was open. I could hear the ambulance's radio, "He says the door is open", but nobody paid attention. Finally an EMT tried the door. Some how I was thinking about this and wondered what were the rules about EMTs entering somebody's home?
 

It may be different from state to state. Once I suddenly found that there were four medics standing in my living room. I had accidentally pushed the button on my alarm pendant, and didn't realize it. They got a key from the security office and just walked in. Embarrassing, but it's good to know they are able to do that if there really is a medical emergency.

They said it happens all the time.
 
My doors are locked day and night because I don't want anyone unknown walking in unexpectedly. I have no "lock box" and don't know of anyone else around here who does.

I have a check in service. If I don't check in every morning by 9 AM, they text my emergency contact, who has keys and will come to myhouse and check on me

My phone is never far away in case I need to call 911 during the day. If I was unable to unlock the door, I would tell them in my phone call to use forced entry.

If I am unable to call 911, EMTs wouldn't know I needed help, so how they got in wouldn't be the issue. One thing I could do is wear one of those alarms that signals a service in case of a fall. I have no excuse for not doing that, except that I don't want to.

No matter what we do, we take certain chances.
 
When I was on the squad in Virginia we got a call and all we could hear was screaming and a few words. We were dispatched out and got to the residence quickly. Everything was locked so the policeman on scene told me to stand on his back to reach a window which was high up. I got in and found a girl in labor, checked her and she was crowning. Off we went fast to the hospital and made it just in time. Five more minutes...anyway it was a girl.

When I was running and there was a call like that, we got in and asked questions later.
 
Once summoned, the EMT's are considered more than an invitee or licensee. If the EMT' s are govt. Employees, the 4th Amendment applies. The same with Firefighters, do they need a warrant to enter a home to fight a fire, of course not. If private, say you punch the panic button, they are not constrained by the 4th Amendment concerning entry. I suppose the details would be in the contract signed. However, if they need to call police, the above example holds. This would be an emergency situation, generally known as a welfare check or "Community Caretaking" function under the case law, ergo no illegal entry.
 
There are all kinds of crazy scenarios that can happen with EMT's.
Your pasty white corpse is hauled to the local hospital. $1000

Dr. restarts the heart with repairs to the Pacemaker, you been dead
for 12 hours.
You pay for Helicopter ride to State Hospital, you now been dead for
16 hours. That heart is beating but you are dead, but now legally alive
for 4 hours. $15,000+

you got an organ thingy saying you're a donor.

The pain, oh the pain of it all on your daughter to have to
deal with 2 deaths in 24 hours. The pain / agony of it all.

The Coroner should have been called. Say to yourselves,
"It happens all the time!"
 
Last edited:
Fritz said:
According to a search online if the door is locked and you're not able to let them in they have to put your life first and will in the least invasive and damaging manner possible, break into your home to save you.
Click to expand...
Cool, Festus dove thru the picture window. ... (y) ...
 
Thats something to think about. I do live alone. Maybe when Im older I will look into that check in service.
But theres no one to notify. So who would they call. Maybe one of those alarms that signals in case of a fall would be a better choice. I do have the emergency pendant that comes with my security system. So theres that.

Im adjusting to the fact that Im getting old. Before I do something iffy like getting up on the ladder to change the batteries in the smoke detector on the 12' ceiling I turn off the alarm and unlock the door and put my phone in my pocket.
I take a shower upstairs. Again I turn off my alarm and unlock the upstairs door and put the phone close.
And put some clothes close by. Dont want to traumatize the EMTS. :D Also my alarm has outside sirens. :D

Im surprised that some are charged. I had to call the squad numerous times to get the husband off the floor and sometimes for other things. There were never any charges.
 
Veronica said:
Thats something to think about. I do live alone. Maybe when Im older I will look into that check in service.
But theres no one to notify. So who would they call.
Click to expand...
The check in service I use is Snug Safety, a free phone app. - They also have a paid version, but the free one is all I need.

If there's no one to notify, you can consider asking a friend, neighbor, clergy, or your doctor's office. You may not want anyone you select having keys to your house, but if they knew they were your emergency contact, surely they would call 911 if they got a notification from the service that you could not be reached. [Also, more than one contact can be listed.]
 
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