Medics in the parks?

[taramesu]

I know WDW has first aid centers in each park but does WDW have medics in the parks?

 

[Carol_]

I know WDW has first aid centers in each park but does WDW have medics in the parks?

They’re moments away.

 

[taramesu]

They’re moments away.

A member of our travel party experienced a medical emergency in the parks last week and we had to wait about 10 minutes for EMTs to arrive (via ambulance). Medics from within the park never arrived and we were begging CMs for help.

 

[maxiesmom]

A member of our travel party experienced a medical emergency in the parks last week and we had to wait about 10 minutes for EMTs to arrive (via ambulance). Medics from within the park never arrived and we were begging CMs for help.

I wonder if in part that is a side effect of covid. So much of the medical resources are being tied up by covid, it wouldn't surprise me.

I want to add that a few years ago I saw someone trip and fall on main street usa. It was a matter of seconds before people were around her helping. But it did take a little bit for the paramedics to show up. I don't think they have EMTs stationed in the park, but they are fairly close.

 

[Carol_]

We required an ambulance right next to the main entrance so it was easy for them to get to us.
When it’s an emergency time always moves slowly. I’ve lived in places where EMS also moves slowly. WDW isn’t one of those places.

 

[gap2368]

I have had EMT called more times then I like they show up pretty fast

 

[lanejudy]

EMTs respond from Reedy Creek Improvement District - on-property but not directly stationed within each park. First Aid within each park is staffed by RNs or possibly EMTs.

 

[DisneyOma]

My emergency room trip was from my hotel room, and it took a while for the ambulance to show up, but two staff members came to my room right away, At the parks (at least at HS a few years ago) there was nurse staff at the first aid center, but no EMT staff.

 

[mamabunny]

A member of our travel party experienced a medical emergency in the parks last week and we had to wait about 10 minutes for EMTs to arrive (via ambulance). Medics from within the park never arrived and we were begging CMs for help.

CMs from the First Aid Centers don't leave the First Aid Center to respond to incidents within the Parks; if they did, the First Aid Centers would never be staffed, and would be closed more than open.

The First Aid Centers are for walk-in issues; if someone needs assistance and is neither self-ambulatory nor able to be moved (safely) by member(s) of their party, then EMTs from Reedy Creek should be/will be called.

Having said all that, *some* theme parks (thinking here specifically of Silver Dollar City in Branson, MO) do have "roaming" medics that carry a huge backpack stocked with basic first aid supplies, as well as a walkie connected to a base in the main First Aid Station. We were told by one of those medics that they often wind up spending their day dispensing generic Tylenol and passing out band-aids for blisters.

 

[cobright]

When my son was younger we were having our last lunch of the trip at Columbia Harbor House. Kiddo throws himself off his bench to avoid an imaginary sorcerers of the magic kingdom spell or something silly and cracks his head on the next bench over. It sounded like a baseball bat hitting one out of the park. The Reedy Creek guys popped up in minutes like gophers in a game of whack-a-mole.

That said, I think MK is a very accessible park in this respect. There's the tunnel system and the distance between park and backlot is really much thinner than it seems. I suspect that some parks are better in this regard than others.

 

[mamabunny]

When my son was younger we were having our last lunch of the trip at Columbia Harbor House. Kiddo throws himself off his bench to avoid an imaginary sorcerers of the magic kingdom spell or something silly and cracks his head on the next bench over. It sounded like a baseball bat hitting one out of the park. The Reedy Creek guys popped up in minutes like gophers in a game of whack-a-mole.

That said, I think MK is a very accessible park in this respect. There's the tunnel system and the distance between park and backlot is really much thinner than it seems. I suspect that some parks are better in this regard than others.

One presumes his noggin healed up just fine?

 

[cobright]

One presumes his noggin healed up just fine?

You know ... He's 14 now and sometimes I wonder. He's really a bulletproof kid and I normally would have just taken a wait'n'see for a headbonk but we were leaving that day and on the off chance it did turn serious I didn't want to find out it had on a plane. Had a goose egg like half a racquetball.

 

[pugdog]

I know WDW has first aid centers in each park but does WDW have medics in the parks?

Reedy Creak has stations near all 4 parks and near Disney Springs. But like all 911 systems if there are calls out they shift around to provide the best coverage. But they would never be to far away.

 

[Evita_W]

CMs from the First Aid Centers don't leave the First Aid Center to respond to incidents within the Parks; if they did, the First Aid Centers would never be staffed, and would be closed more than open.

The First Aid Centers are for walk-in issues; if someone needs assistance and is neither self-ambulatory nor able to be moved (safely) by member(s) of their party, then EMTs from Reedy Creek should be/will be called.

Having said all that, *some* theme parks (thinking here specifically of Silver Dollar City in Branson, MO) do have "roaming" medics that carry a huge backpack stocked with basic first aid supplies, as well as a walkie connected to a base in the main First Aid Station. We were told by one of those medics that they often wind up spending their day dispensing generic Tylenol and passing out band-aids for blisters.

It is interesting that this is how it works in Florida, at DLR (when they are open), the nurses respond to in park emergencies as well, usually with a security officer or two in tow, as they are also trained in first aid from what I understand. If the person can be moved to first aid safely, they will do so and get an ambulance from there, if not they will of course get the correct team and tools to wherever the person is. But each first aid station is usually staffed with 5 to 6 registered nurses or nurse practitioners (almost doctors) at any given time and they all have emergency medical training.

 

[Missingmypooh]

Might be easier to answer it from an “insiders” take as my husband is local fire and friends with medics at reedy creek.
There are medics at Magic Kingdom during days where capacity is high. Sometimes you see them, sometimes they are behind the bushes. But they are there and respond incredibly quickly.

What about when they’re attending another patient and someone else gets hurt? That’s common- it always happens in large batches (heat stroke, diabetes in afternoon, seizures etc)

Then they have to call in the closet unit, which isn’t too far away, but could be 10 minutes or so. Remember your epipen, your service animal, your medication etc to hopefully buy you the time you need if they can’t get there right away.

Another thing that happens is that Disney has closest unit (or mutual aid) agreements with other local stations. If you read between the lines for the skyliner “accident” when it first opened you’ll see the true depth to which Disney is dependent on mutual aid agreements to keep their guests safe.
So sometimes, especially on those SHTF days where everyone really needs medical help all at the same time, you could have someone responding to the park that isn’t a regular and might need a special Disney escort which takes time.

you think this wouldn’t happen, but it’s incredible the number of times a fall is actually a stroke or heart attack that requires immediate intervention.

lastly, reedy creek is technically understaffed. It was an issue in 2019 and only exacerbated by the hiring freeze in 2020. When parks are at capacity they are stretched thin with calls, some very life threatening, all at the same time. From car accidents on property, injuries, and most commonly, chronic or terminally ill patients that need help.

TL;DR are there medics at MK? Most of the time. Not typically at other parks unless training or responding to another call. Bring everything possible with you for your medical needs because call time will always vary.

 

[cdoc29]

Interesting tidbit. If you call 911 from your on site hotel room and you have any language listed other than English as your primary language Disney also dispatches an interpreter as well if they have one available. Also (I am not sure if this is still true) Reedy Creek does not charge for ambulance transport where all others agencies surrounding the parks do.

We had to call our last trip for my Father who was having chest pain. from time of contacting a cast member till the time they met us at the Norway Pavilion in EPCOT was 7 minutes (I snowed I timed it because as a paramedic I was interested in. their response time). They were very professional and immediately started treatment as soon as they got there.

 

[lanejudy]

If you call 911 from your on site hotel room and you have any language listed other than English as your primary language Disney also dispatches an interpreter as well if they have one available.

Interesting, I did not know that, thanks for sharing. Am I correct in assuming you used the room phone, as opposed to a cellphone? When at a resort, the recommendation is to make any emergency calls from the room phone which will automatically trigger WDW security as well. Calling from a cell phone will route through regular 9-1-1 dispatch without the WDW tie-in.

 

[Missingmypooh]

Disney also offers free transportation to and from the two urgent care offices, so it would make sense that Reddy Creek waves the ambulance fee.

(it also says medical care in room at the resort is available, I’m assuming that’s the medics responding)


First Aid options WDW

 

[cdoc29]

Interesting, I did not know that, thanks for sharing. Am I correct in assuming you used the room phone, as opposed to a cellphone? When at a resort, the recommendation is to make any emergency calls from the room phone which will automatically trigger WDW security as well. Calling from a cell phone will route through regular 9-1-1 dispatch without the WDW tie-in.

Yes it's only when you call from your room phone.

 

[lanejudy]

(it also says medical care in room at the resort is available, I’m assuming that’s the medics responding)

Other than emergencies, I believe in-room medical care is a “concierge doctor” type of house-call service. The front desk will help guests make a same-day appointment, but it’s a third party and they do bill (just like the urgent care will bill). You’d want to confirm if your insurance will be accepted though i have read it’s a “reasonable” fee.