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Lone, this isnt a fire bashing oppertunity, if you want one, i will create one. This is showing the complete hypocracy of some firefighters & the attitude that fire is the be all & end all of emergency services. Law Enforcment go about their jobs without looking for glory, as does EMS. The attitude of fire is that they are the only service that counts, they are important in their BRT (big red truck) when in reality we need to look more closley at the allocation of public funds & where fire is doing less dedicated fire work, & look at makeing EMS, as a basic healthcare resource, more affordable to ALL people. If this means that fire loses personnell & is rationalised, then so be it. EMS should never be the second class citizen behind Fire. In actual fact, based on their figures, fire should take a backseat to EMS, because ultimatley fire funding will be proped up by EMS!!!!!!!

We see it all the time, the media is full of it: "Firefighters save lives" on stickers and on license plates. Ask anyone why they love firefighters its because "they save lives" Fire prides itself on "saving lives" First of all, I dont 100% agree with that statement. Yes, you do fight fires, and time to time, you may even rescue someone. When it happens firefighters do a fantastic job, and for that, I give them a lot of credit. But those occasions are rare. Truth is, saving lives and helping people doesn't just consist of being the hot shot and running into fires. It means that yes, if you want employment, if you want to continue to be these life saving icons, you have to do some grunt work. You have to respond to medical calls. It bothers me when I hear these guys talk about saving lives, but also hear them moan and bitch about going to medicals. These pt's need help too! Sorry, its not as thrilling as running into a fire. Sorry you dont get the same media attention you do for going to a medical calls as opposed to fires..but regardless, its part of your job. And truthfully I think the most "life saving" can be done at medical calls. So let me get this straight, you are "life savers" but you don't want to help people in need of medical attention? fire has to understand that this is how it is now. Fire prevention laws have reduced the amount of real fires to a minimal. So, like stated before, in order to justify your existence, you need to go to medical calls. Get used to it, or get a new profession. It's not gonna change. Also, as a sidebar....how can they possibly bitch about doing medical calls? How long does it take them? 15 minutes? carry a few bags, start some o2 and help with the lift and then, back to the firehall for BBQ and TV. We are the ones having to continue pt care, drive to the hospital, traige, off load and do the paperwork...come on! I think they should come ride out with us for a few days, we will show you what real work is.

Old, but still effective.

I've always thought of that term in the inverse.. An MI presentation is still a possible MI despite the monitor telling you that all is well. Unfortunately as long as we still have chuckleheads that believe that their pulse Ox can give you life/treatment altering information despite pt presentation then we'll continue to need such reminders. Thanks for sharing all. Dwayne Edited for typos only.

Oh great! Another fire bashing opportunity! Look people, haven't y'all beaten this dead horse ad nauseum yet? I LOVE the posts about the 'whining firefighters' when thats EXACTLY what you're doing! "Mean old FIRE is making unwilling EMS personnel fight fires to keep a job on a city department!" "That big bully Fire is taking all our money!" "The IAFF is putting out inflated/incorrect propaganda to make themselves look better!" The bottom line remains: Fire and EMS ARE intertwined, and in this tough economy, they will become inextricably intermarried. DEAL WITH IT! Until EMS decides to move away from MINIMAL training and education, it will NEVER be viewed as anything more than a 'job'! The same thing goes with all the different scopes of practice and all the title hungry whackers! Until EMS quits throwing it's little 'temper tantrums' and decides to step up to the plate like a 'big kid', NOTHING will change!