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You seem to get stuck with a lot of really bad instructors. First a poorly educated Basic instructor, now the same for Intermediate? If everyone is noticing issues, you'd think the facility would step in and make a change.

Full Bill text on link (PDF) http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=111_cong_bills&docid=f:s1793enr.txt.pdf The Ryan White HIV/AIDS Treatment and Extension Act of 2009 passed the House yesterday by a vote of 408 to 9. The Senate passed the bill earlier this week so the bill now goes to President Obama for his signature into law. There are several new additions to the Ryan White Act which affect emergency care – and specifically emergency responders. It is important to note that the ‘list’ established under Sec. 2695 is very powerful – it essentially determines what infectious diseases should be considered ‘potentially life-threatening’. The list is also used to determine whether or not emergency responders must be notified of an exposure. The entire bill can be found at this link http://bit.ly/2YZs1o Here are the sections affecting emergency care and emergency responders: The bill adds a new section to Ryan White – “Part G Notification of Possible Exposure to Infectious Diseases” Within 180 days after enactment, Section 2695 Requires the Secretary of HHS to complete the development of: * a list of potentially life-threatening infectious diseases, including emerging infectious diseases, to which emergency response employees may be exposed in responding to emergencies (The list developed shall also include a specification of those infectious diseases on the list that are routinely transmitted through airborne or aerosolized means.) * guidelines describing the circumstances in which such employees may be exposed to such diseases, taking into account the conditions under which emergency response is provided; * guidelines describing the manner in which medical facilities should make determinations when an emergency responder is requesting a determination as to whether or not a patient he/she transported had an infectious disease * This list will then be distributed to the public and the states * NOTE: This list is very important because it is relied heavily upon in determining whether or not a responder has been exposed to an infectious disease. The bill also reestablishes some of the notification provisions that were struck during the last Ryan White authorization. This is good news for emergency responders. Specifically, the bill requires Prompt notification – not later than 48 hours after determination is made – to emergency responders when: * A patient is transported and it is determined that the patient has an airborne infectious disease AND WHEN * A patient that is transported by emergency responders dies at or before reaching the medical facility, the medical facility ascertaining the cause of death shall notify the designated officer of the emergency response employees who transported the victim to the initial medical facility of any determination by the medical facility that the victim had an airborne infectious disease. The bill also contains a provision for emergency responders to request a determination as to whether or not a patient had an infectious disease. Basically the provision states that: * The employee must first make a request * The request is then examined, facts are collected by a designated officer * The designated officer then makes a determination – if the designated officer feels that an exposure may have occurred then he/she submits a request to the medical facility * Once the medical facility receives the request, it has 48 hours to respond * The medical facility will make a determination, based on the information possessed by the facility, regarding whether or not the emergency responder was exposed to an infectious disease that appears on the list (created above). * The medical facility can make 3 determinations, Notification of Exposure, Finding of No Exposure, Insufficient information * If a finding of insufficient information is made, the public health officer for the community in which the medical facility is located can also evaluate the request if the designated officer submits the request to him/her.

Miss Beatrice, The church organist, Was in her eighties And had never been married. She was admired for her sweetness And kindness to all. One afternoon the pastor Came to call on her and she showed him into her quaint sitting room. She invited him to have a seat while she prepared tea. As he sat facing her old Hammond organ, The young minister Noticed a cute glass bowl Sitting on top of it. The bowl was filled With water, and in the water Floated, of all things, a condom! When she returned With tea and scones, They began to chat. The pastor tried to stifle his curiosity About the bowl of water and its strange floater, but soon it got the better of him and he could no longer resist. 'Miss Beatrice', he said, 'I wonder if you would tell me about this?' Pointing to the bowl. 'Oh, yes,' she replied, 'Isn't it wonderful? I was walking through The Park a few months ago And I found this little package on the ground. The directions said To place it on the organ, Keep it wet and that it would prevent the spread of disease. Do you know I haven't had the flu all winter.. '

I thought about posting this under education....pay attention boys!!

We're too cheap to have personalized patches.

Only service patches I have really are from my personal collection and on my uniform. I don't have any of them to spare. But if you want a PA EMT/Medic patch, its all yours. I'd love to expand my collection too!!

I like, scoobykate, I was taught at a very young age, that do you everything to the best of your ability, you go above and beyond what your told or asked to do. And I still strongly believe in that. When it comes to work related issues, it's also not just a sense in pride or professionalism. But another thing that goes hand in hand with the idea, is a work ethic. You might have pride or professionalism in your job, but without a work ethic, how can you truly define professionalism? I think that some of the posters started to touch the surface with the Gen X / Y people. The younger generations of today really aren't taught in their homes work ethics, sound thought processes, or a self pride in what they do. It's all about what they can do to get by, live off mom and dad for as long as they can (lack of work ethic), and then wonder why the world has left them by. Now for the older generations who work with the younger generations, they might have been taught a work ethic, might have been taught what was needed to be taught. But because of the influence of the younger generation with our profession, the older generation might decide that having too much of a work ethic, pride, or professionalism is out dated and overrated. (Now, I know most on here aren't but tell me this doesn't describe a lot of attitudes anymore). As for myself, I don't get too easily influenced on my habits or morals. My truck is washed inside and out, disinfected, waxed, detailed checkouts, stations duties are performed as described. Everything is done as it is inteded to be, plus a little extra. Sometimes, I end up doing these things myself, because my partners don't feel the same way I do. But, my truck is my office, I take pride in what I do and I come to work TO WORK... (I know... I know.... that makes too much sense). I beleiev it truly starts by instilling these morals and values while your young. Just because you switch jobs or professions at age 30 doesn't mean, you'll also just have an immediate sudden change of morals or values.

Ha. I do not disagree that the US ought to use a common system. I disagree with the pompous position you take by bringing your standard to this board and refusing to accommodate your post to our standards. Had I went to an Auzzie forum and spread the same bull, you would have eaten me alive. Rarely have I seen you post your Auzzie slang on this board, and I assume it is out of respect because that is not the 'standard' by which this board communicates. I guess it is more of a respect thing. Thanks for sharing your views though, bro. Matty (edited twice, once to figure out the multiple quote system, the second to make the reply post, the third to explain the edits.)

Pride in the uniform comes from a number of different areas. Firstly is self worth in you believing in what you are doing & can do it with confidence. Secondly is the confidence you have in your colleagues. Thirdly is the confidence that you have in managment & how they portray you in you community. If they do not value the job you do, that will be representative in your attitude across the board. No matter what they say, you will not have pride in what you do. Priide in your profession (uniform) is directly controlled by morale & managment. If they do not have the balls to effectivly manage & give you the tools (including pay) why would you have 'Professional' Pride? No, age isnt a sole factor, but those you describe as middle aged at 30+ ( ) have usually entered the profession early, lack realistic life experience & have become apathetic through a lack of support & motivation through an inexperienced managment team. A team that lacks conviction because they are more concerned with money (& profit) than effectivly supporting a workforce in a high stress, high burnout industry. PS, even tho I am only 19 30 isnt that old!!!!!!

Maybe its just you Tezza, mine worked OK

As someone who joined the fire service as a teenager and became an EMT-B at 17, I must disagree. I think pride is something that is instilled growing up and taught. From a very young age, my parents taught me that when I do something, I should take pride in what I do and do it well. Whenever I took a class for EMS, I did it to improve my skills and knowledge because I took pride in what I was doing. Washing out units and doing things as a station was taking pride in our company. I have seen plenty of middle-aged providers who are 30+ who just don't give a crap about their job anymore... Age isn't the sole factor in this situation...

Do many feel differently that I do when giving/taking points? That it's not based (as it is for me) on the quality of the post, or whether or not an opinion is expressed to the best of the posters ability, but that it's based on the popularity of the opinion?? I'm finding that many of the posts I see that have been given negative numbers simply have ideas that may not be popular, but that the posts themselves fulfill the standard set down by the Admin as well as the standards of many of us here. If this is KooK's experience, then why should s/he not say so that we can be exposed to this point of view and discuss it? And, if the above has been this poster's experience, then I believe that the opinion certainly belongs in a thread based on professionalism, right? This post has good spelling, punctuation, decent grammar, actually used the accurate word 'derided' instead of resorting to 'treated shitty' or some such language, and expressed an opinion on behavior that is too often exhibited in EMS. Can someone that gave a negative rating please take a moment and explain why you chose to do so? I'm not saying it was an incorrect thing to do, only that I don't understand it. Thanks in advance. Dwayne Note: If I could vote for myself I immediately give this post a -1 for lousy sentence structure, but then give it right back for breaking the world record for the most commas used in a single post. But it's late, and I'm lazy, and I'm willing to take my beating rather than reword everything.

Of course I can't say for sure what she meant, but it stands to reason that if you've got a frigid pussy at home then you're more likely to wonder? C'mon! Stop it! You know someone had to say it! Dwayne

http://www.halls.md/body-mass-index/bmi.htm This is in kgs and pounds for easy translation for MBI, so have at it kids. So Is GPS targeting in Long and Lat in miles or in kms .... just saying, long tonnes or short tons so different stokes for different folks / mates. Nah and don't give the OZ 3 years warning, cause ALL the beer will be consumed,the women hidden, the poisonous snakes released, the crocks and killer roos and wallabies armed and the carrier will be bombed by spiders that like to live in the loo, who need nukes when you have those weapons of mass destruction. As for the PC term Bariatric, why not just call the fire fighters as they lift heavy things don't they ? quoting aussiephil. OK realistically obesity has become a pandemic in NA, building bigger trucks is not the answer,health care and not sick care is the answer, the issues of why this is occurring at such an alarming rate in NA is something that has to be addressed and lets not forget we are just the means of transport, the Bariatric patients and management and movement in hospital settings is a serious challenge to avoid back injuries. cheers

It's 397 pounds . . . What's scaring me is the idea that being overweight is their fault. No one can argue with obesity the rest of us bear the burden with our backs (as providers) and our wallets (as tax payers), but overall it sounds too Orwellian to single them out. I'd rather live in a society that tolerates the out there among us. Without the foolish we'd live in a very bland place. So I don't mind some of my tax money going towards the medical expenses of the next Evel Knievel, the next Houdini, or the next Wright Brothers. A guy who eats too much pizza isn't exactly the same thing but it's a short slippery slope from one to the other. I'm old enough to remember when overweight people were the exception not the rule. But now when the police are told, "It was the fat kid," it's a description that leaves them scratching their heads. But how much is really the fault of the obese? A lot of it starts when they are children. Has fast food run amok have something to do with it, or the fact you can't buy anything in the supermarket that isn't way over processed? How many of you work with overweight partners? How many of them are on their way to the bariatric ward? Why, when I whip out my little sack lunch consisting of a tuna fish (light on the mayo) sandwich and an apple, my partner while he's swallowing a Big Mac in three bites always has to say, "Oh cute, your Mom made you lunch again." I certainly don't mind a heavy partner as it's more leverage when sheeting the whales, but to call out the morbidly obese in country full of the obese just seems wrong. We need to fix the underlying problem. If ambulance providers want to make extra money there's a simpler way than us carrying scales around. Just implement a triple surcharge on B.S. calls. And maybe a side benefit would be insurance companies beginning to counsel their clients on abusing the 911 system.

One day the US will come into line with the rest of the world & work on the international standards of weights & measures. I am using the international standard.

Happy birthday Mr. B............ Rid, ANOTHER ONE?!?!? Didn't you just have one like 12 months ago?? Remember to send off your AARP membership my friend.

gee thanks lmao

According to the BMI most people are obese, but we know the BMI is a very flawed system. I think the minute you consider any sort of specialized equipment to move and care for a PT because of their weight, then they are "obese" and should be charged accordingly. So I guess the line is a judgment call on the part of the EMS workers on the scene, and they shouldn't feel bad about it at all.

True would be more like a conservative number like +22000. I think we should be able to rate the mods.

Haha - nice terri ! There was one at university that had a really foul attitude and constantly pressed the call light for nothing at all, she just wanted someone. Well, if they didn't come quick enough or answer her right away, she'd call 911 - ended up eventually with the university pd showing up - gotta love old people. Had another that when he was drunk would call our station directly (on emergency line) and curse out out and beat the phone against the wall, curse us out some more and then hang up - he ended up with 30 days in jail for 911 abuse...see there are SOME who manage to get themselves arrested but it went on for nearly a year before they did !

I have no idea, but I think there should be a $50.00 surcharge for each identical post placed in multiple forums. Edit See what time I placed my original post? See what time I added this edit? That's how long it took for me to google your answer. http://www.yelp.com/biz/kang-david-oan-md-san-jose

Now I am curious as to the explanation on how the cat and husband fits together on cheating.....

Sorry, ignore my previous post. I didn't notice that you were in Canada.

Hey Kelly! Welcome to EMT City! We have a least one member here that works for Peterborough (or is it Lindsay?) who might be able to help you. I think though, you might be having a difficult time finding EMT classes because the only EMS provider level in Ontario is Paramedic. Here is a link to get you started. http://www.health.gov.on.ca/english/public/program/ehs/edu/schools.html I don't know how up to date this list is, But I think the closest programme to you would be Oshawa. It's not to far from Port Hope! I have to add, for the most part the FD in Ontario doesn't provide EMS service. Your local EMS service would be a better way to obtain some info from people who have gone through it already. Good luck!

Contact your EMS department of your state department of health.

I've yet to see some of the more odd devices, like the NuMask sold in popular catalogs. However, The S*A*L*T, is in the 2010 Emergency Medical Products catalog. I've seen them priced from $18 to $22.00. But still, nothing beats free.

Great vid, he's very talented . . . I thought this thread was going to be about things not to say on scene so rather than waste a story here goes. This is one of those rock and a hard place positions we sometimes find ourselves in. We were staged out when we heard fire being called out along with another ambulance from our company. But fire happened to roll by our position and the engineer motioned for us to follow him. Of course we knew there was another ambulance already responding but fire never seems to pay much attention to our unit numbers. For instance when they call us about something en route, it's never by unit number, it always "Unit responding with truck 21 . . ." And there was a dust up over this kind of thing some months earlier so thinking better safe than sorry we fired up and followed. The incident that happened earlier drove home the point to me that to our company nothing is more paramount than their contract with fire. And the company will, and has, thrown EMTs overboard in order to placate fire no matter if it's a legitimate gripe or not. Hence the rock and a hard place for us. When we arrived on scene the other ambulance was already there and our guys were inside with the fire paramedics that arrived before the engine. We then got a radio call from fire that we were canceled, but policy is not to take radio cancellations on scene. We have to physically go inside and confirm it. It's like in the movie Failsafe. After a certain point you can't use the radio to recall your bombers. So my partner and I go inside the residence and find it's a code. I'm standing in the hallway with a very distraught daughter while my partner goes into the room where the fire medics are working on the pt. And instead of just standing there I was calming the daughter down (she was big girl and and already hyperventilating), "Try not to worry," I offer, "Mom's getting the best care possible." Just then my partner pokes his head out the door. Fire has confirmed we weren't needed. Now my partner is a great guy, he's a caring, quiet, and modest fellow. And he's all of nineteen years old. And once in a while he does or says something without thinking it through. So instead of pulling me aside he shoots me the universal sign for canceled. The cut-throat signal. Of course the daughter thinks it means Mom is gone and her already weak knees buckle and she goes down like an old Vegas casino. I tried to catch her but she bangs her head on the corner of a doorway. It gave her a good lac and yes we transported her for stitches. The end result (Mom pulled through) is we were commended for doing what we should have done policy wise, and of course we didn't offer up we were a casual factor in the whole second event. That same partner did something similar a month or so later. We'd had a hard time convincing an elderly Pt to go to the hospital as she was suffering with Roach Motel Syndrome. "If I go into the hospital," she said, "I'm sure I'll never come out again!" And enroute she kept repeating, "I'm gonna die, I'm gonna be dead, I'm gonna die in the hospital," over and over again. We had just come from the same ED an hour or so earlier and it had been very busy. So we fully expected to hold up the wall for awhile. But when we came through the doors it was very quiet and there was no line-up at all. I was on the foot end of the gurney when my partner said, "Man, it's dead in here." And I lost it. You know how you get deep into a busy 12-hour shift and you get the giggles? I wanted badly to turn and give him the look but I just couldn't. When I finally composed myself and managed to look back our patient's mouth and eyes were big as saucers. And my young partner's face was the same. He knew, albeit too late, he'd again said or done totally the wrong thing.

Happy birthday Rid... and MrB too...

I'm with Dust if things go to heck and I don't have a working 0,1,2,3 and have to go with a 4 I would prefer the miller for that in a pinch situation. Now I have to ask EMS did you check your equipment at the start of that days shift?

I used one of these on an airway manikin at work awhile back. While it was just the manikin, it seemed to work alright but the bend was a little tricky. I suppose this is for spinal precautions/not jabbing the airway. Would I use one on the street? Yes, I would.

Kind of looks like a bad-ass OPA meets the [intubating] LMA. I am open to new things but I would need to have a play with it and see how well it isolates the esophagus. Probably going to wind up being a new tool for intubation like a bougie or a super-sexy OPA replacement. Doesn't look cheap I'd gather a bet it'd be cheaper to use an OPA if the results are no better. Did I say results? Time for some randomised trials Batman! Now where oh where is my $500 an hour anaesthesologist with my diprivan, man these wisdowm teeth are bad, perhaps he can use the SALT airway on me?

Jeez aparently I need to ask more questions, I like free stuff

Happy Birthday guys, May the day be filled with wishes and dreams come true for the both of you and the best of the past year be the worst of the year to come Regards S

The entire thread is directed at me. Thanks for chiming in. I'll give you the reason why a seasoned practitioner with steady hands that did pull it off without damage in a pinch had to try it... Necessity. I was in a situation with nothing else at hand at a complicated delivery with multiple equipment failures. I absolutely had to suction meconium, which requires intubation, and I had two successive blade failures, one a bulb and the other broken by an overly anxious EMT. Scooby didn't get the entire story before she began to flame me and call me a baby killer. You can Monday-morning quarterback all you want, but when you're knee deep in a big pile of suck, you make do and improvise. I might be stupid, but that kid is alive.

Thanks for the info.

I hadnt read it. That isnt ignorance, but, now i will look & comment on their ineptitude also. The simple fact that these morons did not look is probably a good indication that they would have the same accident as the AMR morons through a lack of proper understanding of time & the patient, as well as having a total disregard for the general public & other road users.

Now that.. is funny.

+

Excellent. Hang in there.

I believe it is the same instructor.

Someone correct me if I am wrong, but all EMT-B/I/P courses MUST be taught to the national standard, regardless if they are testing to that standard or know. For example, we learned a lot of medications in P school, that aren't even on the approved list of PA to use in pre-hospital (for paramedic, not pertaining to a PHRN). We tested on many procedures that aren't in our scope in the EMS Region. Even the text books had to be update to follow the national standard of education in EMS. Maybe this is just a PA thing, I am not sure. But this so called "teacher" needs to be put in her place and go sit in the corner while a real teacher, teaches.

Not ALL instructors here are like that, but there are a few. There was a couple like that where I went to medic school. They were basically just guest instructors, not being employed by the school or anything. A few times some wouldn't teach certain methods or use of certain meds because "we don't use them here". A few were down right pricks and were yelling at students. A few acted like Lone's instructor. They didn't last long though. The lead instructor kicked them out like a bad habit. Learning is a process that many don't always do at the same pace. Especially in EMS, it is very important to get the right info and the best info, rather than having to find out it's not correct and end up reteaching yourself stuff while you are getting behind on everything else. My instructors (the real ones) always went out of there way to make sure had the most up to date and proper information on whatever we were learning. Even if that meant calling the publisher and making complaints to them about info in the book (yes, the book CAN be wrong sometimes). If we had a question, be it one person or more, they would stop and explain things. We always had off the wall questions about things, that were new in the profession, and they would come back with research they did to give up answers. If they were incorrect on something, they would question why they were wrong, and accept it. No one knows it all in this business. They would come back again, with more research on the subject and teach the proper info.

It's in your right as a student to want the correct information. Going about getting the right information that is being presented to you incorrectly should be taken up with the EMS Education Board (the people who gave her the certification/rights to instruct these classes). I would also bring it up to the course adviser, program director and even the dean. This is your education, for treating patients who need your help and may be dying without your help. Having the right information in your head is paramount. Just be more tactful about it. If you DO go and make a big stink about it, and nothing happens, surely the instructor would have an idea of who started it. You mentioned before that you confronted her before about this stuff. It's not a good idea to get on her bad side, since they have a way of weeding people out. So, be careful. If Jwade starts thrashing into her, your class might end up like a Harvard Medical school program... he would set her straight.

The white plastic thing is supposed to be used to move the tongue. But it bends too much. I got one for free from the inventor. Like most new devices that pop up in JEMS, I ask a question, and voila. Get one in the mail. NuMask, SAM Sling - yes.. a fricken SAM Sling, for free.. Those rolled up trauma dressings, gauze in a syringe. A tip from the training table. Keep a packet of lube with it, tends to get stuck.

http://www.jems.com/news_and_articles/news/09/okla_trooper_again_accused_of_excessive_force.html

First off, welcome aboard the EMT City. As for your question, take into account that not all EMS services are based in a Fire Department, some are based in Law Enforcement agencies, others are based in hospital networks, industrial settings, community services, and as private enterprises for profit. I might have left a few out. On this site, there is a lot of discussion, both pro and (mostly)con, for fire service based EMS, primarily aimed at fire fighters cross-trained as EMTs and Paramedics. I mention that, as I am in the Fire Department of New York City (FDNY)EMS Command, and am a mission specific EMS provider in that context. Simply put, I don't fight fires. What I would suggest, is either look up EMS providers in the telephone book, that are local to you, or call up the hospital nearest to you, and ask where the training might be available nearest to your residence.

lol Mobey. Click on the AHS website they have postings all the time. Then transfer to the division you want. BUT i'd go down south