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It is great that you want a good retirement but money should not be the only motivator. I could work in the coal mines in the midwest and make more than a FF while building a decent retirement. However, I do not want that job regardless of the pay and retirement. The same for the FD. I did it for 10 years and found it did not fulfill what I wanted to do as a Paramedic even though it was a decent department. I also knew things would change as they now have with the mega county wide mergers. You go from a department of 50 Paramedics oto of over 2000 in a couple of years and the system is stressed. I will not work at a job just for the money. Being stuck in a job that offers you little in satisfaction or your heart is not in it does a disservice to you, your family, your employer and the people you serve. I am fortunate that my education, the A.S. in EMS, got me a lead into CCT/Specialty and Flight. Without it I may not have been able to have the advantage over 200 other applicants with just my "fire medic" patch and experience to rely on since they were looking for people who understood the basic priniciples of pharmacology and disease processes and not just someone who can memorize a recipe book. Also, you went on and on about teamwork and dedication in the OCFA thread. Yet, you say you joined the FD primarily for the money and benefits like Diazepam did also. If I was a FF, I would say BS to your "teamwork" comments when you tell me over and over again about being in it for the money. You seem to miss the fire fighting aspects of the job like you did the patient care part with being a Paramedic. Thus, I would never trust you as a FF to watch my back even if you got to the Academy at 0300 to show how enthusiastic you are...to get a paycheck...and not fight fires or save lives. I would also cringe if I was still in the FD with all those FFs coming in just because they want to make money. How safe is that? They know once they get in the union will protect them regardless of how lazy and what screwups they are. Before long FDs as well as the EMS side of it will be in shambles with all those who are in it for the wrong reasons just as some have in EMS. The 18 week Fire Academy might seem tough and only a few are selected. But, when Oakland, CA got over 10,000 applicants, they had a difficult time finding 20 qualified people out of those to send to the Academy. Thus, when some say the "best of the best" what they actually mean is the "best in comparison to the rest". Now, back to education. You would be amazed at the number of opportunities that appear if you have an education to your name even if you don't immediately use it. I would never tell a young person to get a well paying/benefited factory or even FD job and pass up the opportunity to get an education when they are young whether it is in EMS or not. Later when the familly comes along they will be in the same boat at you. You can't find time and have all the "grown up" excuses for not advancing your education. Thus, your income is stuck at what the FD says it is and if you become disabled which can easily happen on or off the job, you will be trying to exist on a fixed income and your pension counting days will be over. You will not have anything to show for all that math you've been doing. I've seen this happen way to often in FDs and EMS providers. An education is something no one can take away from you and you can usually make use of it sometime in your life even if it is just to climb the ladder at the FD for a better pension. It beats being stuck in one pay class your entire life and just moving with the herd. People who are medically inclined usually want more from their lives and career than just settling for a job. There are still a lot of opportunites out there for those who don't just want to settle for a job at the FD where EMS is not all that great in some places...probably because few are in the FDs now to be either a FF or Paramedic by true ambition. There is also a work ethic that you must pass on to your kids and I truly hope you won't try to steer them away from education to settle for a job that they will be unhappy with and regret doing for the rest of their lives regardless of how big the pay check is. While in college they are given a chance to explore who they are and not the image you think they should be because it was good enough for you. Don't stall or destroy their ambitions or potential. Self worth is sometimes of a greater value. Excelsior? Here again you contradict your penny wise comments by wanting to go through an expensive program like this that is always under scrutiny. Since you are now in Virginia, to still consider Excelsior, you would either have to move back to NY or use that as an excuse as to why you didn't get your RN. You need to investigate your education alternatives as well as you do your checkbook. From the Excelsior website: Virginia Effective May, 2008: Virginia Board of Nursing has passed a new regulation that says anyone not enrolled with Excelsior College by April 2 of 2008 will not be allowed to sit for state boards. Those who were enrolled as of April 2, 2008, will have to complete their degree by December 31, 2009.

It's not a paramedic program. It's a firemedic program.

Ahem... Canada... That is all... It still amazes me the discussions that persist on the need of EMS education in the USA. These discussions don't happen in Ontario (and I would imagine the rest of Canada). You don't hear people trying to rationalize away the need for a 2 year college diploma to be BLS in Ontario. The need for a further 1-2 years to be ALS or critical care. You don't want to do the education? You aren't in EMS, period. There is NO ONE educated in Ontario in paramedicine in the last 10 years (well, there are a very small minority with less but anyway) that DOES NOT have a 2 year college degree MINIMUM to work BLS in the province. The fact of the matter is that the vast majority of the people that post on this forum would never be able to work in Ontario, or a large portion of Canada without totally restarting the educational process. Oh, and save the "arrogant Canadian" post that I'm sure will come up.

One of the PhD students at uni has been focusing on ventilation during cardiac arrest and the effectiveness of different sized bags. As I understand it, he is trying to get the ambulance service to ditch the adult size BVM (1600mls) and recommend the paeds BVM (1000mls)for vents during adult cardiac arrest. He's published a number of papers to that affect. Nehme Z, Boyle M. Smaller self-inflating bags produce greater guideline consistent ventilation in simulated cardiopulmonary resuscitation. BMC Emerg Med. 2009;9(4). Nehme Z, Boyle M. Accuracy of bag ventilation in simulated resuscitation. Journal of Paramedic Practice. 2009;1(4):167-72. In the interests of privacy I suppose I should not say which of the two authors is the student in question. I couldn't remove the bold format from Boyle M for some reason, its not necessarily him. The following values were considered desirable, apparently, as per ILCOR guidelines. 1. a ventilation rate between 8 and 10, inclusive; 2. a tidal volume between 480 ml and 560 ml inclusive (based on 6–7 ml/kg for the 80 kg simulated patient); and 3. a minute volume between 3840 ml and 5600 ml inclusive (based on multiple of lowest and highest acceptable ventilation rate and tidal volume). I was wondering what everyone here thought about the idea. As an aside, there was no mention of artificial airway type that I've noticed in the papers. I was wondering if this could be considered a confounding variable. I have used the lung simulator in question and its attachments are probably most similar to ETT pt. Could the airway type make a difference to the outcome?

Some interesting facts turnip & others who continually refer to the above movie. It was released in 1986, as I am only 19, that was before I was born. Can we move into the 21 century? I mean we could talk Steve Irwin, shouldda used sunscreen, but he didnt & the rays got him...... How about Jennifer Hawkins, she had a better wardrobe malfunction than Janet Jackson. What about Hugh Jackman, Heat Ledger Nicole Kidman? They are more recent. Go back to your special olympics turnip. It is also like pissing in a dark suit. Gives you a warm feeling but nobody notices.

Consider the fact that all of us that have responded to calls have participated in CISD after the fact, whether formally or informally. Any time you talk about the call, debrief with your partner, share with a spouse, etc, it is a form of CISD. In a formal setting, the danger with CISM in general is too much emphases on CISD. It is meant to be a debriefing or a means to decompress and share feelings. It is good to understand what it is not. It is NOT counselling, it is NOT therapy, it is NOT a critique of the call, it is NOT the end. Too many times it ends during the CISD and there is no follow up. In the end, it can potentially do more harm than good. Yes CISM is a good tool to have available, provided the tool is used properly and within its limitations. Unfortunatley, too often I think it is misused. This is a great research topic and I am impressed it is part of your curriculum. Too many programs miss out on the soft skills that we use all the time - compassion, empathy, the grief process, common sense, etc.

'melclin' Perhaps it is my lack of skills with a plastic brain but searches to these studies is sub optimal, if you could be so kind as provide a link. 1- PC = Presser Control (type) Ventilation with a flow inflating "bagger" and VT is subject to R= Resistance and C= Compliance)If a Paramedic is to use this mode of ventilation best get further training as a member of this website for quite some time the group as a whole (well in this Ventilation subject area) seriously lacking education (I hope that most using PC will recognize that one can ventilate a brick !)and without monitoring devices/ watching chest rise, or belly rise (in the non intubated) and the addition of pulse oximetry and ETCO2 well. if you think this is far from the truth ? It does happen far more frequently than you can fathom and unrecognized besides I have the court cases to prove it. 2 VC = Volume Control Ventilation ... well I have a little scenario on a little course I developed for Paramedics: Called Transport Ventilation in the Flight Environment ... would you guess that based on the 5 to 7 ml per kg that 90 % of Paramedic students FAIL ... when presented with a Patient that is 200 kgs .. HUGE FAIL! This is where I start then titrate PIP > 40 to achieve Plateau pressures less than 32 cmH20 "in the fresh Intubated" and non complicated pulmonary patient. To the OP could you please explain APPV or IPPV (is that intermittent positive pressure ventilation?) I understand PRCV, APRV, PC, VC, Control, PS, CPAP, and SIMV (a few more oldies too)... but APPV has got me scratching my balding head? Comparing 1 PC and 2 VC is like comparing apples to oranges in the first place unless one has volume measuring devices in line as well as pressure ... http://www.lifesavingsystemsinc.com/em100.htm well IMHO is a toy and also should hit file "G" the Carevent ATV has nice colours on the twisty knobs again belong in file "G" for anything more than a transport across the street (I call them the Educated Fire Fighter) as far less extubations enroute. Honestly I have no idea why if these are published studies why one would wish to remain "private" just the drift of the convo suggests that yet just another capitalized approach, inventing another gimmick as in the Smart Bag IMHO should recycled into gargbage bags ! http://www.otwo.com/prod_bmv.htm ILCOR are standards set for those that rely purely on the dummied down for the Paramedic Masses AND so that every RN can get a card for their wallet. Its not a gospel,and its a consensus and vast majority of those with input a cardiologists or ER Mds ... hint: the footnotes are an indicator. Really a rhetorical question, short answer of course the type of airway is a variable and what type of lung simulator are we talking here computer sim or one with mechanical springs, just a query is all. 1- I believe chbare is referring to Vd/Vt ie deadspace ventilation with the use of variable airways, I will not put words in his mouth persay. 2- Quote Ventmedic: "For the OP, it sounds like that researcher is trying to build a better mouse trap with the BVM to achieve lower VTs, limited flow and lower pressures" Agreed Fully, education is the long term answer not another I am too stupid to use my brain and the sense of touch and need another plastic invention. 3- Vent goes into great depth to explain compliance compensation, deadspace ventilation and different strategies in the ARDS patient errors in the CCT situation this is why Respiratory Therapy is now a 3 year degree program and a 2 week course for a CCT patch ... is a band aid fix at best, s if one cannot run an LTV like a piano ... get off the bird ! <snip> Phil: Firstly in a full arrest situation there is no spontaneous circulation/ perfusion ! and if one looks back to the Krebs Cycle and production of Lactic acid there is an INCREASE need for O2, and at the cellular level the production of CO2 is still a dynamic process even during DEAD (to a point) and quote ILCOR guidelines all you wish in that regard but one still has to be returned to homeostasis if one HAS a return to spontaneous circulation, there is research to suggest that acidosis is a protective mechanism at the cellular level ... note research, IMHO the increase in stats we are observing is directly related to the focus on education of compressions ONLY in the out-of-hospital ... to door discharge this is a misnomer. This is not mute at all, the multiple topics here ie during arrest or transporting or the ventilated patient during transport, the concepts for example DHI a "relative hypotension" resulting in PEA and generally is unrecognized by majority of EMS providers, but further compounding this with Oxygenation, Ventilation, and Perfusion with a smattering of Mask Seal and ramblings. Last point you make Phil we actually place a O2 cath down the ETT tube at a flow 0f 6 lpm and do serial ABGs watching CO2 rise and PH drop ... in fact this is used a criteria to establish Brain Death, therefore are you resuscitating a heart or a brain ? <end rant>

I never said that I don't enjoy medic work or firefighting. But since I have mouths to feed, I didn't have the time to put forth for a degree. We were increasing our revolving debt too quickly for our liking. We work jobs to support ourselves. It's only natural to seek the most prosperous route. People say that they do EMS or firefighting for love of the job, not to become wealthy. I simply refused to accept that, and chose instead to change my reality. If you're going to do what you love, do it for the best compensation package possible. I go to work with a smile on my face every day. It doesn't even feel like work. Understandable, as many volunteer on both sides. I have love for both sides of the job, and I'm becoming wealthy as well. If lucrative firemedic jobs weren't available, I would've completed a degree in nursing, as that would have been the best option. I would recommend to that the individual in their late teens to mid 20's to take the time to complete a degree. When the bills need to be paid, compensation becomes the main motivating factor. Again, I never said not to pursue a degree, but only to consider all factors before deciding on a path. the opportunity was there for the firemedic job, so I went with it. It pays off, and doesn't negate my degree aspirations. There are many out of work college grads out there currently. Choose your career wisely. My insurance will replace my salary 100% should I become disabled/injured, and I can still complete a degree (or two, or three). There are numerous avenues for career development both here and within the county, and many require degrees. You tell me that I'm "locked" into a certain salary, to which I say "Yes, and I'm lucky have such a generous earning potential". My Capt earns exactly twice my base hourly. That's way more than an experienced BSN makes around here. I understand the desire to excel in your chosen profession, to continually improve that profession, and general job satisfaction. I'm a realist. I could never be a teacher making peanuts with a Master's. I could have went to school and did reasonably well afterwards. Instead, I successfully pursued employment, in a thoroughly enjoyable position, that compensates (and will continue to compensate) well in excess of what I would have earned the other way. I know, I circumvented the educational process and do better than most. If that opportunity wansn't there, I would have earned a degree by now. Some call it taking the easy route, I call it taking the intelligent route, for my situation. Again, for the young person, a degree would be the best choice, bar none. You'll be 22-24 y/o and armed to the teeth with education, My route is more suited for someone farther along in their life, and differing financial needs. Hey, with all this money I'm making my childrens' 529's will be adequate for college costs. I'd like to send them into the adult world debt free with a strong understanding of personal finance. Also, you forget that when I was considering Excelsior, it was back in '05, when the program was in good standing. I watched many complete the program, get hired locally (NYC and Long Island), and do well. At the time, I knew nothing of the inadequacies of the program. it sounded like wa win-win proposition. Complete the dergree on your own time, and go away to complete your skills at the end. Very work friendly. Excelsior graduates expressed no difficulty in getting hired, or difficulty in job performance when questioned. This is all I had available to go on at the time. What the site says now, what states added additional requirements or not recognizing the program now, weren't the same 4 years ago. It was all good back then. Truth be told, if I were to go with RN as a career, I would have went to the CC, in prep for eventual advancement to BSN, maybe NP or something. Having the option to do a medic-RN bridge was a factor in choosing medic school over an RN degree at the time. You may say that I'm doing it just for the money, but I'm making more than many college graduates, have excellent salary, benefits, job security, job satisfaction, a three year DROP (that alone is worth 400-500k), and plenty of room for advancement. Everyone has their price. How many would quit their jobs, or at least quit working FT if they hit the lottery? It's an extreme example, but it's really the same thing. How many would leave their chosen career as a condition of an offering for a 5 million dollar payout?

We had a member take the course, while pregnant. The only issue was lifting, which, IMO, would be a bad idea. However, the individual passed all of the written and practical skills (sans lift and carry). She was passed, and following delivery and some time, we "signed her off" as having observed proper lifting and carrying techniques. I really wouldn't see any problem, as long as you're aware of what you can and cannot do safely.

I guess the real difference is that EMS doesn't need pop culture to make us feel good about ourselves. Seriously, what's wrong with the fire service when they point to movies to make them feel important? Talk about a little short man syndrome there. Oh, and awesome PR on The Academy. You know, with all of the cheating going on that apparently the instructors thinks just deserves a slap on the wrist. 'Oh... you cheated. That's no good. Here, sign this paper and you're free to go on with the academy and life.'

I don't know about training, but around here, as soon as a woman finds out she's pregnant, she's off work, even though most OB's say that they have no problem with a woman working into her 1st or 2nd trimester. The biggest issue I have been told is balance ans safety issues associated with that, when the woman starts getting big. I do see potential issues with training if the woman is large and needs to work on lifting techniques. It may be a liability issue for the school

History has shown that the vast majority of individuals have a poor financial eduaction, as evidenced by overextended credit, real estate speculation, underfunding 401k's etc. etc. Our example shows how one of a lesser salary can come out ahead of one that is more gainfully employed. Most college students don't work FT. I have never met any that contribute to an IRA while completing a degree. In this hypothetical situation, the candidate needs to decide whether or not to go the degree route, for financial reasons. In NY, they're only 7k or less. You make that back in the first year, plus more available OT and per diem work. My retirement portfolio is divided up int 75% equities, 15% bonds, and small hedge positions in gold, REIT's, and cash. We further divide up these asset classes into large/medium/small cap growth/value, and mainly intermediate term bonds, gov't and investment grade, with small allocations for short and long term. We use percentage based portfolio rebalancing to ensure that we're always selling low and buying high. This reduces volatility, but dosen't hamper growth. As you know, it mathematically twice as difficult for equities to rise than it is to fall. We use primarily ETF's, as retail funds are subject to bracket creep, high turnover, and style drift. Not mythical at all. It isn't that difficult. Consult with a good financial advisor in regards. A tech school may feature a watered down version of A&P and pharm. It isn't optimal, but you'll still get hired, and you can complete these requirements after graduation, at your leisure if you desire. As for me having a "fatal assumption" I feel that's a bit dramatic. If, and that's a BIG if we are required to become degreed medics, we'll have a period of time in which we can upgrade piecemeal, like other healthcare professions before us. It's FT professionals in other fields that want to become medics that would be at a disadvantage at thet point. I'm not anti - education per se, but I'm showing that there are other ways to go about things, other routes to prosperity. Tell me why it's lucrative to carry a big, long mortgage. Form one, tell me why it's lucrative to pull money out of your house. Tell me why prepaying your mortgage is foolish. I'll run financial rings around most (maybe not MBA's and the like) with four year degrees with my career choice, future degree aspirations, and financial strategies. I'm a tech school graduate and an accounting dropout currently.

Pregnancy is NOT a disease (and preventable ) You have a Human Rights Issue ... so can't take an exam or not allowed to work ? Heck I worked with an outstanding very pregnant single MOM Paramedic and worked well into her 3rd Trimester ON CAR. Good luck I hope "aforementioned Lady" put that in writing ? cheers

Sheila, the Aussie housewife, stepped out of the shower slipped on the bathroom floor. did the splits and suction-cupped herself to the floor. She yelled out for her husband, "Bruce! Bruce come quick!" Bruce came running in. Bruce, I've bloody suctioned myself to the floor," "S'truth, love. " Bruce said trying to pull her up. "You're stuck fast girl. I'll go across the road and get Bluey to help." They came back and tried to pull her up. "No way, " Bluey says, "she's stuck good, let's try Plan B." "Plan B ?" exclaimed Bruce, "what's that?" "I'll go home and get my hammer and chisel and we'll break the tiles under her," replied Bluey. "Spot on," Bruce said, "while you're away, I'll just play with her nipples." "Hey hold on mate - Play with her nipples? Not exactly a good time for that mate!" says Bluey "No, No" Bruce replied, "but I reckon if I can get her wet enough, we can slide her into the kitchen where the tiles are less expensive".

NR test is easy. It is not a scam. It is not set up to make you fail the first time. I passed the first time. If someone has to take such an easy test 4-5 times just to get an 70%, maybe EMS isn't for them. Further, you don't seem to be a big fan of standards and verification. Without NR, you cannot think of moving between states. You'd have to take paramedic or emt school all over again. Other medical professions have national standards. A NCLEX licensed nurse with a degree from a properly accredited institution can move from state to state without having to take nursing school over again. Lacking national standards makes us look like even more of a joke to insurance which keeps reimbursement low and our pay low. The NR isn't perfect. It's standards should be increased. Moving the opposite direction and eliminating it will just be another step in relegating EMS to the backwaters. If you want an example of how NREMT fails us, IAFF likes NREMT because it let's them send their FF's to medic mills in other states. Of course, if NR was gone, there'd just be more medic mills locally. In my state, you can recert as an EMT with only 36 CE hours and Paramedic with only 50. NR requires 72 out of everyone. Further, the standard for classes to meet national (and thus NREMT) standards are different than the states. In my state, you could teach a state EMT class with less than 100 contact hours. Nationally, the new standard will be nearly 200 hours with more subject matter required to be covered. There are standards, albeit low. The national standards are almost universally higher than state standards.

Was he a little quick in hooking the guy up? Yea, a little. He did follow the use of force chart. The guy refused the officers verbal commands. He was firm, polite, and explained the police would be leaving soon. (IIRC, they had chased a suspect and the suspect had stopped at that particular location.) Having people walk through while the LEOs are conducting an investigation/during a crime is not good. You don't know who they are, why they are there, what they are doing, etc. Anyone actually used an expandable baton? You HAVE to flip them violently out to expand them. The guy started to resist when he was cuffed by the second officer, one strike was applied, the guy brought to the ground, cuffed, and the situation over. I see a LOT of anti cop attitude. Why, I don't know. Other then hooking him up a little quick, he did everything else by the book.

Did the whackers run out of places on their POVs to install more than $20,000.00 worth of lights? Since they've turned their vehicles into 'rolling disco balls', now it's time to start turning the house into a 'dance club'? I'm surprised that no one has suggested mounting a full sized light bar to the ceiling and wiring a power converter into the house electrical system in addition to trying to find a 'trigger device' to activate it! While we're at it, how about wiring a siren into it as well? now THAT will be GUARANTEED to roll even the most 'sound sleeper' out of bed when the next call comes in!

Although in your "interests" you state: "Im just a good ol boy who likes to eat too much" Judging by the picture (assuming that is you) I know what to believe. Sorry, but I don't think you will get much sympathy here, particulary since you seem to be pointing the finger at everyone else but you. People are morbidly obese because they eat too much. End of story! Lapbanding and gastric bypass ops do not speed up metabolism. So why do they seem to work? BTW, if you are on a long haul flight, would you mind keeping your elbows in. Either that or pay for 2 seats.

I was involved with a CISD after I was on an MVC that killed a classmate of mine, and her sister. I would have much preferred an informal, grab a chair and pull it up in the engine bay, and just talk with the old salts and the counsilers, the CISD did work. I think the CISD is helpful, as long as it is not forced.

Your lack of proffessionalism and compassion is to your ever lasting shame. In the name of god, is a human beings life of less importance to you than learing over Hot Lips (or maybe even Hawkeye ? whatever floats your boat Sailor !) Hang your vapid head in disgrace.

Been there. Done that. Got NOTHING good to say about it. Fail.

You can only hope that they discontinue the NR. it's just a big scam anyways everyone i know doesn't even keep the NR once they get fire gigs.

Why?, go to medic school as soon as you can Freeman.

I am a fan of standards. But, Lets say you want to be in EMS and you just can't pass the test. Its time to ethier look at the teachers that are teaching the class or the NR. One of the two must go. An If I looked at a person grades in class and he is passing with flying colors and he/she has failed the NR over 3+ times. Its time to take a overall look at the NR. Ethier water it down or get rid of it. Ask follow EMT's around anywhere I bet 7/10 will tell you that they had spent more what the spent on the just the class alone. IT'S A SCAM! Again I am going to say. Take a class, pass it, with 75 % or higher and take a state test. The NR is a joke and a SCAM for more money. As for a low pay. Mcdonalds make more what KY and WV EMT's make on the hour. That is sad. The low pay is already here.

Lacking national standards makes us look like even more of a joke to insurance which keeps reimbursement low and our pay low. What low pay?, I make over 100k a year.

I love it! Good PR for the fire service, along with the OCFA academy. I find it amusing that EMS needs dramas, with sometimes gross embellishments to pique viewer interest. With fire and police (more so fire), just let the cameras roll, and you'll have all the interesting REAL footage that you'll need. How many cop movies are there, how many fire movies are there, and how many EMS movies are there? I loved Bringing Out The Dead, BTW.

I don't get it what is the rest of the country doing that is so amazing are they eliminating medical directors and making up their own protocols?, are they taking x-rays in the field, are they drawing labs and have the values ready when they hit the er door? are they casting broken limbs with in the field or perscribing meds?, what is it that is so better? Yeah come on patient care is noble and all, but people really do this for the money, you got to pay bills thats all Iam saying, but the other thing that gets me is when all this change is going to come about, I just don't see it happing like a two year degree min. for $12.00 an hour who is going to do that when you can get an RN two year degree and make so much more. and why should we in fire base ems not make the money we do?m we do two jobs, cheaper for the city thats why we wliminated single role paramedics, that model works where I live, maybe not in other places.

1) We now know a bit more of Nancy's background. She gave up her training to become an MD 7 years ago. 2) The window washer's scaffold is an old standby in shows like this, but at least this one had a safety harness. 3) The window washer's fall partially broke the window. Why didn't the rescuers take the window out, and bring him in that way? 4) Rabbit rappels down the side of the building with the Fire/Rescue guy? 5) The washer's death grip can be a powerful thing, as they practically had to crowbar him off of his "perch". 6) I believe I am NOT the only one to yell at a CPR patient to come back here. 7) Rabbit exhibited bad protocol, which most of us have also done, of riding the rails of the gurney, and performing one handed compressions. 8) "Fly-girl" Marissa yells at Rabbit for her perception of his "heartlessness". 9) SFFD doesn't have a weekly or monthly overtime "cap"? How many consecutive tours can Boone's partner do before drawing reprimands, or overtime denials. 10) Does anyone know if it is possible to have a caffeine "high", or even an overdose? 11) Good catch of the diabetic elderly "drama queen". 12) What was that bit of blowing into the tube? Is it an ALS protocol I haven't seen my paramedics do? 13) Under the "guy's unwritten laws" area, is it not understood that you don't discuss a girl you might soon be "banging," with the girl you are already "banging", as Glen did with the intern? 14) I cannot say about California, but maritime DWI laws exist here in New York State. 15) Hey! They violated a principal of "Reel" life versus "Real" life. When any vehicle hits another vehicle hard and fast enough, the film MUST have one, or both, of the vehicles explode! 16) Re #8, Marissa has obvious differences of opinions with Rabbit on how and when to exhibit emotions on a patient dying on you. 17) Angel 2 doesn't have float-pontoons, and Rabbit went into the water without a life vest, as neither are really an "Air/Sea Rescue" unit. 18) Was the on-board Triage done using START, or SMART? 19) How many times is a patient going to be unsecured in the ambulance or helicopter, and then attack the crews? Seat Belts are there for a reason, and if the patient starts removing them, it's a good sign trouble is about to follow, language barrier not withstanding 20) Marissa is packing heat! I think i saw a 2 inch barrel .38 "Dick Tracy" 5 shot revolver. Why is she packing? Also, why didn't they address the fact that a pilot/EMT had the piece with her at work, in midair? Does either California or San Fran law allow either ambulance or Medevac personnel to carry? I make my repeated statement that either having a "piece" on board an FDNY vehicle, or on the grounds of a department facility, except for the Fire Marshals, is grounds for departmental termination of employment. 21) Adding to the sinking boat, the missing woman is under the smaller boat through the side of the larger one, and possibly full term pregnant. 22) Strike that! She is either full term, or trauma induced labor. No Braxton/Hicks here! 23) Add more drama, with a limb presentation birth, complicated by the baby';s delivery causing pressure on the umbilicus. 24) Of course the baby is in arrest, and of course, Rabbit does successful CPR to revive the newborn. 25) I pity the child, as it appears that, through the English/Hungarian translations, they are going to name him after his savior. They are going to name him Rabbit! (Rabbit's real name is Reuben, for the trivia experts amongst us) 26) After transfer of care to the hospital staff of mother, father, and baby, Rabbit kind of collapses back into his seat in the helicopter. He is either exhibiting emotional or physical exhaustion, proving that our superhero is human, after all. 27) Nancy's dad is a surgeon, and she understands his upset at himself when he was unable to save his best friend of many years. Perhaps that is why she mentions her cases are 10 to 30 minutes long, and easier to endure? 28) Rabbit does his best explanation to Marissa that both "wins" and "losses" do affect him, but the ways of dealing with it are going to be different from one individual to another. 29) Nice last touch, that of Marissa putting the stork onto the instrument panel.

It's not a good stategy if you plan on selling in a short amount of time. Otherwise, it makes perfect sense. When the markets rise, pulling equity from your house to invest is a way to capture that equity should prices dip again. That works as long as your monthly payments are wholly affordable. Who cares if home prices dip again if you don't plan to move? It's an unrealized loss, or rather a realized gain, as you've invested that equity. You know that an equity will only sell for as much as the buyer is willing to pay. Owning a home outright is far from a safe investment. If I prepay into principal rather than invest the same amount, I'll eventually end up house rich and cash poor. What happens if you lose your job? You'll have a home (as long as you can still pay property taxes), but you can no longer buy food or other basic necessities. By taking out equity and reinvesting it you're enjoying the mortgage interest write off all over again, and also the compound interest of that new equity, with the reinvested tax savings, along with any funds that you would otherwise pay into principal, at a compounded rate. Prepayments into principal only save you whatever the interest rate of your mortgage is, the same as simple interest, not compound. This is far from risky. This is why: the housing market is sizzling, and you've taken equity out, leaving about 20% in. The monthly payments are affordable. The equity is in your portfolio. It can be applied back toward the principal at any time you wish. The new interest savings along with a higher return will more than compensate for the fees assosciated with underwriting a new mortgage, even if you do it for a couple of years. That's the key point. You can put that cash back into the house whenever you want. Or, you can repeat the process when your salary grows significantly in proportion to the monthly payments. This is a safe way to make your house's equity work for you. Grow your portfolio large enough, and the interest will pay your mortgage. Maybe not in full, but then maybe it can. Think about it. By following this strategy, the equity in your house can pay your mortgage for you. the key is to refi when interest rates are low, and the payments hold a large ratio of principal to interest, in favor of principal. You have a BBA, run the numbers and you'll see how it's a sound plan.

What are talking about, it's just a paramedic progarma academy nothing to do with fire, maybe they just want to elminate fat medics who knows.

Has anyone heard about the NREMT will be discontinued in KY or across the U.S. at the first of the year? An just going to state tests only? Thanks, John

Its the biggest scam I ever saw. Its setup to make you fail it the first time so you can go take it again. I know people have tooken it 4-5 times. I will be damn If I pay $70 6 times to pass a test that to say you can keep a patient breathing while on the way to the ER. That is what a class for. 70 dollars a pop *EMT-B TEST* is a joke. What ever happend to taking a state class then a test? Oh btw paying to get your CPR card and such. SCAM another money trick. It would be the best go get rid of the NR. Every state has different type of "standards" then others. So Please, quit sucking. BTW this will be my 2nd time taking the NR. If I don't pass it this time. i am getting a new job. I am nothing to have sucker and keep paying. I just take what I learned in class and go with it.

LOL, my bad butter fingers I say, but what kind of standard is there, I mean some places you get a two year degree in ems, and others you take an eight month to a year long votech class, some places require the NR and others don't. For most fire gigs where I work all you need is the state level license to be considered for a postion, So what is the standard? if you apply for a RN gig the min standard is a two year degree, we in ems have no standard not even a min with the NR. Frankly I think the NR is a joke and a scam, if it wern't so why wouldn't all states require it and all employer require that you have to maintain it?

Depends where you go, Riverside comm college has a paramedic program with some pt, and if you can't pt your out.