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I would like to thank everyone who responded to my question excellent information and answered all of my questions. thank you so much, Andy.

I hadn't seen the show before, so I asked Babs to record it for me. She said, "I watched a little bit of it..I think you're going to hate it." But you know what? I didn't. Did I see a lot of inaccuracies? Sure, but I see just as many in House, and I love that show. Why didn't I hate it? The folks were dressed decent and were actually able to to speak in full sentences. It showed the fact that some of EMSers believe that intelligence is held in higher esteem than bravado. The pilot guys is all screwed up, and we see those folks, but he's also a cowboy (guessing from peoples' comments towards him) and for a change no one was in awe of the 'cowboy' but held him in disdain. They showed an inexperienced provider, I don't know if he's a new medic or basic, screw up, and actually explained that that is part of EMS. He had to make some decisions, as he'd asked for help and been told to "deal with it", made some poor decisions when he had to, without guidance, and now has to live with it. Often we (at least me) have to make decisions and hope that they are the right ones. Most times they are, sometimes they aren't, but the possibility of really screwing the pooch is there. Can I say it was a bad idea to split the crew from the allergic reaction and the chest pain guy? Sure, I would have managed them both on the lawn. But then the kid wouldn't have been alone, wouldn't have screwed up, and the point wouldn't have been made. They gave us, as professional providers, plenty to bitch about, but I think they also made some effort to give us some things to like if we look for them. Do kids believe that all firemen are heros because they've watched a lifetime of shows that explain the exact angle of attack for a fire? Or because they've watched years of them spending half an hour defining the optimum number of personnel and equipment necessary to fight a structure fire before running in to save the baby? No man, they showed them doing a bunch of nerve wracking, exciting stuff. You all seem to want EMS explained to the masses in these shows. How about being happy that they were presented in professional, intelligent manner when viewed from the uneducated point of view? I was actually shocked after all the comments I've read here to actually see it. We can pick apart the fact that the chick in the backyard was bagging without making a mask seal, that the kid gave three shots of nitro, that some of us would or wouldn't actually work a trauma COR or afterwards be fucked up by it, but all in all it appeared that they tried, from the outside looking in, to present EMS as having an overworked, kind, decent spirit...and for me that's a good thing. Let's watch what they do with the macro impressions and work backwards from there to the micro and see if that isn't a better approach? I look forward to seeing how the show progresses. Dwayne

Wow, such hostility to the show... I mean seriously did ANYONE here think that this was going to be a real life? Granted there are some parts that would be better if more realistic, BUT that wouldn't sell the show, Marisa's whole "we'll take the call, we got fuel" decision was more then likely done to make the story more dramatic in that the viewers didn't know if they'd run out of fuel. I'm not defending what Rabbit's done, but seriously how would you feel if you saw a person get their brains blown out just as they were about to give up? As for the whole episode, it was meant to be the whole "Caca hits the fan and explodes in everyone's face" day for EMS. As the "probie curse", EMS is superstitious so I can see that coming in to play (remember how people cringe when they hear "hope you have a quiet night"?). This show is meant to entertain and bring NBC ratings, not instruct the public on how EMS operates, anyone who feels differently is foolish for believing otherwise. That's just how I feel about the Episode.

i watched one episode of this show and found it boring..but that's just me. People here love to bash the show, but they seem to watch it A LOT. I'm sick of hearing the lame comments such "this show makes us look bad" blah blah. It's a TV show, and a boring one at that. Let it be, if ya don't like it, do what I did, and don't watch it!

I haven't had a chance to watch it yet, however it sounds like the usual bang up job of medical accuracy.... But you know something......IT IS A TV SHOW. I know it's been mentioned before, however people seem to still be hung up on how lousy this show is. IF YOU DON"T LIKE IT, DON'T WATCH. It's really as simple as that. If the show is that bad, It'll be canceled, and we won't have to worry anymore now will we?? Trauma is NOT an accuate portrayal. We get it. Nor is it a recruiting video. The show is complete BS, yeah, but you know, I don't mind it. I laugh at the error's and ego's. and realise it is a TV SHOW. Just like HOUSE, Law&Order, etc. And I bet you guys watch those, errors and all. Relax. because really??? Is it worth stressing over??? Especially when it'll probably be gone by the end of the season?

Let's clarify a few things about what the Ryan White Act actually does. For the large part, the IAFF should have spent their money lobbying at the state level for improved state regulations about testing and seeing their own departments had effective DICOs. In 1990, largely at the insistence of the IAFF, this section was added. Its purpose was to get money to set up some education for employees and a Designated Infection Control Officer in EMS/FDs. Since this was not the primary purpose of the Act, EMS/FDs did establish a DICO but it was usually just a title and not necessarily a working job description. Policies should have been written but often they relied on those from a hospital for exposure on a case by case basis. However, Public Health laws are enforced and if the DICO of any agency taps into them with their policies, the blood and airborne pathogens that are worrisome are covered. In the states that have OSHA, they can also be used for policy making guidelines. Hospital infection control officers will also contact an agency but they can not force the DICO of EMS/FD to do whatever. Public Health notification for certain diseases are there to also assist and enforce certain regulations for that state. The other thing the Ryan White Act does not do is mandate testing without consent for an exposure to a blood borne pathogen. If the state does not allow it, then you again have to rely on your department's policy for prophylactic treatment or to obtain a court order if the exposure is serious enough. OSHA does spell this out and in the states that don't have OSHA, they either a specific state statute or a section in their Public Health laws that addresses this. The DICO should be familiar with his/her policy to get the employee whatever care is necessary. The employee should also make sure they understand their policies. If neither the DICO or the employee take some responsibility, it doesn't matter how many people notify them. Since the Ryan White Act is almost a $3 Billion/year expenditure for People With AIDS/HIV over the next four years and it has been each year for 20 years, EMS/FDs departments would be foolish to rely on those few paragraphs buried inside this Bill. The intent of this Bill was to provide health care and housing to people living with HIV/AIDS. It is a good piece of legislation that is needed and actually $3 Billion in not nearly enough. But, any health care reform could again repeal this Act. It is also sad when most in EMS/FDs only know a couple paragraphs of this Act and believe the Ryan White Act is solely about them. Few even know who Ryan White is. If EMS/FDs fail to establish an effective DICO and have the necessary policies in place to protect their employees there is no assurance that anything from the Ryan White Act will even be followed by that department regardless of the hospitals' part per the Public Health regulations. Most of these regulations are stricter and can be enforced more easily. However, there is no guarantee that the hospitals will test for some diseases if it does not pertain to the immediate illness/injury. Even TB has gone undetected for several ED visits because the symptoms were not all present. So, if you are waiting for an engraved letter from the hospital, you may be waiting a long time if there is no reason to notify you because testing was not done. That doesn't mean you do nothing for a needle stick or when you feel you may have been exposed to something. Again, that is what your DICO is for. He/she should have a relationship with the various hospitals and a policy to see you are covered quickly for whatever exposure. There is also nothing more frustrating than when the ED doctor already knows what he/she is going to diagnose a patient with and asks the EMT(P)s who their DICO is so they can be contacted and prophylactic treatment can be given but all the doctor gets is a blank stare. Sometimes that blank stare is even from the EMS supervisor when approached about a situation. Side note, Florida does have a section in its statutes for testing without consent. California leaves it to the discretion of a doctor and the written informed consent is no longer required. I believe NY still requires consent before blood can be tested for HIV. The same for the Veteran's Administration system which is Federal. The hesitation of some states to have testing without consent is for the protection of the employee and everyone else who enters the health care system. Many states do mandate that if you have HIV or Hep C and are working in health care that you disclose this. However, mandatory testing for health care employees has not yet been legislated and enforced.

You're the only one who seems to be stressing over it, Mr. All Caps.

Some of you might have noticed something has the Canadians all stirred up around here. The lot of us have been having some real "I wanna be a grown up" discussions of late and I can't help but wonder if everyone else here on EMTcity is watching everything unfold thinking Canadian EMS is inhabited by lunatics. I'm interested in hearing what the rest of the world has to say. Some of our recent hot topics include: Significant interprovincial project will benefit the profession of Paramedicine A new BCAS? Alberta takes a step forward. It might just be time to hit the Canadians with some Lorazepam.