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Sirens are next to useless these days. With cars soundproofed so much better, windows rolled up, air conditioning/heater on, radio on, there isn't a change in the world you can make to have a siren work better. 20 years ago I came up with an idea and with technology these days it would be a reasonably simple addition to factory OEM systems. My thought 20 years ago was to have a transmitter in the emergency vehicle with 2 power settings. Low power for urban environments, high power for highway speeds. Cars would have a radio receiver that would have a light on the dash like the seatbelt light and a chime. If the ambulance is running l&s the receiver would get the signal and illuminate the dash light with the chime to alert the driver that there is an emergency vehicle nearby. My latest evolution of this product provides for the ability to provide directional guidance with a voice. The antenna can determine the direction the signal is coming from and a voice advisory would come through the radio system "There is an emergency vehicle approaching from your left." for example. The only issue is that the Auto manufacturers didn't want to go to the expense of adding this safety system to their vehicles.

I think maybe an 80 decibel Yakov Smirnov screaming: "In Soviet Russia, ambulance yield to you!!" over and over and over and over....

Really hoping I can share my story and hoping to get some advice and answers. I appreciate the time in advance. I received my EMT license in 2009, and then decided to join the Army. After I joined, I got a "dui" I say it like this because I am still unsure of exactly what it labels as on my record... I never had to pay any fees, just took an online course and mailed in the certificate. My license was however suspended for a year. I remember back in class, the paramedics stressing about suspended licenses but I don't remember what exactly was said. Now I am deployed, and my license has expired, but I have had confirmation that there is an exception for active duty military members. I am about to get out of the army and would really like to pursue the career I had intended on all along. However I am nervous that I will not be able to get an ambulance license due to my suspended license. I have talked to a friend who is currently working as an EMT and he says his company will not hire until 10 YEARS after a suspended license.. well that is a long time from now. I have a back up plan in case I will not get hired. I just want to know before I get off active duty, so I'm not setting myself up for failure. I got my license and the dui in California, but If I were to get an ems job it would be in NY or anywhere else the army sends my husband and I. Thank you

Hi guys!! So I completed the EMT course in may and I have taken the NREMT test 2 and failed both time I studied so much for both and understand the material! I love medical and nursing, I have been wanting to be apart of it since I was little. but now I'm a little hesitate on taking it for my 3 attempt!!! Any suggestions or helpful study tips??

Thank you everyone for your feedback! My study material is of course the book itself, i have a couple EMT practice tests that I have been doing and also notes from class, and I have downloaded and printed off stuff as well. But I am always doing practice exams, and writing down the ones i missed and why. I took my 2 test about 3 months ago and i have I believe 2 years to take all 3. I was looking at a refresher course and I did email the EMT teachers and ask if they have something a school or a tutor they can help me with. I really dont want to pay for the class again because Im also trying to get into nursing school eventually, and I really want this last attempt to be worth it and i get the big "congrats"!! have improved on my tests, the 1 I was below failing on all of them, the 2 i passed 2...so im getting there but not quite. I have been slowly studying because I am scared of failing again because i don't see myself in any other field but medical

Sorry for the confusion. My EMT license was never revoked. After I got the Dui my Driver's license was immediately suspended for a year. It has been reinstated for a year now, I got my driver's license back... While here on my deployment my EMT license expired. But there is an exception for Active Duty military members, and once I get off active duty (Dec 2012) I can take a refresher course that will allow me to reinstate my EMT license (So i've been told) I do not live in California anymore, I live in New York but will be moving somewhere else (my husband is also army and will be staying in). So what I am gathering is that it is not impossible to work in EMS however it is hard to come by a job willing to hire and won't be the glorified hands on job... That is FINE with me. I want to get as close as I can. I really appreciate the feedback, this has been a difficult and confusing road for me!

getting his/her money back is the least of his/her worries if he/she doesn't pass the registry test this third time don't you think? I agree with Chris, you need to get your breakdown scores and look at what you are proficient in and what you are not. Then work on that. I'm not sure how long you have to take the written again but I'd use that time to maybe take a refresher course. It seems that what you are currently doing is just not cutting the mustard so you need to go about it from a completely different angle. I'm not sure how you have been studying but maybe if you outline your study regimen here you will get some tips on what to do differently. If you are reading and taking tests after reading then that's not the right way to go. Do you have access to a community college? They have learning labs that can help you work on overcoming your test anxiety and if you took your emt class from a community college then they should be able to help you free of charge or at a reduced rate. Maybe you just need to take the emt class again? Sometimes people just don't get the material the first time around. I know several people who failed the registry twice and said FRick it and took the class again. They passed the first time on the 2nd time around. But honestly, this is basic stuff, what are you missing? That's what you have to dig down deep and figure out. What are you missing that is making you fail? What concepts are you not grasping? What items are you not getting, what big picture are you not latching onto that is making you fail the exam? Once you figure that out, you will, I am sure, Pass the test. It's up to you "grasshopper" to figure that out.

Is this for your EMT Basic level? Every question on the Registry can be answered correctly using your patient assessments either Trauma or Medical and using the basic knowledge and termonolgy. What's the first thing you do when you arrive on scene? Scene Safety, BSI, # of patients . . . when you read the questions, what is the correct answer that happens first in your assessment? Do the answers come from the Scene Size Up, do they refer to your initial assessment? If you don't have your assessments solidified in your mind frontwards and backwards you will not pass this test. Was your curriculum AHA 2010 compliant? If not, you need to take a look at that as well.

At least now they know where babies come from.

I had the same problem but finally passed NREMT on my third attempt. What helped me the most was a certain website (private message me for the link). It was reccommended to me by my EMT instructor. It costs a fee, basically $50 for a month, but for me, it was worth it. Plus it's guaranteed that you pass the exam or get your money back. They have some really good practice exams and they explain all the answers, including why the correct answer is correct and why each of the others is not. I took several of the tests and then printed them out, and used them as study guides.

I understand the questions, I believe test anxiety is a big part of it but also another big issue is finding the "right" answer, I know there's 2 right ones, it's just knowing which one is the better one..and that's my weakness.. I have taken many practice tests and get better.. I guess I want to know how I can get my mind wrapped around the medical questions and breaking it down so I know it's the better one rather than the right one

Unfortunately, you do not understand the material nor the framework to put the material in the context of a registry question. Are you able to access the score reports? What areas are you consistently failing? In addition, do you understand what the questions are asking? Are you well versed in taking tests and quickly dissecting test questions? Be brutally honest and really ask yourself if you understand what the questions are asking. One of the best exercises is sitting down and taking timed mock registry exams then grading yourself with brutal honesty and close attention to understanding the questions.

A key thing here is to know the difference between a dystonic reaction and tardive dyskinesia. Both can occur with the "typical" antipsychotic medications such as Haldol, Thorazine, and others. Medications such as Reglan and Compazine can also do it. A dystonic reaction is similar to what you describe. It can happen with the first dose or any subsequent dose of a medication, particularly if combined with other similar medications or after a dose adjustment. The onset is fairly sudden, and they may not have had anything similar before. I have seen this effect also from "energy drinks". I also saw this after administration of a dose of Zofran in the ER, but failed to find any reference in the literature to such reactions being common. Treatment is supportive, and benztropine (Cogentin) or benadryl can be given for the effects and is usually pretty effective. A dystonic reaction is reversible with no lasting effect. Tardive dyskinesia is an insidious movement disorder that can be caused by long term use of antipsychotic medications. It more closely resembles Parkinson's disease, with movement difficulties, ataxia, and cogwheel rigidity. The onset is over weeks to months and is not reversible. It is typically permanent. 'zilla

What part of CA do you live in? If you live down around Los Angeles county there are a lot of opportunities for a non driver on transport companies (read non-911) that are run by little mom and pop companies. While this does not have all of the excitment of the 911 lights and siren go fast buttons, it does give you a great opportunity to sharpen your skills. I for one am better at taking vitals than I ever was in school becuase of these transport calls that I spent many a time on. Look at that as an oppurtunity to hone your skils and develope into a better BLS provider before taking the next step and moving on through a solid curriculum of college courses and a good medic program that won't take you from zero to hero in no time flat. If you have any questions keep posting some of are from the "Great State of CA" and would be more than willing to help you.

In order to prevent useless loss of time (I am a planner) does anyone have suggestions on how to find all of this out? When I get back from deployment my plan is to take a refresher course in order to reinstate my license (not even sure if it will be reinstated and/or if that is the correct process) and after that, if I do get my license active again, see if anyone will hire me, try volunteering/shadowing? I'm almost positive after ten years it will be completely removed from my record... I already have three years down so only 7 more... ha ha

all is not lost grasshopper. you might be able to get a medic job only where driving may not be required but those jobs are really really scarce. You could work for a off shore oil rig where driving isn't required. You could work in an ER where driving is not required. But the dui will still probably follow you as a stain on your record but your military record might offset it. Working in an industrial setting might also be an option. Clinic work might work as well. Fire medic might work as well as you wouldn't have to drive the ambulance because you'd be on the fire truck. Good luck and thanks for your service for our country.

There are many other options in the medical field besides EMS. If you are really interested in healthcare work, by all means, don't be discouraged and go for it.

Without trying to sound crass, you remember in grade school when they talked about this going on your permanent record? They weren't kidding. This is one of those times. Even though you got your license back it'll be years before you could reasonably expect to get hired to work in EMS. Driving is an important part of the job. Being able to insure those driving is what lets us get out on the road in the ambulance. A DUI pretty much guarantees that you will be uninsurable by anybody worth working for for many years to come. If EMS is really what you want then make it a long term goal while you're working on your back up plan. Long term it is still a possibility. Short term you're screwed as far as EMS goes.