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MeekoBB

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Posts posted by MeekoBB

    Do you properly secure patients to the cot?

    in Equiqment and Apparatus

    Posted

    My volunteer agency uses all 3 straps plus shoulder straps when needed.

    We have a few members who will not tie a pt to the backboard and use the stretcher straps. I will not. I hate dealing with the ER so i tie the pt down with cravats as the ER is scissor happy.

    I've ridden with paramedics who just will take the straps off and let the pt ride without them on. I keep going to put them back on, just loose so the medic can still do his work. I HATE them being unrestrained.

    And the short boards....what are they used for again?? we have shit in the rig that we weren't taught in the course.

    you know you're in urban ems if...

    in General EMS Discussion

    Posted

    I think I got youse guys:

    Because you have a frequent flier, who might go to the hospital several times during an 8 hour shift, your partner has an extra book of Ambulance Call Reports already filled out, except for times and vital signs, added as they are used. 25 reports per book, my partner got industrious while doing that overtime on a different ambulance than his regular!

    Oh I've done that at my old job.....saves A LOT of time, but we did a lot of routine transports.

    Transport Rigs...Where do they stack up?

    in General EMS Discussion

    Posted

    I agree with the others when they say to go for 911. You really can get the the same experience with both regarding equipment. In 911, there is 1 piece of equipment you use more than anywhere else...your brain. I've done transport for the past 4 years and hate it. Yes, you do get a lot of patient contact but it's more a neutral situation.

    You work with other people, police, paramedics, and you can learn more then in transport.

    BTW, are you a basic or paramedic....in your original post, you say you are a new EMT and in your stats to the side, you call yourself a paramedic.

    taking stuff from hospitals ?(lets be honest)

    in General EMS Discussion

    Posted

    The service I'm working for (again) has employees that suck...They leave unstocked trucks. When I come in I rush for a quick rig check before I go out on the road. When we use the BVM on calls, we swap out at the ER, they give us one as most of the hospitals we go to they sorta pseudo like us, god forgive them.

    Every facility I go to, I try to stock up on linen. Becuase we generally start the shift with 1 sheet and 1 blanket. So every space we can we stock...I also try to secure extra o2 portables. One of the nursing homes are nice to only few crews (I'm one of them) and allows them to take as much linen as we want.

    One hospital I swipe a box or two of their small gloves because I like them and they are comfortable. One of the ER nurses also lets me take them knowingly...she is also one our regular paramedics and is a total sweetheart, even when she yells at me for my constant dehydration.

    Solution to NJ EMS problem?

    in General EMS Discussion

    Posted

    Scrat,

    UMDNJ stayed open during the shut down as it was considered an Essential Service (as the State Police didn't shut down). Parts of OEMS remained in service during the shut down. The entire department was not shut down. However, as much of what OEMS does is reviewing complaints and regulations, would EMS as we know it grind to a halt if they closed up shop for a few days? No, which is why they many of the staff were off during that period.

    Medic2891,

    As for the First Aid council, it wields power only in few places in New Jersey. Bergen County is one, some south Jersey areas as well. However, the vast majority of NJ squads have signed out of the FAC or stay only as a means of getting an invitation to their annual party. They do have some influence only because they know how to whine. However, with the right pressure you can get them to acquiesse (any Garden Staters remember the turmoil with the creation of the EMS Task Force?). And trust me, working loosely with the DHSS I can say you'll NEVER see OEMS become separate in your lifetime. The way to solve that problem is to get quality people in there and have the state actually fund it properly. You have some really good people working there now, but why would you work hard or stay if you're getting paid S**T?

    For all the bashing NJ gets, I honestly think it works ok. Could it be better? Sure, but I'm positive every state has their particular problems. My advice to help you avoid an early ulcer is to not expect much from anyone. Don't expect to have quality BLS and you won't be disappointed, only pleasantly surprised when they turn out to be competent. And don't expect quality ALS partners either, that educational process seems to be tanking in several programs (many non-Jersey programs).

    Devin

    Awesomely said. FAC are awesome whiners too but in my squads case, both our services have the same enemy and they are trying to help us with resolving umm issues with the common enemy.

    But in many ways, FAC is a farce and its own members will agree.

    Solution to NJ EMS problem?

    in General EMS Discussion

    Posted

    First....NJFAC is for Volunteer agencies and is more of a 'membership'. It is not mandatory to follow their guidelines. The city I volunteer for only became a member is the past few months. We had not been a member of their organization for about 10 years. They offer support services for volunteer agencies. They do require at least ONE EMT (in the back of the rig) as a minimum. They still are not permitted or advised to pull a rig without an emt. There are some cases where the squad has arrangements with their ALS responders that as long as they can get a driver to pull the truck, they will transport with ALS in the back. Municiple and commercial services operate under STATE guidelines.

    Second...There is a state office for ems in NJ....WEBSITE

    Deny Transport?

    in General EMS Discussion

    Posted

    I refused a transportation once.....I was working a private transport service and was called to a nursing home. They wanted us to take a 400+lbs patient to a hospital where there are 3 closer just so she can have IV meds. I didn't refuse because of the distance...Hell I would have taken the patient to VA if requested, I refused because there was NO WAY our service was capable of her transport and I told the supervisor, ours and the nursing home's. Even if we left the stretcher at the nursing home and shoved her on the floor, she would not fit and the lift of the coach van was not wide enough for her extra wide big boy wheelchair, not that it could handle the weight. Besides, we were still baffled that they got her into the room in the first place.

    We advised they would need to call 911 and request the assistance of Rescue.

    True ER humor.........

    in Funny Stuff

    Posted

    this all reminds me of an incident not long ago...

    a long ER is cutting back staff and we brought a pt in (frequent flyer) who is known for not taking her meds...we brought her into the er and before i was even given the chance to give report, they scoffed at us and was like "don't you know we're on critical divert??" I replied, "Hmm yes, and she's not critical." mind you the ER was COMPLETELY empty and half the lights were off.... not even a week later (on New Years Morning) we brought a drunk who was high on something in to the same ER and the staff was wonderful and laughing with us.

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