craig

So by your reasoning we could send over an ambulance with my dog driving and my two year old nephew attending and people should be happy because an ambulance arrived in their time of need?

Just because most of the general public isn't smart enough to tell the difference between an ALS provider and a BLS provider does not mean that we aren't. I know that an ALS truck will benifit the patient more than a BLS truck if for nothing else than for the fact that the average BLS truck only has 500hrs of schooling between everyone on board.

Weather you work at macdonalds, in a business, in an office or out of your car, whan you start out you are the low person on the totem pole. Nobody walks in equal in skill or experience regardless of their level and people that think otherwise are just plain wrong.

Like i said the public only care if it is the ambulance that turns up, not who is on it.

We are lucky here in Australia that our EMS services are much better than yours over the pacific.

I never said that everyone should enter as equals. far from it.

Just a question, when you attend hospital when sick or injured do you ask if the attending doctor is a medical student, a freshman resident, a staff resident or a specalist? especially if you are in pain, injured and bleeding? I think not, if some one is fixing you you dont care.

so a basic that has been a basic for years (they may not want to futher their study or cannot afford to) is less in their worth than a person that has just graduated from school as a medic?

eventhough the basic has been treating patients for years and the new medic is yet to fire in anger (on his own so to speak)

the analagy of the ambulance with you nephew and dog really is pretty silly though.....why send them at all.........maybe just park ambulances on the street corners that have high degree of MVA's.........use a little common sense and see that i was talking about TRAINED BASIC LEVEL OFFICERS.

yes there are pecking orders in any area, but along with this there are times that the more trained person is a paragod that only causes friction between levels. I have worked with very knowledgeable paramedics that have the compassion and pesonality of a rock. sure they knew what was wrong, what effects the injury had, what to do to fix it, but not the people skills to HELP the patient.

wether we get rid of all the basic levels and have everyone as a medic, we still start at the bottom (we have to start some where dont we) but do we need to put these people down for this. are we better for being in a para class that was completed last year compared to someone that was in a class that finished this year?

I know that a ALS truck will be able to do more clinically for the patient than the BLS truck, but like i said, if joe public in laying in the gutter bleeding to death, then all he cares about is that SOMENE attends him and fixes him. If the crew that arrives is a basic one then they, if they cannot carry out the procedures needed should call for ALS to attend. The ALS crew should not constantly remind them that they are not as good as a paramedic.

stay safe

Thank god this is expression is never used where I am from. There is absolutely no evidence to back it up and I am beginning to suspect it is something that EMTs say to make themselves feel better about the low position they have on the totem pole.

This is why there is a percived gap in the ems system. To tell people about the "Low position on the totem pole" that they occupy only belittles them.

remember the public when in their time of need dont care if the attending officer is a basic or advanced person...they are injured,hurt and wanting assistance....any assistance at the time.

If an ambulance rolls up they are glad, they dont worry that it is a BLS or ALS unit...it's a bloody ambulance and thats what they want......

The high and mighty position that some paramedics place on thems selves only reinforces the paragod syndrome. Here in Australia we have another name for these types.....DICKHEADS...

I agree it is a term that I do not like , but so is the insinuation that only paramedics are they good guys and can save lives and are better than anyone else..........S H I T.........if I was above some on on a totem pole shatting on those below, i would worry about who was above me.......

We have to remember at time where we ALL started......you dont start at the top rung of the ladder.......these basics that we all at times put down may one day be better paramedics than the rest of us...........a long journey starts with one small step

stay safe

prognosis for this patient?

isnt that what she is going to the specialist for? and taking the meds?

if it was a tia then prognosis will probably be god a long as she remembers to carry out what the doctor tells her to do.

hope all goes well

stay safe

OMG... my Dad used to say that ALL THE TIME... right before I became an Instructor... turns out that he was wrong too!... I know... shocker :shock: The problem with generalized statements like that is they likely work for 10-20% of the "population" of that career... just remember... as in all fields you have the good and the bad.

I am pretty sure that it was written by oscar wilde.

it was said 'tongue in cheek'

if you see what my bio is in my posts you will see that i am also an instructor and assesor for the service here ( with a staffing level of 2500 officers) in the times that i am not working the road.

My wife is an educator in the nsw education department and has been for over 20 years, so i do know a little about the 'teaching profession'

have you ever thought that your daddy might have been right?..........lol

stay safe

Old saying........."those that can, do. Those that can't teach.."

To be constantly reminding everyone ..."our tests scores are...." is a little frightening

are they trying to justify there shortcomings?

It is good to know that the school that you have chosen is a good one with good results, but to keep 'bragging' about it seems a little concerning.

Here in NSW we have only one place that you can get trained in being a paramedic (well two actually, but only one will get you recognised for the position) and thay have 100% pass in both theory and practical, otherwise you are not employed by the service.

If you then fail a recertification process, you then get one more chance before being put on a CAPS program. If you fail the CAPS program, then you need to look for another job.

If you fail your first school and then the post exams (theory and practical) then there is NO job for you.

But you don't here the service bragging how their results are standing up.

Food for thought........

stay safe

NO the town that we volunteer for is a good distance away from a hospital and the paid paramedics and EMTs that transport take longer than most, and they are very thankful for our help!! But I guess if you want your relatives to wait thirty to forty minutes with no help go right ahead, we can't take away from something that will never exist in a small town sorry to disappoint you.

Firegurl

this is where i see the FLAWS in the US system.....

I likve in a small rural town (well twin towns, about 3 miles apart) it has a combined population of around 2000.

Yes we have a small hospital, but the docotors are not employed by the hospital, they have visiting rights and will attend if they are available.

We are approximately 40 minutes on L&S from the next centre that has ambulance response (asl and basic)

we cover about 1400 square miles with the staff at our station

we do doube crews during the day shift and the same crews are 'oncall' at night

that means that we have rostered on duty each day for 8 hours, and the rest of the 24 hr period is covered by the oncall officers.

All this and WE are a FULLY PAID service.

everyone has the right to have the most for their service, not knocking volunteers but all ems service should be paid.. it is only a short fall negligence from the govt, muncipality, service that will not do this........

stay safe

I just read a study and presented it to the regional ems coordinator. The backboard was invented for moving patients and have the space underneath of the backboard to "Move" not immobilize patients.

So while this is only one study of approx 8000 runs where backboards were not used, no further aggrevation of injuries occurred in moving these victims.

Obviously more research needs to be done. It is only one study. So before you take your backboard and put it in the attic with the MAST Suit, The EOA and the parts from the Cadillac Ambulance, keep researching and maybe we'll get some answers on the future of the backboard.

As I said in the first place the spineboa/ backboard/ rescue board is just an EXTRICATION device abnd alway has been

stay safe

Pet peeve sayings............

1: emergency medical technician

2: paramedics / medics are better than the rest

3: bus

4: cot

5: i would do this job for nothing. becuse i care...(or any similar response)

6: fire fighters saying the are better than any emergency medical service

7: same as above telling me that my job is not dangerous/ risky/ as inportant as theirs

thats my two bobs worth............there is probably more...........

stay safe

66% Dixie. Just under the Mason-Dixon Line

Man...Virginia's my home state, and is where I live now. Isn't the M/D Line rather north of here?

Just want to qualify something...I'm a SOUTHERNER, not some redneck rebel. My beltbuckle isn't

embossed with the Confederate "Southern Cross". :roll:

Lets get one thing straight..............

there is only ONE southern cross that counts

and it's not the one you find ion the roof of the General Lee or a rednecks buckle.....lol

It's the one on the flag down under and it has 5 stars on it........

just setting the record straight. 8)

stay safe

DAMN YANKEES.........

The South will rise again.............................................................[/font:7c64c3e067]

86 % DIXIE

And I am an Aussie...............

Well you dont get much more southern than me................

"YEE-HAW, me and Billy Bob is a gonna take the General lee up to the crick and get me some crawdaddies.........

Oh I wish I was in the land of cotton.................."

OK Then

Men V's Women jokes........

Q. Why are wediing dresses white?

A. Just like all the other house hold appliances....the washing machine...then stove.....they dryer......the dish washer.............

seems taht the idea of being a 'TECHINCIAN' or an 'ENGINEER' in what ever field has come from America.

seems that you cant be a motor mechanic anymore, you have to be an 'auto service tecnician'

a house wife is now a 'domestic engineer'

so the term EMT has no relevance to us here in Australia

We are Ambulance Officers

We may be Primary Care Officers

We may be Advanced Life Suport Officers

We may be Paramedic Officer

we may be a direvitive of any of the above.....

but we are AMBULANCE OFFICERS first and foremost.

It does help that the EMS (another term not readily used here) system is run entirely different here than in the US. As it is NOT part of the Fire service and is run as a stand alone department in each state.

stay safe

Bellicose

Do you want the medal or the chest to pin it upon? :shock:

wow fire fighters are cocky cause they risk their lives.......

so how many domestic disputes do you attend that have guns or knives involved.........

here in NSW the AMBULANCE rescue units (thats technical rescue) carry out extremely dangerous rescues, ie vertical, high angle, swift water. building collapses, natural disasters and the like.

They are ALL trained in Chemical Biological and Radiation responses for emergencies (think terrorism)

Thay are traine in Hazmat fully encapuslate suits and BA.

AND this is the SPECIALISED UNITS

the every day ambo, has to attend these incidents as well. bit late to tell them that when they arrive the gun toting angry husband has just shot his wife and is still on the scene.

Look mate you fireies are not the only ones that have dangerous jobs, and have the problem of being injured on duty or if god forbid killed.

Reminds me of the past work colleague that was stabbed with a syringe full of blood saving his female partner from getting stabbed in the back with the same needle.

wake up get a life, grow up maybe people will respect you then....remember.....

RESPECT NEEDS TO BE EARNED NOT DEMANDED.........

[it isn't a public safety service. It is a medical service. It's a transportation service. But it is not a public safety service.]

The city bus line is a transportation service. The taxi is a part of the transportation service. A dentist office is a medical service. This is why we are viewed as a taxi ride. The idea that we are not a part of the public safety network is why EMS is always left out. It has to present itself as a vital component of the public safety and trust. If you don't pull yourself up to the big table, you get lumped in at the kiddie table with the cable t.v. franchise, bus line, trash collection. This is what has happened where I work.

Our subsidy (for the 911 ALS provider) comes from the same fund as the Meals on Wheels and the Literacy Program. We compete with 14 other non profits for a piece of the pie. Police and Fire funding comes from the General Fund, which is supplied with sales tax and property tax. Police and Fire split $12,000,000. EMS receives $150,000 if we can justify it (the Boys and Girls club gets more than we do). The total non profit funding is whatever is left over at the end of the budget process.

We are now getting back to the big table by going PUM. We forced the discussion back to the front burner as presenting this issue as a public safety issue. And yes, a councilman asked "why can't they (the patients) just call a cab?"

There in lies the problem..............

in the states the medical system is so f*ucked up that it is easier to call the cab.........

even though here we have a separate ems system to that of the police and fire brigade we are attached the the department of health and are a separate health division within it.

granted that we do not get the monies that we would like (no matter what dept you are it is never enough)

we are funded by the govt by the taxes that the public pay, and then charge the fees for the transports.

That is why we are better being ems alone and not being firefighters (who would any way.....lol)

they jobs are too different and there is a vast level of knowlege that should be invested in when you are in ems that should not be sidetracked by the fire stuff........(cold wet stuff on the hot red stuff)

stay safe

try and get a copy of the Mr Bean episode (from england)

that has him attempting to revive a collaspe at a bus stop.

artifical respirations.....you need to see it.......lol

and defib the pt with car jumper cables and the pwoer from a street light....

stay safe

Good idea james

the only problem i can forsee is that most ambos do not go looking for tattoos

how ever they are inclined to look for medic alert braclets etc as these do catch the eye so to speak. this is what we are taught.

there a many people that have tattooed arms legs etc and to have another person with a tattoo could mean that the meaning of the tattoo could be missed or overlooked

have you seen some of the tattoos that some medics have, your proposed tattoo could be mistaken for one of these.

there are even vendors on ebay that are selling cd roms of medic tattoo designs. and your important one may be thought od as one of these

i would still go with the medic alert braclet or neck chain................it's what everyone knows

stay safe

craig

Sorry, I understand, but we can never be "totally" protected. I understand Helo's etc.. there is a difference in fatalities and injuries R/t those incidents.

Although. I believe in safety, I will not wear helmet. Sorry...Let's design the units to be more safer... WOW ! What a concept !

Be safe,

R/R 911

I'm with rid here

make me wonder if those that are putting forward the idea of wearing a helmet in the back would wear one while their wife or husband drove them to the supermaket in their family station wagon?

make bloody ambulances more safer with their design..........

stay safe

No where near enough.......................................................

but in reality, lats year I made 98K + and I do not hold any rank. so not bad I suppose.

Was talking to a city counterpart the other day with some friends abd co workers over a beer.

He said to us if he could find a job that paid him 68K he would leave being in ems. We all siad if we were onluy being paid 68K we would leave as well........lol

stay safe

Preciesly =)

If he had no pain, I can understand this one. However, if they have a significant mechanism of injury and they say "My necy/back/head hurts." they are going on the board. It's not thier choice any more.

A significant mechanism.............

so if he was in a gun fight and had a GSW, was holding a gun, whilst bleeding all over the place, do they also not have a choice?

if the pateint was alert and conscious they ALWAYS have the choice.

woe and behold the medic that physically restrained the patient to a board with straps and head box AGAINST the PATIENTS EXPRESSED WISHES.....have you heard o assult?

stay safe

Mechanism may be there

Injury may be there

remember that this was seen as a passerby not as the attending officer.

did the crew actually apply the collar? I have seen numerous people driving their cars with a collar on due to an "existing neck injury"

just because there was a collar does it mean that there is a spinal injury?

times it is more advantage to transport the patient on a softer bed with their head blocked and strapped in, than to transport on a hard board.

did they get the patient out of the vehicle on a board and then move them to the bed?

the spinal board or back board is a extrication device not for transport on.

the board does not fill the hollows of the back and cause the spine to 'flex' at the points where the hollows are above the board. this then can cause damage to injured areas of the spine.

there are many variables to the use of spine boards as a transport device.

There is also many studies showing that to transport on a hard board can cause more injuries and that to collar the patient, head block them and restrain them to the bed is more than adequate.

here in Australia, many hospitals (including a world leading spinal unit) frown upon the ?? spinal patient being transported on a long board. they would prefer that they get transported in a RED KED or NIJE with a collar.

stay safe

Eh... don't get me started.

Basics have no business working on an emergency ambulance. Period.

blinkers on again dust?

'emergency vehicles' come to a country where all officers on the vehicle can carry out emergency procedures

seems that not having the one service to carry out the work causes ELITISM between the ranks....

ahh dust you have disappointed me.

stay safe

Because our country is so sparsely populated, rural areas are large. Our station has 3 full time staff on 7 day rotating rosters & our area covers approx 400-500 square kilometers. A lot of that area is only accessible via 4WD and we have specialist equipment for it. We generally have 2 on shift each day.

dont forget the rest phil

actually it covers more than that..........

stay safe

It is over fifty percent greater than minimum wage.

And in this country, we don't have to give sixty-five percent back to the government in taxes.

Dust lets see......

50 % over minimum, with those calculations that means minimum wage id around 6 dollars an hour

so it is 2 dlooars an hour over that.

thats about about a gallon and a half of gas isnt it?

big difference.......

and for your information we dont have 65% taxes here.. the most anyone can pay in taxes is 46% (46 cents in the dollar) and that would mean you would be earning over 100K per year (take it from me I know).

stay safe

squint

for your information

a RN here is at least 3 yrs uni degree

when they join the service they get to start on 3rd year pay so it is only the first 3 years that they get higher pay. all officers max out at 10 yrs.

however allowances do add to that and if you go into the 'management' rank your pay goes up as well

not too many nurses or rn get anywhere near what i earned last year....over 95K

my station officer (equivilent to a Lt.) got 105K last year

ambos coes from the term Ambulance Officer...as per aussie way of doing thing by shortening... to AMBOS

the media dont really call us drivers very often,...... everyone seems to be called Paramedic in our papers, by they paramedics,EMT- B, EMT- I or what ever.....

stay safe