ladyfirefighter36

Our version of the 'parachute strapping', if I can describe it: We have 30' lengths of seatbelting. Mark the middle with tape. Middle goes over the middle of the chest, take strap down thru hole in backboard that is nearest to being inline. Bring belting up over the shoulder and cross at the chest. Dependind on size of patient you can weave down into and up out of every hole in board or skip one. Each time you come up out of a handhole you cross over and down into the other side. When you get to the feet you cross as close to the bottom as possible, bring down and back up around the feet and tie off. Before tieing off, start back at the chest and take up any slack, (like shoelaces) then tie off. It sounds confusing, but is very easy once you have been shown. If done properly, the patient will not move. We have stood patients on their heads, and they do not move. I have had some say that it is difficult to work on the patient with all the straps, but we have found that it can be done. Once you have practiced in training, it goes on very quickly. Some of our people can get this on faster that regular seatbelt type straps.

Keeping his family in our prayers. What a sad thing.

I totally agree. It is very unprofessional to be talking with someone else while you should be giving patient care. No way should the driver be talking or texting. We have gone so far as to put up signs in our ambulance that states 'no cell phones', as just a reminder. Safety is the issue as well as professionalism.

8 seconds is 8 seconds, but I know some that were fined for leaving.

I have worked many a rodeo, and, yes, they walk it off. I have seen cowboys ride with broken legs and in neck collars (dr. prescribed). They are a tough bunch. I had a young man end up with busted ribs and fractured arm at one event. His dad told me he was not getting transported. He had been hurt worse than that before and he would be hurt worse again. When my son was working for the rodeo he told me that if they had a qualifying ride and left in the ambulance, they could be fined as well as losing their winnings. Glad my son never got on the bulls, but I sure do have respect for those who are able to.

We have had our cot for a few months. LOVE it. It really has saved on the back injuries. We haven't had any problems, so far. The battery lasts longer than we expected. Patients love it.

I am thankful for my family, for my God. I am thankful that I have the good health to be able to lend aid to those who need my assistance and help. I am thankful that hopefully, I can make their life (pain at the time) better. I am thankful for hydraulic cots, that save my back, daily.

We have a Christmas Auction in November. A company comes in with ALL NEW merchandise (jewelry, tools, toys, clothing, candy, housewares, collectible dolls, just about anything). We provide the tables to display the items, the auctioneer and manpower to set up. We also have a food/baked table for the day. We get a percentage of the sales. It is really easy to do. Lot a lot of work on our part, other than the advertising. We have a set date from year to year. People look forward to it each year. In the spring we have a junk auction. Basically, all the households in our coverage area ( and some outside) donate what they want rid of. Could be good stuff, could be junk. But you know the saying "One man's junk is another man's treasure". We usually make 4-5 thousand each year. Little more work than the Chrismas auction because we have to haul in the stuff, and haul away what doesn't sell. Again, people look forward to it every year. Same crowd spending money.

No Way no How!!!! Having it on the property will just create problems. People see it and of course assume that it is being used. Don't show up on scene if you have had anything in at least 8 hrs. Yes, we are volunteer, but we don't have to look like bumbling idiots. We are still expected to maintain an atmosphere of professionalism. I know depts. that do have it at their stations. I have seen depts. bring a cooler along to parades. Never made sense to me. Who (what chief) in their right mind would let a cooler go on a truck, and then trust someone to drive that $300,000.00 vehicle home. Doesn't make sense. Never will.

I don't know how I would feel about treating someone who injured or killed one of my family members. I'm sure I would prefer not to, because, like some have said, I would be thinking of causing THEM bodily harm. I have had to treat my family. We are in a very rural area and sometimes daytime help is hard to find because of swing shift schedules. Just recently had to transport my husband. He fell 10 feet from a ladder. Was doing OK, but landed head first in angle iron. Entire crew was family members. Didn't want to do this, but circumstances warranted transport and I was it. A few years ago my father was run over by a tractor. Again, all family crew with medic from nearby dept. to transport. Again, not by choice, buy by circumstance. I think that if at all possible we should not treat or transport family members. Call for backup.

Sorry that we have to live in a CYA society. But we do, and I don't mind taking a few extra precautions for my patient. I would rather err on the side of caution, than not, with any kind of treatments or interventions. We see too many patients, after the fact, with injuries not expected. After doing all of our assessments, we are not CT scans, we cannot find everything.

Thanks all. We knew we had done the right thing, but sometimes those nurses can really get under your skin (no offense). I talked with one of the EMS coordinators for the hospital yesterday and explained to him what had happened. He will be talking with the nurse to get his view. The coordinator said we were in the right by what we did and he would make sure that the nurse knew that. I hate to make trouble for anyone, but I also don't want to see another squad in the same situation. I really appreciate all your views.

Patient complained of no other injuries. Nothing else noted upon secondary exams. Elbow was swollen and painful. Parents say they heard a 'pop' when they got her up. Patient was alert and oriented. Not sure how fast she was going at the time. No LOC. No numbness or tingling in extremities. We have numerous ATV accidents a year. Per our protocol, all get backboarded, unless they want to sign a release (as per hospital's orders the last few years). Our thinking, especially with a 9 year old, is if they were thrown off or fell off hard enough to cause a significant injury as described then YES, she needs boarded, which we did. Nurse at the hospital questioned us for quite some time about WHY, and did it in front of the patient's parent. Parent commented that they were glad we took the extra precautions, than not. Nurse was irate that we had her on a backboard for a very minor isolated injury. As I stated before, she was later taken to another facility for more advanced treatments.

Got a question. Nine year old female involved in an ATV accident. She was the driver, had on a helmet. Apparently hit a ditch, threw her off, landed on elbow. Enough force to cause major damage to elbow (later taken to higher treatment facility for pins in elbow). Board or not? Interested to see what some of you think. Yes, elbow was only injury. Family got her up walking around. Some questions were raised between ems providers and nurse at ER. Thanks

We carry an XP1 and a KED. Prefer the XP1. We have used both quite a bit in our service. We train quite a bit on them. Because of our rural location, we have tons of MVC's and these are so easy to use, and beneficial for patient care. We have had people injured in falls, run over by tractors, etc. that cannot lay down because of airway compromise or SOB. Put them in an XP1 and properly strap and pad and the doctors are happy.