DFDEMS

I stop by occasionally. Haven’t been on in a while. I am back, a little farther north and then west some. Not bad so far, smaller place. I could probably do another 3 years here if the Boss would let me.

I will start off by saying that I am the owner of the site referenced in this post and named in the title. When I titled that site it had to do with a couple of things. First off everyone I knew in outlying departments would give me grief over “working in the ghetto.” Second the city administration was truly Ghetto. They have brought out food service type gloves for the school’s to the medic units because they didn’t have latex and then threatened people who refused to use them and respond. People have had to use 2 liter bottles as head blocks. No glucometers. The list goes on to the point it should be it’s own post. The fact that the mayor then is now sitting in Prison should help emphasize that point. I am sure most have heard about the dead patient who wasn’t dead in Detroit. The medic stated he was dead, protocol says he had to base out and verify asystole in 2 leads, etc. When it made the news the EMT BASIC got 30 days off with pay, the medic got nothing. Read that again, Nothing. That had more to do with the name of the site than anything. The administration itself was ghetto. They put 24 ambulances for 150k plus calls a year on the road, not the citizens. I never had a problem with anyone on the street, just the administration. As far as what it means if someone calls you that or you call some one that it all depends I guess. Many words are like that. Case in point is a word that is one of if not the the most hateful word in the English langue. Some use it as a greeting. When I went through the academy for Detroit one of the blocks of instruction was basically “how not to get you’re a** kicked.” Most of my class was white, most lived outside the city. The instructor who is not white and doesn’t live outside of the city looked at one guy (white) and said what do you say if you walk into a house and they say “Whats up my ni&&a” as a greeting. The guy looked stumped and finally said ‘Sir.I am white.” What was a simple greeting among some and easily responded to by saying hi, hello, whats up, Nothing, you? etc now became an instant a** kicking incident. There are two big gangs in the city. The Dexter boys and the NFL. One is “From Linwood.” So you can figure out what the “N” stands for. Stand on Dexter and answer yes to “You like the NFL” or something similar and you will be lucky if you go home at the end of the day, Man or Woman. In an earlier post someone mention talking like or on the same level with your patient. I think it’s a valid point that was taken a little out of context I think. Talking in slang and ebonics is about the stupidest thing I have ever heard a partner do. It’s fake, it’s condescending and is so filled with racial overtones that it will be the last day you and I ever work together again. Talking at a level that your patient understands I agree with. My care isn’t any different in the long run other than I had to go two different routes to explain it to two different patients so they both felt comfortable and possibly understood it. Anyways, I have typed a short book and hooped all over the place within it. The term Ghettomedic in my mind isn’t derogatory but it ultimately is the perception of the person being called it that matters. Dust Devil-Are you back over here or no?

I didn't think we did escorts anymore but I think your talking about the A*^ company I would bet so that makes sense. I am sure your up on the alphabet stuff and how to keep getting paid while at home. If not let me know and I will send you the stuff I got in the mail. How long do you plan on taking the vacation?

Hopefully they hooked you up with business class for the flights from Dubai on.

It’s a great vehicle. The only problem is that what was designed to stop say 4 155mm rounds as Dust mentioned can be theoretically canned with say 6 of them. When it comes to blowing stuff up more is better applies here and the other side figures that out pretty quick.I would rather be in one of these though than an M1 I think, its kind of a toss up there. They are still vulnerable to other methods of attack that are not worth mentioning but the v-hull and the weight of this vehicle make it a pretty safe ride all around. I have seen them with some damage but at the end of the day if everyone comes back safe that went out who cares what happened to the vehicle. If you want to see a bigger one look at the buffalo, it is huge. As far as how fast it isn’t really a matter of freeway speeds, it’s a matter of how long it takes to stop

I think the term “ambulance driver†is derogatory in nature. I walked in to a local ER working at a private about 2 years ago to hear the nurse say “the ambulance drivers†are here. She then went on to tell me that the guy’s bed pan needed to be changed. Sorry honey, that's why you went to nursing school and I went to Paramedic school. The term just plain sucks. The ambulance doesn't help anyone. The crew could show up in a pinto and help you out. The ambulance with two regular people (Non EMT, etc) won’t help you. I mitigate incidents. I solve problems occasionally. My ambulance couldn’t deliver a pizza without me, who’s more important? Good terms… The medics are here… The paramedics are here… Are you my daddy? (um…maybe not so good..)

If your protocol’s say you can for pain management Prehospital then just nod "yes sir.." to the doc and drive on. Personally, I probably would have given it to her just so she wouldn’t scream in my ear while extracting her...