firespec35

I took the test last September so I want to echo a few things said above. #1 Don't overthink it. Study your material but don't cram. #2 it is adaptive so as you "pass" skills according to the computer you will get more of your weak catagories. #3 relax you got this. I firmly believe I passed my first time with 72 questions for the simple fact of I got a flat as I was pulling in to the site and didnt have a spare. It distracted me enough to keep me from being nervous.

Gotta get epocrates. Its free and has all sorts of info. If you have the data plan do not discount google. I use it all the time to ID unknown pills

Wow that was deep. If I make scene and talk to someone, I sign them off if not transporting. They dont want to sign thats ok no reason to get mad just fill out the refusal to sign part

It really depends on their training and experience. When I worked the road we would always get calls to these Dr. Offices in Detroit where neither the doc or nurses could speak very good english and they have the person struggling for a breath on a N/C at 2 lpm. Now I worked with the Red Bull Air races 2 weeks ago and they brought a medical staff with them out of Austria who according to the crews that worked with them were spot on. Translation was difficult at times but when we figured out what they were saying it was exactly perfect. Now at my f/t gig we are technically BLS non transporting but since we have a 6 sq mile facility, we respond, treat, and transport onsite. There are a lot of us that are medics and almost all of us work other "EMS" type jobs whether it be POC FD, Full time FD, or a PVT company. We have a medical dept that we have to bring patients to. They also do physicals and treat minor walk ins ect... They scare me. They scare me less since the one doc retired but they still scare me. My first week there (10 years ago) the nurse goes to start a line on a diabetic (don't know why they have no D50) she proceeds to take off the cap, take the cath off, (now I'm standing in the corner silently freaking out), when the Medic for the transport unit walks in and gives a giant GASP!!!!, the nurse looks down and says Oh I grabbed the wrong thing. Another time they let a new onset CP 8/10 diaphoretic go to the ER with his wife- He died a mile away. They seem to get annoyed when we give them the indepth oral report just like you'd give when rolling in to the ER. It definately is mostly a 1st shift thing though. 2nd and 3rd shift seem to understand that they aren't good at emergencies. Normally if there is a critical patient they actually listen to us. It seems if there is a full arrest any more one of our medics (Our chief if he is here) will go and actually run the arrest. Can't be too bad we are 2 for 3 in the last 10 years on saves. It was kinda funny on the one we didn't save and also taught us we should learn what they have. One of my guys was going to start ALSing the guy (We assumed they had ACLS drugs). Our corprate medical direction says we fall under the medical dept if we are in the medical dept and have an RN or Doc available. He asked for Epi and the nurse handed him an epi pen. Luckily the ambulance was a minute away. This is how we found out even though in MI all Paramedics must have ACLS not all RN's do because none of ours do.

Well the way I see it is this way. The 2 drivers driving like idiots is an issue unto itself. I work with festivals from 50,000-1,000,000 people in 1 area at one time. I do not "fly" I drive with due regard as do all my people. If I EVER see one of my people driving in a manner that I feel is dangerous I will pull them from the truck and make them part of one of our walking teams immediately. We will talk about their continued employment after the event. I may only be a 1st line supv but I know my boss will have my back on that one. Ok on to the resources issue. First understand this I am a paramedic first and a firefighter second. They way the city of Detroit runs is Ambulance goes to medicals, fire trucks go to fires. The firefighters are not required to have anything beyond CPR/First aid about the only time they meet besides at the station is at PIA's. As for the suburbs most of the EMS is done by the FD's who usually send an engine too for manpower. If the FD does use a pvt company, they will usually send a Rescue/ Squad, or engine or both as a first response truck . Mostly I think it is protecting that cushy budget of thiers but sometimes the extra hands are nice. If it is a private agency transporting that may be coming from farther out I don't see a problem sending a Rescue/ Squad to get things started. If they are coming out of the same quarters and basically play follow the leader to the scene, thats not right especially if you have an EMD system that found out your patient is conscious alert and oriented and in not a whole lot of distress. I feel that there is a list of stuff that fire should respond to and the rest could be handled by the 2 people on the transporing unit. As far as L&S- No cause if it was my way they never would have went to the call to begin with and if they are seperated then you want the FD apparatus to get there quickly to begin the BLS first response and they could slow down the ambulance if the patient is stable. As far as endangering the public- Yeah we are, just as we endanger ourselves everytime we do this. But we train for it. What we need is a more refined EMD system that allows for more refined tiering of calls allowing us to slow down when we can

Forget those guys. There's numerous times I've worked accidents that something beyond the uniform coat I was issued was nessecary. Not sure why you had to buy it, but we had a FD here that you had to supply your own TO's. But that was a small ghetto city with no money. When my special events company did 911 (for the short time that they did) they were issued globe extrication coats as uniform and those were nice. I wish I was on the 911 side long enough to get one.

I started doing IV's back in 97 when there were the oldschool no safety ones. I stopped doing them due to working for a BLS agency untill 04. I come back and find the spring loaded ones and the ones that you slide the needle back into the the plastic part you hold. No matter what I did I could not get back into the rythym. Then I went to medic school and started doing my third rides with my old company. They had the ones like otherphil showed without the fancy hub. I picked one up and immediately smiled. They felt just like the old ones. My #'s on 3rd rides were about 97% success. I have since figured out the other styles but I was on a bad run in the beginning. I will have to find a pic to show. As for the ones the OP posted about. I really hope they find a different bloodless system that thing looks about as long as a knitting needle for a 1 3/4" cath. *ETA* I found them. they are called introcan's. Shock of all shocks also made by Braun. Here is the pic [web:619793fb2c]http://www.mtrhealth.com/ImageViewer.aspx?img=~/public/images/425-2543.jpg&w=150[/web:619793fb2c]

I can't remember if it is here or another board but I know there was a guy on the board that worked in a county in Idaho that runs a full third service, Have a list of drugs a half a mile long and good protocols.

Thats actually a good article. I think I will get my boss to print it out to give to the newbies. When I was in medic school last year I had to write exactly 2 actual reports. Most of my clinical forms I wrote the closest to report style I could but no real emphasis was paid to how to write a run report, even remedial. Since I do Special Event EMS only, My reports get called into court a lot (About once every 2 years) It has always been cause the venue has been sued. I usually use up all of the narrative area plus some on mine. Some of my "partners" I've been stuck with write a line or two and call it good. These are experienced providers who all work with some sort of other ambulance company and most do 911. I feel weird every time trying to work with these guys but I have to do it anyways. I'd hate to have to go into court with one of their reports 3+ years later.

As far as MICU's go out here, it isn't a licensed level but is a service most companies offer for advanced transfers. Most require the MBC CCEMT-P class but some accept a local CCEMT-P. Usually it is associated with a specific hospital and the crew actually works in the ER, CCU, or ICU of the hospital when they don't have a call. With the last "normal" service I worked for if it is a multi pump call or a vent call it will go to them. If they are not available then we would take it

Above all else the fact that you titled the thread "New Ride" should be enough notice on you. I'm sorry I do not work in a "ride" A ride is what thugs or wanna-be's roll down Woodward in on a Saturday night a.k.a whip.

This is a complicated topic with many factors. I am a proponent of CCW even for colleges but, I also deal with college students on a regular basis who have the maturity level of Bart Simpson. I think state law should prevail on this one whatever the law is should be what is followed. I know part of the MI CCW statute prohibits even bringing your weapon into a place that does it's primary business from alcohol sales and prohibits you from consuming any alcohol when armed. If they break the law they can pay. I know some Law enforcements views are changing on the whole "active shooter" phenomenon whether it be schools, offices or bars. Instead of waiting for SWAT (Columbine). First arriving officers are entering the building to handle the situation (Bar in Ohio where Dimebag Darrell was shot). If you look at the ohio situation you still had to deal with PD's response time, but the officer arrived on scene armed himself with a patrol shotgun and ended the threat alone. Just imagine the bodycount if they waited for SWAT to arrive. I know certian places are teaching kids as young as elementary school not to hide and wait to die, but to swarm the attacker and fight back with anything at hand. Books, pencils, staplers ect... I see college student CCW as an extension of this. Like was said earlier The anti gunners are going to scream they're right and the pro gunners are going to scream they're right. I'm just on one side of it.

We say "rig" if we are talking amongst ourselves, but if talking to a member of the public it is always "ambulance" or to other medical staff it is either "ambulance" or "ALS/ BLS unit" As for the above quote, I disagree. I only have knowledge limited to my area so I don't know how it works elsewhere but in my area all the pvt companies have a 911 contract or a hospital transfer contract so the possibility of them providing actual medical care is real. The 911 providers (all but one) use semi dedicated cars with the others as backup so you could be taking granny home one call and the next one going on a 911 for some city. Why would you want to limit your fleet and/ or have to duplicate your resources.

Well this kinda changes things. If you are already in college you probably should go to one of the CC's if the credits will transfer. you are working toward a goal, you shouldn't waste any credits. either oakland CC in Auburn hills or the one ccmedoc said out of maccomb CC. OCC is right up 75 about 20 min away. Good luck

Look the OP just asked for a decent place to take EMT at. The school I took medic at is close and good. What is basic worth anyways 3-4 credits? it's not the end of the world if he doesn't get his basic at a college. CCMEDOC if the OP is living in Troy, Lansing would be 1 1/2 - 2 hours away and never heard of kellog but I would assume that it is in Battle Creek so that would be 3.5- 4 hours away. I don't care how good the class is I wouldn't drive that far.

OK Dust first I could give a damn if you rip me or not. You are an internet bully and will tear to pieces anything you don't agree with. Second if you want to be a paramedic in this area a degree doesn't mean a lot. Only 2 or 3 out of 60 or so ALS fire depts require a degree. Private ambulance could care less if you have a degree. There is only 1 third service in the metro area and they don't require one. As for the CC's vs private schools. the 3 local CC's have mostly FD instructors that have a lower pass rate on the NREMT test than the Pvt schools.

Dust CC EMT and Medic programs are overrated here. Instructors are mostly fire guys. Having a degree up here only helps with a couple of depts. you're better off going to a pvt program

Actually Ferndale is right down 75 from Troy so it's a little closer but also LSTI has gone downhill since we worked there. SME is a little ghetto but there are good people there. I've been good man just working my ass off between GM and the Palace

I've got a monitor, drug box and jump kit to carry/ push in, I really don't need to make 3 into 5. Then depending on the agency my tube kit and IV kit are seperate. (dumb I know but it is what it is) Maybe 2 bags tops Airway/O2 and Trauma/medical

Nah, go to Superior medical education in ferndale. You will have to google them for a number though.

Michigan uses the EMT-S which is I believe is the I-85 class. It's mostly useless here though. Wayne county is the only ones who actually use them in an als capacity in the Detroit metro area (I can't tell you about the rest of the state). ALS in wayne county = 1 EMTS + 1 EMTP. All you can legally do above basic is IV and intubation. the rest of the metro area is either basic/medic or medic/ medic

Depends on the county/med control area I'm actually working in Oakland (Except Beaumont Royal Oak) ALS-800mhz radio direct contact each hospital has a freq. with alert so they will actually come to the radio and answer you. Call everything in just give them the basics on and off the radio in 30 seconds. Beaumont- only call priority 1 pt's and if you want orders for post radio meds (very few- lasix and 3rd dose of adenosine come to mind) BLS- VHF HEAR system- Good luck getting them to answer you. If they do give them the basics Western Wayne county- Same basic protcols (They're actually reigonal protocols for treatment between 5 counties) Use the UHF Medcom system, call HEMS Radio, HEMS will give you a med channel, you switch over and give the ER a report (Call everything in) same thing though just the basics about 30 seconds if good. BLS uses HEAR and calls HEMS and HEMS will patch to the hospital. DEMCA (City of Detroit) AKA twilight zone- Different drug box, Different protocols, Uses Medcom system same thing as Western Wayne Just call Detroit Medical Dispatch. Only call in 1's and 2's if you need orders.

I am a big fan of the Statpacks setup. We use the Stealth bags for our trauma bags at the Palace of Auburn Hills (BIG A list concert/NBA venue) The backpack style is very comfortable and when open lends itself to being very accessable. They have modules to secure a "D" tank in them and if judicious and efficent in your space planning you can fit everything you need in one

I've been on both sides of this. I have been the kid with a dad in EMS (My dad got into it when I was 13) and I am now a paramedic. Our situation was different in ways. With us doing special events EMS. I would ride to the event either in my dad's car or the owner's truck. I would be free to go roam the festival or watch the concert where we were at. Most of the time I just stayed at our area and hung out with those working. I knew that if a patient came in to get/stay out of the way or if asked, do exactly what I was told (gofer type stuff). I didn't even ride in an ambulance on a call till I was 18(another company my dad was doing IFT stuff then). At the office of the special events job as I got older I could restock rigs and wash them. At 18 I got my basic class as a bday gift and was licensed just before my 19th birthday. I only ran into one issue when my dad was on the FD. We were at the station when I was 14 helping him install his lightbar when a 100 car MVA came in for a neighboring FD. They called mutual aid. Chief said I could stay at the station while my dad went. I sat and watched TV on the big screen while they were gone. Now I'm a dad and my daughter is 8. She goes to the office with me sometimes (same special events gig) and she knows the supply room pretty well. I will let her go get little things for me (NRB's 4x4's Kling ect...) but I think that will be the extent of her experience for at least 10 years. IF she wants to do this when she gets older, hopefully I will be in a position to let her do her clinicals with me if she so desires. I know I have a lot of great memories from doing mine with my dad.

My wife has fibro and I would have been pretty pissed if the medic did not give pain meds. What you all do not seem to know is there is actually a test for fibro. It is not a definative test though. There are so many points on the body that the doc presses and if you show extreme pain in so many of those spots (I can't remember how many my wife was diagnosed 7 years ago) The fear that is with docs as well as medics is usually fibro patients are on powerful meds (My wife was on a fibro patch 50 cmg/72 hrs, Darvocet, and valium) so about the only thing that would touch her is Dilaudid. The other problem is she has recently been changed to suboxone which is a Narcotic (Buphrophenine or something like that) and Naloxone. The narcotic it is matched with does not react to the naloxone unless it is crushed and smoked or injected or if other Narcs are given. Maybe the medic knew her as a frequent flyer or something but MMQ'ing the situation. The Medic was an ass