CAPEMT

im going to jump up to the guy who was talking about his services protocols about airlifts....in the state of tennessee, we have trauma destination guidelines that mandate transport to level one trauma centers if there is a pinned patient with prolonged extrication time, intrusion to the vehicle more than 12 inches, death to another passenger in the same vehicle, etc,etc. Where our county is located, on a lot of these patients it is more time expedient to fly them. Considering that the closest level one trauma center is 45 minutes to an hour away, depending on traffic, we use the bird alot around here...we also use it for stroke victims to be transported to the local level one trauma center (it is the closest local hospital that administers thrombolytics). Yeah, airlifts are expensive....I've been flown myself as a burn patient. But our priority is to get our patients to definitive care as expeditiously as possible if we have any indication that there may be injuries we cannot see. That's where I stand on that. And as to the KED issue, I think they are wonderful, just underused. I've seen many patients moved rapidly when the situation did not call for it, all because whoever was on scene was either a) too lazy to use it or did not do their scene size up correctly. Just a thought Alittlebittyone

Worker's Comp for the most part is only for injuries...I know here in the state of Tennessee that workers comp only pays for injuries and pays only 66% of your full time wages while you are out of work. Federal emloyees, however, have the Federal Employee Compensation Act, which covers even Civil Air Patrol members killed while out on a federal or Air Force assigned mission.... Just a thought....

I actually work part time for our local county ems service, as well as being a full time public safety officer. I volunteer with the fire-rescue dept. in my county, which is a combination dept.

Tennessee used to have a requirement that you had to work a year as an EMT-IV (one year of employment, not just one year of being licensed) before you could start medic school. They no longer have this requirement, but I think that it was eliminated too soon. These people who go straight from EMT to Medic sometimes lose sight of the fact that sometimes their EMT-IV (or depending on what state you are in EMT-B or I) skills are what is needed. They become (I hope I don't get murdered for using this term) paragods, the medics who know all there is to know about patient care and have nothing more to learn ever. Case in Point: I once ran a call with a "just graduated" Medic who had not been on a truck before other than clinicals. It was a two motorcyle MVC (they were drunk and deciding to reinvent jousting), neither one was wearing a helmet, and one had airway compromise. The medic that I was with that day was having severe difficulty in getting an ET tube down the patient, so I suggested a combitube. I was told this in reply: "I am a Medic and I will NOT use a combitube. You WILL NOT attempt to put this patient on one.I am going to intubate this patient or else we are just going to have to bag him till we get to the hospital." Luckily, the supervisor was working the other patient until another unit could get there and came over to us (the other patient wasn't hurt to bad other than some lacerations and a broken leg) and put my medic on his patient. He (the supervisor) then dropped the combitube. My medic had to go in front of a review board and ended up having to demonstrate, to the board, his knowledge of the EMT-IV skill level. He failed and was fired. Point of the story: Get some time on a truck as a basic (or in my case, as an IV) before you take a medic course. If not before, then during your medic course. You will only further your education and knowledge. And to boot, if you're already working for a service, then you already have a job post-medic course.

Are they serious???? Do they really think that their "porn" should be shown to kids...geez.......anyways...onto other things.... ...justathought... ...alittlebityone...

Paramedicmike, you don't seem to get the auxillary thing...we ride with another officer, and most of the auxillary officers have been through the academy, or came out of the military as MPs, or have been in there since moses came down with the commandements. What about clinical rotations on the ambulance during our EMT (or Medic) school? If we got a severe case the Medic on that truck is going to rely on an "untrained" student to assist. I can't speak for everybody, but I hope rid will agree with me that S.O. Auxillaries are very professional organizations, and are good opportunities to get your foot in the door in L.E....P.S. Mike, I do have my C.J. Degree, so I do have a little bit of formal training.

As a reserve deputy in the county which I live, you have to undergo 750 hours of field training, plus another 100 hours in correctional training, before you are allowed to carry a firearm on duty. You start out carrying the following: Taser X-26, Pepper Spray, 2 sets of cuffs, vhf portable radio, nextel, asp retractable baton. And even after your training, you ride with another accredited officer during your shift. Once you have been in there 6 months (not counting your field and correctional training), you are eligible for the county to help you with tuition to the local police academy to become accredited. After the academy, you are eligible to apply for a paid position with the department. One of the biggest reasons that I am undergoing joining the reserve is to be a tactical EMT for the local SRT, which I was asked to do.But back to the root of the matter, the county isn't just going to give me a badge and a gun (which, by the way, I have to purchase all of my uniforms and equipment, to include my sidearm) and put me out on the street. And to boot, as a reserve deputy, I am not paid or compensated for my time. I save the county money, and I learn my job. I would not be suprised if near where you live you have a police "auxillary" or sheriff's "reserve". Did you know in most states, to include NY, WA, TN, AL, GA, and several others that if you are real good buddy buddy with your local sheriff and can past a psychological eval and a background check that the sheriff can swear you in and give you a job, WITHOUT sending you into formal training? Just a thought.

Rid, those may be your opinions, but they are your opinion. Where you live, your experiences may be the case. But don't apply your situation to everyones. Sure, there are a few people who try to cheat the system. People who try to be what they are not. But those are the exception, not the rule. I am looking to become a reserve deputy in the county which I live. Does that mean that I am going to be any less of an officer because I have not been to the academy? I look at it as a training opportunity. All I know is, badge or no badge, we have a RESPONSIBILITY to provide our patients with care. A badge isn't going to help or hurt us, just like a class A uniform aint going to help or hurt us....now can we all just let the topic die???and rid, please don't have to have the last word just so you can expound that your position is right and a different opinion is wrong. Just a thought.

Ok ok everyone. I see that this has degraded to a "EMS is not Police or Fire." I see "EMS don't need badges." But then again, why does a Firefighter need a badge? They have NO law enforcement authority. Same with security officers. I just think that a simple statement got blown out of proportion by those of you on this board who call anyone who has any lights on their vehicle, or a badge, or anything to do with EMS when they are off duty a wanker. I do not mean this as an insult, but to those of you who have this attitude, you really need to think about what you are saying. If you want a badge, that's fine. IF you want and are authorized lights and siren, that's fine. That doesn't make you a wanker or a FNG or anything else. That just means you have a passion and a dedication for this profession. If you don't, that's fine too. It doesn't mean you are any less dedicated. Come on guys and gals, let's just let this topic die. If he wants a badge then so be it. I have one, as well as lights and siren, and I don't think that this makes me any less professional. I don't try to be a cop, nor do I try anything to exceed my authority. its just a thought...

I will put this to everyone...I work for an EMS service which is county owned and run, but is NOT attached to the fire dept. We are a stand-alone agency, as are most of the 911 providers in Southeast TN. We are issued badges by the county. I do work part time at a private EMS company as well, and we are not issued badges there. I think that the argument that we are not "public safety" may apply to some of us who work for private services, but when I am on that COUNTY truck in that COUNTY uniform with that COUNTY EMS BADGE on, I am telling the people in the COUNTY that I am there to SERVE them when they have an EMERGENCY, exactly what they pay their TAXES for. When I am on that PRIVATE ambulance in that PRIVATE uniform with that PRIVATE EMS PATCH on, I am telling the people in the AREA that I am there to SERVE them when they have a NEED for an AMBULANCE, exactly what they are BILLED for. So do badges have a place in EMS? I think that they do. Do we need a distinctive, unique badge? I think so. Maybe a Star of Life shaped badge? I don't know. But not all of us who have EMT badges are wankers or wannabe cops. That's my stand. Just a thought....

Now I don't know about anyone else's state, but I know in Tennessee we have a legal obligation as licensed healthcare professionals to report threats of suicide immediately to appropriate authority. I will tell you this. I had a friend in Oregon who told me that she had taken a large amount of pills (this was about 5 years ago) and I called 911 here and they transferred my call. I found out later that I had saved her life and she thanked me for this in person recently. Would I have done different if she told me she was thinking about it? I may have referred her to a crisis hotline, but in the end you have to follow your gut. If you think that there is any possibility of an attempt, call LE. If not, refer them to your supervisor or a crisis hotline. Your friend may be ticked off at you, but I'd rather have a pissed off friend than a dead one. Just a thought.

hail

personally, I have been in EMS for 3 years now. I drive a 94 Crown Vic Police interceptor, with quite a few lights installed. I have 4 radios, one for work and the volunteer FD I'm on, then just a plain old scanner, 1 for CAP and my CB. I also have a simple siren setup installed. Does that mean I'm dangerous when I drive? I think not. I drive a hell of a lot safer than a lot of my friends. My work requires that I have lights on my vehicle (I'm a public safety officer) so I have changeable lenses for my lights. I have been involved in 4 accidents in my life, none while heading to a call, none in my crown vic of any vehicle I have had lights on, and none have been my fault. I respond only to station unless dispatch tells me otherwise. We have a large county and there is a lot of traffic where I live. the lights help. and in response to the other person who said lights/siren on a POV does not make them an emergency vehicle in any state, I have to differ. In Tennessee, you have to go through a state inspection to legally run your lights/siren, and they require your vehicle have the following at a minimum for lighting. (1) 360-degree roof mounted warning light, (1) dash-mounted light, (1) auxiliary mounted warning light system, (1) rear warning light, and (1) siren of at least 100 watts of output. In addition, you have to go through no less than two driving courses a year (EVOC and Vanessa K. Free). So tell me, does having lights and siren make everyone reckless. No it doesn't. It depends on the person.

Radio Frequencies are Public Information.....you can go to Radioshack and buy POLICE CALL, which lists all the frequencies licenced in your region, and even lists trunking codes. This (the freqs being public info) is why we cannot say pt. names over the radio. The POLICE CALL also comes with a nation wide CD listing all licensed agencies and their Frequencies. You can also go to www.cityfreq.com to get information on frequencies.

If you want to work in Tennessee you have to have an F endorsement (for hire) on your DL. Also, most services require you to take either Emergency Vehicle Operations Course (EVOC) or Certified Emergency Vehicle Operators Course (CEVO).