mrmeaner

Here's where someone could make the suggestion that "separation makes the heart grow fond" or however the line goes. Crap. That'll work until you find a sock that doesn't match any of yours. Third shift is great for the reasons you stated and a lot of others. The problem is significant others, wives, kids, family, etc. Second shift is worse. Either they'll adjust in a year or so, or they never will. The catch is when a wife, husband, whatever, complains a lot and then suddenly stops. Then it's time to come home early. I almost typed "preferably armed" but that isn't smart. There's better ways. But good luck!

It's 30 degrees here, I say we start now.

This site proves that you can take the most disgusting, disturbed, warped and just plain wrong act to perform and there's a web site devoted to just that act. The reaction vids on YT are pretty funny though. Maybe I'm warped.

http://publicsafety.com/article/article.js...p;siteSection=2 http://www.emergencydispatch.org/articles/...nsporttime1.htm http://www.hurontalk.org/PDF/Kaman.pdf These studies were performed in urban areas, so the numbers will vary from rural studies. But in the case of rural trauma, most likely a helicopter is going to be part of the transport of the patient as most likely the hospital will not have surgical services. With all this information available, it's really disappointing that there are still so many issues because of ambulance accidents. Here in Wisconsin, the state EMS association has released a statement regarding the operation of ambulances. I know this is not a ground breaking event, but it's still steps in the right direction.

They did four years ago. I remember it being on one test for sure. Then again it was within the first five chapters, which most people seem to forget as soon as the airway chapter starts.

If they had truly been racist they would have had plenty of white sheets, and probably a red one.

Sorry, read it as the weight being the problem, not the height.

How do they lift the backboard? Maybe the have backboards that work like the skateboard in Back to the Future. That would be cool.

Does a change in semantics really help? I understand your point, but it doesn't change what happens. I haven't delivered a dead person to the ER either. Not due to clever wording or my ability to walk above water, I just haven't been in that situation yet.

I had intentions of starting a new thread, but many of the points are already made in this thread. First, Type I & III ambulances vs. Type II. The van type such as Sprinter is made in an automotive facility to automotive standards. The cabins that are added to frames in the Type I & III styles are built in manufacturing plants to the KKK specs which are less than restrictive. Type I & III ambulance cabins haven't really changed in what, the last 30 years. The Type II ambulances have been improved along with automotive standards such as crumple zones. To see an example of the testing that is being promoted by manufacturers, look here: http://www.aev.com/main.php A previous test was broken because instead of being able to hold a 18 ton trailer on top of it, the new cabins can hold 55,000 lbs. of water on it's side. Wonderful. The next time someone slowly and carefully sets a 22.5 tons of water on the side of your ambulance (assuming it isn't damaged in the transit from horizontal to vertical) you will be safe. :roll: Well, unless you want to open the doors. That may lessen the structural integrity. Aside from using a body that withstands impact (not static pressure) better than what's available now, the inside of the ambulances needs to be improved. Both by design and practice. Storage bins need to be able to stay closed in an accident and be able to keep the items contained. Anything that is outside the bins needs to be secured with anchoring systems that have been crash tested. I haven't seen first hand what an oxygen tank and regulator can do to a human head, but I've seen pictures. The safety devices that are in place need to be used. Seatbelts need to be worn. Probably not the "EMT on a leash" seatbelts. I haven't had a chance to verify this yet, but apparently these have caused capitation. The equipment bins need to be designed in a manner that make them assessable to the attendant without getting out of the seat. The seat belts need to be applied to the patient, including the shoulder straps. Last Friday, I had the opportunity to meet Nadine Levick, MD who studies safety and injury. She was one of the speakers at the trauma conference. We talked a little about the difference between US EMS and EMS in other countries. I get the impression that we are about 10 years behind here in the states from a safety aspect. It seems that a lot of the unsafe practices come from tradition. Traditional ambulance styles, traditional clothing worn on scene and the tradition of running hot when we don't need to. These are things that can be change and should be. The funny thing is everyone knows it. I'm not saying that I haven't done things that were unsafe or just plain wrong. However, I plan to talk to my supervisor regarding these concerns so they get addressed. I know this is one of the cornier lines, but we have a lot of traditions and unfortunately one of them is dying in accidents.

Just give me time to get an alibi. :wink:

Hey, those look like the buses the local casinos use for picking up patients, er, tennants from the assisted living complexes! Actually there is a larger concern when considering the difference between the box trucks and vans for transporting patients: safety. Don't worry spenac, I'll start a different thread later this evening. To the origional topic, with the trend in fuel prices and the unlikelyhood that they will drop, the bean counters will start making arguments for smaller ambulances (i.e. fuel prices, maintenence issues, housing issues, etc). When the ambulance managers are given the choice between finding a way to cut costs regarding vehicles or cutting costs elsewhere, what decision do you think your manager will make?

It's peripheral where I live. Maybe too much French in your English? Then again, maybe an American correcting anyone on English is a joke in itself. :wink:

I had a partner that wanted to stay at a rollover scene where the van was on fire. Both driver and passenger were found due to not being able to play hide and seek well while drunk. The van was still upside down and the partner wanted to stay to make sure there wasn't anybody under the van, like someone who was walking their dog at 3 a.m. He just wanted to get a little more time and a half by BSing with the cops and firefighters (he gives classes on how to be a wacker). That and I don't think he wanted to get back to the ER because they were busy. :roll:

How long has she been at this dosage of Suboxone? Apparently she has some major pain issues. Does she use a daily pill dispenser so you can tell if she missed a dose or took tomorrow's dose? Also, how's her CMS? Never mind. Too late. :oops: What Mobey said too.

You are not the lone ranger by any means.

I was until I got my internet problems fixed at home. Damn Charter. :angryfire:

Sorry, but you're more likely moving towards that unwanted future than away from it.

Others have come up with a couple reasons that I think have some validity, although everyone probably wont. 1. They are new to EMS and want to get some experience and make sure it's a career they want before they make the commitment to take the paramedic courses. Kind of like sleeping with your...nevermind. 2. They don't have the money at this point. I understand this point and depending on why you don't have the money, agree with it. 3. They want to become proficient at the skills they have learned before they learn now ones. This one is borderline. Your more likely to learn bad techniques and forget valuable information, but I understand how some get talked into this idea. :roll: The idea of experience being necessary is pretty dated. It sounds like a ploy by people who don't want to progress any further so they can keep ahead of new blood although I'm sure that's not true in all cases.

Exactly. Neither one is likely to get any more respect than Rodney Dangerfield got for his wife. Also true. I never said they're useless, go-fers are very handy. Why do you think Radar was the only character played by the same actor in the movie and the shows? I just believe their patient interaction needs to be limited for the benefit of both the explorer, scout, etc. and the patient.

Maybe this is a reason topics seem to veer back to paid vs. volly. http://www.usatoday.com/money/perfi/genera...dle-cover_x.htm I can't think of profession, job, career, whatever you want to call it, that pays an average of $50K per year (I know this is variable by region) that has a steady stream of recent graduates making their way to HR to volunteer their time. Yes, there is a want for the advancement of EMS in terms of education and professionalism for the sake of providing a better service. But there is also the want to be able to pay the bills. I understand that there are a lot of volunteers who swear up and down that they only do this to "help their neighbor in need". This may be true, but there needs to be a limit to a volunteers intervention in EMS. If you want to drive to the scene without rivaling Doc's Delorean in speed and without being mistaken for a mobile discotechque, help perform patient care as described in your SOP's and not loosely based on ER, House, or Paramedics, not transport the patient in a third hand ambulance, and return home in your personal vehicle from the scene and not to the nearest tavern to describe the smell of a dead guy or how "messed up those kids were" in the MVA, fine. Otherwise, no thank you. Thanks for calling. I volunteered for four years as a firefighter and first responder. When I think back to how I acted and felt during emergencies, it embarrasses me and pisses me off. Why didn't anyone smack me in the back of the head and explain how to behave in a professional manner. Why? Because I was as bad as everyone else. I don't blame them for my behavior, I'm just disappointed that there wasn't a different example to follow. A check will not guarantee professionalism, but it is easier to be a professional when it's your profession, not a hobby.

Think about being a patient and waking up in the back of the ambulance to a 15 year old getting instruction on patient care. Even if you are the most professional scout, explorer, whatever, you are not going to be seen that way by your patient. They're probably trying to figure out what armageddon they woke up to where they're getting medical treatment from a child. It's not fair to put the patient or the 15 year old in that position.

I should start using the book instead. That would keep the wife from smirking at me whenever I guess wrong. :oops:

Ahh. We don't hate you guys. We just give you stereotypical jobs like hosting hunting and fishing shows, hosting "Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?", running bait shops, running the country...

Strong work. :headbang: