rock_shoes

It is possible to work as a paramedic in province's other than the one you took your education. However if you want to work in a province other than the one you were originally educated in you will have to go through that provinces licensing or registration process (varies by province). My suggestion would be to take the best program available in the province you wish to work. The reciprocity process is a real pain and not worth the hassle if you can avoid it. You can pretty well forget about Quebec as they just do their own thing regardless of what the rest of us are doing.

I think the point is that a paid professional crew would have shown up with the ambulance. They wouldn't have shown up off duty in POV's because professionals know how to switch off at the end of their shift. They turn off the pager and they don't sit around listening to a scanner waiting for the "big one" that will land them in the paper and make them local heroes. Yes dispatch was also largely at fault. A professional crew would probably know their response area well enough to realize when dispatch gives bad directions.

Don't worry it won't save any junkies. They'll just re-up after they take the naloxone and OD when the naloxone wears off. It will probably increase the number of dead junkies actually.

I'm guessing you guy's do air-evacs for cardiac and major trauma patients then. It's definitely interesting working outside the major centres. Much longer transport times etc.. At this point in my career I would like higher call volume though. Realistically the rural and remote areas are the ones with the greatest need for experienced medics because they have patients under their care for the greatest amount of time.

Be aware of the behavioral based interview that is becoming more popular with EMS agencies. Don't be afraid of it. If you know what to expect it's actually easier than a standard interview. Use the STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result) technique and you'll be golden.

I think he meant Alberta College of Paramedics when he said ACP. EMR has a national profile making it similar in scope to EMT-B south of the border although Alta. EMR's are more restricted in scope than say BC EMR's. Needless to say the lower level of education as an EMR is the reason I'm making the move to PCP(Alta. calls them EMT's hence all the confusion) so quickly. Why they don't call it the Paramedic College of Alberta and save everyone some confusion I don't know.

Having used both I have to say I don't think type I's ride any worse than type III's. Both type I and type III ambulances are built on a 1 tonne frame with 1 tonne suspension. I think the only reason our type I is shorter inside is because it's a 4x4. The overall height of the 4x4 isn't any greater than our 2 type I's in spite of having more ground clearance and larger tires. Having looked a little further into it I've found the same style bodies as those found on type III's can be fit to type I's. As far as I'm concerned that just about completely eliminates any advantage for a type III. The only remaining advantage I can see is maneuvering in really tight urban areas.

Sounds a lot like taking the PCP course in BC. Very few have any love for the Justice Institute though. That level of intensity only works well for a select few. Unfortunately it's the only option in BC. There are only 2 providers of PCP courses (the Justice Institute and the Academy of Emergency Training) and both offer these shorter more intense programs.

I would call your area remote not rural because there is no hospital in the same town as the ambulance is based in. That said the nearest trauma surgeon to us is just under 2 hours away running hot. Our rural car does respond to places more than an hour out due to the size of our response area. There are two remote cars out in the far-flung regions but they have a difficult time retaining enough staff to man the cars so at times where going out over 2 hours.

I couldn't understand what the original poster was trying to say either. I'll discuss rural EMS with you mobey. I work at a rural station in BC. We have one of less than 10 4x4 cars in the province at our station.

Restriction of licensure for failure to maintain competency? I like it.

Actually that makes a lot of sense to me. A good scientific explanation works for me because I spent a couple of years taking engineering before I moved towards EMS (What was I thinking making that switch :shock: ). The human body is always striving to maintain equilibrium. By giving a patient hypertonic saline we are throwing the system out of equilibrium. The bodies own actions to regain equilibrium have the effect of increasing blood volume in the vascular system. I could see this having a lot of benefits should a patient need surgery after being brought in as it will reduce the amount of fluid in the bodies tissues. The more I learn about the science behind the primed study the more I look forward to seeing the results. It would have been better if the action of the solution had been explained properly at the same time as the inclusion criteria was presented.

BLS use of glucometers has already been discussed in another thread. Any further discussion of the topic should take place there. This was a good thread and unfortunately it's original intent has likely been lost to all of this. Back on topic. Could someone explain how exactly the hypertonic saline has an enhanced affect over normal saline. The way it was described to me is that the hypertonic solution draws fluid from the bodies organs into the blood-stream. What is the action that causes this to happen?

ERDoc said it perfectly now let's all leave it at that. This has been a good thread and I really don't want to see it veer way off topic with this.

Right now we are using Lifepack 500's that have been re-programmed to work with our current CPR on BLS cars. All the ALS crews I've seen are using Lifepack 12's. Some BLS cars are starting to get the Lifepack 1000's now.

As far as I know PRIMED has already started in major centres like Vancouver, Kamloops, and Kelowna. I did learn about the process and inclusion criteria as part of my CPR re-cert last month. It isn't being done in my area yet, and I'm not sure if it will be as the study will most likely have enough participants before things make it to my current 800-1000 call a year station. I should see it soon though as I start into my PCP in Burnaby at the end of May.

I think we should nominate this EMT-B for whacker of the year. Someone needs to get a life.

I think there are 3 Canadian EMS agencies participating in the ROC. I know BC ambulance is. I'm not certain but as far as I know the other two are Toronto EMS and Ottawa EMS. There is also another study involving the use of hypertonic saline with and without dextran for hypotensive trauma patients. I love that we're able to participate in these kinds of studies that have such a huge potential impact for our patients.

Just another reminder that some of North America's best and brightest are overseas in combat. I can't wait to see American and Canadian soldiers home and the job done.

Unfortunately for my pocketbook we still do. We tip for the usual things like good service at a restaurant etc.. I don't really like the concept myself, but I still tip because I don't want to look like a cheap jerk. It's funny how it all works. You don't tip the teller at the grocery store but you are supposed to tip the bellman who packs your luggage. Both people are just doing their job.

I see your point, however I work for the province of British Columbia.

Nope cause they aren't stickers. I like to stay away from the stickers myself. No one needs to know what I do for a living during my off hours and I think the uniform and big white ambulance are enough of a tell when I'm on duty.

Volunteerism has no place in EMS. How are we ever supposed to be viewed as professionals if a large group of our own just "give it away"? I realize people do this with the best of intentions but the results are detrimental to the progression of EMS as a whole.

In BC the only type I cars are the 4x4's. The rest are type III's. Having driven and worked in both I have to say the type III is easier to attend in because it is taller in the back. The type I's are better to drive and much easier to work on for the maintenance crews. Our only type I's are out of necessity (some of our areas are 4x4 or no access at times). Also for us it's much easier to take the cot in and out of the type III, although I suspect that's because our type I's are 4x4's.