Canadian Caesar

I agree. Mind you, if there were "injuries incompatable with life" that would explain both the DOA pronouncement and the manager's interest in holding a CISM debriefing.

Not to mention the fact that to register in Alberta as an EMT it costs about $1000 (Between Testing and registration) I don't know if I would be willing to pay a fee like that in more than one province. I hurts enough as it is... Especially considering my EMT education cost only $5000.

DUH! The "questionable" one of course... :wink:

I am SOOO telling Rob on you...

I dunno about you, but I usually feel uncomfortable with doing a LOT of stuff until I know more about it. Thats why I ask questions at least. For Example: As a Basic provider, I would be uncomfortable with carrying or using Morphine, especially if that discomfort disqualifies me for the privilege of asking questions about it in medic class... I think seeking to obtain more information BEFORE you decide you are comfortable carrying and using something is ADMIRABLE to say the least...

Does anyone know how long the Muscle Tissue has to be Hypoxic... a.k.a. How long the person has to be "dead"... before the muscle tissue will no longer contract even with electrical stimulation? Is it a matter of hours, days, etc. ?

I guess it will depend on the patient. - Will the patient tolerate you assisting his ventilations with the BVM? - Or does the suffocating sensation of the mask only cause him to panic and make the situation worse? - Was the patient's condition improved enough just from the change from lying supine that a BVM was no longer required? These are what I think of as important questions that will tell you a lot more about wether or not a BVM is required than some arbitrary number in a textbook will.

Well... So much for getting back on topic, huh? Now look what you started! :wink: JK I never knew how convoluted Military Nomenclature could be! Learn something new every day...

I just wanted to point out that Medics ARE armed... At least they are on this side of the border... What army were you in that it wasn't so? MP's (Which you claim to be) are also EXTREMELY well versed in the geneva conventions, being that they are responsible for enforcing them and recognizing violations. So it surprises me that you wouldn't know that although they are non-combatants under the Geneva Conventions, Medical Technicians deployed on operations bear arms to defend both their patients and themselves. They are not permitted to bear Offensive arms like grenade launchers and Machine guns, but both sidearms and rifles are permitted without sacrificing non-combatant status. Therefore, using your example: A sniper IS easier to take out with an M4 than a syringe. And that is exactly what a Med Tech in my army would use.

Ummm... just wondering, but: Where the hell are that dudes leathers?!?! Riding down a road at emergency response speeds with a white cotton shirt on? Please! At least he has his black leather gloves. But even Motorcycle Cops have leathers they wear when on guty. Evidently this guy hasn't been to enough calls with bike "lay-downs" to bring his head back into his own saftey gear. I hope his shirt was just for the video...

I'm gettin close to the end of my EMT at NAIT. Where did you guys do your practicums?

I am in the NAIT EMT program right now and I highly reccomend it. It is harder to get into and it takes a bit longer than the full-time classes from other schools like CCofEMS. NAIT only offers the part-time option (Nov-April Tuesday and Thursday Evenings and approx. every second weekend). But if the longer time frame is an option for you, then I encourage you to apply. The Instructors are EXTREMELY knowledgable and there is PLENTY of hands-on learning to be had. I have to agree with Mastabattas on this... The student's willingness to learn is the largest determining factor of success. You have to be more than just willing to say it, you have to be willing to put in a LOT of extra time outside of class to study, practice and read ahead. I researched a lot of options before I settled on NAIT and I think everyone should look for THEIR best option before dropping $5,000 on a program.

Oh... One more thing. Try to find one with a double-digit post count...

If you can't type in a coherent manner. Go somewhere else. Or use spellcheck, dear God!

Ah I see. A different measuring scale than I am used to alltogether. Perhaps he decided to finish a bottle of liquor that was left in a room after checkout rather than let it go to waste. And perhaps that bottle was laced with somthing. I'm just an EMT so I dont know, but would Narcan counteract the effects of some date-rape type drug like Rohypnol?

I'll assume the BGL of 65 was a typo and not a dead give away as to the cause of the problem... Right?

Would this be one of those "well thought out" third posts that have become so common these days since the chat room rules have been changed?

Unless you are trying to start a dicussion about scene saftey? The fact that the second suspect was able to obtain a firearm while both Police and EMS were in the residence is rather disturbing. I'm glad nobody else was hurt.

I'll keep that in mind when I do my Hospital Practicum this spring. After reading this thread, it sounds like I might be better served educating myself on the ER Staff rather than the ER patients. At least now I'll know to try and do both...

I just got the good news today. I was successfully selected for this year's EMT-A class! (Primary Care Paramedic for any non-Albertans) So congratulations to any other classmates that may be on here as well. As some of you may know, this school is exceptionally hard to get into. But well worth it. I look foreward to all the learning ahead, both in class and practical. Just wanted to share some good news. Seems like this board could use it sometimes.

*mental note* Make sure to vote for a mayor and council that are willing to pay the real "essential services" enough that they don't ever have a majority vote to strike. Then the ambulance will be there if I need it.

Ruff... I'm impressed you manage to walk on both sides of your own fence in the first two paragraphs of your posts. "If you don't like it Move... unless you don't want to move..." Riiiight :roll:

People, people... Remember that when comparing US and Canadian pay scales, there is both an exchange rate AND cost of living to consider. For instance, a few years ago the US dollar was worth nearly twice the Canadian dollar. And while the Canadian Dollar has nearly caught up to the US dollar, our cost of living has not dropped to match the increased value, in fact real estate in Calgary alone has nearly doubled in the last 2 years. Not to mention that the different levels can be a challenge to compare. Why would you do anything else if you could make that money being a waitress? Simple. The same reason CEMS is fighting for higher wages... it is hard to live on that kind of money in Calgary. I have heard some disturbing criticism of the Calgary EMS union, thought this thread has been particularly tame in that respect. Obviously if the pay scale is this much of a concern to the union members, then there has got to be a LEGITAMATE concern somewhere. To believe that greed is a motivation here is to believe that the majority of union members in a major ambulance service (your PEERS and fellow professionals) are greedy. Certainly possible, but I figured they deserve the benefit of the doubt. Now for my $0.02: Besides, Fire and Police, those "essential services", get paid better in Calgary than the EMS. And they gained those wages through the arbitration forced on them by "essential service" legislation. My guess is that the city DOES NOT want EMS to be an essential service far more than the union does, for fear that arbitration would not treat the city kindly.

Not sure he has to be a ONE MAN KILLING TEAM. The point, as far as I gathered from the article, is that a medic with tactical training is able to enter a scene SOONER than a Medic stationed at the command post blocks away. "He was able to enter Ward Parkway mere minutes after officers stopped shooter David Logsdon. " The article itself said that the medic was able to enter the mall SOON AFTER the situation was resolved, NOT that he entered the mall and handled patients while the police were having a shootout over his head. :roll: The point of the tactical medic conveyed by this particular article is that they can enter the scene sooner that if you had to wait for regular medics to enter before the scene is completely cleared by SWAT. A tactical medic by virtue of training is theoretically able to enter the scene with a greater degree of safety while SWAT is still operating. And they can be cleared of all the red tape that normally requires a non-tactical medic to be stationed a significant distance out of the "danger-zone". Danger zone does not neccesarily mean he was with the entry team, it could mean that he was stationed outside the building, but still inside the perimiter. Now why somedic has to turn this guy into the Terminator for no good reason is beyond me... Honestly...

By all means Dust, enlighten the poor lost soul. No need to sit on your information... lol