Canadian Caesar

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:

however, there were one or two whose presence as intstructors I questioned.

I am SOOO telling Rob on you...

If you are not comfortable carrying or using one, stop asking about them. You don't need them.

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.

This is going off topic:

While the USAF USED to be a part of the US Army, they are a separate agency now. I think the USAF version of a/an Army MP (Military Police) is a/an AP ("Air Police"). The US Navy has SP (Shore Patrol) for, obviously, patrolling on shore, and unless I was misinformed, they are armed only with batons/nightsticks. On ships, they have "Masters at Arms", or Marines to do Police duties.

If I am wrong on any of this, please correct me.

We now return to the topic at hand...

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...

Ok, being the FNG (F'ing new guy) in this site, I'm gonna go ahead and post my "tactical" (yes, pun intended) two cents on this issue...being on both sides of this...IE, first responder AND cop in the military (now retired)...I am a bit torn on this. Yes, I understand Geneva Conventions, non-combatant rules, yada yada yada...however, the world has changed...The temperment of the world has changed and it seems these days that the US is the only one really abiding by the rules (when the news crews are rolling tape anyway!)...In order to remain a non-combatant, then medics cannot carry...HOWEVER, in the midst of a war, I think EVERYONE in the area should carry. I tell you what...it's easier to take out a sniper from 300 yards away with an M4 than a 12 gauge syringe! I know the code is to save lives...but sometimes, I think it's okay that the life saved is your own!

So...I think, (Yes, i do that sometimes!) in certain hostile situations, medics should carry weapons. It's seems a little contradictory but if you take a bullet in the head, how you gonna treat all the other vics? And like they say, "You gotta take care of Numero UNO first!"

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...

Asjed a nurse the other night for a fax number so my dispatcher could fax directions to us, because me or my partner TOES 975, has never been to this place, she threw the papwerwork at me and huffed off and sadi "the ambulance drivers need a fax number", that really pissed in TOES's Wheaties.

If you dont lime your job, go somewhere else

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.

That really is a big problem, though...ER knowing what medics/EMTs can do and medics/EMTs knowing how nursing homes or ERs work. Some cross-education on scopes of each others' fields would be nice...

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

That is possibly the most effective way to end a topic whatsoever.