fireflymedic

There is a system called EMS Cat that is very similar to national registry's set up with computer based testing. I'd strongly recommend it - you do have to pay for the services, but you don't get the same test every time, allows you to flag questions, gives resources, etc. I think it's one of the better preps out there. If you want full info - PM me and I can give you more info as it's usually set up by your instructor.

So you're the one that responded to my craigslist ad for snowman roller? Everybody else thought I was smokin crack !

Depends on where and what type of service you work. You work fire - you'll prolly do some patient care and package for buggy to transport. BLS tiered is same way. If you are only a BLS service (ie an all BLS county or just one medic) you will be doing alot of emergency stuff and having to work for your paycheck. ALS service, hate to say it, but most likely you'll be the medic's chauffeur and gopher. Transport services are mostly dialysis runs and non emergent interfacility stuff, but not too bad depending on what you get. Just depends on where you go and what you want to do. Rural typically gives the best BLS experience as few medics around and longer transport, but pay is notoriously bad. Urban pays well, but your medic's gopher. Transport can go either way - some pay well, some pay terrible.

OUCH ! That price is a wee bit painful ! Hope it holds up nicely for you !

It is very dependent on the situation whether I stop or not. If nobody is there, I'll check to make sure everybody's okay and offer to let them call in or ask if I can help in any way, as it can take quite a while in our area to get a response (depending on weather it very well may be an hour or so). I think that's what any decent person would do. However, if emergency vehicles are there, then I won't bother to stop, especially if I am out of my area. If I do stop, I'd keep it to basic interventions, but I'm sorry, I'm not heartless enough to see someone go through a severe accident and if they are severely bleeding, etc walking away from it. I feel that makes me no better than the NY EMT's/dispatchers (whatever they are/were) we are debating their actions. I am sticking to basic first aid interventions and the chances of me stopping with my family in the car (if my situation was not what it is) would be slim. Thanks for posting this Vent - makes us all aware of safety even further now. Thoughts and prayers with his family, friends, and coworkers.

You caught me - this is how we spend our down time at work...guilty as charged

Couldn't have said it better myself.

This sounds as though it is just getting worse and worse for this crew. I think they would be better to just shut up and take what they have coming - if all is true, then they more than deserve it.

I think the bottom line is if you don't need it (ie to justify why a patient was sent to a trauma center rather than closest hospital, or air vs ground etc), why take it? You can get plenty of cool training photos that have the same effect. Just be smart about it. Don't want to lose your job just because you thought that pt's injury looked "cool". Think people - think.

True that - except when you have a partner that constantly forgets to wear theirs ! Then it poses a minor problem.

Lol terri - but HAPPY BIRTHDAY HERBIE ! Have a great one !

Finally some good press for FDNY - glad to hear it ! And better yet - it was an officer. Not that it was the fact he was an officer that made the difference, or that his life is more valuable, but just goes to show not all of FDNY's are bad.

http://icanhascheezburger.com/2009/12/24/funny-pictures-illegitimate-children/

I like that !

No because mine is not totally flat and smooth, so I prefer not too. However there is no question that I'm taken ! Looking back on it now, I would have done things differently with the band, as I didn't think about it at the time, but all well you live and learn. Would say I'd do it differently next time, but I plan to only do this once !

Not bad terri - that's the type of band I favor as it's very comfortable for me and doesn't conduct heat. Been wearing that style since my fire days. However, I am preferable to a digital watch, but that's a personal choice. Just so long as you find one that does the job you need it to do that's all that matters. As far as wearing jewelry - I wear none while on duty. No rings, earrings, nothing. For one I can't stand wearing rings as I find them to be very annoying and uncomfortable (yeah guys, don't go there). Just a personal choice, not everybody follows that but I would be very cautious about rings as they can easily puncture gloves and also earrings can be pulled out and necklaces caught, grabbed and easily broken.

Hmmm, might have to look into it then.

Welcome - nothing wrong with the alphabet soup - some are great courses. Just make sure you get a solid foundation - a college level A and P course with lab will do you well as a basic and be most helpful as a medic - especially if you plan to go farther up the ladder into critical care. Study hard and welcome to the field !

I'm on the flip side of flight-lp there. I buy the cheaper digital watches from walmart that you can easily replace the bands on as I love the velcro bands. Extremely comfortable and durable, and if they get too nasty, can be disposed of and easily replaced. I've not had a problem with the timex's and found they last fairly adequately. Also, I have no complaint with the illumination at night. The one I have now has lasted about 3 years and I've had that thing submerged and everything else and it still works great (go 9.72 walmart watch !). On the contrary, I have a nice watch that was purchased for me several years ago for christmas and unfortunately I've had to replace the battery multiple times, and the leather band is specialty, so it's difficult to find a replacement size, so needless to say, it's never worn to work. And it does not illuminate either. For me, it's more about comfort and function. The timex I have for work has the comfortable velcro band, reasonable size face (I don't like the very large faces), is digital, very durable, and easily replaceable band - all important in my book. I'm sure others have had bad experiences with them, but I've been content with what I have.

Lol, I'm just pickin on ya AK 'cause I can. Glad you found it useful my friend

Ummm, I hate to say this, but giving another skill to EMT's because medic's need more practice? I hardly think that is the case. The King Airway is a rescue device for medics with ET intubation still the gold standard. But there are some patients, no matter how hard you try, without some assistance from other toys that are an option within the ER/OR you are not going to get them intubated. I'm sorry, but that's just the case. If I'm picking my back up airway devices, I want a King - not an LMA (to easily unseated and if they start waking up, the potential for aspiration is great), and not a combitube (too much potential for airway trauma creating an even more difficult intubation). Also the king is much easier to intubate around than the combitube. As others have said, the bougie is a great thing - try it and see (and yes preloading it is not that unusual AK )Especially in cases like this - drop your bougie with King in place and you've most likely got your tube. As for medics not having adequate intubations there is no reason for it except pure laziness on the parts of the departments. It seems when in class, it's all important to make sure your skill sets are good, but I know medics which have gone several years without getting one simply because they haven't been on that few lucky runs that required an intubation (I am aware of one that has worked 5 years and aside from his refresher which is every 2 years and requires one successful intubation on a mannequin he has not intubated). Demand of your training officer, (if that doesn't work start going up the chain all the way to the med director) that you need to adequately maintain your skills. Trust me, when you remind the med director that you're working under his license, he will find a way for you to get intubations because if you screw up it falls back on him, and no doctor wants that. Med directors sometimes forget that, so when you remind them of that they find a way to help you get what you need (if they won't perhaps you need to look for a new med director). As far as adding them/taking away from basic skill set. It's more simplistic than a combitube, and that is within the majority of BLS service's skill set so why not exchange one for the other? It's meant to be a temporary airway, not long term (less than 24 hours) and will most likely be exchanged for an ET at hospital or when ALS arrives. Let's think about what is best for the patient until ALS arrives or gets to the hospital, and if the King is an adequate airway adjunct or rescue airway I think it will work.

Greetings and welcome !