Adam Swartz

I for instance now have cancer in my abdomen and am missing my colon, appendix, gallbladder. I have a genetic abnormality that caused all this. I have both Stage IV colon cancer w/mets to the pancreas and I also have Stage IIIB Sarcoma in the luq. The odds of two primary cancers with separate metastases is 16% or less. Sarcoma is 1% of cancers diagnosed and my tumor is, .1% of Sarcoma with only 1 diagnosis of the tumor per 3-4 million people. In regards to palpation of the abdomen and knowing what you're feeling my abdomen would throw you off. You can guess where my pain is from based on history. My tumor is generally not palpable unless you deeply palpate and if you do that you should expect a rather loud scream. Apologies if I went to far off topic.

I'd definitely agree with Island EMT on that one. It's possible that they're still working but probably not the same service. Best of luck to you in your search.

I would recommend what everyone else has. Call the National registry and ask. If they don't know contact your state EMS office. In fact you may want to call the state first as like Island EMT stated I have not heard of a NR approved program but I could be wrong. Contact both offices. Best of luck to you in your training

Rob is going to be missed, I remember having many intelligent conversations with him when in Basic School. He was truly a unique individual and will be deeply missed. My condolences to his family. May god keep them safe and know that he is in my thoughts and everyone else on here.

I am a total rule breaker!!!

Was taking a bed bound elderly man from the hospital to LTF an hour away. He had no family, he was it and aside from whatever illnesses would strike him in the future, his days of being outside were limited.

En route we chatted quite a bit and he started saying he missed going to McDonalds, had not been in years and had no one to ask to bring him this request. When I realized he was serious and saw how deep in thought he was about McD's I told my EMT to pull over at the first one we saw.

My EMT was petrified he was going to be fired but I told him I would take full responsibility.

I took the man's order, went inside and got the food. I then offloaded the stretcher, lowered it to the ground and he and I sat at the rear of a truck while having Big Macs, fries and milk shakes. Everyone was looking but we were people watching just as much as they were staring at us. He smiled, laughed, chatted and then we were done.

Back on the road to the shit hole and that is where we left him...with a smile.

Awesome job done dude. Kudos to you.

Ok I just want to say this about the handcuffs. I have noticed that all medics with Hennepin County EMS in Minneapolis have a set of handcuffs from what I have seen. I am just a basic here in Iowa and have a miniature first out kit in my backpack. That is all I have is gloves that are non-latex, two littman III scopes, all sizes of bp cuffs, pen lights, pens, trauma shears, and my cards. That's it. Nothing more and nothing less. I don't see the need to have anything else. I just have whats needed to start care if I see something happen which I have. No need for cuffs which I wouldn't want the liability. I do more with less. I also have the numbers for the dispatch center's in my phone. Ohh and 2 different field guides.

Do you offer tuition re-imbursement or relocation assistance? What other benefits do you have? Do you have aggressive protocals?

Question on this , Im new to this site so I hope Im posting to right area. I have a question about O2 use, I have Pulmonary hypertension on two Ph meds, the question is, I get chest pains and SOB and found that if I use Cpap or they put O2 on me I feel 100 % better when i get theses s/s. problem is My O2 stats never drop below 94-95% on Room air, but when I get like this heart rate increases to the 120-130's can O2 benifit me with decreasing the heart rate or is it a waste and non benny ? hope I made sense thanks for any help ...Michelle

Michelle,

First off, let me welcome you. As to your question it helps because at a pulse of 120 - 130+ you aren't getting as much oxygen to your bloodstream and therefore your heart and your brain. This is what causes the symptoms to be so severe. Therefore when you are placed on Oxygen it allows more oxygen to reach the blood thereby increasing your oxygen level in your blood.

Sincerely,

Adam Swartz

EMT-B

I myself have the Cardio III. I love it. Great in the field and ER. Haven't had issues with it yet. I work in a tire plant as an EMT/Guard and need to hear over the air pressure in there. Not had an issue with this. Tried a DRG scope once. Wanted to chuck it into the garbage. I have two Cardio IIIs just in case. Sending one of them into get tubing refurbed. It works like a charm. I plan on going to medical school in the future. This is the best scope that I have used.

wow nice

Well folks I did it. I officially found my first job as a newly minted EMT-B. I am going to be a dual role Security Guard/EMT at a tire plant. The pay suprised me. Getting 11 an hour with the possibility of a raise in 3 to 6 months. Do any of you have any advice? This is my first job out of school and I am a little nervous as I only got 2 runs on my ride time. However I got a lot of contact during my ER shifts. My main concern is showing my nervousness outwardly. How did you guys and gals handle that? I feel confident in my assessments but still a bit nervous as after training I'm on my own. In any case thanks in advance for your replies.

Adam Swartz

As I just passed my NREMT-B Written today I think I will take a crack. If I was ALS my first thing is ABC= does he have an airway. If so lets get Oxygen on him NOW. Second lets get him on a full twelve lead. What meds did the Endoscopy center give him for sedation? I have had one every year and normally get a mix of Demerol, Versed and also Benadryl. Now I am under general anaesthesia. Is he having any pain? If so my guess is a possible perforation of the colon leading to severe pain and SOB due to that in addition to the sedation received at the endoscopy center. Also does he have any other symptoms. Any hx of Asthma? With the hx of COPD would an Albuteral 2.5 ml neb help? Or do we need to be ready to intubate? Also did they find polyps? Biopsies can bleed and occasionally severely. Lets get hauling to the hospital. Lets get an IV established and push D5 at TKO or if available lets put in a lock. Thats my opinion.

Toby,

Welcome to the city. Do you have a website for them. My .02 cents is to go through the local college. Just my thoughts.

In my opinion there really isn't much more you can do that I'm aware of. Have you expressed your concerns to all parties you're allowed to? Maybe talk to the county if the nurse isn't helping out as much as you want? What about talking to the homecare nurse and see what she can do? Just my thoughts. Otherwise I don't really know what you're able to do at this point. Eventually something will be done.

Just a thought, but if someone from each US state, and someone from each Canadian Provence, could post something like what I posted on obtaining reciprocity in their respective regions, we'd at least have the ideas posted.

www.idph.state.ia.us/ems That is the link for the State of Iowa beauro of EMS.

Same question that Lone Star had as well. Why didn't you take the test with the rest of you class? If you were indeed at the top of your class you should have had no problem testing at the time. Also you should check with your instructor about this. We are only able to help you based on the information you are giving us. If you want my opinion here it is. Get ahold of your instructor and ask him what you should do. My advice would be to re-take the class and test with them.

I always try to stop. As long as I feel safe doing so. Figure there is a reason I am going into ems. I have stopped to help a stall and wound up helping a guy bleeding to death down 40 feet from the interstate in the woods. Talk about a shock. Fell from a deer stand.

My first call during clinicals was put out as a cardiac or respiratory arrest. Turned out to be a DOA. Guy hung himself then two adolescents found his body and called us. Second call that day was for a 49 year old fall victim unable to walk.

Mobey,

My condolonces to you and your entire family. I had to watch my grandma on both sides die of differen conditions. My moms mom died from Hodgkins in 2005. My dads mom died last June while I was in Basic class and one week before I was admitted to the hospital with pancreatitis. I can only imagine the pain and heartache you must be going through. As we say in Judaism, refuach shlema. The only thing that I can say is that hopefully your daughter comes through it ok.

Adam S.

In it's day it was a good show but with todays tech savy EMSer's it would be a flop. I do enjoy watching the episodes on Hulu tv but to have it run on a prime channel would waste time and made EMS look old.

They need to revive the dicovery health show "Paramedics".

I wish they would bring Paramedics on Discovery health back as well. They brought back Code Blue and Trauma life in the ER.

I was watching episodes of Emergency every day at 0900 and 1500. The Bastards put Airwolf on instead. Boo

to retro TV channel.

I see it at 1300 and 2100 on retro tv. Only when I am at my grandpa's because i have sattelite but he has cable. They need to make Retro Tv available on sattelite. I sent them an email but no reply.

I solved it I think. Thank you google. "I WAS ACTUALLY TRANSLATING BY LOOKING AT A LIST OF CODES, I FORGOT SUCH A AUTO TRANSLATOR EXISTED. KEWL BEANSCQD CQD SOS SOS CQD DE MGY MGY MGYCQD CQD SOS SOS CQD DE MGY MGY MGYTHIS IS RMS TITANIC DGY GOING DOWN BY THE HEAD NEED IMMEDIATE ASSISTANCE"

The medic in this situtation was considered "on call" as he was being paid to be on call. Secondly the EMT on the truck made the right decision when requesting ALS intercept. Third as for the dosage of MS @ 4mg, that is OUR state protocol. This medic was negligent in his duty to refuse an ALS intercept from his OWN crew. No he does not have a department issued vehicle with which to respond but when the transporting unit goes by his house....there is no excuse.

This medic has been suspended without pay pending the results of an internal investigation into his actions. It is likely that the state will also investigate his actions as well should our agency forward the results of the investigation to them. No it is NOT this agency's policy to do anything like this medic did. I understand this medic was spending time with his kids but it is HIS responsibility to get his on call shift covered if he can't cover it himself.

No one with this agency was advised that he would be unable to cover his "on call shift". Therefore as far as the department is concerned he is guilty of breach of duty.

How old are his kids? Also was there anybody there to watch the kids? If he left the kids alone depending on age one could face severe punnishment for leaving the kids.

Anyone promoting that way of thinking needs out of EMS.

As I said. that was what a friend said. Not my opinion. The reason I bring it up is based on the question of how far away the hospital is? If it's close enough wouldn't it be better for bls and transport asap than wait?

Well let me ask this one. A friend of mine told me once that instead of waiting give the patient good ole' diesel therapy. Just my two cents anyway. Go Code 3 to the hospital and get the Definitive care asap.