firemedic05

Don't Do This! I was a EMT B, for all of about 6 months, working nights on BLS transfer truck. Driving home in December and see a accident right in front of me. Head on collision truck vs. compact car. I am blocked in and due to my wonderful "star of life" sticker on vehicle, asked to help by bystanders. The City EMS truck shows up and I am holding pressure on womans forehead(which was bleeding but very little). The City medic says "Where is your truck?" I say HUGH? Then it occurred to me, I am wearing private service jacket(also has ALS units). He had to get on the radio and call for an additional unit. That is the wanker stuff that you don't want to do!!!! Did I help, absolutely not, made things worse because the medic, thought, private ambulance was there. Just think before acting!

I get aggravated about the DNR thing, too. If I would have intubated the patient, though, that would have been an error and mainly just mad that I am imperfect. Which, I was sure I was perfect. That is sarcasm by the way!!!! Just felt like I made a mistake and that is not a good feeling. I know that a DNR is not a Do Not Treat - nothing makes me more PO'd than when I bring a patient to the ER and they walk away after being shown DNR papers.

Considering I work in South St. Louis, sounds like a very well thought out place to meet. Count me in.

Can't forget for the mall or school shootings - Let the bodies hit the floor by Drowning Pool I think?

incognito mentioned the commercial where the ambulance stops at the ATM machine. I do believe that could just happen at the last private service I worked with. They would probably deem that acceptable. Hee Hee There motto was You got the money, we got the ambulance and the underpaid EMT's and very rich stockholders. Secondary, to whatever you do don't get us sued.

Dispatched to a general "sick case" at nursing home. Arrived at desk and asked quick reason why the patient was going to ER. The "maybe" RN, "maybe" LPN presented very nervous and stated that she had never "sent someone out" and gave a very vauge report. This prompted more questions, to which I got the nurse from the prior shift made the call. Then asked if the patient was a full code or DNR and paperwork. In front of my partner, the nurse stated Yes, she is a full code. Arrive in room, to patient with mouth and eyes wide open but unresponsive, even to sternal rub. En route, called ER and told them what I had and began treatment for coma of unknown origin. O2, IV, Monitor, Pulse Ox, then Narcan, Thiamine, and blood sugar presented high, in the 400,s. According to my protocol, we infuse a liter when sugar is over 300. Lungs were clear and reassessed en route. Don't remember exact heart rate but sinus tach with no ectopy or obvious arrythmia. While arriving at ER, fairly close run, I find in the 12th piece of paper a DNR paper. Upon entering room, immediately told ER nurses and docs. This was like 0200 hours, so they were none to happy with me. Talked to my medical control doc about it and he told me that he absolved me of all wrong doing. I have to say, though, I felt worse for treating then making a med error or not having done a treatment. I really beat myself up for it, for a while. Thinking I should have looked through all the paperwork. The ER doc called the POA and they said that they were told that the patients blood sugar was just to high and that is why they were going to ER. By the way, the DNR was specific - no hospitalization, no IV's, no nothing basically. Not really, a horrible mistake but made me feel like I had "messed up". Not a good feeling and I can only imagine what a really big error must make you feel like.

Dispatched on what we call a "city dump" because city EMS knows its BS, so they send us. Drove code all the way from the South side to North side(which personally I think has to break some law), for respiratory distress. I worked for private ambulance, by the way. Come in and find older female lady with 14 miles of nasal cannula stuck under recliner. Oxygen saturation was 97% on room air. Then she procceded to ask my partner to change a light bulb and take the trash out to the dumpster. Yes, he actually did it, while I got AMA info. Also transported Jesus, for fighting with another resident at psych facility. I asked him what the problem was? and he stated If that Motherf'er takes my Godd*** Bible one more time, I am going to kill him! Beware the wrath of Jesus!!! Call last shift for I can't sleep? Found out his family wanted to put him in nursing home and he was very anxious about it. However, not anxious enough to call his personal doctor or buy Tylenol PM. I know it must be hard to give up your freedom but at some point you have to weigh out being found home dead or going to live with the dead?

To me the obvious problem in general is the National problems with EMS. There was a story on ABC about the EMS problems in Philadelphia - bringing to light two calls where the ambulance did not show up for at least an hour and they are blaming them for the death of patients. That does kinda throw the "Golden Hour" out the window. The problem, as stated, for so many years is that EMS does not have the lobby power that the fire service has had for years and until people quit complaining and try to change this fact - nothing will change. Or maybe, I should say until a Senator's son/daughter dies due to waiting for ambulance arrival, it won't change. Why don't the powers that be in EMS work on getting the lobby power? I think they are but we are coming into the game in the fourth quarter and behind. My opinion only, there has to be change simply because things cannot continue the way they are going. Example: I know everyone can think of that huge "greedy" hospital that patients wait for hours to be seen. I have been told to put patients having severe chest pain in triage. Yes, there is bickering between fire and ems and yes, if you look at my name I am a firemedic but beyond that argument is the general state of disrepair in EMS. Look at the turn over rate, its 50% or higher in most departments i.e. St. Louis City EMS. What is the answer? It would be nice, if the headaches and stubbed toes would quit calling 911 but don't see that changing anytime soon. I don't know the answer but things cannot continue in the manner they are going.

I work part time as a medic at Abbott ambulance in St. Louis but they are also based in Illinois. We recently were bought by AMR and there are to be "big" changes. Having said that, though, you can work on ALS truck as driver after so many driving hours and map testing, etc. Good Luck in your endeavors!

For my EMT b class, even the married teacher scored with another married student. He was fired at the end of class.

I work for a private ambulance and we do 911 in contracted muni's but also transport patients out of hospitals when we have enough trucks in service to cover 911 areas. I always bring stethescope, pulse ox to floor. I have found out that it is almost a dead give away, when the nurse freaks out when I get vitals on floor, that the patient is not ready to leave. I don't do this to get out of transporting patients to nursing/rehab facility. I do it simply to save time when my partner gets report and paperwork. Due to the lovely state of HMO's and PPO's they want to clean the floor of the hospitals too soon sometimes. There are exceptions ie Hospice, etc but I do get the feeling that nurses think we load the patient and sit in the front and go. I wish, then I could justify the pay I get. This should be for another thread. I showed up to nursing facility the other day and the fire department beat us there. We arrived and the hood was up on the ambulance - apparently they had a diesel fuel leak? As soon as, we came out with patient, they put hood down and left. I guess it wasn't that bad of a leak? Lazy people in EMS, gotta love em'.

I learned this lesson the hard way, unforunately, by stopping at mvc and cutting hand trying to pull door open. I have found out that with out an ambulance, suction equipment, monitor, and jaws of life ie cutting hand, that you usually can't control your emotions or willingness to help. Call 911 just in case everyone else hasn't , and that is your best option. Not to sound crass, but in a couple of years, you will realize you can't save the world!

to borrow a quote from a movie "You had me at" - mother kiss you on the cheek!

pay attention, 3" ROUND! The truth is I would probably need a Viagra to put out the fire, though! he he

Unforunately, for this kid a moment of youthful bliss might lead to permanent disability. What a shame, it is hard to feel sorry for people that pull stunts like this. To rub his face in it, probably is not professional, his own pain and shame is probably enough. I do know why the other medics have no sympathy, though, there are enough legitimate accidents without this craziness.

I agree with ERDoc, my parents watched my daughter once and while she was suppose to be going "potty" she was going through medicine cabinet and eating the pretty little red candies - which were Sudafed. When I found out, I was a young daddy, I freaked out and stuck my finger down her throat and caused her to throw up and ran her to the ER. I way over reacted and this was before I was a EMT B or P. You should be able to ask your service for the numbers to your local departments that can handle this situation. If you did call Division of Family Services it could backfire and be very damaging to a family but I also believe if nothing wrong is going on then they have nothing to be worried about. Maybe, a sincere talk to the family and call if they blow it off. You should ask your service for the numbers to protect Geriatics and Pediatrics because unforunately, you will not need to be a EMT very long before you will see authentic abuse happening.

or find a fireman with 3" round hose and a hose reel like me.

to pass time

I work for a private ambulance service in St. Louis, MO and we have contracts with most if not all the major sports. We work the RAMS football team, Cardinals baseball team, BLUES hockey team, soccer team which keeps changing names. One simple rule to remember from me and that is remember that your face might end up on the Today show. So be professional, even if your nose itches don't pick it and leave that underwear weggie right where it is. I worked a baseball game once and went to female passed out at concession stand and two more fell before she was packaged. It was heat index of 100 degrees that day. Because of the high profile nature, I opt out any time I can. Communication is top priority, the left hand has to know what the right is doing!

A blonde calls 911 and says "My house is on fire!" The dispatcher calmly says O.K. Mam, how do we get there? Theres a moment of silence and the blonde says "Well, duh, the big red truck?" :roll:

Do you have any nightmare stories that happened while in school? It seemed, at times, like attending school was bad karma or something. Here are two of my stories, if you have one or know of someones trials, share them and maybe it will help encourage those who are having a tough go through school. Two of the students in my paramedic class left for lunch one day and were involved in an mvc(motor vehicle collision). We got reports that one patient had his hand half-way amputated and the other was possibly paralyzed. Later, we find out that this was true of the two that got T-boned (after running red lights per witnesses) by our two classmates. They were both shook up but fine. Second story is personal but it happened and happens to more than a few. About halfway through class my wife tells me " I am moving out next weekend". Could I please have a heaping helping of stress added to my overwhelmed mind. My instructor commended me, after all was said and done, for staying the course and not quitting class. It made me try that much harder to pull through and persevere. Please let me know that I am not the only one who went through hell and back for a career. :?

Remember Baby Jessica, her hippa rights were violated.

That is funny, I have not one pictue of me on a fire ground or as a Paramedic. I have often wondered who is taking those pictures? How about the Ricky response? "This is what we train for!"

Exactly, I don't know how this topic of dual medic turned into a pissing match, it seems if you have an opinion in the forums, you will be chased from the city with pitchforks. Honestly, WTF. I so see the point in not doing an IV every time, and as I said I don't alllll the time, just presenting my argument for why I do it. I guess I should put tail under legs and run for the hills or wait a minute I am not a quitter. Sorry, for trying to put two sides to an issue my bad.