VaREMS1

White Castle is the best. Anyway, once upon a time, while working private service, I and my partner left Charlottesville, VA and drove to Yonkers, NY to pick up a patient AND her daughter and transported them back to central VA. The only reason an ambulance was necessary, was because the patient could not be transported sitting upright...and I suspect that an ambulance was the cheaper option for the family. 720 mile round trip, give or take. Speaking of burgers...I'll have to say, that "Jack in the Box" there in San Ysidro, CA, right there at the border, next to the trolley stop? Awesome burgers, especially after a night out in Tijuana.

1. Minimum of an AS degree for Paramedics, just like RN's. No accelerated non-degree programs allowed. 2. Total seperation from the Fire Departments. No ifs/ands/butts (sic) about it. 3. Autonomy would be nice, as well as licensure. With that comes being held professionally responsible for your actions. Hello, malpractice insurance! 4. Volunteer EMS/Rescue exists, as a reserve force primarily.

Listen to DustDevil...or at least try to. I don't, but it's good advice :wink: I apologize, I missed that part of the prior post where you said you were an EMT...and that you obtained said certification when you were 17? I did the same, at age 16...what seems like a millenia ago. I understand that there's still an amount of excitement involved right now. Just so you never lose sight of what EMS is really all about. Good luck, and stay off of the fire trucks. That'll just lead to bad habits

Richard...it's possible we may have met...or not. I visited a Rockaway EMS agency once, while I was dating a lady from that area, right after getting out of the Navy. The guys showed me around, not because I was applying, but because I wanted to see how things compared to VA. It was blatant curiosity. I was a first aid & CPR instructor in Manahttan, as well as being an out-of-state medic. I had given thought to applying to NYC*EMS, but by then it was FDNY*EMS, and I still would have had to attend the EMS academy...my certification wouldn't have reciprocated, so I was told. My time in NYC was from summer '97 through summer '98. I also visited with one Queens FDNY crew, and a couple of Manhattan FDNY crews, as well as Rescue1, which was...different. Be Safe

Rob, you got sand between ur toes again? I know, I know...it's a vicious circle, which came first, the chicken or the egg? One might say, I had that statement backwards, right? I'm not going to contest that, because you're correct. Where I volunteer at, is part paid (day shift). Days are alot busier than nights, and I volunteer on the occasional night shift. They're looking to add another paid crew, possibly for nights? I see it happening like this: In the not so distant future, our ambulances will be 100% staffed by paid crews, while the volunteers will handle 1st response, as well as technical rescue, such as VehExt, High Angle, Confined Space, etc. SAR also. Quite honestly, I think that'd be ideal for the organization, and I'm looking forward to helping them move in that direction. I like debating/discussing issues with you, you're a fount of knowledge, and information, and a well read, and well spoken individual to boot. If some of the other folks on here, who get so up-in-arms over proprietary issues, would realize that, instead of allowing their delicate sensibilities to be so easily offended over issues that aren't worth crying over, they'd come away from this board with alot more than they arrived with. (Did that make sense?) That goes for several others on here as well. I've had heated discussions with others, such as Asysin2, and AK, to name a couple. Smart, dedicated folks. I know that it's not personal, just business. Not everybody's going to agree 100% of the time. As far as volunteers go...in areas like mine, which is rampant with volunteerism, I feel that if you try to ram Career EMS down their throats, they're going to throw up on you. It has to be spoon-fed, slowly, with time to digest. Only then, I feel, will it work. It WILL happen.

I wish, Spenac. I wish. SSG, We're looking into a medium duty rescue truck, if the FD doesn't want us to staff their Heavy Truck. The issue is currently under a review, but odds are it'll be approved...the medium-duty, I mean. $$$ isn't the issue, it's politics, unfortunately.

Agreed. EMT class does not begin to prepare you for what you will encounter in this profession, assuming you stick with it. I'm not going to say Paramedic school will either, but you be MORE prepared than as a basic 120 hour EMT. You will have been more thoroughly educated, at least 2 years more mature, 2 years more life experience, 2 years more experience in the medical field. Two more years to decide if this really is what you want to do. I realize that you're brand new, and from what I gather, you're with a Volunteer Fire Company. You're young, dumb, and full of some...ideas that may be a misconception of what EMS is all about. Does your FD have ambulances? Are you an EMT yet? If you're brand new, how long have you been a member? If you're REALLY new, they should not yet have you on an ambulance (if ur not an EMT), but rather concentrating on getting your basic skills, such as CPR, FF-I, VehExt, HazMat, and so forth. Don't let the lights and sirens dazzle you too much. This is a serious field, and not one for joyriders. If you're serious, good luck to you, and like the other guys before me stated, get an education in EMS. Don't SETTLE for EMT-Basic. If, in the end, you decide EMS isn't for you, you can always remain on the FD as a firemonkey, and roll hose That's an important role as well.

I appreciate the responses thus far. The problem here is...once upon a time, there were FF's trained in extrication. Through attrition, and other various reasons, those folks either stepped down from rescue responsibilities, or quit the FD outright, for whatever reason...or were let go, for whatever reason. Since it seems that the EMS agency has more trained extricators than the FD does, and the FD shows no interest, evidently, in training more extricators...currently, EMS might have to begin providing vehicle rescue @ the scenes now. Who knows where this is going to lead. We shall see.

Ahhh, mentors. Feelgood EMS. Sometimes, it can be beneficial. We have that type of thing in some agencies here. I don't know what all is involved in ASys's unit, but here it's primarily to help new employees become familiar with how things are done. Some folks come into our system from a different one, with totally different sets of protocols, including at the Paramedic level. It's also in place to help brand new employees, who might be brand new EMT's as well. The "mentor", who is technically an FTO (field training officer), works with them, evaluates them, and makes the reccommendation to allow them to work the back by themselves, if/when they are ready to do so. This also applies to medics as well, as far as protocols go, because the OMD (Operational Medical Director) does not allow medics to work solo, (under his/her license) until he/she feels confident that the medic in question is ready to do so. My condolences, Asys. Seriously. It sounds like your situation is more of a handholding detail. If so, I feel for you man.

There's an issue that we're looking at locally, and I wanted to gather some input from other EMS, and/or Rescue providers. When at the scene of an MVA (Motor Vehicle Accident), who handles extrication? Does your EMS agency cut up the car, or is that the FD's responsibility? Additionally, if your FD handles it, how is that working for you? What kind of agreement/SOP is in place concerning this, if any? Also, if YOUR agency handles VehExt, what role does the FD play when on scene, if any? I realize that the "M" in EMS stands for MEDICAL, not MVA Extricator, and that many of you probably feel that EMS should have nothing to do with it, maybe...and you're probably right. I didn't go to school to cut up cars either. We're trying to overcome some problems here, and if a FD who is supposed to handle extrication, isn't fullfilling their side of the agreement, ie: sending people untrained in extrication, to the scene of an MVA with the rescue truck, which then means we can not remove the patient, unless somehow, by an act of god, the patient extricates themselves. Something's gotta give. PS: I noticed that this issue is lightly talked about recently, in the Rural EMS forum...but not enough for my needs, and not vehicle-recue specific...more of an all-encompassing rescue discipline discussion.

Ok, here goes... Richard, I in no way meant to come across as unfeeling, or to insinuate that 9/11 does not deserve our remembrance, or our tears/prayers. Yes, it was a tragedy. I'm truly sorry that you lost co-workers and/or friends on that terrible day. I in no way meant to take away from the seriousness of the situation, or say that it wasn't worthy of bereavment. (Did I use that word correctly?) What I meant was, as someone else mentioned I think, the commercialization. It's sickening. "Never forget". Like anyone, especially Law Enforcement, FD, or EMS could possibly forget that day. 9/11 has been exploited to death, no pun intended at all. I'm tired of the movies & TV shows centered around 9/11. Did the productions companies that made them do it free of charge? I doubt it. I could be wrong...if I am, please enlighten me. If they did, awesome. I'm probably too cynical, but I feel too much $$$ has been made at the expense of the victims, their families, and this nation as a whole. That's what I'm angry about. That's what has me "up in arms". As far as me needing to leave EMS...I'll say this. When I'm in the back of an ambulance, caring for a patient...no one in the world cares more than I do. When I delivered 2 babies, no one cared more than I did. When I work with my fellow providers, and hold study groups for EMS providers who want to advance their training & education, NO ONE cares more than I do. When I go before the county Board of Supervisors, hat in hand, asking for more funding...NO ONE CARES MORE THAN I DO. I don't do this as a hobby. I don't do this to make myself look good. I could care less what anyone thinks, as long as what needs to be done, gets done, and I'll do whatever is necessary to make sure it happens. FYI: I lost a dear friend on that day in one of the towers. I cried then, and I still do sometimes. That's why I'm so fricken sick of the BS. I'll always remember my friend. I'll always hate the terrorists for what they did to her, and her family, as well as all the vics and their families. Don't say I need to leave this profession until you know me a little better. Until then, you're not qualified to do so. I have a tendency to say what I think, and/or feel, at any given time. Sometimes it'll come across as sounding Effed up. For this, I apologize. Again, I didn't mean to upset you, or make light of the tragedy that has affected so many of us. I hope you can understand this. One last thing, in case this is an issue. My signature, "Darth Whacker, Dark Lord of the Vollies". Do not let this mislead you. I'm a 17 year veteran of EMS. Yes, I started out as a vollie...and I'm still one today on occasion...but I'm also career, and have been for the last 13 years. When the volunteer crews close down, then I'll stop volunteering. However, I'm not going to quit just because I feel career/paid is needed over vollies. I made that forum signature on a whim. I don't consider myself to be some paragod, or super vollie medic. Far from it. I do, however, know myself to be the one that will do anything in the world for my patient, short of compromising my own safety, whether I'm in my duty rig, or in the back of a vollie rig. Be Safe.

It depends on if ECC (Emergency Comm. Center) sends an alert to a particular sectors 1st responders. Officially, the Fire Depts are the first responders. Usually, they respond on an engine, or rescue truck, from the station. They aren't usually toned out for medical calls, unless it's a cardiac, respiratory, or severe trauma call. In an MVA (Motor Vehicle Accident), you're liable to run into a million people once your truck (ambulance) pulls up on the scene. Police/Sheriff deputies, fire apparatus, plus any FF that might have been at home, bored, and felt like coming out on their own, blocking the scene with their POV & it's flashing lights.

I contacted The Office of EMS in ref. to your question. Below is conversation This was his response...

As Michael submitted, I too have never used tracking dogs during SAR operations. I just posted that stuff to send her on the way to a possible answer.

I know this thread is getting old...but I had a thought. Why not send a letter to your employer, stating that as you had not been scheduled to work in XXX number of days, you requesting from them your employment status. If THEY say then that you're "let go", then you know where you stand. If they say you're still employed, then at that point, I'd want to know why in the h3ll are you not on the schedule. Be sure to send it certified/delivery notification requested/etc, to prove it was received. As you stated earlier, you may have moved on already. If that's the case, then good luck. This was just an idea on what could have been done.

Ducks & covers... Seriously though...I've seen cc's with fire dept logos on them before. Depends on what bank you get your card through, I suppose. However, I've yet to see a card strictly geared towards EMT's/Paramedics, or EMS in general. I suppose that card is OK. Myself, I don't want anything with a maltese cross on it...I don't care WHAT it is. Ask those guys in NYC. FD doesn't even want them in the fire stations, but we'll share a credit card with ya! I dunno if that company is going to get much business. IMHO, there's too little personalization. As far as their claim of, "It's not just a credit card. It's a badge. The card that let's everyone know you're a first responder...and proud of it." This feels like the same thing ordering an actual badge for yourself, although your department doesn't even issue badges. Why would I care if the cashier at WalMart knows if I'm a 1st Responder** or not. If I'm in civilian clothes, then I'm off duty. I don't care to announce to anyone I'm in EMS. If I'm in uniform, then the cashier will probably already have a clue, as will anyone who lays eyes on me. This feels like a moneymaking scheme...to lure folks to their financial company. Not busting you for the informative post, by any means. Thanks for the info. Maybe it'll interest some folks. **First Responder? Is that supposed to be an all-encompassing title? I don't first respond to anything...except breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

One of our local volunteer EMS agencies is slowly going career. They have a local ambulance service do their billing for them...and the service keeps 5%. Unsure if this would work in your locality, but it works well for them. FYI: I also sent a message to your inbox concerning a part of your dilemma.

It depends on where you're asking about. On a national level, you might try going here ---> http://www.nasar.org For a particular state, I recommend googling that states name, with "search and rescue dogs" behind it. Good luck

People like this are a waste of space, time, and education. Did anyone else notice the lack of a spell-check button on that site? The original poster, who claims to be a Paramedic, either needs to slow down whilst typing, or invest in a dictionary. I have a little firsthand knowledge of Long Islands EMS situ. They have the potential for a good system, but yes, they are caught up in the volunteer system. Don't get me wrong, I do volunteer myself, on occasion, but those folks in L.I. really do need to wake up and go career. For the record, NY is worse than NJ could ever dream of being, imho.

That's what we're here for. I look forward to hearing from you again.

Very good question. Personally, if a patient told me they didn't want resucitation & ALS intervention, and then proceeded to code, I'm going to begin resucitation. If there's a 3rd party with me that can contact medical control and ask, then by all means. If the patient does not have an actually DNR, then there's many variables in play. Does my patient suffer from a mental disorder? Can I call it implied consent and begin CPR? Is my patient under the influence of ETOH or controlled substance(s)? Did anyone else besides me hear my patient state this? Does this fall under "dying declaration"? Unless presented with a really good reason not to resucitate, I'm going to do so. The doctor can make that call when I get to the ER. All it cost me is a little bit of deisel fuel, a combitube, and some EKG tape. What's a life worth? Luckily, Virginia's pretty clear about DNR. If the original DNR order isn't presented, with proper signatures...then you resucitate, unless medical control states otherwise. No tattoos, bracelets, sky-writing, jumbotrons, morse code, or braille apply.

-5 for this off topic post, but... Ruff, if you're PRESIDENT...but still 2nd in line to Rob...what does that make him? Emperor? If so, I want to be "Darth Uvula".

Not that it's necessary, but I'll co-sign what AK said. The skin is the largest "organ" of the human body. Oddly enough, EMT classes are teaching that it's a "system" now, just like circulatory and endocrine. I found that odd when I first heard about it, but it's very true. Kudo's for asking questions from class!

When I was but a wee lad, I'd put on red and blue pajamas, a cape, and run around the house with a really big "P" emblazoned across my chest, and my dads' stethoscope slung around my neck, and trauma shears tucked in the small of my back. I knew then what I wanted to do with my life...be an EMS Hero! No, seriously. If I hear someone mention "Nine-Eleven"* again, I'm going to blow up the world. People throw around that phrase like it's some kind of rock band. Nearly every firemonkey I see has "9/11" stickers, "Always Remember" stickers, or worse, emblazoned on their POVs, and gear. It's like people use it as an excuse to come together and shed tears. Yes, no one even knows EMS exists, for the most part. Remember, we're all "ambulance drivers" that work for the big bad Fire Dept. Things are in the works to change this, but it will take time, and alot of kicking people in the arse. Note: I'm as patriotic as the next veteran, don't get me wrong. I volunteered for the service, served honorably, got out and started a family. I love this country, and I put my hand over my heart at every high school football game for the anthem. I'm just sick & tired of the bull5h1t. This isn't the place for political rants, so I won't go there, but...I was watching a show of some sort this week, where a reporter was interviewing people on the street, in LA, asking them various questions. One question was, what year did "9/11" take place. Not one of those shallow, blonde, fake barbie-doll plastic wannabes knew the answer. MANY people were asked. The answers ranged from 2002, to 2005. One "girl" said "it doesn't matter". Other questions that were asked...What is Britney Spears' ex-husbands name? What is the name of one of Angelina Jolies' kids? By god, those shallow people knew the answer to those questions. I'm just sick of it all. * P=Paramedic, for those of you that roll hose. **Rock band reference of "3/11", if anyone remembers them.

Catalina Island?!?! Isn't that an island that the US Navy uses/used to use for target practice? I recall being stationed on a destroyer once upon a time, and firing Tomahawk cruise missles at the back side of the island. Please tell me I'm not going senile at age 32. Also, LA County is going to disallow intubation due to all the failed attempts? Do they not teach proper intubation out there? Granted, the combitube is "easier" to use, and possibly safer overall, but...c'mon, seriously!