kemt217

Here is the info you were wanting. You have two years. http://www.nremt.org/EMTServices/reg_basic_history.asp I grew up in Missouri(Mt. Vernon),but live in Kansas now. Lots of jobs in Kansas in EMS. Good luck!

Our FD is great to work with, they do the cutting for extrication then move out of the way and let us take over. They will ask if we need them to do anything, and follow our directions wonderfully. We have also trained with the FD on extrication and stuff. There is only one FF/EMT on the FD. It is an all volunteer service. I am thinking after reading most of the posts here that we are the exception, not the rule.

Hey Hook, The link Jake posted has a lot of good tips. As far as abbreviations go, our service has a list of "approved" abbreviations that are in our protocol books. That keeps people in check when writing the narrative. Do you know if your service has one of these lists also?? Have a great day!

Hey TJ, I can answer this for ya. We have the call volume you described. Lots of books and training videos. We spend some of the time from our shift at the shed cleaning, restocking, doing inventory, and doing regular daily checks on the rigs. We go home for hour lunch/supper breaks, unless we have a call. We are also able to go to school activities which helps. Because we are in a small town and the boss says it's ok, we are able to go when our kids have school stuff going on such as parent teacher conferences and things like that. In the fall we work the football games. We have a new race track opening so we will be working the races next month, everyone is looking forward to that. You find things to do if you want, if not you watch tv or go down to the gas station and b.s. with the cops or locals but not for more than 30 minutes. We don't go out and drive around in the ems car or anything unless it is really late because people gripe we are wasting tax dollars. We don't take the rigs out at all unless it is for a run(of course), to fuel, wash ,do checks or training, otherwise they are tucked in the shed cause people around here would scream! Have a good weekend!!

I work for a small rural service, we have an office/classroom where we spend most of our time when not in the unit housed at a different location. Our units are at the hospital. We are working on funding to actually have to the office/classroom and units in the same building. The bays usually always need swept and the units washed. We wash them daily sometimes twice if the weather is nice. During the winter, it's too cold to wash them all the time. We have to wash outside.We watch tv, have the computer, and lots and lots of books to read. All the books have something to do with EMS.You can never study to much, that is my opinion anyway. We have a car we use to respond in and sometimes just cruise if it's late at night. Can't during the day, town folk get mad seeing us out "just burning tax dollars".

That was funny!! LMAO!! Guess I join the "have no life" group. Lol!

While I hope I am never in this situation, they need to let go. I do feel sympathetic put if there is no electrical activity and he is truly brain dead, then no amount of time will change the outcome. Losing one of my children is my biggest fear. I pray it never happens. I thank God everyday for my children, my husband and my life. Just another good example as was stated not to sweat the small stuff.

Simple Plan- Untitled ("Still Not Getting Any" CD) also on the same CD- Welcome To MY Life Only ones I can think of right off that aren't already posted.

Yes, they do send one with your passed announcement. I have one here somewhere but couldn't put it on my uniform. Heck in most places people wouldn't know what to look for. As was already said, you have a uniform and patches, it looks official so most wouldn't question it. Here in the small town I am in it would be a little harder because everyone pretty much knows everyone else. A big city though, I could see it would be easy to impersonate an EMT.

Congratulations!! Kansas recognizes the National Registry. I didn't renew mine, I don't plan on moving though. If you are not nationally registered Kansas will look at previous training and see that you have what they require here for certification. There is extra stuff on top of national registry they want you to know. If ya have it you get a Kansas cert, if not then you take a class turn in your paperwork and then have your cert. I agree with PRPG....what is with the caps??

Like Rid said, you don't really notice it at all, you are so busy with your patients that the blood and stuff is an after thought. I also agree with Rid about the brotherhood. We are a family here, we not only work together but we play together. EMS people are unique, a great bunch of people.

I wish you luck! EMS is a great field to be in. Going from a Telecommunications Supervisor to EMS....you will not make the same money at all. As for what to do, do what you feel comfortable with, what you feel you can handle. My hubby is a Cellular/RF Tech. and I don't even make half of what he does, that is why we can afford for me to work in EMS!!

How long does this course last?? I am an EMT I in Kansas. I make less than $10 an hour. I love helping people and knowing albeit small I made a difference. I hate the crappy pay and weird hours. Our classes were 2 evenings a week and some times a Saturday class, basic the instructor was very laid back, Intermediate the instructor was a lot more strict and very, very good. My first days as an EMT....scary! I was nervous as most usually are. Good luck!!

I feel really under paid after reading most off the posts here. I am making just under $20k a year. I am not in this job for the money though. My hubby makes the money in our family.

Just a few things.... -Dirty rig -not restocking -half assed documentation just because you don't want to write it out..we still use paper and pen here -arrogant paramedics...not dogging paramedics at all but we do have some who treat us as if we are brainless because we are a small rural service -people smoking in the ambulance bay -instructors that become involved with students...wait until the class is finished -lazy techs...don't try to skip steps -lazy management

I loved the books!! My mom is also reading them. Wish my hubby would too...lol

Wow, no clinical time, that is just not right! We had to do 24 hours in the ER and 24 on the rig for basic. For EMT I we had to do a combined 24 in lab/ER had to a minimum number of sticks, can't remember for sure, 24 in the OR, had to have at least 8 or ten intubations and 24 ride along. Can't remember the exact amount of sticks and intubations, been a few years. State didn't require that many intubations but our instructor did. I don't understand the whole no clinical time.

If the collar goes on they are on a LSB. I can say that as of yet I have never had someone refuse to be put on the board.

Don't usually stay logged in while at work.... TPBM has forgotten thier watch or glasses after being paged out in the middle of the night.

It's a TV show, can't take it personally. No show really portrays how things really are whether it's about ER's or UPS delivery men, they are all the same, not truly reality based. There is some guy who writes the script, does some but not indepth research and voila....there is your episode.

Haven't puked yet, but GI bleeds are awful. Have vicks in my bag. Our dispatch will tell us that we need the vicks, it's kinda funny really. The smell of vomit has made me gag.

That is addicting...got a 10 the first time

Hang in there, with time the confidence comes. We have all been there. I work full-time for a service with a low call volume and understand what you are going through. As the others have suggested, educate yourself on any equipment you are unsure of. Talk to your boss if you can and ask him for more specifics, or anything he may suggest to change things. If you are looking for constant pats on the back to be reassured you are doing the right thing, it probably isn't going to happen. You have to have pretty thick skin as Ridryder said in this line of work. Keep your chin up, it will get better!!

Tom and Jerry Sylvester and Tweety Pink Panther Punky Brewster Pippi Longstocking " I pity the fool"-Mr.T and A Team Scooby Doo Magnum PI Richie Rich Yogi and Boo Boo Atari- great fun sit-n-spin can't think of the name for the toy but it had 2 big wheels and you sat in the middle had handles you steered with....anyone remember those? lots of hours spent in that.

The city officials had 4 days at least warning about this, why did they not remove people from that nursing home and the ones unable to leave?? This was not a "Federal" problem, this was a local problem. I am not saying that at the federal level more should not have been done. This was in the news for four days. There should have been more done before it hit to have supplies and people ready to go in when the hurricane passed. This was a breakdown on many levels not just "Bush".