redEMT

You know, I don't consider myself really too conservative when it comes to the government. I wasn't especially bothered by the Patriot Act and the perceived invasions of privacy that have arisen from it. But to think that my government is going to try to make me invade the privacy of my patients, which is supposed to be a sacred sort of relationship? I don't think so. I don't want to have to disect the political background of my patient, I want them to breathe, have a strong pulse, and be alert. I don't care what they believe in as long as they aren't hurting me or my crew. I'm sickened by this article. I would definitely never comply with anything that would put me in such a position. I'm also concerned with how laws such as HIPPA will ever stick, if the government thinks that they can bend them, seemingly at will? I don't like that mentality.

It's funny, because where I am, I think it's about 50/50, if not just slightly more males at the volunteer agency I used to work with, where the paid service I'm with now is DEFINITELY more males. I'm one of four females, and the other 15 or so employees are male. Now I know I may ruffle some female feathers here, but I know why this generally is. Physically speaking, a man is generally going to be able to lift more than a female. Unless you do a lot of weight training ladies, it's true. I work out at the gym because I know my slight 5'4", 115 lbs. frame cannot lift much without truly working at it. As a result, I can probably lift more than my three female co-workers, and the guys I work with appreciate it. Is it fair that women are in the field less? I say that if you can't get your 500-lbs patient into the truck with your crew, then you need more men. I only say this because I've never seen any man drop a stretcher with a patient on it, but I have seen women do it.