LisaO925

I take it you never bothered to read the site rules. Otherwise, you would know why your topic title was changed. Your original title was some teaser like, "a few questions...", which is forbidden, and certainly no more descriptive of your question than the current one. And all of the above replies came before the title was changed anyhow, so don't blame it on the mods.

I addressed your question. Sorry if others missed it, but perhaps you can use this experience to help you better express yourself clearly in the future.

To answer your rather brute assumption, yes, I had read the rules prior to posting. I did not realise that my title was so vague since I did have a few questions. If I had the choice, I would rather my topic title be a different one, since now it makes the look like its about helping off duty, and not what I meant it to be. Taking it in a different direction then what I had wanted it to go. Perhaps my mistake was asking too many things in one thread?

And your right, it teaches me a few things actually for next time.

For the record, my whole post was more about how I felt about seeing the accident, and wanting to help, and if thats how you guys were / are too.

Then I was curious if any of you would stop or have stopped to help before..

Last night, someone changed my topic title... My "question" was am I normal, it was more about that, and not stopping off duty.

So, my thread got changed around and focused on something different..

I have an 11 yr old son. I would NEVER ask him to be soley responsible for a toddler for any length of time. I believe that is too much to ask of a young child. I also know my son, if for some reason he was around a toddler, he would no act violently if the child started to cry. He would panic and get frustrated, and I don't believe he has the emotional or mental ability to make adult decisions or to take adult actions to sooth a screaming toddler.

I would love to read more about the family. How all three were raised, esp. around eachother. I do believe the parents should be looked into further. A child does not act out so violently out of the clear blue sky. Im sure there were signs.

As for the boy, I honestly don't know what should be done. He obviously needs help, and to be taken out of society. I don't think anything should be decided until this can be looked in to from all medical and psychological angles to see what lead up to it, the consequences on his own psyche, and they think he will be as an adult. Hes a sick boy, thats only obvious. But it didn't happen overnight.

When you say 2 cars completely wreaked and one medic truck that may be a signal for help, they may very well have 6 pts and only 2 of them.

There was no rush with any of the EMS. And none of the cars were tarped. The one abmulance that was there, was in the middle of the road with the back open. But nobody in the back working. Infact, I didn't even see the medics. Just a handful of FF's in a circle, talking, and the cops walking around. Thats what made me think that the accident was well over with. IM sure the PT's were gone, and being taken care of. My guess is that ambulance that was there was an extra one dispatched just incase. Like I said, small town. I think every single cop car in this town was there, and a few from the next town over..lol

I just went past a horrific two car accident, basically, both cars were shredded. I was obviously late, because there was only one medic unit there, 6 cop cars, and two fire engines. IM assuming the accident was atleast half an hour old. We live in a small town, so it didn't take long for anyone to respond. But, there wasn't even a tow truck there yet. So, driving past the accident, seeing parts, bits, and pieces of both cars ALL OVER the road, my heart started racing. I got excited. I wanted to jump in, to help, to be there. So it hit me, maybe IM just a sick freak who wants to rubber neck and thats why I want to be a medic?? I am also very nosey, and like to know all I can about things like that. In a sick way, it fascinates me. I am just chomping at the bit to be apart of that.

Do any of you "help" or offer to help out if you come across an accident when your off duty? Or are you just sick of it and keep in mind that help is on its way, or already there, and keep going?

Is it wrong to feel the way I do. Yes I want to help, yes I want to save lives, but I also just want to be apart of that, to jump in, see everything, and do what I can?

If its okay or normal to be excited (IM assuming because IM green, fresh, just a student thats why I feel the way I do) and have that rush seeing that, does it wear off over time, or go away?

For years and years I have felt that this is what I need and want to do. I would even do this with NO pay. If I only had to volunteer, I would.

I just want to know that Im somewhat normal??? :oops:

My husband supports that I want to do something that I want to do, but hates that I choose to do EMS. He is freaking about the hours, and always knocks the "pay". He cant understand why I would want a job where I could possibly work 60 hours in a week, and make 1/3rd of what he makes.. Oh, and don't even mention anything 'gross or bloody'

Sometimes I wish he was more into it. But most of the time I accept hes not.

It's hillarious to watch some of these reactions on the subject. You can tell the 'bambi lovers', the vegetarians, and those that think meat just 'magically appears' at the local supermarket!

I've had turducken, but its not as big deal as everybody makes it out to be. I personally think (both before and after trying it), that it's just a 'social thing'....an 'exotic sounding word' to justify excessive behavior.

Think about it, we make up exotic sounding things so that we appear to have a higher social standing than we really do.....

I don't want to be falsely lumped into the bambi tree hugging category here. I love my meat. My favorite meal that I have to have ONCE a week is a big ol juicy rare steak. I love twice baked potatos with it. In the summer, I am the queen of the BBQ around here with my briskets and my tri tips.

Im not a huge bird fan. I love chicken, but thats about it. But moreso, I have a weird thing about food baked inside other food. I wont eat stuffing. I hate STUFFED anything. And even the twice baked potatos, I pull out of the skins, and cook in a dish, not back in the skins.

IM sure its fine, IM sure its good. But I cant eat anything that was cooked inside anything else, thats all!

LOL I would tweak it a little, but for the most part, um YEAH..lol

Nope, no way, no how, nu uh!!!

ICK....

Great post, thank you very much

Congrats on your engagement, Eric! All the best to both of you!

I have no advice to give, I am 35 years old, and never been married. Guess not too many men out there like big girls anymore..... .....

You would be shocked.. My husband likes big girls, and infact, Im a little nervous since I lost weight.. Here I am feeling better than ever, and getting more looks than I ever did, and hes cranking his neck at the bigger girls :? ...

I really have to say thank you to the most of you who have been respectful about your overweight / obese PT's when talking about how you handled them. I used to be a big girl, but have worked hard to take it off, and keep it off. Its a shameful world to be in, and any amount of dignity and respect is always much appreciated by them. Knowing where I used to be, I will always treat them with respect and dignity. Part of me will always be a fat chick, and that fear of going back is always there. But there is no reason to be mean, or hurtful, or to call them names.

Congrats to you BOTH! Ive been with my husband for 13 years, offically married for 10 of those. These days, that is something to be proud of.

Never stop showing how important she is to you!!!!

A truck driver transporting a flock of penguins from another city to the Bronx Zoo loses his way, and then his truck breaks down. While he's waiting for a mechanic to arrive, another trucker pulls up in an empty flatbed and asks whether he can help.

"Well, actually, yes; if you could take these penguins to the Bronx Zoo while I wait for the mechanic, that would be a great help," said the first trucker.

"Sure thing," replies the Good Samaritan trucker, and both men load the penguins onto the waiting truck, in which the second takes off.

A few hours later, the first truck driver has had his vehicle repaired and arrives at the zoo, but trucker #2 is nowhere to be found, nor the penguins. Trucker #1 starts driving all over town, desperately looking for them and fearing a mishap, when he spots trucker #2 walking down the street herding the penguins in front of him.

Trucker #1 accosts the second trucker and exclaims, "What are you doing here? I asked you to take these penguins to the zoo!"

Trucker #2 replies, "Well, I did I take 'em to the zoo. But after a while they got tired of it, so I thought I'd take 'em to the movies."

Ba-dum-pum.

That was cute

While I lack documentation, I have heard many reports, as in the previous posting by itku2er, that patients who normally are "not with it", become very alert within hours of dying, including reporting to onlookers that a deceased relative was waiting for them. Yes, this even when the patient had no way of knowing the relative had pre-deceased them.

There is a fascinating book / made for TV movie that just came out called For One More Day. I read it because my mother passed away suddenly in her sleep last year, and it was a great part of the healing process. Anyway, in the book, the main character is with his mother whos passed away, and shes visiting friends. Turns out, these friends are dying, and in their final moments, the people that they are thinking about, become real, and they get to spend time with them. It is an incredible touching thought to think of the peace you feel in your final moments surrounding yourself with loved ones.

Works great on paper, but most new hires won't even see you do it unless forced, and they're not forced anymore. That's where the recliner thing comes in. I understand where it could be viewed as a superiority thing, but part of it too is making the new hires find something to do. They are simply disconnected and won't do the side work when shown, much less if you expect them to learn from example.

I would think that any new hire would look at any of that "hazing" ( i.e. cleaning lug nuts, taking out trash, dishes, etc) would be something they want to do. Hell I would be happy to do ANY of that, esp. stock the rig, because that means I am doing the job I love, wanted, and worked hard to get. How can any of that above even be considered hazing?? I would kill for the chance to wash an ambulance right now, just so I could be closer to it, and learn it better..

Me neither. The question is, whether or not you'll get a real EMS job. What happens when you run into an employer who hands you a dress code that forbids visible tattoos?

I already said twice now, well I guess this is the 3rd time, that I have NO, NONE, NADA problems covering them up! Infact, I said I would long before an employer asks me too. I will go to the interview with them covered, but infact, show them. Just so that I am not hiding anything, literally at the time of the interview. It will be nice if I dont have to. But, on my own accord, I will.

You do realise, of course, that many employers will not allow short sleeves in the summer, as everybody must dress the same (which is why we call it 'uniform'), right? Not to mention, after you work a couple of EMS shifts in long sleeves, you'll really, really wish you didn't have to wear them. they get filthy and stinky really quick. That first patient of the day that you pick up, with your arms under his pits, who had not bathed in a week, will leave his stench on your sleeves for the rest of the day. You'll have to roll your sleeves up and down fifteen times a day to wash your hands. The cuffs will get in the way of your gloves. The cuffs will get all sorts of mung on them. The rest of us solve that problem in the winter by rolling our sleeves up during patient contact. But wait... you can't do that.

Your solution sounds idealistically simple, but the truth is, it doesn't work. You are at a large disadvantage in the job market for the rest of your life because you couldn't live without cherries on you arm.

Now wait a second. I havent gotten snotty or snippy with you. I do believe I deserve the same respect. You are older than I am, and you live in a different area than I do. This is my life, and my choice. Again, for the last time, even before going through any hiring process for any ambulance company, I decided I would cover them up out of respect for the general public. Now if I have to bring 5 undershirts at a time on my shift, I will. Ive worn long sleeves before, I know the basics of them as far as rolling up, getting dirty etc. Just to make sure I dont get another backhanded comment. If it came down to it, and I HAD to get rid of the tattoos, I WOULD! Make no mistake, I know where my priorities are! We can go on and on and round and round about this. I see your points, I know what your saying, and I respect them. I do not think they prove professionalisim, or lack of. That is infact, my opinion. I am sure that I will find out all of this for certain once its my time to go out into that big scary EMS world.

That was cute

](*,)

Now now, no hurting yourself over this..lol :twisted: :twisted:

Ihave no doubts or worries that I will be hired by a reputable ambulance company. Being out here in CA, Ive seen many police, and a few AMR medics with tattoos. As Ive stated, out of respect to the general public I will most likely cover my arms (aside from the fact that its wise to cover ink from sun exposure, after all, they are not cheap) all year long. Not out of fear, but because that is how I was brought up.

Ive really enjoyed hearing everyones side in this.

If any one person or agency can prove that my tattoos will infact, with out a doubt interfere or in any manor prevent me giving any patient my 100% care, want to know. If someone is going to not hire me just because of ink, I think I might have to talk to some lawyers :wink: I can erase these tattoos of off my body, and it will not make me a better EMT or medic. I can cover my whole body in ink, and same thing, it will not make me better or worse.

:shock:

My tattoos do not dictate how smart I am. They do not dictate how nice I am. They do not make me the kick ass mother of my two kids that I am. My tattoos don't care who the hell you are, and wont save your life once I am a medic. Before my tattoos I was me. With my tattoos, I am me. No amount of ink will change that. And if I roll up on a scene, and someone refuses me because of some cherries that I have on my forearms, then they are not that sick or hurt. :roll:

How funny.. And yes, I kept reading..