firedoc5

Gotta go with the LifePack12 :thumbup:

This was debated in full detail in our system. Yes, there has been cases regarding an interstate transfer where they stressed time was of the essence. This was back when an available helo. was not an option. I myself have had a doc ask how fast I could get from point A to point B, and to keep the accelerator down. I was with a private amb. serv. at the time, and it was the only service in the county. We called them "kamikaze runs". Yes, we drove fast, at times probably too fast. There were just a select few of us that were assigned to those types of transfers. And even fewer of us that would be requested by either docs or nurses to be the driver. I look back now and think of what we risked and I think how ridiculous it was. Being young and stupid I guess. But one thing we did take into consideration was knowing our limitations and respecting them. We would use common sense and not drive to where we were uneasy feeling. But I'll be the first to admit that at times it was too fast and wouldn't dare do it again. One night we had a call of a school bus off into a large lake just off the interstate. It was during basketball season so it was possible. There were several of us playing cards so we were able to get five units out in 90 seconds. Luckily it was a hoax call, but we didn't know that until we searched for about 45 mins. While heading out the gal with me kept urging me to go faster. I told her I had the pedal down and my foot in the carburetor. I could actually feel the front start floating so I backed it down. Later on a state trooper asked me if I knew how fast I was going. I said I didn't because the speedometer only went to 85. He said he clocked me at 133. That was a wake up call for me. And Mary, the gal that was with me and kept urging me to go faster, was freaked. Like I said, young and stupid. :tongue3:

Something I was sold on by one of my Lt.s is the use of Rain X on all vehicle's windshields. I was a little skeptical at first, but believe me it makes a BIG difference. We'd try and apply it once a month. Try it, you'll like it.

Kind of "Stretcher 101". Do not turn stretcher sideways while rolling. [-X If need be stretcher should be picked up off wheels. If rough enough terrain, lower stretcher and carry. I too have seen it happen. :sad11:

I'd go with ERDoc on this one, epididymitis. I just skimmed over some of the longer posts so I might have missed it, but was there any relief with either hot or cold compresses? A boss I had did have epididymitis. Put him in the hospital for a few days. The man lived his life between his legs. It didn't stop him for long though. :roll:

I'd go with what zzyzx mentioned, CVA. But with a combination of alcohol, or other substance. Maybe it was just with the program I was under but, Narcan was always at least 2mg. IV. 0.8mg. may have been a little low. Julian, Narcan had always worked with me whether it was hydrochlorate (a mickey) or Rohypnol. I never had Narcan fail in the field, along with the D50.

And why is it when they say their porch light will be on, every single house on the way has a porch light on? :?

Yellow makes me look fat.

More power to ya. Make them regret losing you.

Then we are in the same club, dude. :occasion5:

Oh yeah. And I just love it when a family member says that the patient shouldn't be too hard to lift because they just lost a lot of weight, and they still weigh over 300lbs.

Not at all. I know of depts. that are really hung up on what their function is, and only that one function. We really never had the argument of who was going to do what. Whoever was there and knew what to be done, they just did it. If more than one dept. or agency was there, it was not uncommon to have someone from county fire handling a hose off a city pumper. Or city personnel running the district's Hurst tool. I was visiting my folks one day when my dad was coordinator of the local volunteer amb. service. Had a van roll off a "s" curve into a ravine. I went ahead and rode out with them. We got there first. I was inside stabilizing the patient when the volunteer fire/rescue showed up. They pulled off their booster line and stood at the road. I hollered to them to have someone come down and cut the battery cable. You thought I'd asked them to perform brain surgery or something. They weren't going to take an order from some EMT. Later on I mentioned to one of their Lt.'s that wasn't there. He hit the roof. But I don't think anything else was said or done about. Typical for a small town. All in all, everyone has to do whatever it takes to get it done.

This had been argued for a while in my system years ago. We came to an agreement that charcoal shall not be given orally, unless with NG tube. We had it available in the field, but I don't think it had been done. At least I never did it. One OD we had we were given the order to adm. Syrup of Ipecac. In the back ground we could hear the doc laughing over the radio. So we gave it. The doc didn't realize we had a short ETA, so it didn't really take effect until we got to the ER. We had it timed just right. When we got there I said, "Now the puking shall commence". About 90 seconds later, "up came chuck". :pukeright: :laughing6:

I wasn't able to take a class until I was 17. I took my first EMT class the summer between my Jr. and Sr. year of high school and took the IL state test. I knew I had to be 18 to be certified to run. But I ran my first official call the day before my 18th birthday. My coordinator knew somebody and the state allowed me the one day. So it can be done. If you're younger than 17, soon to be 18, have patience. You'll get there. More power to ya. If I remember correctly to be certified for just CPR, AHA or Red Cross, you can take the class at any age, but can only be certified at either 15 or 16. I've heard both. I think it's up to the instructor. And by the way. A lot of the test is just common sense. Be familiar with the basics and the rest will fall into place.

I know this is another old topic, but... One thing with phenergan is with me, it makes me hallucinate. I learned the hard way. Just a little FYI in case it does present with some patients.

We've had defensive driving classes. They put you in old state trooper cars and you go through different courses. Skids, power breaking, on/off road, etc. It's more or less the same instruction as the test drivers for General Motors take. It's a blast. The first time we took it was to learn. The second time some of us took it again for kicks and giggles.

I know everyone has had a patient that is "larger" than most. I think the heaviest I had was a little old lady that lived at home in the boondocks. First time called on her it was just me and one other guy. A lot of huffing and puffing, but got her in. Laundry scale at hosp. tipped her at about 723 lbs. I wasn't on the call but one gentleman who was a family friend and one of my first boss' while working summer jobs, went down. At one time he as at 670 lbs. When he went down he was slimmed down to 466 lbs. He was also about 6'7". Had to take the cot out, use a tarp and literally wedged him in back between the squad bench and the shelving. At the funeral it took 13 pall barers that were all on the high school basketball team. Had to have a special casket flown in.

To answer the question of the topic, "When to panic?" NEVER, at least not until patient is in care of ER or OB. Find a closet or something, have a episode for about three minutes. Straighten yourself up, go on. Next call, please.

I know this is old topic, but... In the past I've done vol. ambulance, paid ambulance, vol. fire, paid fire, etc. For the most part we all just jumped in and worked together, not matter the agency. Luckily around here we've all worked well together. It helps that everyone more or less gets the same extrication instruction. Most of us are ERT certified. One thing I will stress is that in primarily rural settings, farm implement and heavy machinery extrication should be taught. Extricating cars and trucks are one thing but tractors, combines, even grain silos are another matter. It also helps with semi's and tanker trucks. If you don't have that kind of program you need to look into it. IMHO

I've got to remember that one. :laughing6:

Don't you just love directions like: "Go north for about 5 minutes to where Johnson's old barn was, turn right, then left. Go as far as the big tree stump on your left. You'll see an old house with Holstein cows out back. If you see black angus cows then you went too far." :banghead:

Excellent advice. :thumbup:

Of course St.Louis would be decimated. If I remember correctly as far away as Memphis, Nashville and Oklahoma City will be heavily damaged. All along the banks of the Mississippi from MN to New Orleans will be effected. These are only guesses, but IMHO it's impossible to accurately predict the complete results. Plan for the worse and hope for the best. Even though I was living in LA when Katrina hit, we weren't effected too much. I haven't been back to New Orleans since Katrina, but God, I miss it. :sad1: New Orleans is my favorite big city.

Many of us started out as volunteers, so on a whole, I can't slam most volunteer services. But there are those out there that can be, and need to be slammed. But with any organization, volunteer or paid, there's good and bad. It's great when someone is eager to advance, but sometimes the best route is to have patience and get experience along the way.

Don't be afraid to ask any question. Even if it's been asked and answered time and time again. You'd probably find the answer quicker and someone else may have the same question and also afraid to ask. I don't think anyone would subject their wrath on you. If they do, that's their problem. As far as time restraints on advancing to a higher level, the time period really isn't considered a "waiting period". That time should be used as a learning experience. Get all the field and hands on experience you can. Run every type of call that comes along. But with your past experience it should be considered by instructors or the powers-to-be to let you forgo that time period. Again, ask away anytime. If you feel uncomfortable about a question just PM someone.