medic1963

In a rural setting, I think volunteer units can be beneficial due to the low number of ALS trucks on a given shift. The BLS unit can handle the bs calls that would normally tie up the ALS trucks so they can respond to the calls that need the ALS side. With that said, I must admit that the rescue squad I run with has gotten away from what the original intent was, rescue. I am certed as a rescue tech (RT) with specialties in swift/surface water, low angle rope, confined space, and SAR. The problem is, due to the squad going more towards the medical side, I rarely get to use what I have been trained for. I feel if the rescue squads, at least the one I run with, would get back to more rescue, the overall reception of volunteers would be better. Of course the downfall to that would be fire depts would see volunteers as competition.

Another thread brought up an interesting topic. Is there a place for volunteer BLS services in the EMS field. Several people had made a comment as to how some paid services do not like to hire EMT's with volunteer service in their resume. I have mixed feelings about volunteers. I serve a volunteer BLS service and have aquired a lot of good experience in doing so. That same experience has helped me in a paid profession. I will admit there are a lot of volunteers that just want to ride the truck and play with the lights and sirens, but that does not apply to all volunteers. The same could be said about some paid staff that I have worked with. I created this poll to try and get a feeling for how people feel about volunteer services. I guess is more curiosity than anything.

Just because I do respect someone who attemps/commits suicide does not mean I do not treat them any less than anyone else. My personal feelings are just that, personal. There is a difference in personal and professional. I have never been unprofessional in my treatment of any PT regardless of the situation or my personal feelings. I do not have much respect for repeat drunks due to past personal experience, but that doesn't mean I treat them unfairly. The people I have sympathy for are the ones left behind to deal with the aftermath of someone discission to commit suicide. To me, suicide is a selfish act with no regard to the feelings of those left behind. If anyone is wondering, yes I have dealt with suicide in my own family, more than one time. I think the idea behind the my original post has been greatly misunderstood. I intended no fun towards everyone who attemps suicide and deffinetly not towards anyone who commits suicide. The situation was a funny moment in a world of death, sickness, and injury, whom the PT himself found the event to be funny.

When applying for a position with an EMS agency, what do you think is a deadly sin that would be detrimental to getting hired? [excluding the obvious like failing a test, skill, or oral board] With all the focus on QA, do you think it would be helpful for agencies to tell someone why they turned down his/her application?

Maybe so. I apologize if my sense of humor has offended anyone. The "gunguy" was laughing while he told us what happened, so I guess you had to be there to understand the humor in it. On a personal note: I have been to so many suicide calls where the outcome was not as good I have lost count. To many times I have had to scoop up the brains of someone who thought there was nothing left to live for. To many times have the reason for their belief, by their own note or by the family's account, been petty or trivial. Call it cold, but I have not much respect for anyone who commits or attempts suicide. In a world where all we see is death, injury, and sickness, it is a good thing to find something humorous about a possible detrimental situation.

Scene 1: 28 YOF attempted suicide by overdose. Arrive on scene with law. PT's mother advised PT took a whole bottle of pills. Mother hands over the bottle. Bottle label reads "Vitamin C Supplement" Scene 2: 44 YOM; possible suicide/attempt; gunshot heard during call in; no further response from caller. Arrive on scene. Law on scene deems safe to enter. Officer can not keep a straight face. Led to PT sitting on couch. Gun is secured by law. PT has no obvious injuy. PT advises he had placed the gun (a 9mm auto) in his mouth and pulled the trigger. However, he was shaking so bad from being nervous about what he was going to do, he must have pulled the gun out before it fired as he missed. After the first shot rang out next to his head, he was so scared, he could not try it again. Transported PT to ward for eval.

Rural VFD has 2 working structure fires at the same time less than a mile apart. Its 3 AM. The names have been changed to protect the dummys. Tanker 1: Tanker One to fire command. Fire CMD: You got him. Tanker 1: I got a barrel full. Where do you want it? Fire CMD: It don't really matter, they're both burning pretty good. Tanker 1: I ride by the first one and see how hot it is. Fire CMD: Sounds good. Same VFD, different day. MVC with "trauma code" ENG 1: Confirmed code blue. CPR in progress. PT is very combative. Request permission to restrain so CPR can continue. Outcome: PT was COAx3, no sign of any cardiac issues. Pt had minor laceration to hand and 4 broken ribs. Laceration to the hand was retaliation on the FF who broke the 4 ribs doing CPR. Got to love firefighters!