Flasurfbum

PC, Mac?

Advice? Don't miss. Seriously, do it where you want to, as long as it does not affect chest compressions. I worked with medics that told me to keep doing compressions while the tube, others insist on stopping. It all depends on their skill, the pts difficulty, and how they are feeling that day. Do what you feel best. And congrats man, from one student to another!

Didn't even happen in the same state. Happened in Burlington County, NJ at a Virtua Heath Systems hospital.

x2 :twisted:

I looked at moving over to Pinellas County, but when I realized that I would make more as a Lifeguard then I would as a Medic for Sunstar, I began to re think plans...

Yes, that is something that I should have included in there. For MVCs, or any type of rescue/extrication, full PPE should be worn, regardless if you were already wearing long pants or not.

You only took part of my quote there. Shorts show reduction in heat stress for firefighters. Heat stress is a major contributor to cardiovascular related injuries, which is the number one non traumatic LODD killer of Firemen. I could honestly care less what a business man, or bank manager wears to work. We are not a white collar profession, nor are we totally blue collar either. Our job demands mental and physical toughness. A bank manager does not have to carry 50 lbs of equipment up to see their "customer", then carry their "customer" down a flight of stairs, load them on a cot, and lift them into an ambulance. Nor do they even work outdoors, in sweltering heat. We have to draw the line somewhere between looking professional, and personal comfort. Does that mean that when you are doing PR, transport, or in an office all day that you get to wear shorts and a polo? No. But the crews who are on the street sweating their butts off in the long pants, undershirt and button up certainly deserve some relief from the heat.

:shock: :shock: I don't know what to say.... for once, I am at a loss of words. Should you get struck, I will be sure to let everyone know that you were a reckless, irresponsible buffoon, who refused to take 10 seconds to put on a VEST. Let me guess, you don't wear a seat belt either too? Takes too long, or is it too restrictive?

Did you happen to watch the video in the link I provided? There is no doubt that turnout gear contains a LOT of reflective striping on it, but with the flurosent color of the vests, it makes them that much more visible. And like it was pointed out above, try getting a workmans comp claim approved, God forbid you are struck when you are not wearing a vest. It takes less then 10 seconds to put on, and 10 seconds to take off, NOT wearing one is just stupid.

I feel that my school is not really preparing us for it, especially since no one from the day Medic class, and myself, and one other from our night class have expressed interest in it. They DO offer a 350 dollar weekend prep course for it, but I was under the assumption that since our course was being taught to National standards, we would receive the appropiate amount of instruction to take it... Anyway, during PHTLS, we had an out of county flight medic take it with us, and he asked us during break if any of us were planning on taking it, and some of the info he dropped on us makes it sound damn near impossible. So who has taken it recently, and can offer insight of what to expect, and what to prep for?

For their Flight Nurses, yes. Each crew is a Medic/RN, Medic, and Pilot. Several of their flight medics are part timers, who are F/T with local FDs as FireMedics. To the OP, keep checking http://www.health-first.org/careers/index2.cfm Flight Medic spots open up now and then. When I go to the First Flight 20 year reunion, I'll see if there will be anything opening up.

There have been multiple heat stress studies done proving that shorts decrease the amount of stress that Firefighters encounter, especially during summer months. In the winter, yes, I can see class B uniforms, but in the summer, or anytime the heat goes above 85 , polo shirts and shorts are THE way to go.

Beat me to it.

And no, not bullet resistant vests. ANSI Class II vests. Effective 24 November 2008, ALL personnel working on Federally Funded Highways will be required to wear one. Construction worker, Firefighter, LEO, tow truck driver, EMS personnel, we all have to. A little PSA from the fire side on this issue. http://www.firehouse.com/videonetwork/inde...p?showid=898410

To be honest, I have no idea, but I can not imagine that it is chump change. ORMC has no prehospital EMS (Flight Team excluded). I do believe that Health Central in Orlando, or Florida Hospital has some prehospital EMS. And I know that First Flight was just hiring, I don't know if they filled that role or not. If you really feel like a drive, check out Bayflight.

Like AK said, EVAC is Volusias EMS provider. With 5 years, you would qualify, in years worked, to be a flight medic, should you decide to go that route. Most places require hours, and a few certs as well, that I don't know off hand. ORMC, OCFRD, Health First all have helicopters. I know ORMC is hiring for their bird. http://www.orlandohealth.com/OrlandoRegion...d=1&Pid=447 Good luck.

from http://www.wftv.com/news/16810836/detail.html Video of investigation also on the above website.

You arrive on scene to find a man down, and 2 strangers, not helping him, and armed with cameras. And you are in an urban area. Hmmm.

The food. Friends. But mostly the food. Can't beat it up North.

Wouldn't there be changes in the EKG that would indicate a cardiac tamponade?

In the Fire Service, our numbers as far as LODDs have stayed the same (2001 excluded) for 30 something years, but if you look closely at it, the numbers are somewhat skewed. The 78 year old volunteer who has an MI while he is cleaning the station is counted as an LODD, just the same as the 25 year old urban city FF who dies when the window in a tenement lets go, and he is killed by rapid fire progression, or the 14 year old junior Firefighter who rides his bike to the station during a call, is hit and killed. I am not quite familiar with any FFs going into a fully involved structure for an aggressive interior attack, but that does not mean that it is untrue. If you look on youtube, you will be able to find a number of "training" videos shot by amateurs who want to look tough, entering well, or fully involved fires to get their gear crusty, or blacken up their lid. A big part of Fire Service training is aggressive interior attack, and searching. However, there is not enough training on when enough is enough. With the new lightweight construction, and higher fuel loads, fires burn hotter, and the construction can't hold up, since it is built cheaper, and lighter. 5 minutes of burning can lead to structural compromise. As far as driving, I am guilty of driving like an ass. When I first started out, I drove too fast, and too recklessly. After working for a company who had drive cams in their vehicles, and strict rules for responding, ie STOP at all red lights, and clear one lane at a time, no excessive speed, and they were aggressevly enforced, my driving habits changed dramatically. Perhaps having DriveCams installed in all Fire/EMS vehicles would encourage those of us to slow the frack down, and drive sanely, especially when there is video and audio proof of what we did!

Not trying to split hairs, but someone called 911, who was not that "pt', and they want nothing to do with transport. But since you asked them how they feel, they are your pt, and they need a PCR filled out? So when you are on duty, and ask the clerk at the store how they feel, you need a PCR for them too? We are relying on the word of a probably non medically trained provider to asses our pt (the 911 caller who saw someone take a blow after cutting their lawn, and calls in a poss MI) A call of "no patient found, in service returning to quarters", would be appropiate in that instance. As for a multi "pt" refusal, have your company make up a multi patient refusal form.

Is there a Professional EMS group, similar to the NJFAC, but advocating positive change instead? I know there is a MICP group, but if the professional EMTs, Medics, and Nurses band together and makes their voice one.... But remember, the Vollies will always "save the community money" :roll:

Says the guy that drives on the wrong side of the road!

You got it. And welcome!