Flasurfbum

docz, your posts are filled with the kind of info that keeps me here. Thanks! 8)

Skell is a synonym of mutt. One who often calls 911 for trivial calls, who has the IGM (I Got Mine) attitude, and is generally not a friend of Public Servants. Bus is another term for ambulance. Both are used mainly in the Atlantic Seaboard area (NY, NJ).

Its best to talk to that arrogant twit in private, and work out the differences, and any miscommunications that can occur due to this being the internet. :wink:

Ditto. I didn't think you were quite the arrogant, pompous twit I made ya out to be. :wink:

*Editied for clarity.* I never read in the artilcle where it mentioned her condition. Only that she was going to the cardiologist. Agreed, this wannabe had no right to do what he did. You gotta problem, call ones dispatch.

Shocking.

Headlight flashers. Technically they are emergency lights. You are driving a CVPI, surplus from the local PD. You have HLFs in it. You pull behind another vehicle and activate them. Now, honestly, who here knows the CVPI headlights? I know I do. You see them, you slow down, you sit up straighter, you hang up the cell, whatever. This Mutt should be arrested for impersonating a LEO. Why have emergency lights on an ambulance? To go through intersections, and have traffic yield the right of way to you. However, I prefer to not drive with them on on highways, or areas where there is little traffic. And who are we to judge if this ambulance was doing faster then it should have? Unless we know the limitations of this particular unit, the road conditions, and traffic, how can we judge?

Damn it all. Just got this.....

So if flushing of the toxins out is key, would lasix be indicated?

I know that the chances of one actually treating this are rare, but other then Calcium Chloride, 1mEq/kq of Sodium BiCarb, with a maintence drip of .25mEq/kg/hr in d5W, what else can we do prehospitally to treat this?

For the most part, go with the flow. If they are singing Frank Sinatra, ask if you can join in. IF they are stating that they see a ghost in the corner, as them to describe it to you. Don't dismiss them as crazies. However, if it begins to take a violent, or dangerous route, direct it somewhere else.

In Atlantic City, "99" would get you everything. PD, EMS, and FD. I used that once while a pt went bananas on me, and bystanders jumped in. They helped me, but at the moment, I was as scared as a little girl, and didn't know what was going on. Everytime else was "MedCom 1417 needs ACPD on location forthwith for a hostile subject. Forthwith was emphisized. That usually got their lazy dispatcher attention.

I remember reading/browsing through these when they came out. IIRC, they were released just after some whiner complained about the SFFD using sir horns and sirens. Come on, you can't have it both ways... :roll:

During a BLS transfer, I shared my iPod with a friend of mine who were were taking to a definitive care facility. I have played the music selection a pt requests, at their request, but other then that, radio stays low.

Why? Because NJ is stuck in 1970. Why? Because my family lives in NJ. Why? Because I have swallowed too much salt water and hit my head too many times on my surfboard, and I am seriously debating moving back there. Why? Cause I almost missed my flight to Florida cause I had to take a late call for a Trauma Alert pt. that the vollies didn't feel like going to.

WHAT?! Based on MOI, the aircraft can go to standby before the first crew is even on scene. The aircraft is wheeled outside, and preflight plans are done. Within 3 minutes of the crew on scene, the crew can determine if the pt needs air transport. Since the aircraft is prepped, it can launch within 5 minutes of notification. Is it possible that the communications center/launch protocal for your aircraft needs serious reevaluation?

I'm out Brother, I escaped! I got less then 3 more months till I'm done Medic school. But, it just keeps calling to me. And with jobs here rare...... :roll:

OOH OOH I CAN! I have had a pt. die at the hospital from CHF who, IMO, could have benefitted from early intervention, not limited to CPAP and Lasix. Not to mention the one crew who I worked with who cancelled ALS, and the pt later died from CHF. Fluid up to the tops. And I am not advocating another Florida, or Cali. Just another couple trucks where they are needed.

But for some reason, some of us keep getting sucked back there....

Many of us here are working in, or have experienced the pile of crap that is NJ's antiquated EMS system. Now, instead of whining about it, how about we come up with a few constructive ideas to fix it, and improve the quality of service that we provide to the citizens. First and foremost, increase the amount of ALS units on the street. There should be certain number of ALS vehicles per population, or square mile. Having no ALS on many calls has hurt patient outcomes. Resource share. How many VACs, or FACs, or Rescue Squads are out there that have 3 or 4 ambulances, and the next town over, same thing. All top of the line, best money can buy. That is being fiscally irresponsible to the taxpayers. Having a regional EMS system that shares resources (ONE Chief, :eek:, placing resources where they are needed, why have 3 ambulances in an area that runs 400 calls a year?) Radio interoperatability. One dispatch center per county that takes 911 calls, processes them, and dispatches them. All on the same band (VHF, UHF, 800 mhz, whatever they choose). Has anyone taken a look in a MICU lately? Seen how many different radios they have to deal with? Unacceptable. Here comes the biggest pot stirring one of all....Volunteers. I love the whining that goes on in the newspapers, "we have to have 120 hrs of initial training, plus 48hrs of CEUs." Right. What matters more, your hobby, or patient care? When multiple pages are sent out, and no one answers, and the calls rolls over to the mutual aid agency, who is being held accountable? You can bet your ass that if it was a FD, or PD that failed to answer the call they would be strung up by their entrails, and paraded through the streets! The First Grade Council needs to be disbanded, and in its place, a NJ EMS Council needs to be formed, with the needs of ALL EMS providers, from the Volunteer EMT to the MICN covered, all the time focusing on improving patient care. Our legislators need to be educated on the disaster that is the EMS system, and we need their help if any of this is going to happen. Granted, I haven't covered things like the "mother may I" ALS, but lets fight one battle at a time. Write your legislator, and lets try to improve patient care! AJ Zuccarelli, EMT-B, soon to be EMT-P.

Me thinks that the post was meant to be some what facetious.

If I am in the street, my first concern is proper placement of my ambulance. Second is proper PPE, including protective clothing, gloves, helmet, and vest.

The picture really doesn't do it justice. It is a real Navy blue. Its not heavy, or hot at all. I live in Florida, and I wear my pants on MVCs, jacket of it sounds bad. It is a Nomex shell, and a CrossTech barrier. Not too warm at all. Beats the crap outta wearing bunker gear. The only thing I would like to see is padded knees (get your mind outta the gutter ) for kneeling on scene.

So I have not gotten a chance to practice this, and only vaguely know how to do this. Basically, 14 gauge 2 finger breadths below the clavicle, in the intercostal space, lateral of the nipple line? Who has done one? How difficult are they? Any advice?

Once again, I am not talking Firefighter style bunker gear. This light, EMS gear.