under-dreaming

I think that this thread title should rightfully be renamed to "Irony bites the hypocrite". I can't see any karmic action that would call for her dog's death.

No defibrillator and BVM, eh? Well... make the most with what you got and good luck. Stick around on this website though, there's a lot to be gained from this place.

Again those who do not understand what responsibility comes when working as a Paramedic or who believe their medical director is their fire chief need to give back that extra pay they receive as a Paramedic. Some may even be defying medical authority in hopes of not running medical calls. The departments need to make it clear that just having a Paramedic patch to get hired is not enough. One must be able to function as one. There are many others holding a Paramedic patch while working at Burger King just waiting to get hired on at one of these FDs for the benefits.

It's always about money for some people.

Even in my department, I feel as though sometimes it's as if some of the EMTs here are doing it because they have to for the job.

is there some form of brainwashing that I am unaware of in which responder agencies and the communities at large undertake to become capable of believing that this system is capable of providing acceptable patient care?

It's called American television!!!

So if a child was left in the car would that warrant the same response from you?

No.

Perhaps there was no warrant for any response from me on this subject. This story is extremely vague and I just wish I knew a little more. It is a strange situation. I will not defend something that I don't fully understand. The situation is certainly ironic to say the least.

We all have the capacity to grow. Remember that OP.

There is so much for you to learn from these calls (especially the second one). However, on thing is puzzling me: is your ambulance equipped with BLS tools (BVM, Med O2, Defibrillator)? Have you ever had the opportunity to use those on a patient? I only ask because I have heard that some these transport agencies are little more than a transport van that holds a stretcher. Forgive my ignorance if this is not the case for you. cosgrojo mentioned that you are in over your head. You may have been on that day, but you can learn so much from this incident. The patient is in your hands until the nurse signs the PCR. Stay with the patient. If your partner wants to get the attention of the staff, let him/her. Just stay with the patient and stick with the basics. You can breathe for the patient and you can make the patients heart beat. If they need it, do it.

You might want to consider talking to your supervisor about getting a printed list with all of the ER phone numbers (since that is how your communication system works) and put all of those numbers in your cell. Good luck, and don't be afraid to do a little research.

Did I read that right? Her husband put the dog in the car in the morning for her commute to work? She found the dog at noon? Did she not leave the house until noon?

It sounds like a sad accident. That is if she hadn't used the car at all when the husband thought that he would be doing her a favor by getting the dog ready to go with her to work. She is probably devastated. I don't see the hypocrisy (if it was, after all, an accident).

Predictable sensation-seeking journalists amplify and distort an otherwise reasonable and understandable situation. I hope (in this case) that the other common predictable action follows: all of the people who are making judgments that are above their level of competence find another story to sensationalize, and move on. Drama moves people.

Every EMS professional in this forum, fire or not, agrees that these paramedics were treated exactly the way they should have been... I think we would know. It's good to see that this county has an active MD, and I wish him the best of luck in dealing with the backlash.

Great topic, and a lot of great things said so far.

I'm with rural combination paid/volunteer fire department where there is at least one person on shift at any time and we are responsible for EMS and Fire response. We have a couple of EMTs that are employed here who are apparently only interested in fire calls, and their lack of interest in running ambulance calls is, in my opinion, bringing our reputation down. The frequent flyers and common call types have some of our guys locked into a track that can easily become dangerous for the patient. I also found that these personalities are often infectious. I just hope I can keep myself from one day realizing that I have began going down that path of carelessness. Fortunately, when I am on shift I run the calls, so the ball is in my court and I can make sure I do what needs to be done on behalf of all parties involved in the incident.

Honestly, it is these types of forums that keeps my perspective in the right place. It's good to know I am not alone in my endeavors.

Interesting story, Wendy.

I'm going to be starting RN school soon myself (for different reasons though). I've only been working BLS for a little over a year now, but I remember when I was four months in. My attitude then was way different than my attitude is now. And I'm positive my attitude will be different with each coming year. I don't have the same problems that you seem to have had (with paragods). The difference in this region is that we a rural. And when I'm on a call, I run the call. I am BLS and limited to those means, but I have handled quite a variety of patients in my first year.

It is interesting for me to notice that you have so much to say about EMS (good things) yet have so little real time experience. I hope you find yourself in the pre hospital setting again, you will probably do many patients a good service. I would suggest you find yourself an ambulance company that runs BLS calls. If it's your confidence that is shot, this will surely clean that up in a hurry. And if not, you will no that pre hospital isn't for you.

Who is the highest paid EMT-B here?

Hourly?

Monthly?

Annually?

I should have put an option on the poll for "no change". I think some of you hold that opinion (for good reasons). I might just enjoy it too, as long as I go in expecting a good laugh. It would be interesting to know who their consulting medic was, if any.

Still, I wonder what was going through the minds of the producers when they figured it would be acceptable to have the flight medic be a reckless and dangerous person (speeding around the city hitting stuff with his car).

It's no surprise though to find that NBC would rather have a money making opportunity (which will fail when they cancel the show) then to actually set a realistic example of a profession that does have inherent dangers.

I do not know if I would enjoy the show, but I would not mind waking up to the blond chick smiling over top of me.

Sex sells every time!

For the record, I realize that there is already a thread on this topic from earlier this month.

Naturally, discussion is welcome, but I am more interested in the popular opinion regarding how this makes us look. Please participate in the poll.

This is a new series to begin this fall on NBC. It is called "Trauma" and it is about a SF based EMS crew.

URL: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ycgM884tMyE

What does everyone here think?

Look left,

Look right,

Look left.

then maybe right again.

And always wear a seat belt!

I often ask my partner if it is "clear right" from his perspective before I enter an intersection as well. Or they just know to say it.

I recently treated a pt. who had stabbed himself multiple times in the chest. Prior to my arrival, the officer on scene had hit him with a taser because the pt. was in a hostile state with a knife. I would bet that this pt. will go on to say that the police were excessive. The doctor in the ER sure looked surprised when I told him about the taser. The doctor may have thought it was excessive also, if he was judging by the pt. demeanor upon arrival in the ER (much more calm). What happens in the field and how it translates to others is often misunderstood. Naturally, everything in our world is corruptible and police brutality is not uncommon in some places. But when it comes down to a pt. in the hospital who had a run-in with the law telling you if he feels like he was treated fairly by an officer... well I don't think those sources are often reliable.

Eight years ago, GM sold the patents to their high output long life batteries for the EV cars to Texaco. Texaco (now Chevron) and GM conspired together and chose to make immediate profits instead of long term commitments to revolutionize the industry. Eight years ago American auto makers were on top of the mountain, holding the key to new technology that would help the consumer's pocket book and the environment. This would cause a dramatic decrease in domestic oil consumption in the form of gasoline. That concept became alarming for oil companies. Domestic auto makers allowed themselves to be corrupted by "fat cat" oil companies in order to turn more profit at a faster rate. And at first it worked. The government even passed a stimulus for small business owners to purchase trucks/SUV with a towing capacity of over 10,000 lbs. to stimulate growth. That's why you see so many Hummers and lifted trucks driving around in dense populated cities. They were practically free for the consumer to purchase because it became a tax write-off as a business expense. The whole point was not to sell cars. The point was to sell gas! Then demand for fuel went up. Naturally, the oil companies are going to have to raise the prices for oil because of the whole supply/demand principle. Oil companies raise the rates --> people start buying hybrids and compacts. Well, foreign auto has the market cornered in regards to compacts and hybrids... so you can see now where the time line progresses.

The UAW probably has absolutely nothing to do with anything in regards to these truths. Therefore, they are victims of this crisis that their corporate management created. The corporate side probably hoped that if it ever came down to them losing their companies to bankruptcy due to their behavior, the people and the government would take pity on them because of the huge amount of labor they represent in America (although much of it is now overseas). It is a sad game that they were playing. I feel sorry for those who work for them and never knew this was coming. The wave is crashing.

This is why it is important to stay nationally registered. Stay current.

Thats fine if you want to put it on the NR exam, but this is an interdepartmental exam (as a result of that EMS killing someone again), that you are required to pass now that a lawsuit was settled to keep your job. You could be a 20 year medic, with a clean record, and lose your job and benefits because you cant pass one written test.

And before all you whippersnappers start saying if you cant pass the test, you shouldnt do the job, I want you to look 10 years into the future, and say "sure i can pass any NR exam with a score of 90 or above" (also noting that it took several times for many of you to pass it right after school).

If a medic is incompetent they should be reeducated and then fired if they do not progress, but to be called in one day after you have been a model employee for years, and to be told you will lose everything if you cant pass this test, is wrong.

But this is typical EMS management; two sorry employees mess up one call, and the rest of the department (that didnt screw up) has to pay the price.

If what you wrote here is the accurate situation, then you are on the right track with your argument.

Oh and as for jumping in on calls...

You should probably hang out at the station more. Do drills. Read a book. Clean up. Shoot the sh**. It is a smart thing to do.

Register at www.nremt.org and they should be able to help you find a test site.

Do you run the calls or are you backup and driver? If you are backup and driver, just make sure you are a good support for the person running the call and know where your equipment is (and drive safe). If your running the call, just be open to the unexpected and roll with it. In the BLS world, we just need to follow protocols, get good history, give appropriate interventions, and give them a ride to the hospital. Try to have fun... when necessary.

Very true dust, but i dont remember a "bear" section in my paramedic book, maybe this one question is just a good example of several more questions that are unfair to the urban medic. Now if they had questions on their like translating ebonics, how to roll a blunt, or what the street value is for an 8-ball to balance out all of these "white-country-cracker" questions, I am sure the FF's would pass.

Before we get too carried away with ghetto bashing...

I believe the point of the question is to test your confidence. A bear attack is going to require a great deal of bleeding control and airway management. You might even need to locate a limb or two. It doesn't take a mountain man to see that. There are a lot of strange things that we have/will come across as emergency providers. If you can't think fast and act appropriately, your out.

I took my course at a community college. It went well. The CPR course was included in the curriculum.

The two tests you are referring to are the written and practical exams that you will have to pass to get certified for the course. Those tests are provided at your school at the end of the course. Then you will be eligible to take the NREMT-B exam. Good Luck.

This is the lamest article I've read in a long time. What a sob story. "Oh, my family was so proud of me and I shook the mayor's hand! I deserve to be here!" These guys need to get a grip. NREMT was easier than my final written test for certification from my class! I am glad they aren't going to be able to cut corners on this one. It's time for them to take that stuff seriously.

I do hope they get it right next time. I'm sure the bear question went no further than ABC and bleeding control. They just got psyched out.