tradesman531

Try and ignore the obvious sensationalizing and figure what happened here. I would appreciate your comments.

http://kstp.com/article/stories/S426283.shtml?cat=5

[/font:bb392396d6] you are kidding me, a dispute over this b/s

Just a few minutes ago, I heard the following on the sheriff's dept frequency:

"Unit 89, Unit 74, respond to Walmart on a report of a 10-10 verbal (argument) between a woman and a seven year old. RP (reporting party) reports that it appears the 7 year old is winning"

Anyone else have any good ones?

THE ONLY THING FUNNIER IS A FOLLOW-UP CALL ON THE RADIO"SEVEN YEAR OLD GETS ASS BEAT MOM WINS...

While I respect our soldiers and all they do, I see this proposal as another slam on what we do.

Basically, they are stating that the returning vets should not have to endure all the traditional book learning because they already have experience on the front lines. This fast tracking of the soldiers to medic is to ease the shortage, especially in the rural areas.

Another major flaw in my opinion; obviously this scheme was concocted by someone who has no real field EMS experience or no opinion of it being a profession.

Yes the soldiers do get some kick ass front line trauma care/experience. However the thinking on the front line is vastly different than the thought processes stateside on an EMS run. Over here, patients for the most part are young and healthy, no meds, no significant history. Trauma is king, medical calls are scarce in their usual patients.

To make the statement that since they have trauma experience, they do not need to spend lots of time getting the foundation of a solid education is ludicrous.

For the record, this article is referencing the many, many Army EMTs and/or Combat Life Savers(CLS). These programs, which I am very familiar with and have taught over here in theater, in no way compare to the civilian counterpart. It is very coobook medicine with no room for individual thought or critical decision making. This is the way it has to be for these guys to survive here. The EMT course is very trauma oriented, with medical issues being glossed over. Again, I am not knocking this method, as it has saved many lives and is very necessary for this time and place.

There are many soldiers here that are competent, kick ass clinicians and medics (typically found in the AF or Navy arena) and these folks have no reciprocity issues upon returning as most of them went through a traditional EMT or Paramedic program and maintain that licensing during their entire career. That is just how the AF rolls!! Navy corpsman usually become nurses, PAs or docs.

But, we can not allow this to shortchange our patient populace or the vets themselves upon their return, which inevitablly is what this program is going to do.

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Returning Veterans to help paramedic shortage

U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar announced that she is introducing federal legislation this week that is designed to relieve the shortage of emergency medical personnel, especially in rural areas, by streamlining civilian paramedic training for returning veterans who already have emergency medical experience from the military.

"On the one hand, we have a severe shortage of emergency medical personnel in rural communities," said Klobuchar. "On the other hand, we have an abundance of returning veterans who have significant training and experience. They're an ideal talent pool to relieve the shortage."

Klobuchar said her legislation, called the "Veterans-to-Paramedics Transition Act," would accelerate and streamline the transition to civilian employment for returning veterans who already have emergency medical training.

Klobuchar went on to say, "When we have soldiers who are trained to save lives on the front lines of combat, they should also have the opportunity save lives on the front lines right here at home."

Specifically, Klobuychar's legislation would provide federal grants for universities, colleges and technical schools to develop an appropriate curriculum to train these veterans and fast-track their eligibility for paramedic certification. A standard paramedic training program can take one to two years to complete.

Klobuchar's legislation has already been endorsed by the Minnesota Ambulance Association and the National Rural Health Association.

There are more than 300 licensed ambulance services in Minnesota, with 85 percent of them located outside the Twin Cities and other urban areas like Rochester, Duluth and St. Cloud.

Rural communities have long faced critical shortages in emergency medical personnel. A Minnesota Department of Health study several years ago described it as a "quiet crisis." In that study, 75 percent of rural emergency medical service providers said they needed to add more staff, and 67 percent reported having difficult covering their shifts.

"We very much welcome Senator Klobuchar's legislation to address Minnesota's shortage of emergency medical personnel," said Buck McAlpin, president of the Minnesota Ambulance Association. "Every year, one to two ambulance service operations close in rural Minnesota and, in some places, there is growing concern about whether an ambulance will even be available when someone calls 911. Minnesotans have a right to expect that a well-trained emergency responder will be there for them."

Meanwhile, thousands of men and women in the military receive emergency medical training as part of their duties. For example, 80 percent of all Army combat medics are currently certified as Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) at the basic level.

When these veterans return to civilian life, however, their military-based medical training is not counted toward training and certification as civilian paramedics. Existing programs require all students to begin with an entry-level curriculum. For veterans, this means spending extra time and money for training that, in effect, they have already received.

Standing with Klobuchar at the news conference was Jesse Folk, a Minnesota National Guard member from Ortonville who served in Iraq for one year and received training as a combat medic. He described his emergency medical training and experience, as well as his frustration at trying to find a civilian paramedic education program that would recognize and build on the training he already received in the military.

"We cannot afford to squander this wealth of skill and experience, especially when rural communities have such a shortage of emergency medical personnel," said Klobuchar. "Our nation has invested in developing the skills of our servicemen and women. We need to make the most of this investment when they return to civilian life "

I could not agree more there is a time and a place to practice civilian and military style care the ability to cross train is something I would support after the returning vet resolves any issues he may have after returning from war. GOD BLESSOUR SOLDIERS

Can anyone from the UK shed some light on this subject?

http://www.ems1.com/ems-products/incident-...o-dying-patient

I can't believe this is allowed to happen. I wonder if the medic had left their fly-car, what would be the repercussions? Would the Union have saved her job as they are supposed to do? Where was the local constabulary to secure the scene? Surely the public outcry would be enough to save the medic.

I don't know if I could have sat in the car and watched someone bleed out. It kind of defeats the purpose of a QRV as stated in the article.

Here in the USA all departments have SOPS in place regarding entering an unsecure seen, though our hearts are in the right place to treat our head tells us to survive for the many other calls we my be blessed with. Yes I broke the rule more than once but as a volunteer I ddidn't get a pay cureduction.