TheOldMan

I also think part of EMS is the fact no one ever forgets the 'Oops' moments. I was know as the 'bambi killer' for the longest time. Part of me wants to say, if they are teasing you about it, means they 'accept' you. If your co-workers wasn't saying anything, then you may have a problem. We currently have several workers who have acquired nicknames, some of which will get me thrown out of this forum if I were to repeat them. The other point to barefootedkiwi, does you company provide you with an EVOC class, we have an EVOC class every year, mandatory for everyone. The class is a good reminder for things you might forget, and the driving part is fun.

I have hit a deer, but no signs.

WLSC, Haven't had a chance to follow up with your question until tonight. Have you retaken the exam?

Probably they want you to know that D-50 is to correct Hypoglycemia, when you begin to work through your H's and T's.

Well lets see, about 11 years ago, I started as a Vol. FF, through the department I had my first EMT-B class paid for, and passed. I had a year or so under my belt, and managed to get on a paid service. I agree that sometimes your family suffers, my personal experience was; lack of holidays, lack of sleep, divorce (yes the D-word), spent my time doing countless transfers, mixed in with some emergency calls, then with seniority made it to a "911 Truck". Two years ago, the local college started a Paramedic program, I made it through the program, and passed the NR test. I was probably the hardest two years of college, I spent 4 in college right after high school. Lets say you will not get rich in this profession, if I had to support my family on what I make, I would need to have 3 jobs, I have 2 now. I would ask the people in your area, what exactly the steps are, because it varies from state to state. If you do decide to get into a program, commit yourself to the program, read anything and everything you can get. There is a computer term GIGO (Garbage In, Garbage Out), so, do get a quality program and a quality education. Also, never stop learning, when you feel you know it all, it is time to quit.

So, ponder this. When you go to work, do you put everything in a pouch on your belt, or cargo pocket? I put my shears, penlight, ALS field guide, and ears in my cargo pocket.

I am from WV, and I am familiar with the EMT-B protocols. NoOnesAngel stated she could give Epi, that is only with a Epi-pen or Epi-pen Jr, only after getting medical command approval. Albuterol can be given by a BLS squad only, if she has her medic partner driving, Med Com, probably won't allow her to administer the Tx. My suggestion to you would be, the next time your 'lazy-butt' medic partner is driving and you know your patient needs more care than you give in your BLS scope of practice, get on the radio and request ALS back up. I will also say WV, is probably about 20 years behind in updating ALS and BLS protocols.

Oh, about 12 years ago when I took my first EMT-B class, we were practicing our trauma patient assessment, and our instructor would throw some 'interesting' mechanisms of injury on us. Mine was a 42 year old man, who was shot 3 times, stabbed 5 times in the back, and thrown off a 5 story building and sexually assaulted on the way down. About a year later I landed my first job on a hospital based ambulance service, and we were dispatched to one of our 'better parts of town' for a 23 YOM with a toothache. As I was radioing my assessment in, the MedBase operator was my EMT instructor, I reported, "We are inbound to XYZ hospital with a 42 year old male, no local physician, who was reportedly shot 3 times, stabbed 5 times in the back, and thrown off a 5 story building, and sexually assaulted on the way down, requesting Med Channel, ETA 9 minutes." There was about 15 seconds of dead silence, then "Go to Med 8, " I switched to 8, Then I heard, "No, for real, what do you have". I thought it was funny at the time

What are you saying? Should I forget my weekends on the Riviera? I thought everyone made a ton of money in EMS. All those long hours, and lifting heavy patients, out in the heat, rain, cold (insert your climate here), and stupid drivers that can't just seem to figure out 'right for lights'..Want Fries with that???

Thank you all. I spent 11 years as an EMT-Basic on an ALS squad, so I have pretty much a decent idea as to what goes on. When we took our practicals we had a chalk board that everybody wrote atleast one thing on to ' break the ice ', there were such humorous remarks like 'driving isn't that bad', 'remember if all else fails, Want fries with that?', 'the three cardiac basics, too fast, too slow, or none at all'. It was a good way to relax for a bit. I was one of the first to take the CBT from our class, and everyone wants to know what is on the test, I tell them, could be anything, because the test bank is so extensive, so if anyone is going to test soon, brush up on cardiac, resp. and MCI..

Passed!

O.K. Let me start by saying, I am doing the typing on my iPhone so if I forget a comma, I will blame my phone. I have been in EMS for about 11 years, and about 2 years ago started in a local paramedic program, had about two thousand dollars of education shoved up my butt one nickel at a time. I finished all semesters on the Dean's list. I really didn't have a problem with the practicals, my trauma assessment was in front of our Medical Director, so that was uncomfortable, but passed first try. Then I scheduled the CBT, reviewed for hours. I tested this morning, just started and lightning knocked the power out for a bit, no worries, test came back right where I left off, my test stopped at 80/82 somewhere in that area. So, I am waiting. The only information I can give to those who are going to test is cardiology, resp., MCI, I had 3 drug calculations and one drip rate question. So wish me luck.