buckeyedoc

We put 150mg in D5W & run it at 160 gtts/min for wide complex VT. We draw it up w/ an 18 or 19 ga filtered needle to prevent glass shards from being drawn up. 300 mg is used in arrests.

Our company installed the Zoll Nomad system. So far, I am very impressed with this. It has really simplified my shift. Does anyone else have these and what do you think about it. We are also getting a toughbook laptop in their as well. In case you don't know what the Nomad system is, it is a Mobile Data Terminal (MDT) type system.

Too much paint huffing and whippits.

Don't try to impress me. If you know the basics and do your job right, that will be impressive enough. Ok, with that being said, here's the basics you MUST know. 1. How to take a manual blood pressure...even when the bus (that's for your, Dust) is moving. 2. Like Dust said, know where things are. When I ask you to hand me a 5cc syringe with a 19 gauge needle on it, you better know where both of them are. Oh, btw, we don't expect you to know where everything is on your first day, but the second, yes. The third if every truck isn't laid out the same. 3. Learn what you can, when you can. Downtime isn't always for sleeping. Take the time to study new procedures and more importantly, you're local protocols. I don't care what XYZ EMS dept is doing. They have no influence as to what our dept is doing. 4. Remember, the basic always buys lunch. Ok, I'm sure there will be additions to this list by other members of "The City".

I'll usually flash my rear loads if I have a tailgater. That gives them a good warning that we know they are following too closely.

This is my second trip to San Anatone. We stayed in Canyon Lake the first 4 days and now we're in downtown. Spent quite a bit of time in New Braunfels. Phillips is coming out with a new MRX model of their monitor/defib. It should hit the market later this year. You'll like the changes.

Well, the wife and I are here at the ENA Conference in San Antonio. There are over 4,000 people are attending this session and over 2,200 of them are nurses. First off, we made out like bandits. We have a duffel bag full of cool free stuff. Second, has anyone ever seen 2,200 ER nurses get together. DRUNK FEST. Not totally, but let's just say....they like to "unwind." There are a lot of vendors here with their new products (some not even on the market yet). A lot of cool stuff from Medtronics, Zoll and Phillips. We have been going like gang busters since yesterday. We kicked off the conference with Tim Butcher from New Orleans. His topic was emergency management during Katrina. It was great to hear first hand experiences. Some of you were there and know where he is coming from. If you weren't there, then you didn't get the whole story. His talk was very informative and straight forward. We have one more day of the conference and then the Army vs. Texas A&M game. GO ARMY!!! For the record, you do not have to be a nurse to join the ENA (Emergency Nurses Association). The conference is pretty expensive ($800 for my wife and I), but it is money well worth spent. It is nice to see it from the nurses perspective. Working in the ER, I get to see that, but most of pre-hospital providers don't.

It has a little to do with semantics. The EMT-B used to be called an EMT-A, but that got confusing. The Intermediates used to be called 'Advance'. Then they changed to Intermediates. Now the standard nomenclature is EMT-Basic, EMT-Intermediate and EMT-Paramedic. A little less confusing, I guess. I was an Intermediate in Ohio when I moved to Indiana. I had to jump through hoops on one foot while juggling and singing show tunes to get my Indiana Intermediate (Advanced at the time). I was able to walk across state lines and get my EMT-Basic card, though. Go figure. That was about 8 years ago and IN has changed things since then. Look Here!

We covered basic lab values in medic school. We learned the ranges and treatments, but that was about it. It wasn't until I started working in the ER and married a nurse, that I worried about specific lab values. Now I am more aware of lab values and the impact they have on the patient's outcome. It's amazing how complacent medics are when they get patients with Na and K levels that are outside of the normal limits. They don't put 2 and 2 together. I admit that I don't know all lab values and still have to look some of them up.

We have light blue uniform shirts (which suck) and navy blue pants. We also have navy blue t-shirts w/ logo embroidered on left chest and a star of life on the back. Technically, we have to wear our light blue shirts for the entire shift, but we usually take matters in our own hands and take them off during the shift. Who cares what management says.

You will find my responses to these wonderful questions in red.

It doesn't matter whether a candidate is pro or con a specific issue. They'll end up doing what's in their best interest anyway. I would not vote for anyone (local or national) simply because they are pro-EMS. I am one of the few people I know that actually researces the candidates and rather in depth as well. I like to make informed decisions.

Uh, why?

Nextel phones have what I call the "F-you" button. It will send the call to voice mail. If I am on a run, I hit the "F-you" button. I don't answer my phone on calls.

Don't forget the GPS.

Unless you're talking about having a c-collar on and no backboad, nothing.

In my humble opinion, as well as being former 11B and current medic, the CLS will suffice. HOWEVER, I applaud you for wanting to get the EMT. That will be beneficial. Good medical training can and will make a difference in combat. I don't know about the program that you have inquired about, but I wish you all the best. Stay safe and keep your head down (your arse too). Doc

The USCG has opportunities for EMT's, but do not specifically ues them as such. They have rescue swimmers where the EMT-B would be beneficial. My advice to you would be to contact a recruiter and have them answer any specific questions you might have. USCG Recruiters for Kentucky

I, too, apologize if I came off short. Nothing personal. Doc

I was not implying that you were a whacker. I'm simply stating that there are people out there, and we all have seen them, that get their rocks off by carrying a little card and trying to impress someone with it. If your state requires you to carry your card, that's fine. I, too, was simply making a point. I'm all for having to prove who you say you are when asked by the authorities. Oh, btw, I'll dial it back a notch when and where I see fit. Not you.

A little off topic, but there was someone's signature on another message board I frequent.... ....Arguing on the internet is like running in the special olympics. Even if you win, you're still retarded.

Why are your cards getting all torn and worn out. Stop pulling them out of your wallet trying to impress someone. All of my cards are in my planner that stays at the house. I have no reason to carry them around. If I need them for an application or something like that, then I copy them and take the copy with me. My wife has even more cards than I do and she does the same thing. There is really no need to carry them on your person daily.

HIRE GOOD EMPLOYEES!!! Sorry for that to be in all caps, but I needed to make a point. The best type of advertisement is hiring good, professional employees. My best advice is to schmooze the local nursing homes and doctors offices. Like GAmedic said, I don't know anyone who doesn't love a free dozen doughnuts (especially cops). Pizza for the night crews is a step in the right direction. Promotional material is good (ie-pads of paper, pens, little glowy things that usually annoy people). Best of luck.

It all depends on the insurance carrier your company has. They set what guidelines the drivers must have. They might require you to be 21 or even 25 in order to drive. If you have 6 points, check with the state regarding a driving safety course. Some states will drop a couple of points if you sit through their driving safety class. Good luck.