EMT Foose

How about, with case by case consideration, a 14 to 16 year old as a dispatcher, and WITH AN AGENCY QUALIFIED Crew chief/EMT in direct supervision, 16 to 19 for ride along (usually meaning doing nothing without a "Mother/Father may I" from the Crew Chief. Probably end up being an equipment "Pack Mule")?

That's pretty much what they have around here as the explorer program with fire departments.

They sometimes take on too much of a role though, depending on the crew they're riding with.

I can't wait for school to start! 20 more days.

I'm only through 3 of the 14 various texts, so...yea. Not well educated yet.

I haven't been in an accident yet (knock on wood).

I'm a very cautious driver, but am not always the one behind the wheel. I've only heard of 1 minor collision in my division.

I must say that I'm none too pleased with the providing of safety equipment in my private employers operation. I'm glad to see this finally being mandated.

I've been trying for months to get a brush jacket, which is much more visible than anything else we have (save for the rain gear). Not to mention how many wildfires we work near...

We don't even have vests, and I'm considering buying one on my own.

I'm getting ready for my program to start later this month, and have so far acquired 10 textbooks and 4 workbooks...

There are still 5 more on the 'recommended texts' list. :?

I recommend shopping amazon.com and looking at the alternate sellers lists. It saved me a ton of cash!

Just a guess-

Systemic cellular respiration continues to occur when in cardiac arrest, so why not try glucose in the same way bicarb is used..? You would ultimately be addressing 2 of the H's and T's with these interventions, and if you've exhausted all other options....

This (I think) would give the body more of a fighting chance for ROSC.

P.S. I haven't started medic school yet, so take that into consideration when reading my responses... :wink:

I can see it now..

A bicycle with O2 tank secured to the frame, saddlebags filled with equipment, red strobe lights on the handlebars, and a siren in place of the bell.. :shock:

Have no fear, Ricky Rescue jr. is here!

In a suburban setting you can get places a lot faster than cars by cutting through yards and such..especially on a bicycle.

Yes and yes.

The course will provide you with the rest of the info you need to get certified.

Good luck and have fun, don't expect to make much money though. :wink:

I trained TKD for about a year prior to MMA. I enjoyed it and it helped with my kicking ability and flexibility, that's for sure.

I've been training MMA for almost 3 years with an emphasis on wrestling/jiujitsu, because showing up to work with black eyes/fat lips isn't cool.

Any GOOD gym/coach really drives home the point that it's a sport with a place and time, and beating people up for fun is a big no-no. Especially with many chokes, it would be very easy to kill someone. Submissions can cripple people. Most jiujitsu guys don't have that cocky/arrogant attitude that boxers do... It's a self-defense technique for sure when it needs to be used as such. A much more effective self defense technique than any traditional martial arts.

When taught to children in the proper setting by the right people, I think it's great. I've seen a couple 10 year olds that have amazing skill....but they also are taught to respect it. The growing popularity of MMA in the U.S., coupled with the American mindset of taking everything to an extreme and the 'I'm-better-than-you' way of thinking, will cause problems. There are many countries around the world that have children training dangerous fighting styles and nothing bad comes of it. Americans are just like that..

It will all blow over in a couple years. It's just the latest fad. Most guys go to a gym and drop-out soon after because they realize real quick that it's a real sport, and it's not easy being a fighter. Not everyone is cut out to handle the pain and injuries involved, not just in competing, but in training as well.

edit:

I should add that I've had knee surgery due to a torn meniscus from training. I recently stopped going though in anticipation of medic school. I'm not letting anything in my control get in the way of me getting my P-card.

Naturally occurring wildfires have always, and will always happen. You can't beat mother nature.

I realize this, and have every important document and irreplaceable personal item as well as an external frame backpack loaded with supplies ready to go at a moments notice. My neighborhood has had close calls 3 times in the past 5 years. Last year the fires burned through our backyards.

I appreciate what firefighters do (especially the crazy pilots!!), however I don't agree with anything other than attempting to protect structures in the path of wildfires. Let the brush burn, or it will just be worse next time.

Edit:

...and many people don't do enough brush clearance. IMO, they have no right to complain when their house burns down due to overabundance of combustibles right up against the structure.

I have Danners. They're lightweight, waterproof, and very comfortable. They are expensive, but my employer gives a boot allowance.

Is the only reason she goes to the ER is to get pain meds or because the pain in her back is interferring with her daily functioning?

That's the question of the day right there. I think she's going in for meds, and the ER nurses think the same thing.

She takes enough opiates and muscle relaxers every day that a horse would be knocked out..

So, awhile back, we had a bradycardic ALOC patient from nursing home 911 call. He went into and out of PEA. Atropine didn't work, so we were going to just transport like usual. Then, I was truly impressed...a FF actually wanted to try TCP. You don't understand how huge this is that someone would actually try this in these parts.... I

I give her points for that...but then both medics who rode in with us had no idea how to actually do it. Since I was closest to the monitor (Zoll), they had me moving both dials every which way. They had me turn each dial from really low to really high until they got scared and had me go back down...I felt like 3 new EMTs had been handed a monitor to play with.

So my question is: EXACTLY how do you do the physical process of pacing? Where do you start your dials, where do you move them to, what do you look for on the screen, how do you know you've captured, etc etc.

Yikes!

Were these medics from a dinosaur station I hope?

That's basic ACLS stuff.

I've transported one woman in particular many times that kinda sticks in my head. I've picked her up from many places, including her home, typically on a code 2 response.

She's had many back surgeries due to injury from MVA, and the most recent procedure didn't have a good outcome. She is addicted to pain meds, and always goes in for the same reason- back pain. The ER staff is usually not too happy to see her.

I think this lady is really nice. She has a family, a job, and many things going for her.

My question is this-

How appropriate would it be to start a conversation about her addiction and any possible alternatives? I would like to see her get the right help, but it just doesn't seem to be happening. I'm sure her family is under strain from her addiction, and it's not fair to anyone. I really don't even know what the right help would be, but this cycle is a downward spiral.

Comments? Experiences? Advice?

Very true. . . if the medic gives a flip about what he does... but even then how long does it take to learn "IV, finger stick, 12-lead, sit back and do paperwork" ALS skills for LA and Orange Counties?

Haha, so true.

I'm tempted to test the old saying and see if an L.A. county medic could actually follow protocol to its maximum and work with one hand tied behind his back.

I'm willing to bet it's very possible.

Translation please?

I'm not sure exactly what you're asking, so I'll be thorough.

5150 is a 72 hour mandatory hold for psychiatric evaluation. There is another level, which is either 5152 or 5158. One of those is a 72 hour hold for a minor, the other is a week long mandatory hold. I forget the correct designation..

Once placed on one of those, the patient is a ward of the state and loses many rights for that period of time. A patient cannot be released early unless the doctor signs off on it.

The police bring in many violent psych patients in 4 point locked restraints.

I would imagine it'd be like most other ambulance companies in Los Angeles and Orange County...EMTs are a dime a dozen and treated like crap by many FFs. I've heard good things about Care company though...

I pretty much agree with the above statement..

I must add though: once the FF/Medics see that you know your basic stuff, can be a team player, and are actively learning ALS level care, they trust you a bit more and let you participate.

They have an ER just for mental illness?

Working in L.A. County, I've had the pleasure of transporting to many psych hospitals. :?

By far, the most interesting is the psych ER at Harbor UCLA. You go through the main ER to get to this separate section. Every door is locked and made of steel for a good reason...

Typically you're holding the wall with other EMT's as well as L.E.O.'s, all with 5150's or worse.

How funny that I would find this thread after just joining the site today..

The ''EMT'' from the show was put on administrative suspension on the air date, and later terminated by his employer. I have no idea where he may be applying now, but this should follow him for a while.

I should also add, he's in paramedic school.