Arctickat

Heyyyyy...those are nice. I was aware of thepedi-pac, but not of the pedi-mate. Nice job Kaisu...it's just been placed at the top of my shopping list. Thanks!!

These car seats are not designed for use on a gurney, therefore there is no correct way to install one. It's unlikely that any car seat manufacturer will even give advice on the subject because they would be sticking their necks out if it didn't work. Here is how I do it: Place car seat facing rearward on head of cot. Use 3 point harness and bring the straps through the handle and slide through the seatbelt slots on either side of the seat, then fasten them to the cross belt at the foot end of the carrier. This only prevents the carrier from sliding forward and limits rearward or sideways movement. I then use a scoop strap and put it across the car seat to prevent sideways and rearward movement in the event of a collision. I loop the strap into the strap holes on either side of the cot. Edit: Remember to ensure that all belts are fastened to the frame of the gurney and not to any portion that is adjustable such as the head or foot end.

I must admit, I'm disappointed. I was accepted as a medical volunteer at the 2010 Olympics. My post is located at the Whistler Sliding Centre. I was quite excited to be a part of the Olympic experience because I will likely never have the opportunity to take part in it again. At the moment, I am drafting my letter to VANOC to withdraw my status as an Olympic volunteer. I doubt that one volunteer from one venue will be all that significant, but I will pass my resignation on to my counterparts and perhaps something will get started.

I wired my house with www.x10.com automated light switches. I know, the website looks cheesy, but the switches work well. I would suggest getting them on ebay though, it's cheaper. I have the software on my computer set the transmitter to turn on several lights in the house when I press one button beside my bed. Works like a charm and can even be set to turn off after a few minutes so I don't have to do it manually. As to the OP, sorry, I know it can be done, but I'm not tech savvy enough to help ya there.

From the strange but truly stupid column.... View the Article

Just to throw in my 2 cents, here is a link with information on how International practitioners can register in Saskatchewan. http://www.collegeofparamedics.sk.ca/Word_Docs/FQR%20paramedics_process%20map%20final.pdf

Now you're just being facetious, they don't even need to have a pulse to give them drugs. First of all, if you want to be registered in ACoP you have to challenge the entrance exam...don't you? The biggest barrier is that SCoP simply has not written an entrance exam yet. SIAST grads have to write the ACoP exam but, so far, there is no SCoP exam to write. If you want to be registered in both ACoP and SCoP I would suggest you complete the ACoP exam, then you can apply for and receive membership to SCoP. If you are a member in good standing with ACoP you should be able to get reciprocity in SCoP. I didn't have to jump through any hoops to get registration here, I predate SCoP. Edit: Here is the link to the SCoP registration website http://www.collegeofparamedics.sk.ca/SCP%20Pages/SCP%20Registration%20Information.htm

From the SCoP website: I am assuming you are referencing SIAST Graduates. If not, the website addresses this also: If I remember correctly, you are taking your EMT-P training in Alberta. Therefore, if you are a member of the ACoP you can be reciprocated (is that a word? My spell chequer says so.) into the SCoP, but you have to be registered with ACoP. Just completing the education in Alberta will not suffice. Edit: Before anyone asks, ACoP and SCoP are the Alberta and Saskatchewan Colleges of Paramedorks.

What bugs me about this comment is that we've been giving Nitro for years before there was even a capability of conducting prehospital 12 leads. Technomedics tend to forget the basic skills involved in providing high quality patient care. Were you never taught to treat the patient and not the machine? In regards to Nitro and prior IV access; I would like to hear from anyone here regarding how many times you had such a precipitous drop in blood pressure after one dose of Nitro that the patient became critically unstable. Time is muscle and the longer that muscle is ischemic the more damaged it can become, if the pressure drops significantly then discontinue and treat the patient accordingly. In 30+ years of EMS I have yet to see nitro cause a life threatening emergency, even when provided to those patients who are suffering RVI. Edit: Now, I'm going to throw in a true example that occurred in my service regarding a crew obtaining an ECG, even though they could not interpret it. This occurred about 10 years ago. A 65 year old male was feeling weak and dizzy, this had been occurring transiently for several months. The only crew available was a BLS crew. They responded and determined the patient had hypotension and bradycardia. Even though they did not know how to read a strip I had taught them how to apply the leads and acquire a strip along with some very basic interpretation. They acquired a strip and during transport the patient's condition improved significantly. Upon arrival at the hospital the patient was placed on a monitor which showed NSR. My crew realised this did not match what they had gotten and showed the doc their strip. The patient was transported directly to the CCU in a tertiary facility based on the strength of that 10 seconds of lead II ECG taken by a BLS crew who had no idea what they were looking at. The transient 3rd degree block required a pacemaker and had this crew not taken that ECG the patient would not have received definitive treatment and may indeed not still be alive. As you can tell, I don't care if the crew can interpret an ECG or not, if they have the time to obtain one there are people down the line who may find it invaluable.

Yes, there are several other conditions which could result in elevated S-T segments, pericarditis being one of them. S-T elevation is not the sole indication of STEMI on an ECG, there also has to be reciprocal changes in other leads. ie, S-T elevation in 2 contiguous leads as well as S-T depression in others. In a word, No, if only because the PCP can't start a line in Sask in the first place. The ICP and ACP can though. Having said that, I have used those blood tests from TnT Diagnostics. There is sufficient blood in the flash chamber to conduct the test and there is no reason I can't pass my sharp to the PCP to express the blood from the chamber and run the test. As far as being beyond the scope of practice, it's not an invasive procedure, therefore it is not addressed in our protocols. The nearest comparison would be a blood glucose test.

All good points Vent, we've always used a filter for intubated patients but have ordered in some new ones to follow with the Health Canada guidelines. "If high concentration oxygen and/or positive pressure ventilation are required, appropriate oxygen delivery system should be filtered with an antimicrobial, hydrophobic filter."

Sorry, I wasn't clear, I didn't mean the oxygen mask but a typical surgical mask...I'll edit my post accordingly.

Quakefire, you're gonna have to get Wally to give you guys up there some CME on H1N1. These questions of yours should have been answered back in June. Also, some of the well intentioned individuals here are giving you region specific, ie bad, information. Take mhull's response for question regarding the requirement for innoculation. Sask Health has mandated that all employees of health services, including us, are not required to take the H1N1 innoculation, but, if an outbreak occurs, all employees who refused the innoculation will be prohibited from working because they pose a risk to patients. Sask Health no longer tests for H1N1 because it is a community acquired illness. In essence, it is treated like any other influenza case. If symptoms are severe enough to require hospitalization the patient will be given antivirals, otherwise they are told to stay at home. I've been called to several Influenza Like Illness(ILI) cases and have transported very few because they didn't require hospitalization and were simply in panic mode. People are of the assumption that H1N1 is a death sentence and that every cough, sniffle, and fever requires a trip to the ED. Even the use of an N95 is not required unless an activity is being conducted that will result in aerosolized vapours, such as a neb treatment. Otherwise a simple surgical mask on the patient or you will suffice. Proper hand washing techniques is most important. The virus can only survive on a hard surface for 2 - 8 hours, even less on a soft surface like a blanket or clothing. You would be best served in going here for information rather than asking for help from individuals who have no idea what your specific local and provincial policies are.

Blades with a right handed flange are available for the left handed practitioner as are Miller blades with bulbs on the right or left side. My thoughts though are thus: It requires greater dexterity to manipulate the tube into position than is required to hold the laryngoscope in place. Therefore, the most dominant hand would likely be the best option for placing the endotracheal tube. For the right handed person, the hand with the greatest dexterity would be right hand. Attempting to place a tube left handed using a Mac blade with a left side flange would be difficult at best and a risk to patient care at worst. As mentioned, if one is left handed and incapable of functioning with a blade designed for those with right hand dominance, there are blades available.

ROFL I have a spelling checker It came with my PC. It plane lee marks four my revue Miss steaks aye can knot see. Eye ran this poem threw it. Your sure real glad two no. Its very polished in its weigh, My checker tolled me sew. A checker is a blessing. It freeze yew lodes of thyme. It helps me right awl stiles two reed, And aides me when aye rime. Each frays comes posed up on my screen Eye trussed too bee a joule. The checker pours o'er every word To cheque sum spelling rule. Bee fore a veiling checkers Hour spelling mite decline, And if we're laks oar have a laps, We wood bee maid too wine. Butt now bee cause my spelling Is checked with such grate flare, There are know faults with in my cite, Of nun eye am a wear. Now spelling does not phase me, It does knot bring a tier. My pay purrs awl due glad den With wrapped words fare as hear. To rite with care is quite a feet Of witch won should be proud, And wee mussed dew the best wee can, Sew flaws are knot aloud. Sow ewe can sea why aye dew prays Such soft wear four pea seas, And why eye brake in two averse Buy righting want too please. Edit: Author Unknown....to me at least

Can't spell can't either.

I have to disagree doc...to an extent. I'm with you all the way when it comes to those who speak the English language as their native tongue, but, for those who are trying to communicate with their counterparts and don't have the English skills we were raised with, I have to cut them some slack. Over the years I've chatted with many who have a poorly constructed post only because they are not all that familiar with the language written in these forums because these are not just American forums, but world wide. Isn't that the whole purpose of websites like this? To be able to simplify communication with our counterparts across the globe? To dismiss these people out of hand as being idiots is nearsighted at best. Just last summer I gave a tour of my EMS service to a medic from Hungary who didn't speak a word of English, but when the translator with us was unable to interpret the phrase "subarachnoid Hemorrhage" the medic knew exactly what I meant. From that point on I continued to use as much Latin as I could so I wouldn't have to dumb it down into words our interpreter could translate. Yet another context to consider is those who have a different regional dialect or regional spelling differences than some others. For example, Those from the U.S.A. put "ize" at the ends of words such as victimize or realize. Those in the British commonwealth use 'ise" as in realise and victimise. I've even had people call me an idiot for that very reason because in their arrogance they assume that everyone should communicate just like them. Edit: Nice post SA-Medic, guess I'm a slower typer than you.

For registration with our professional college, fluency in English is a requirement for licencure. If you can't speak the language, you can't be a paramedic at any level.

Actually, I beat you both be 24 hours. But who cares, just so long as it's gone.

Seriously? Someone is dinging our reputation points for this thread? I figured it wouldn't take long for some ass to start abusing this system. It would be nice to know why.

Is it because of a time issue that you don't read? If so, I like the way Kelly wrote his book, each chapter is only 2 or 3 pages and can therefore be easily set down to come back to later....a good book for the bathroom if ya know what I mean.

I did notice Rabbit squirt three sprays one after the other...at least when Carter did that on ER the patient had the decency to faint. 8 more episodes left....yayyy!!!

I read a great book by Kelly Grayson called "enroute". It is essentially his memoirs over his career in a series of short stories. Each story relating to a memorable call he had been on. From the joyful to the bizarre to that one call none of us will ever forget for the rest of our lives, I found myself reading his book and thinking, "yup, I've been there and I know exactly where he's coming from." Another book you might like is the memoirs of a Vietnam vet dustoff pilot. Even though there is a slight lull in the book at about the 3/4 point the first few pages and the ending left me amazed at what this man accomplished and how he ended up after the war. The book is called "ChickenHawk" by Robert Mason.

Quakefire. The Freightliner chassis have all been tried in P.A., Nipawin, and Yorkton. They were very short lived. Thousands of dollars were spent in attempts to soften the chassis and nothing worked. Airbags either broke in the cold weather or didn't equalize going around a curve, which is an extremely dangerous rollover risk. Lightening the spring rate resulted in more side roll. They finally gave up. When I was specing a new unit last year I almost went with an International Hybrid, but they won't permit them to be used for ambulances yet. Besides which, it is unlikely a hybrid would have been much benefit for a rural service anyways.

Trust me, it's not quite that exciting....but if you're willing to uproot your family and move to another country on spec...let me know, I'll send you an application.