diazapam

This should be common sense Rx the pt if they are acute if not take your time and Rx where your comfortable , if that happens to be in the back of the ambulance so be it. You are the one that is handling their EMERGENCY wheather it really is or not is up to you with the help of common sense and experience.

What you don't need that CERT in CALI, I work for the FD and drive anmbulance just fine w/o a CERT>

Yeah they negligent. There are a number of ways they could have handled this situation better. One is to get the local authorities involved, at least they look like there making an attempt. Two they could have got there supervisor involved as well.

The tactic of not hiring firefighters and then sending them to an academy or school on the department's dime. I dont see why they should be any different from EMS, I had to pay for mine, they can pay for theirs.

Very true here in Southern Cali most small FD's require that you put your self through a collaged base fire academy, except for the big city departments such as LA City, Long Beach LA County, San Diego, and OCFA. So most fire applicants are putting there self through medic school and fire academies and classes. There's no false ads here, cert requirements are on the job flyer and there is usually no exceptions.

Whoah now...unless you think that the west coast is ONLY southern Cali, you really need to check yourself. As well, don't lump Oregon (and Washington...those lazy bastards) in with ANY part of California when it comes to EMS. There is a vast difference in the educational standards, available treatments, use of OLMC and general quality of care from the southern end to the northern. Put simply, people outside your area are expected, and taught how to actually treat their pt's on their own.

Again I apologize not too familiar with the pacific NW, How is the culture of the FD's up there, and what I mean by that is what is a one year probation like? with fire training and ems training combined.

Hey Dust can you clarify the problem with big city FD"s?, are you talking about pay, or quality of EMS?, I live in Southern Cali all my life and I know at one time LAFD the city not the county had single role paramedics, but since then have crossed trained and only hire Firefighter/medics, as well as Santa Ana FD in orange County gave up the single role paramedic position as well. If these big city FD's are the problem I don't see any change in ems in the west coast at least regarding protocols and certs within these major metropolis departments when is change going to come? Again i apologize only know Southern Cali ems.

I don't believe educational standards are out of reach, for example I see your point with FD ambulances and chiefs not wanting to foot that extra educational bill, but many fire applicants are putting their self through medic school and getting those 2 year degrees in paramedicine, and fire science for entry level fire positions.

Yes I believe BASIC's should be allowed to do advanced skills such as IV's, EKG inturpitations, blood sugars and intubations, due to the fact that thes skills only require hours of training, and people will see ems as the stepping stone job it really is.

Obviously the guy sounds like he is dead, I see the 5150 so your in Cali, what county did this call take place in?. I saw someone made reference to the OC, but there are only a few FD's with ambulances so are you Firemedics?

Sounds like your pt. would have benefited from the NTG/and Morphine from the Rx of his active MI, regarding his B/P sound like a second pertinent positive due to the MI.

Hello all, Iam a Firefighter/Paramedic in southern Cali, just thought I might see what other opinions, and ideas that many have around the country. Hope to relate and learn.