SSG G-man

I chose "other." I think that better educated Basics is as important as better educated medics. I do not necessarily agree with staffing every ambulance with Medics. Did we need a medic on the call the other day for a teenager with a sliver of wood in her foot? I think that would have been a waste! I would like to see Basics get more training, but I think we need to keep it reasonable, or we are going to end up short-changing the public when they lose coverage because localities can not afford to pay enough medics. The county I live in is semi rural, only one hospital and all fire and most EMS is volunteer. The county is getting some paid medics and putting them where they are most needed when they are most needed. Most of the paid units are a EMT-B to be the driver and the EMT-P. My station is going to get a paid crew to be there from 8am to 4pm, which is the period of time when we have the most trouble getting a unit on the street. I don't think the county could afford 24 hour coverage at every station in the county!! If you put too many restrictions on all this, stations are going to close because they can not get enough crews to be viable and the citizens will lose!

Not having an autistic family member and never having dealt with the situation before, I am not sure of the best avenue of approach. This may or may not help, but what about some kind of Medic alert type bracelet of necklace? If the pt is not responding normal and I see a bracelet I am going to check that, if I see that pt is autistic, it may alter my actions and reactions. Just a thought!

I guess the secret service agents could not be cross trained? No, I doubt the would far sighted enough to think, "If the POTUS or VPOTUS gets hurt, we should have someone with medical training nearby." I think after 1981, they might have learned something. Just my $.02 SARGE

It was not something specific in this thread it is a feel I get in general on this site. It seems that if you are not NREMT-P then you shoud get off your lazy ignorant butt and go to school. I get tired of reading that everyone who goes to EMT class passes and the skills are dumbed down, etc. I just hit the breaking point I guess, since most of the people I run with are EMT-B's.

I think I might have to find another site to visit. What a bunch of conceited and condescending folks you are! When the ca-ca hits the fan I would rather have someone with some knowledge than nobody. Like I said before we have some folks who are FR that mainly are there to drive, but if an other set of hands is needed for something, at least they have an idea what is going on. Maybe the name of this site should be changed to Para-God city since so many seem to think that (to paraphrase a SNL skit) "IF you ain't paramedic your CRRAAAPPP!" (in a Scottish accent) There is a place for every level in the system and just because you have advanced, does not mean those at the lower level are worthless. I have not been involved in EMS long enough to get my paramedic so I guess I should not get in. I mean if I can't fit in paramedic school with being in the Army and being a husband and father, why am I even in EMS. Heaven forbid I respond on a call and actually help some one! Sage, out!

I run with VOLUNTEER department (let the bashing start) that is combined Fire/EMS and we have FR that drive. I am a relatively new EMT and our department want the newer EMTs to be spending their time on patient care and not start driving right away. We have several FFs who can drive the box and are FR. So this frees up the EMTs to do patient care. There is also a policy that until the officers feel comfortable with a new EMTs skills, he/she is not allowed to go out with the FR's unless a more experienced EMT is on the piece.

A few months back a female went off the Harry Nice into the Potomac. She left her car on the bridge to block traffic efor a good while!!

Well, if Dust had his way almost no one would get an ambulance where I live. We have a few paid Medics in the county, but most is Volunteers weather basics or medics. I don't know why you think a EMT-B should not be on an ambulance. Should we do away with EMT B and make everyone become Medics?

I am not even finished with my EMT-B but I am looking forward. One my additional duties in my job is coordinator for our buildings medical response team. We have a "police " force here with an SRT (SWAT) and we have Soldiers doing guard duty also. (I am a Soldier with an Infantry background if that helps your decision) With this in mind, looking at potential for something very bad happening to our building because: 1. We are military 2. We are near Washington, DC 3. We are close to Pentagon Do those of you with TEMS training think it would be beneficial to me and the personnel on my team. Some of the team members have more medical background than I have, some have less. Some have almost none (CPR, AED). We take almost anyone who will volunteer to help others in time of crisis. I would not recommend this for all, just he dedicated who would be willing. Thanks in advance.