SSG G-man

I look when I am doing assessments, but have never found one. I have had a few conscious patients say they have one on. I feel like saying, "thanks for sharing!!"

Sarge

Scaramedic said:

"Keep in mind the last three deaths of record were 2 assassinations and 1 sniper, a vest would not have helped. "

What does that mean?

My service we have something very similar to the Globe shown earlier. IT is by Globe, but not that exact model. Pants are a must wear unless you are wearing ems pants. Jacket optional most of the time.

I wear the jacket almost almost all the time, especially on MVAs. I only don't wear it during summer on what appears to be an "indoor medical call" but still have it in the cab of the AMBULANCE. (emphasis based on discussion in another thread.)

Well, I took the Chantix for about 5-6 weeks. I have been off it for 2 weeks now and have not relapsed yet. My Dr was willing to have me with refills out to 12 weeks to make sure I had was over the addiction and had broke the habit. I am surviving even though my gf smokes. But it has helped her cut way down because she does not smoke around me much!

Chantix was great for me!!!

Smoke free about 6 weeks!!! and 1 week before that of bumming a few, less than a pack that week!

I always heard it with the sister, too.

Well, having lived in the DC Metro area since 1991, I have heard of no issues with Arlington. Don't pay attention to Baltimore.

I now live in Arlington, VA and will be paying much attention. DC EMS has had trouble for years. I remember a news story many years ago:

Camera crew outside build where 911 call comes from. Crew films ambulance from station approx 3 blocks away driving up and down neighboring streets. Took approx 9-12 minutes for unit to arrive from approx 3 blocks away.

That story did not make DC happy.I know that since the problem that caused this new policy, there have been a lot of changes proposed to the DC EMS department. They have had other problems recently, too.

But it will get so much better here when Hillary or Obama take control of health care! LOL!!

Here is a little anecdote for the EMS based Fire Suppression. I have been a vol EMT for a few in years in MD. My Department is fire and EMS. You can do what you want, fire only, EMS only or both. Well, I recently moved to VA. I was looking to continue to volunteer. The county I want to volunteer in has huge well respected career department. Volunteers are mostly supplemental. What I find humorous is, the way the county has it set up if you want to volunteer to do fire, you HAVE to get qualified as an EMT first!!!! So to me that shows they know what the priority is!!

Just thought I would throw that out there. This department is very large in the DC metro area!

Well, MSP are the PRIMARY provider of 911 medevac, they are not the ONLY. If they are tied not available you might get the US Park Police (Eagle) or MedSTAR(a hospital based service). I have been on calls where we have had several of the services on site when we had several bad patients from MVAs.

Sarge

Well, if the service was based in MD, to be considered and "emergency Vehicle" the vehicle must be using lights and sirens. Otherwise vehicle must conform to ALL traffic laws. Maybe we would want to give up the lights and sirens and just respond with the flow of traffic. Prove to everyone that running L&S not an advantage.

For the rigs we need to make sure there are the lifts for the onboard O2 tanks. Back saver! Not sure about the powered stretchers. I have no experience with them.

Where does the line of "health care" get drawn. Should the government pay for my lipo because it affects my mental health? I do not want more children, should the government pay for me to get clipped?

Just a little devils advocate!!

WOW!!!!! I am so happy! Lowly volunteer Basic me said something that Dust actually agreed with!!!! He Quoted me!!! Woo-Hoo! Mark this day on my calendar!!!

BLS first response, paramedic intercept.

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Only those that are enrolled in a paramedic degree program.

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If everyone is a paramedic or paramedic to be, why run BLS response with paramedic intercept? I am not very familiar with different ways of doing response, but seems like a waste to me. IF you have all these paramedics and paramedic students, why not team them up in the unit? Less units running around Anytown!

Sway-Michael Buble

Is an East Coast get together still in the works? Because of job (military), and personal issues (kids), and finances I am not sure if I can make it out west. Something within driving distance of the DC Metro area would be wonderful!!!!!!

Sarge

I would be up for the east coast get together, somewhere within a half day of DC. I live right out side of DC, and money as for all is a big issue! (Soon-to-be-Exwife gets most of it!!)

But let me know!!

Does anyones service have a protocol where they check your welfare after x amount of time with no contact? Just wondering. We were on scene with a diabetic tonight and dispatch didn't check on us for 45 min. I know with police officers, they get checked every four to five min. we don't need that frequent status checks, or do we? Or do we need them at all?

Did you see my post right above yours?

Sarge

We have the "Oh S&*$" button. Makes your mike open for 15-30 seconds so you can give any information needed. Also can give your unit number followed by "R" and they will know you are in trouble. We also get "duration Checks" every ten minutes on scene, unless you cancel. IF they get no response, will start the cavalry!

Thank God I have never had to use.

I have backed out of a scene and called dispatch and said, " Request Sheriffs office our location." That works, too, if you can do it. Some calls and some addresses get automatic law enforcement dispatch.

Sarge

Maybe skill badges, but not ribbons or medals. I would not do it!

I cried after one call I remember. Call went out as a Priority one choking. on way we are told it is a 2y/o female. Great, a kid!! Well, arrive on scene and child has expelled a large chunk of a chicken nugget. Child obviously has a cold (snot nosed kid). Child is crying loudly. I am thinking this is a very good sign. (FYI on a priority one call they dispatch closest BLS ambulance, closest ALS unit (might be ambulance or a medic in a explorer) and an engine company) so we have the cavalry coming. Well, with the foreign object being expelled, decent lung sounds and good air exchange, I cancel the medic unit and tell the mother we are going to transport just to have her checked out.

Well mother is holding child, child crying so much she starts to vomit. We yell at mother to turn child so she can vomit on the floor. Mother instead hugs child tight. Child aspirates vomit and goes down hill from there. We have to call and turn the medic unit around. We transport and meet the medic in route. I heard child was flown to the children hospital that night.

Well, thank goodness it was a rainy evening. on the way back to station my driver had to concentrate on the road and did not see me crying! I beat myself up over the situation! One of our station officers who responded to the scene had been an medic, but had given it up told me he would have made the same call as i did. At the time I cancelled the medic, there was no als interventions needed. He said the person responsible for the condition of the child was the mother. One for letting the child eat the damn chicken nuggets in the first place and two, for not letting the vomit on the floor and causing the child to aspirate.

I cried myself to sleep that night, was considering getting out of EMS!!

Not to be an a$$, but make sure you have someone proofread and edit for you.

Should have said, "Have any of you written one before?"

Lets make sure if we are going to put ourselves in the public eye like that, we do it correctly.

At my volunteer department we do have what we call observers ride. They all are at least CPR qualified, members of the department and are waiting for EMT class. They also are given information and training and are tested before they can ride. They mostly serve as a gofer. (Go get me the LSB, bring another O2 bottle, etc). We make sure they know where everything is on the ambulance so they can keep the EMT from having to leave the patient to get items.

Sarge

I have not. I was getting ready to post something mentioning that!!