uglyEMT

Open the OMFG box step 1. check underwear step 2. replace if necessary step 3. Call dispatch and get every available unit rolling including mutual aid sorry couldn't resist

Thats without a doubt Richard and I will also post up the wet down details as well

Get The Experience First!!!! Your going to need some years of 911 service to get proficent at your profession so don't rush it. As everyone said.. Get The Degree!! Don't go to a chop shop for your cert. Go all the way and get your degree. As for "other" things you can do, did you take a look at T.V and movies? Alot of productions higher both EMTs and Medics for on site care, just be aware you "may" need a union card but not always (I have worked several and usually got a wavier). You have industrial also, some companies are in desperate need as well. Glad to see your thinking outside the "box" but just remember to crawl before you walk.

Ok folks time for an update. Looks like we have a winner Went with the company that made our old rigs (Hortons). WOW what customer service. This guys are on the ball. We have a fully speced out sweet rig AND came in under budget!!!! Thanks team 2011 Ford F450 Diesel 4x4 (might even get a 2012 depending on Ford) Type 1 165"wb 84" Model 457 All tricked out inside, we were able to get a few things standard so we upgraded other stuff and added a few bells and whistles from the wish list. What we really like is the back has AIRBAGS!!! Yes you read that right airbags. Every position except the cot has an airbag module. In addition to 4 point seat belts. It also has HEPA w/ UV filtration and antimicrobe coating on everything. Think we worried about safety a little??? We went with the multiplex BUT no touch screens. Just your basic membrane switches. Even have really cool privacy windows on the thing. Normally clear but hit the switch and everything goes opaque. Keeps those pesky bystandards from seeing what we are doing. Also like the interior lighting, both flourecent and LED. I like the LEDs because I can dim them to check eyes but still have enough to see. The fluorecents are nice when doing cleanings and at fire rehabs, just gives that all around light. Being we have the choice now I dont have to blind my patients with lights, keep the fluorecents off and just use the LEDs which are a softer whiter light and are also not placed directly over the patient's head area. Outside we went with all LEDsof course Now the ISS will know we are on call LOL OK not that bad but really lite it up, maybe folks will see us now Also went ahead and got the rear done in the cheveron pattern (again went above and beyond with the safety). Went blue and white not green and yellow or red and yellow. Need to stand out from the fire boys a little Everything else is pretty much the same as other rigs. We did have them put in the electronic lift for the main tank and added a O2 port on the floor right next to the back door. The concept behind that port is fire rehab, can hook the multiport to it and just have the fire boys sit on the rear step or the ground and not have to dirty up the inside. Once we get this beast built and delivered I will post up picks for everyone and of course let you all know when the wet down is Thanks again everyone for the insights and assistances! Much Appreciated!!

So need a transplant, comit a crime and go to jail and get it done on someone elses dime. (sorry bad humor today) I agree with Caplan, we are not in the business to judge only to help. He is doing his time so he still needs to be treated as a human being. I never change my standard of care no matter what. As an EMT I will help someone even though they may have done something extremly bad, I am not a judge or jury. Personally (not as an emt) I think he should burn in hell for his crime, or the electric chair, or a needle in his arm. Wish we could just shoot certain convicts, heck i'll buy the bullets. Alot cheaper then housing, feeding and caring for the worst of the worst.

Haven't had the privledge of a birth yet. Hopefully I wont do anything stupid LOL Sounds like everything went to plan in that story. Still wondering why you would call a taxi instead of 911. I mean come on, you call us at 3am for a stubbed toe but not a child birth? Oh well at least everything turned out fine. Don't even want to see the cleaning bill for that cab. Hopefully you all see my humor in this post and not soemthing else

Sounds like its time to sit down with a counselor. Maybe a PTSD thing? If you are feeling off then there is something underlying the issue. Talk it out don't suffer in silence!! Took me a while to figure it out so I am speaking from experience. I am now a happier EMT.

Seems to me from reading the article when white FF get promoted the black ones sue and vise versa. Sounds like a pretty Fed up system if you ask me and not one that should be a model. As for the comment about how many black supervisors... ARE YOU FREAKIN SERIOUS???? What the hell does that prove? Say a persons service has few if any people of non white decent then their would be few if any in a supervisory role. Honestly I usually stay out of these threads because they just nausiate me to know end because no matter what is said it gets spun to sound Fed up. How about this GROW THE F UP, GET OVER IT, AND MOVE ON.

Thanks again everyone. OK so the consensus is a NO on the Epi Pen. Kind of what I figured. Dust thanks for that explination about profusion and SQ. Didn't think of it that way. Glad your back

Thanks for the responses guys. Yea I figured as much but wanted to ask the pros. It was more of a what if thing not something I would try. Yes it was a wilderness survival type of question. We mulled it over thinking what if someone had their own epi pens with them. I know my partner is highly allergic to peanuts and carries one on her person at all times both on and off duty. Many thanks and keep them coming if you like.

Ok folks been offline a while but still been active. Increased work load, extra shifts, education. Last night was the first night off in a while and went to the local watering hole with some EMS buddies. Well while dicussing EMS in general a show came on (dont know what it was, just reading some of the CC) basically a survior show (not the show survivor but about a survivor). Two guys camping in the wilderness, one has a heart attack, one gives CPR for god knows how long and finally the guy comes back. Now being we were all Basics we were dicussing this and couldn't believe without defib, meds, or advanced care it was possible. Anyways, my one buddy asked about Epi. Which got us wondering say you were in a wilderness setting, a long duration of time away from advanced medical support and had Epi pens (auto injector basic type .3mg) would .6mg be enough to help? OK before all hell breaks loose we are NOT talking our day to day settings here. We are talking wilderness survival settings where you are your only help for hours or days. You know those shoe string and a branch splint, might have to knaw the limb off to survive settings (OK extreme but after some Jack what else is to be expected). In honesty I don't know what amounts of meds you all push during an arrest. What we were thinking is .3 or .6mg would be an improvment then nothing at all. Would there be benifit or harm? Just a question we through out there and passed around along with the rounds. Admin: if this is in the wrong forum feel free to move.

Though I can't view the video from work (stupid filtering) I know the one you are talking about. While I am all for the searches in this particular case I feel they went too far. I mean you even hear the people complaining in the background. I think people shouldn't be afraid of the full body scans, hell I have had them in my travels nothing but standing there with your arms raised and shoes off. Its some of the fear mongers that have spread the information that it "reveals" the body. I have seen the screen shots, its basically just your outline and body shows whitish no features other than what you are conceling. BTW carry your med cards if you have stents or other implants As far as area airports that can't afford the fullbody scanners I think everyone gets searched within reason. I also feel EVERY agent needs to go through training with the local LEOs to LEARN how to pat down someone. I think some of these agents do get a little too touchy feely. I have been pat down by LEOs and never felt "violated" because they do an effective search but know where to stop there hands. I think the problem is as with any profession, ours included, you get overzelous folks or folks with "complexes" that take things too far and ruin it for everyone else. In this particular instance is was taken too far. BUT (isn't there always a but) there have been stories from overseas of folks strapping IEDs to children to pass checkpoints thinking they would be less likely to be searched. So yes sometimes little Suzie needs a pat down but not a groping.

Amen to that!!

Thanks for that Herbie! Yes it is scary at first being "the one in charge". Normally my CC is around and we have a great working relationship. She is more of a guide then a boss. Usually lets me do my thing and observes and steps in if I am straying (which isn't often) and also between runs has me review past calls (not ours) and see what, if anything, I would do differently. I think it is just lack of experience when it comes to the Docs. Being we run the same EDs all the time the nurses and Docs have gotten used to certain folks as being the go to person and sometimes walk right past me to get the info. I understand and sometimes like observing and listening to the way she gives her report, helps me understand what key points I need to hit. Writting the PCR is one thing its that face to face that is work LOL Sometimes though I wish they wouldn't just walk right past me. I'll get there one day though. Just like I got there being comfortable in the back, will just take time. Now I have a probie on my rig so the CC has tasked me with teaching him so I am getting there with respect to being a CC. Thanks again for the pointers, I will definatly be adding them to my memory.

Glad you had fun with the toys. Yea leave it up to the fire guys to keep playing with them, EMTs just need concintrate on patient care. Didn't see it mentioned but did they let you sit in the car while it was being ripped apart? THAT is an experience in and of itself. Something I think ALL EMTs need to be exposed to. Its amazing the sounds you hear under the blanket. If you get used to them it is easier to calm your patient if your not freaking out as well Hopefully whatever squad you get on after school does pratice drills regularly to get you to commit to long term memory the keys to rapid extrication, KED, holding Cspine while transfering to the long board, ect ect. Then remeber one thing as well,once you learn it all and commit it to memory it all goes out the window in the field LOL just kidding but it does get awkward when the car is upside down, on its side in a ditch, hung up on a guide wire, stuffed under a tractor trailor, or any number of other ways cars don't always stay rubber side down. Its is amazign how we can get our bodies into some of those wrecks, I have made yoga instructors jelous Glad you had fun.

Yes Herbie CC = Crew Chief On my rigs we are the same way everyone is interchangeable but the CC is usually the most experienced person. Just lately that seems to be me As an update the patient is still in the hospital and no further information given.

Thanks Herbie for that. I will make sure of that for the next time. My one problem for not seeing the docs directly is usually I amnot "running" the call usually second chair and the CC handles everything else while I write the report. But in the past week or so it seems (and in this patients case is) like the normal CCs have been unavilable due to vacation schedules and I stepped in as the CC so it added the dynamic of giving verbals to the staff. I have given verbals before but usually with my CC over my shoulder. I will keep you posted.

I was speaking with my Captain over the issue and agrees that he is crying for help. One problem we have had on the later calls now... patient stability. These last call he was highly unstable and medical took over psych and he was transported to the nearest facility which unfortunatly doesn't have a psych staff. Hopefully once stablized he can get the help he needs. I don't know why but I feel bad for this guy. I have had my share of FFs and the troubles they all experience. I dont look at them with distain or anything. I treat my patient be it the 1st time or the 50th time. For some reason the first time around I didnt peg him as a FF. Hearing his statment, and it was the only one, I felt he was looking for someone to listen and that day he happened to get me. Hopefully if we are called back to this patient he willbe stable so I can have the psych over the medical and take him to a proper facility or at least notify all crews of the situation as well. Thanks for the heads up on the staffs. I haven't seen Drs directly, most times it is my verbal and written to the nurse then we are off. I figured they actually took our words (written and verbal) seriously. I will keep up on this as best as I can. Keep the help coming though, I might learn something else or at least someone else might learn something through this experience.

Blueball Avenue, Boothwyn, PA

That is something to look into. I figured the head nurse would be fine but if I have to go a little higher I might have too. As far as the treating Dr. I figured he would at least take my PCR into consideration, I did note the prior visits and statements. See what I can do. That is noted in our crew quarters and on the call boxes, this guy will not be RMAed. I know Dispatch has a history file started as well so if necessary we have COAes. At our meeting tonight I will bring it up so all crews are notified, one good thing about being a Line Officer LOL

Hey all, need some outside perspective for a recent problem. I have recently run into a Frequent Flyer (3 calls aday) and have done all that I think I could for the pateint but it doesn't seem to be working. I think the system is failing him. First contact was for running out of meds and wanted a transport. During the call it was what he said that got my spidy senses up. "I am tired. I just want to lay down and go to sleep. If I wake up who would care." OK I get him in the ED and begin telling the nurse everything then pull her aside a second (dont talk in front of my patient's) and explain what he said and that I feel I psych consult should happen. 4hrs later another crew brings him home. Dont you love taxi duty? 8hrs later I am bringing him back for "intoxication". Checked the pill bottle and 26 are missing. OK intoxication is now suspected overdose. AGain intake the ED (different nurse) explain everything including the prior visit and ask to speak to the head nurse. Speak to her and advocate for my patient that he needs a psych. Heard from another crew he was brough home sometime later the same day. Nothing sense. Well to my disheartening this AM on my way into my regular job I hear over my dispatch radio his address. OK I slow down a little to stay in range and here what the crew finds. Semi-concious empty pill bottles everywhere and empty liquor bottles. Just before I get out of range I hear ALS being called for. Ok now all morning I have been sitting here trying to figure out what more I could have done. In the span of 72hrs this person was bounced in and out of the ED with each time getting worse and worse until now its an ALS call w/ OD. I think I made my case well to the ED nurses. Especially the short duration between visits and the increased worsening of his status. I think he just was pushed to the side and treated like a seeker when he was asking for help. Has anyone been in this situation? What have you done or could be done. I just want to be my patient's advocate to the best I can. Thanks

OMG I think i just pissed my BDUs. Dwayne you ass hat Welcome to the City Bieber's SO. Congrats on the nuptuals! You have a good man there. As others have said he is a great medic. I would be proud to have him on my rig. For such a new medic he shows great knowledge, maturity, and devotion to the profession. We are proud to have him part of our little world. As far as the City goes. As you can see we have a wierd sense of humor so just roll with it. We speak our minds and usually hold nothing back. Ask an ye shall receive. We are willing to answer to the best of our knowledge if so asked. Feel free to join all the discussions and be part of our world. Again welcome!

Wow I started it as a ha ha but I guess I inadvertantly started something good I will try and see what my areas ALS protocols are. Being I am a basic the olny needle I get to use is Epi Pens.

Hey PCP. My area does this. We have a second base unit on the rigs and communicate with the fire dept if we are both responding be it a MVA or a fire scene. Our police force is our first responders and as well we operate on their channel and get patient updates while in route as well. Also ALS operates on a different channel so if we need them we switch to theirs and communicate directly with the chase truck. It works well as long as the channels are easily defined and everyone is on the same page. We have motorola units so our displays are alph numerica so its quite easy. Ie Dispatch, Fire 1, ALS, Fire 2, JEMS 1, JEMS 2, JEMS 3. I like the the way it works. Especially during an MVA or fire scene where there will be multiple rigs and units in close proximity. Cheif figures out what apperatus is needed where and it keeps things organized. We are not blocking rescue trucks or fire equipment with the rig and vise versa. I did respond to an area once that did not operate this way and we were blocked in by two fire trucks which was a real PITA when we were ready to transport as they already laid hose.