medicgirl05

This was a very lucky man! I've been to a few tractor accidents and the ending is usually not happy.

I almost feel sorry for your poor wife. No wonder she keeps you gone for long periods of time. She needs the time to recover.

Dwayne- are both your hands broken? You need to fix this situation as it is becoming dangerous...

The first story is epic! I read it and was rolling around on the couch laughing. My coworkers asked what was so funny so I read it to them, it took a while to control my laughing fits...we were all dying laughing. Well worth the cost!

I would skip the guidance counselor for this, maybe seek out an EMS agency in your area. A guidance counselor doesn't really know the innerworkings of EMS. How is your stamina? Lifting is important, as well as squatting and maneuvering in small places. I would definetely look into your options and make sure you are physically capable of doing the job before you invest time and money. I'm sorry to hear about your accident and good luck to you!

When I have been a patient I hated being called "baby, dear, sweetheart, etc." I an't speak for everyone but it just rubs me wrong. As a provider, I am guilty of doing this, mostly to the elderly patients who are nervous or seem lonely. I'm interested to learn what others think...

This really bothers me. I don't know your particular situation but it sounds like you are a basic who thinks he knows more than he does. Don't assume that you know protocols better than your paramedic does. The way that paramedics think and the way that basics think in some areas is very different. I have worked with basics who have criticized moves I've made without even being able to grasp the situation. So, good luck to you. Stay positive. Don't judge the paramedic before you work with him. If you have a question about the way he does something wait until the call is over and politely ask. It is possible that he can explain his reasoning and you will understand.

Let me clarify, this statement I interpreted as meaning that females in general are less capable in lifting than men. I don't think being female affects my lifting abilities at all. I can lift more than some men I have worked with. Maybe I am misunderstanding the intention behind the statement. In that case I'm sorry. I agree that there are most definetely patients that require lifting assistance.

Captain- I have been thinking about that...too expensive. Rural- If you need men for the heavy lifting you better hit the gym. We are already an inferior species in EMS and we don't need any more men talking about our inadequacies when it comes to the physical demands of the job. Just saying...

Poor Dwayne, it must really be hard for you to have no boobs to look at. I use my boobs to my advantage all the time! I get all kind of special favors and treats just for being a woman. For instance, being a female I am smaller than all my partners so they always elect to toss me through windows when doors are locked and crawl into cars for prolonged extrications. I am also usually left to do all the emotional duties, death notifications and such....yeah, I totally get special priveleges due to my boobs. NOT!!!!

I'm not saying that I agree with the policy. The supervisor that tries to enfore the policy is the same one that signed for delivery of the gift basket. It was initially written that we could not accept anything worth more than $20. Some people screwed that up by asking if you accepted a $1 soda 21 times would you be breaking policy?

Our policy is written that we do not accept gifts(water or food) from anyone for anything. Our response to the offer should be that the person offering can make a monetary donation that is a tax deduction so that it is clearly stated as to the purpose of the gift. At one mans residence I fell down a flight of stairs while trying to carry a patient down, resulted in no detriment to the patient; and the family sent a rather nice gift basket to the office. Nobody bothered to return it. If we are responding to a fire standby my partner and I often stop at a convenience store for a case of water and gatorade that I pay for out of my pocket. Our firefighters are volunteer and I think it is important for them to know they are taken care of. Plus I'd rather they keep themselves hydrated than me having to hydrate them.

I agree with you Patton, I think this is a fine line. I have only accepted something twice that I can recall. 1. We were in a HOT welding shop on a HOT day with a deceased man waiting for the JP to come from BFE when a family member brought me a bottle of flavored water. We knew the family a little and she had gone all the way to the house to get the water which was quite a hike for her. She brought water for my partner and I and since she went to that much effort to get it I felt it would be rude to refuse. So I took it and drank it and it was disgusting. 2. We had just determined a patient to be DOA and when I talked to the man's wife and asked if I could do anything for her she asked me to drink coffee with her as she usually drank with her husband and didn't want to sit alone. I made a pot of coffee and sat with her while we waited for the funeral home and her family to arrive. It was more about the companionship but the coffee was her excuse to get that and I'm not sure how anyone could refuse an old lady grieving the loss of her husband. I have been told by county officials that since we are paid we should not accept things from patients, however I think there are times when it actually benefits the patient or family and that is more important to me.

As a follow-up, the MRI showed a broad ruptured disc with an annular tear at L5-S1. I tried 2 steroid injections with no success. I am now scheduled for a microdiscectomy to remove the extruded disc material. I am currently back at work but dread every shift which is not normal for me. Thanks everyone for the input!

In response to mattmattmatt, our supervisor explained to us that if there is a wreck involving 2 employees from 2 different convenienve stores it could be argued that the employee who gave discounts got preferential treatment. Of course, we are a rural service with very limited resources.

Thanks Schulz. The degree in Emergency Health Sciences is from University of Texas, which is a very good school. I think it will translate into any medical career rather than the degree in paramedicine.

Well I think I would wait...just to be on the safe side. Others may not agree.

OK...so it sounds like we are not going to wait for the police.... I would proceed with extreme caution and make sure my partner was in front of me. Are we at the point that I can ask what does the patient look like? Or are we fixing to be hauling A** back out the way we came?

I see. They are rather common in my area. Actually the whole call so far sounds like a few that I've been on!

I like the idea of a literature degree. I just want to ensure I choose a route that will benefit somehow in the future. I think I could ACE the classes in the Emergency Health Science curriculum and I would love the program but I'm not sure how wise it is to invest money and time in a bachelors degree that won't be helpful in the future. Thanks for the input!!!

Arctickat-Would you continue to enter with the information presented and knowing that police are 1 minute out? Or was that sarcasm?