medicgirl05

We interpret our own STEMI's. When we call in report we advise STEMI or Non-STEMI. We don't change our treatment regardless.

Maybe in the future it will be more helpful. More often than not the transmission does not go thru the first attempt. It usually takes multiple attempts for the transmission to be succesful, which sometimes takes away from other things I need to be doing.

I think the ability to transmit is a great tool. Hopefully it will be more helpful for me in the future.

Good post...

Ive never heard of this. I just learned something new. The idea of rotating tourniguets sounds good in theory, though not something I'd put in my bag of tools...

Thanks for sharing!

We now have the ability to transmit our 12 leads to area hospitals. I haven't decided if it is actually beneficial or just a waste of time......

My service provides our uniform. A navy blue 5.11 Polo shirt. We wore button up shirts when I started but they were more expensive to replace and had to be replaced more often. Also they required ironing which many of the people I work with are apparently incapable of. The Polo shirts are more comfortable and are lest likely to snag on something. I would get a button caught on a fence I was climbing under, over, or through. The other important thing is that when you work a 24 hour shift the Polo's tend to look better for the whole shift. No touch up ironing required.

I think how you wear the uniform is more important than what the uniform is...JMO

Maybe for some people going straight through is a great option, however I dont think that is the best option for everyone.

The basic class I attended only had 80 hours of clinicals with only 40 of them being on the ambulance. I did double those hours as I did not feel 40 was adequate.

I guess it depends on the person, but in my case I'm glad I learned to deal with certain scenarios before becoming a medic. However, I work in a rural environment without much option for a back-up unit. I guess my opinion would be different if I was A) closer to a hospital, or B)had the option of a back-up truck.

To say that you need the experience as a basic to tell someone their loved one has died or what not is poppycock thinking.

That is just one example, and I learn better after seeing something done in the field.

I think he was saying that ultimately EMT-B to EMT-P is worlds apart. In my opinion it would be a good thing to get your feet wet as a basic before beginning paramedic class. There are things they just can't prepare you for in school or on a transfer truck. It will just be easier on you. One example: it is hard to tell family members that someone has died, however if you've had the opportunity to watch another medic do that then you will be better prepared to do it yourself.

I'm not saying it's not possible, just not easy. Though nothing about EMS is easy.

If you have a guarantee of a dual medic truck thats a completely different story.....

I remember my first cardiac arrest. I remember feeling shocked as they told the family that the man was dead. That night I went outside and though for hours about my actions. Were my chest compressions deep enough? Did I bag slow enough? Did I show the right amount of compassion to the family? I Thought about it alot....

I think with the more arrests you work you learn that you cant do that too yourself. I can work a cardiac arrest and I'll think about if things went correctly on the way back to the station. Then I put it away and don't worry about it again. It's not because you desensitize, its just that you develop a way of dealing with it.

Don't worry too much, I'm sure you did fine. Most cardiac arrests aren't going to be saves. The fact that you care is a great thing. I think that motivates us all to get better within our proffession.

My partner washes the outside as deemed necessary and we both clean the inside while doing morning check out. The crew that we reilieve always manages to have blood drops on the floor (we think from starting IVs). Gross! If it is raining we pull the truck out of the bay to let nature wash it! Nah. We kkep our trucks clean, just no rule about who has to do the washing.

What part of Texas are you in? Im from south Texas. Welcome to the wonderful world of EMS.

Wow. That sounds very unfortunate. Make me think I've got things pretty good. We have complete support from the deputies. If we feel unsafe they do everything in their power to change the situation.

Just for my curiosity...why fight tasing him? I've seen a few combative patients tased and it seems like a real attitude changer to me. Though I've only seen a few I understand that tasing rarely results in any detriment to the patient???

Our protocols don't allow for sedation of combative patients. If it is a head injury we can restrain them and once I called medical control for sedation options and was approved to give Valium. My question is why are you sedating a 200lb drunk? Where I work if the drunk is able to put up a good fight then they are stable enought to go to the ER in a patrol car. Ive also had OD's that have been extremely combative but in that case the Sheriff deputy accompanies us to the ER and the restraining is done with handcuffs. Maybe its just a difference of where we work but I dont plan on fighting a drunk to sedate him. Im not saying its wrong just asking why endanger yourself or your partner?

Our service is in the procces of putting fridges on the trucks for this purpose. Those of you who do use it, what are your thoughts? Do you find it beneficial?

When I was preparing I bought the lectures from John Puryear. He has a really high pass rate for people who attend his lectures. I listened to them in the car for about a month prior to testing. I found that extremely helpful. I still sometimes recite something from one of his lectures. The reason I found him so helpful is that he explains things and relates them to something not EMS related. Sometimes a little redundant but hey....I passed.

I actually had this opportunity during medic school. The way it worked was the first half of school covered intermeidate material and skills. I chose not to test as an intermediate, which Ive found is both good and bad.

If I had tested at the intermediate level I would have had 6 months with more opportunities for IV's and intubations. It also would have been beneficial as to the NR test. I could have sat for the computer test so maybe I would have been more comfortable with the paramedic test. Plus if I had failed the paramedic test I would have gained the intermediate certificate in the process. I benefited in that I did not have to do intemediate clinicals at the same time as my paramedic clinicals and some of the other people suffered in paramedic school because of all the time they lost.

I felt jipped when I got turned loose as a medic because I had not had much desicion making prior to then. If I had been an intermediate maybe I would have been more comfortable with maintaining IV's at the very least.

Just my experience.

I had a very similar experience in basic class. It was the first night and they were trying to weed out people. I can say it worked because we started with 30 people and only 23 showed up the second night. Im not going to judge if this was good or bad but it hapened. I was very disturbed by the pictures. It gave me nightmares for a week. It also made me think that all calls were gore and guts.

Ive now been in EMS five years and recieved my medic and I can tell you from experience that pictures disgust me. TV shows with operations make me ill. Some OR clinicals have made me gag. The good news is I have done and seen some absolutely gruesome stuff and have never been sick on a call. It doesnt even cross my mind that I have my hand in a mans brain trying to roll him over on the street where he leanded after ejection from his 1050. I can manipulate a childs obviously broken arm without reacting. I can deal with extreme violence and not be sick. However when I get back to the station I may have to sit and take a breather,

My advice is dont let a slideshow deter you from the field. If youve seen some gore in the ER and it hasnt bothered you dont give up. JMO.

In my service we don't transport cardiac arrests unless there are special circumstances(pedi, hypothermia, etc)

Im happy with that. With termination in the field it is much more personal than in the hospital where family doesnt get as much of a relaxed grieving process. When you terminate at home you have the benefit of familiar surroundings. After we tell the family and are waiting for the JP or funeral home, I am able to do whatever the family needs of me. Ive made phone calls to other family members, changed bedsheets, made coffee, unsaddled horses...Plus theirs the safety issue of not tranporting going code 3 with distressed family following.

There are risks of terminating in the field but in the 5 years that Ive worked in EMS I've never any any consequences. Knock on wood!

I dont see a reason to transport ALL code blues but sometimes if the family is angry about the death or if there is any blame associated with the death then we transport. Its my desicion as the lead medic and it is a desicion that I do not take lightly.

Im looking forward to seeing posts from other services.

When I did my basic clinicals we rotated through respiratory therapy, OB, ER, and EMS. We gave nebeulizers and I learned alot form the respiratory rotation! In OB we observed childbirth. ER we did vitals and patient assessments. EMS we did vitals and mostly just observed.

Doing paramedic clinicals was much more intense.

I went through the lab where we needed 25 blood draws.

I went through ER where we needed 25 IV starts and 25 patient assessments.

I went through OR where we needed 5 intubations.

I went to the health department and needed 15 med administrations.

I did EMS clinicals needing 25 patient contacts broken into different categories; OB; trauma, pedi...

I did 4 hours in a dispatch center to learn how their job is sometimes difficult.

The best way to have a good clinical experience is to make yourself available. If you walk in and offer to take vitals or even change sheets nurses are much more likely to take you under their wing and show you things. If you walk in and lean on a door frame thats where you will probably spend your rotation. For the most part they could care less if you are there but if you make an attempt they will be much more accepting.

The vacum splint is a great way to immobilize in certain conditions. I use it alot in the nursing home for fall victims. It makes them much more comfortable than riding the 30 minute transport time on a backboard. It is great because you can mold it to them. It also is a great way of stabilizing hips without using too much pressure. Some patients request them. Only downside is they take a little longer to apply than a traditional backboard.

I would be happy to answer some questions. However due to the grammatical errors and your newness to the forum I'm not sure if this is legit. Post you questions and I will gladly attmept to answer them.

I'm curious if this is something others have noticed or if it is maybe just in my area?

I work for a 911 service in a rural area, 30 minute minimum transport time, and my protocols are pretty lenient. I am able to use my judgement on calls and if I have a question my medical director is available 24/7. Ive been working here 5 years and have developed respect with ER staff in the area. However, I recently started working part-time with a transfer service and the same people that I laugh and joke with wearing my 911 uniform wil barely acknowledge me in my transfer uniform. I at first convinved myself that they didn't recognize me but that is simply not the case. I've heard just as many bad things about transfer medics as I've herad about 911 medics so I don't understand why the uniform matters.

Any insight is greatly appreciated!

First of all, I just want to say thanks for sharing. At the service where I work it is frowned upon to have feelings about a call, so it is encouraging that not all people feel this way.

Second, I know hard it is to deal with family during and after a call. I think the hardest part of my job is telling family members that despite all our efforts there loved one has died. It is so uncomfrotable knowing how to handle the situation as every person takes the news differently. Some get angry, some sad, some blame you, and some thank you.

Third, suicide or attempted suicide, is one of those things that nobody ever taught me in school how to deal with. I never know the right thing to say and am always sad when I get back to the office.

I dont know why some calls affect us more than others. Ive seen some horrible things in the past 5 years and to think about the ones that have bothered me almost seems ridiculous!

Thanks again for sharing!

I agree with you fiznat. There are some calls that are seriously ridiculous. I dont treat the patient any differently than any other patient but after the call I reserve the right to grumble about it. Especially at 3 or 4 in the AM when we have a shoulder pain for two weeks and they want to go by ambulance to get seen quicker in the ER. Its incredibly frustrating but theres nothing I can do about the way the system works so I load them in the ambulance. Ive also had patients want to go by ambulance so they dont have to pay for the gas to get to the ER. Its part of the job but it is frustrating too.

Kudos Mateo!

I am also a 23 year old medic. Im from TX and I have similar issues with growing up in EMS. I became a basic at 18 and fought tooth and nail to get hired. Not many insurances will cover an 18 y/o to drive an ambulance. Since then Ive had people look down on me for not having the same amount of experience as they do. Im still the rookie where I work and Ive been here 5 years. All that aside, I LOVE my job. Yes there are times when I get down at 3AM for a person that sprained their wrist a week ago and wants to be transported to the ER by EMS because they will be seen quicker. Ive also met some life-changing people. Old people with stories of REAL hardship. Young people who make me realize how I DONT want to live my life. Ive learned lessons by watching other peoples mistakes. Ive also been able to share in other people happiness. Ive been the one to look in the eyes of a woman who lost her husband of 60 years in his sleep and told her that despite our best efforts he died. I think all these things signifigantly impact the life of a young person. Maybe for the better, maybe not. However knowing what I know now, I can tell you that, despite the difficulty, and what may to others be considered low pay, I wouldnt change a thing. I do what I do for my patients, when thats not enough then I'll move on.

Just a young medics opinion...