P_Instructor

Grrrrr....

I get to enjoy EMS week- and then some- at home.

Slipped and fell down the stairs at home .....

Scene safety and your own well-being buddy.........................

Getting my arse kicked evaluating Basic and Paramedic classes, working the streets, and coaching at the State Track Meet.

Hey boys and girls........Yeah, the date is over, however I am still ALWAYS looking for interesting scenarios that I may be able to use directly or after slight alterations. The trouble is, I think of them and never write them down. Shooting from the hip is getting harder at my age. You know us old paramedics, it's called...............aah, what's it called again?????

I'm speechless.

Great gosh and gee 'Dust-man', I never thought you would be stifled! 'KA-POW', 'CRUNCH', 'BONK', FAIL to them!

Here is another story from area newspaper: http://www.desmoinesregister.com/article/20100514/NEWS/5140351/1001/-Hospital-Hero-dies-as-semi-ambulance-hit

I am only replying to this post as it involves people relatively close to my area. It's a shame that this happens quite often. I agree, what is the reason to pass on the right? Another thing is why is he following the semi so close that the semi cannot see the ambulance in his mirrors until the last moment. A lot of things to discuss, especially not wearing seatbelts in the back. I don't care if you working on a patient or not, they need to be worn.

I wonder if the cot in back had the shoulder harness system so in a collision of this type, the patient would not end up missle-ing to the front.

This is one reason we are incorporating all students to go through the driver simulator (a complete ambulance version) with various types of driving condition scenarios, to hopefully see that you have a much greater responsibility.

Sorry, I will stop rambling...................

....con ed gets counted in all the states so I can keep up my certs?

It is usually your responsiblity to keep track of your continuing education hours and where they would apply.....unless you can find some sap to do it for you. Make sure that all the states accept the con-ed based upon their requirements. When in doubt, ask the various state EMS agencies to see what their recommendations would be.

Oh I dno might not be that bad

http://www.abc.net.a...09/s2615353.htm

And init a long way from the baking desert of WA to the cornfields of Iowa?

Quite. However, the baking is like a sauna here. Usual summer is 100 degrees with above 70% humidity, with the winters around 10-15 degrees. Not much of a spread in temperature. It's really the humidity that kills ya or your patients.

Don't you just love those respiratory calls.

Johnnos is slang for St John Ambulance; they have a habit of killing people in Western Australia.

They just haven't ended up on TV here yet ... for killing people anyway.

Wow, I used to live in Alfred Cove as a lad (years and years ago), and wanted to come back and visit the area. With that info, I think you just lost a tourist.

But none of this is covered very well at all in school, nor even Nasal intubation.

I guess I am an old timer. The nasal is an alternative skill prior to the RSI when clenched teeth will hinder the passing of the tube. It is relatively easy after adequate training. I would have your instructors show you how just to have another means to your disposal in airway management. Oral, Nasal, RSI, Cric,......always be prepared for the circumstances you encounter.

Let's see... on this shift I had -

1 - a guy with left flank pain and pus coming out of his penis

2 - a guy with nausea, vomiting and bleeding testicles

3 - a woman who mixed ammonia and bleach... 5 hours later I ran on her 23 yo son because he sliced his wrists. did a pretty good job of it too..

4 - a guy who punched a hole in his girlfriend's rear window...

5 - a seizure that turned into a full code

6 - a woman foaming at the mouth in respiratory arrest

and 15 other incidents of mayhem and madness...

Happy Easter everybody.

Aah.....slow shift, huh!

http://www.gwumc.edu...equirements.cfm

Good link.................

http://www.emsrespon...tion=1&id=12576

(http://www.emsrespon...tion=1&id=12576" title="Click to view this page in a new window." target="_blank">Click to view this embedded page in a new window)

Posted: Wednesday, March 24, 2010

Updated: March 24th, 2010 03:15 AM GMT-05:00

Fla. Firefighter Accused Of Watching Woman Shower Fired

A firefighter accused of peering at a paramedic intern as she was taking a shower in the women's bathroom at the fire station has been fired.

Carlos Marti was fired from the St. Lucie County Fire District on Monday, a district spokeswoman said.

Marti was arrested on a voyeurism charge Friday.

According to an incident report, a battalion chief at St. Lucie County Fire District Station No. 15 said she saw "a male figure looking down at her from the ceiling as she was taking a shower." The report said the woman helped provide a sketch of the suspect and told officers she wanted to press charges.

A district spokeswoman said Marti acted in violation of the district's sexual harassment policy, lied to police and had a series of issues during his employment.

What an idiot. Maybe he was really looking at the 'water' stream instead.

Nice!!

We currently carry helmets in all the rigs to be used for confined space, MVC's, etc. Community aspect as no one has there own unless purchased by selfs. This is company policy to wear in these type of situations.

On all of the glassed wall boxes that contain the AED, is the label: "For Trained Responders Only"---pretty big and bold, can't be missed.

Check to see if by opening the 'box' there is an alarm activated so that 'trained' responders will go to the scene of the event. If not, this could be another way to make sure trained personnel are on scene. Most AEDs are 'follow the directions', but if not trained, things still may be messed up. Either way, something is being done for the patient.

Ruff is correct with his ahhh - assessment of the situation.

All I can add is even though the assessment criteria are the same, the advance perspective of assessment also incorporates a deep understanding of what is happening pathophyiologically with the assessment findings.

Think of it this way: Basic understand the body and systems. Intermediates (some) understand the body and systems down to the tissue levels. The Medics understand all this but down to the cellular level. All it is, is an understanding of what is going on based upon the assessment taken, which is the same.

This is only a wide observation in my opinion, and others may disagree and probably will.

Why? Not all people learn in the same way. There are high quality online courses. But it takes self discipline and you still have to attend some classes.

Perhaps you should say for yourself you need in person classes but for a select few quality online is a better choice.

To clarify further as I instruct both types of courses, students in the advanced EMS classes tend to do better in the classroom style as compared to the hybrid format. The hybrid must utilize many hours of laboratory/class instruction for the student to fully comprehend and display psychomotor skill competency. In the classroom style, all aspects of the cognitive, affective, and psychomotor domains can be presented together.

I will agree with you as it can be best described as stated by authors Russell L. Ackoff and Daniel Greenberg In their book, Turning Learning Right Side Up: Putting Education Back on Track:

'There are many different ways of learning; teaching is only one of them. We learn a great deal on our own, in independent study or play. We learn a great deal interacting with others informally -- sharing what we are learning with others and vice versa. We learn a great deal by doing, through trial and error. Long before there were schools as we know them, there was apprenticeship -- learning how to do something by trying it under the guidance of one who knows how. For example, one can learn more architecture by having to design and build one's own house than by taking any number of courses on the subject. When physicians are asked whether they leaned more in classes or during their internship, without exception they answer, "Internship." In the educational process, students should be offered a wide variety of ways to learn, among which they could choose or with which they could experiment. They do not have to learn different things the same way.'

Since most states have different criteria concerning age stipulations in EMS, begin by looking for other programs as listed in prior posts. Another idea is to see if there are any agencies that have explorer programs (EMS, Fire, Law Enforcement, etc.). If not, find someone that may be willing to initiate one.

Any suggestions for online classes to take to one up all those other EMTs going for the same job?

Be very cautious with online paramedic classes. Tis better to have classroom style to gain the information/perspective needed to be a success in this field.

If you are talking strictly EMT-Basic, then there are some Anatomy/Physiology, Medical Terminology, Applied Math, and other ancillary classes that you could benefit from. Proper searches may yield good programs/classes.

Good luck!

I was just wondering if anybody knew.

I always carry a pair of nitrile gloves with me eveywhere, and I am flying to california tommorow. Does anybody know what the rules are on that?

Sorry if this is a dumb topic to start. But I can't find the answer I need anywhere else

Ask the TSA agents for I'm sure they wouldn't have a clue. If the gloves can ignite, then I would believe no. They would probably think it's some sort of explosive plastic.

Hi I am an EMT in so cal and have been working on BLS and ALS transfers for about 7 months. I have gained great experience and learned a good amount in that time. I am starting a new job and will get the opportunity to assist fire in a 911 setting. I am really pumped for the change of pace and hope to learn quickly. I am excited to be here and look forward to all your opinions and information. Any advice from you would be helpful to help prepare me for the change from IFT to 911.

Welcome to the surf and turf......surf for the knowledge and protect your turf. Hope you gain invaluable insight from the great posters here.

Poor college students are only willing to put up with so much in the name of beer money...

...

Isn't that what Paramedic Students are used for? Heck, they need the money for the beer and the books. I think it would be a great slogan......."BEE STINGS FOR BEER!"

This is why you should be looking at your patient while giving a radio report and not just looking at what is written on some form. Either way, who knows if the medic had enough time to grab the patient or notice the unbuckling to hinder the deathly egress.

I never thought about the pacemaker thing.

As for bee venom, there have been studies that say people who have experienced multiple stings have enjoyed various health benefits. I seem to also recall reading about people who intentionally get stung to get relief from things like arthritis. As a matter of fact, I just saw a recent story about a woman who was in anaphylactic shock and nearly died after multiple stings. She spent time in the ICU and when she woke up and fully recovered, she realized that her joints that were stiff, sore, and achy (knees, ankles, hands, etc) were free of arthritis.

I don't know if it's some inherent properties of the venom itself or the result of some immune system changes, but it's pretty interesting stuff.

Hey, git off your keester and develop/market this stuff for all the arthritis sufferers. You could bee-come a millionaire!

It is very possible that with him being in Poland that he could have been Jewish, which depending upon the person and sect (I guess that's the best way to describe the individual variations?). Judaism prefers people to be buried within 24 hours and do not want to be embalmed. It is very likely that they had no plans to embalm him. No I'm not saying that just because he's polish I automatically assume that he's jewish, but there is a great chance of it.

Muslims are the same wanting to be buried within 24 hours. Hindu people as well do not believe in embalming (though all of the above permit it for homage back to their home area Israel, Middle East, etc as international body transport laws require it for public health reasons). There are not rules within the US requiring it (unless body is to be shipped internationally), but it is certainly preferred. That's about the best explanation I can give for the situation.

Thanks, I kind of thought so. I've actually heard of instances where someone that was embalmed but did not have their pacemaker turned off and the deceased exploded due to the decomposed gases that were emitted and the pacer set these off. One instance where the deceased was in a mosuleum and nearly blew it apart. Whoops.