medic_ruth

I would use one, should the need arise, I just asked another medic on duty with me right now and she says she would too.

:headbang: awesome

Hi UMstudent. (I'm hoping that UM is for University of Michigan but if not, I'll give you some info anyway. I am a rural EMSer so this maybe a different perspective for you. Our system is ALS. there are only 3 ALS services in our county so we cover 166 square miles. our mode of transport is all ground here due to some laws governing helicopters in restricted air-space (long story) though patients can be transferred out of our local hospital via fixed wing if need be. Our protocols allow us to do IOs and needle crichs in the field. we also run and interpret 12leads we do not do RSI yet. Our transport time is anywhere from 15-60 minutes to the only hospital. We carry quite a few drugs and I will list them in case you have any questions or comments about them: ASA Activated charcoal Adenosine Albuterol Atrovent Atropine Calcium Chloride D 50 Valium Benadryl Dopamine Epi 1:1000 and 1:10000 Romazicon Narcan Lasix Glucagon Lidocaine bolus and infusion pre-mix Procainamide Magnesium Sulfate Morphine Demerol Versed Solu-Medrol Nitro tab and drip Sodium bi-carb phenergan terbutaline thiamine verapamil lopressor We run a medic/EMT crew at the very least and work in shifts of 56 hours on 112 off. Starting wage for an EMT basic is 10.95 per hour and for a medic is 14.14 per hour full timers get paid vacation, sick and personal hours and the medical is Blue cross/Blue shield (not bad) free. (dental and vision you have to pay for) We are a private not-for-profit owned by an indian tribe. not affiliated with the fire service but respond with them and vice-versa. Hope that was helpfull.

Amen Brother Double Amen Medic53226: Why the suspense, friend? let us know what was up with this patient.

C'mon man, that's not ignorant, its a fact. Of course we are putting our safety and our partner's safety first, but to think that nothing is ever going to go wrong in this profession is naive at the very least. It didn't take me 10 years in EMS to figure that out. Knowing that things could very well go wrong is the best way to prepare yourself to be protected, but only in a perfect world will you be 100% safe 100% of the time. For example: the last time you responded to the little old lady's house with difficulty breathing and were assessing her in the kitchen when the neighbor showed up and brought her big-old-mean-dog with her? you can't assign someone to be the doggy-look-out on every call so now you have to deal with this situation while it is staring you in the face. See what I mean?

......I think I'm gonna need some smelling salts.........

Interesting. I had never heard of anything like this before either. Sounds like a great idea to pass along to our Preparedness team. I live in an area with a "top 10" site for potential attacks in the U.S. and we are minimally protected. Very sad.

So, give us the scoop. how did this turn out? phsych pt? or something you're not sharing? I'm curious

And, before I put this to rest, I will explain this one thing to AK - last year, we renewed our ACLS cards (I and my crew) we were taught with a 2005 book. now, our medical control is telling us that as of next year the sequences are going to be changing in defibrillation, medications etc.. and that CPR is changing as well. The training officers that we use through the hospital are only telling us that we will be updating with a new class at the first of the year. All I wanted to know was if anyone could help me find these new algorhythms. I am not good at looking stuff up. I just wanted some help. That's all. :crybaby:

And I rest my case.......stupid me, stupid me, stupid me

This part was helpfull: This was smart ass and this was the stupid treatment: Look, AK, I know from reading your posts you are optimistic enough to think that everyone around here is out to be nothing but helpful. Sadly though, I have been encountering people who are not always such. I appreciate your input and will "cool my jets" if you think I need to. In the mean time, I'll have someone else look them up for me since this site and my email is about the hight of my internet surfing. someone around here will be more helpful without making me feel foolish.

Thanks, Smart-Ass, but if that obvious bit of info had worked for me I wouldn't have posted here. We are still working under the old guidelines in this area and won't be switching over until next January, I just wanted to get a jump on things. Thanks for the "stupid" treatment. please dont post here again. Anyone who wants to help without the attitude would be more than welcome to send me a message.

Hi all. I am not very good at finding stuff on the web. We are sitting around the station wishing we could download or print off the new ACLS guidlines that are coming soon. Can anyone help?

My lunch was an ice water and a stale cookie that i relocated from the ER break-room

-- stretchermonkey lest we forget that lay-people are taught to look for "signs of circulation" and no longer do pulse checks. -- stretchermonkey This does not happen to all people, hence the terms "dry drowning" and "wet drowing" --mike I agree 100%. I am also in a rural area. Though we don't have helicopters available to us (I am in the U.P. of Michigan and they can't fly across the straits) We do sometimes have a considerable amount of time to wait if we need more resources. We also tell neighboring townships the same thing. If you think you need us, call! We don't mind turning around and going back home!!