IanJ

I subscribe to the "look before you leap thing, so I'm looking real hard :shock: at the moment. But I am about to start hopping soon. 8)

I actually own a Mabis Latex-Free Sprague Rappaport-Type Stethoscope. I bought it for about $20 or so and during my clinicals I picked up on sounds and got BPs better then a lot of my Paramedic and EMT preceptors. It's a decent scope but while the thicker tubing is supposed to limit noise it sure makes a lot when the tubs come in contact with each other. I've also borrowed a few Littmans and noticed a considerable about of detail and clarity missing in my Mabis which is why I'm about to get a Littman soon (still undecided over which Littman to get). In the end I think if it works it works. All you need is patience and knowledge of what you're listening for. Sometimes all you need to do is slow down and listen again. In my case the only reason I am upgrading is because of the cumbersome nature of my Mabis and the noisy tubing. (That and the cheap plastic bell broke) In the end it's a question of what is the best match for your needs. For basic EMS duties the cheap ones work fine most of the time. If you're a good EMT you can usually compensate for the inadequacies of your steth. However if you're looking for that extra detail and are considering long term EMS work or leapfrogging up the medical ladder it may be work investing in your own professional quality equipment. (I'm a leapfrogger)

I see no reason why there is such a big deal about this. You get a patient who isn't in any real (life) threat who is complaining of a status issue, you do what you can to resolve the issue. In this case the guy grabbed a Q-tip to knock the ant loose. Didn't work so he went in and grabbed the bugger. No harm to pt and everything was resolved. If a wooden tongue depressor were used instead would there still be an issue? I probably would have done roughly the same thing. All and all the most important thing is that it worked and no harm was done to the pt.

I'm interested in the requirements of UK EMS where can I find more information on it?

I still assert that it is better not to judge it yet. It's like judging a book by its cover. You have to let it develop a bit before we really can get a good opinion about. The intro of so many plot lines is a result of pilot-itis. Happens to almost all shows when they start out. I also think that in all fairness it's better then the rest of the crap that has been out there. Beggars can't be choosers ya know. Although I wouldn't mind seeing more EMTs in the ranks then having the show be exclusively Paramedic orientated. We exist too ya know.

I think something that everyone has missed is that it is a pilot. Pilot episodes are never hailed as being the best of a series and it is unfair to assume that this last episode was a fair example of what the series will be. The acting was not of the greatest I've seen but most pilots are like that. I didn't like the little flashbacks though. That was kinda gimmicky. Casting could have been a bit better for some of the characters. I think the series has potential but it needs time to begin to come out. Also did anyone one notice that who ever picked the music had a bit of a thing for Hendrix?

my 2 cents for the sake of redundancy... What it comes down to is who is directly responsible for pt care. While you are in the back of an ambulance and you are the one administering the care it is you. So if you kill the patient for what ever reason you killed the patient. So, as it is hammered into us in school, if the doctor is wrong and you know it refuse the orders. Contact you supervisor for "CYA" points and transport to the best of you abilities. Odds are a few extra minutes wont hurt as much as the improper medications. Even if you get to the hospital and get chewed out and the Dr. gives the meds anyway, then they killed them and you are released from liability after you sign them over.

I didn't have a problem with poking my fellow classmates but wasn't too into the idea of letting them poke me. In general, just do as you are taught to do and never poke something you can see or don't think will work. Most IV's I've seen or done were IV's we did before we left. Of course those were done to draw blood (the nurse get angry at us if we don't do it for them). The serious ones we do as soon as we are in the back of the ambulance rolling or not.

The whole point of this thread was to shine light on other applications of EMS-Certs. Yes I realize that Emergency Medical Services might involve the occasional ride in an ambulance. Unless you walk or volunteer then you will spend a lot of time in ambulances. I don't have an issue with being in the back of an ambulance. The term "Ambulance Jockey" was meant to convey a degree of levity which apparently didn't work. Way back when, when this forum was still under the 1,000 mark people here seemed to have lighter hearts then what they seem to have now. So if you are a offended by the term, that was not the intention, sorry. Maybe you might want to lighten up a bit. Probably the biggest issue with the way this topic has been addressed is the scarcity of any actual real response (there have been some). By asking a question I am condemned? What kind of sense does that make? This forum, from what I understand, was intended as a place for EMS people to get together, ask questions, vent, and just interact. For a simple innocuous question to be treated this way is very sad indeed. Yeah, a lot of people get into EMS because of some sort of sense of calling and subsequently love their jobs, but a lot of people get burned out in the EMS field. I think the last statistic I heard was the current life span of an EMT is about 5 years. What happens then? Where do they all go? What other options are out there for these people and subsequently me? To go blindly into something is generally a bad idea. All I am trying to do is consider all my options. I'm getting my EMS cert for my own reasons and there are also circumstances where this would become a very difficult thing for me to apply under traditional circumstances which is why I am currently investigating different options within the EMS field that I can make use of my certification. So with that being said, does anyone provide any constructive responses to my question without condemning me in the process for my curiosity?

I never said I didn't want to be on an ambulance. All I am trying to do is consider my options.

I am currently working on getting my EMT-I Cert and I've been wondering what else can I do other then be a Ambulance jockey? Ambulances are fine and all but the hours and the pay both sorta suck.

For sometime thats all EMTs really did. I blame the lack of publicity out there about EMTs. No one knows what we actually do.

I just thought this was kind of cool... http://buzzfm.com/skin/blurb.php?sectionId...contentId=82087 http://billhardinmusic.com/sound.asp