Medic One

I want my retro toys santa...when life was so much easier here is my list:

I have been a good EMS'er so can you bring back my

Motorola PT-300

Motorola Minitor 1

Lyport III

Lifepak 4

Ferno Model 30 (true old school cot)

and my old orange and white plano med box

Man am I aging myslef or what??

Stay away from Mexico city!!!!

The violence is high and being an american you become a target.

Get a job working for a large service that has multiple states under their belts like Acadian, Rural Metro, or AMR.

Look into private sector for Chemical companies, off shore rigs, and private companys worldwide.

EMSResponder did an article on it back in 2006...here is a link.

http://www.emsresponder.com/features/article.jsp?siteSection=6&id=3371

From what it sounds like you are describing the "Ferno Pedi-Mate".

We use them they are great.

http://www.usemc.com/Ferno-Pedi-Mate-p/pfer-0313778.htm

Sorry to hear about the crash...atleast you are ok.

I agree with securing all eqiupment. Problem is most services don't want to spend the money to add safety for us in the back. I feel there should be more seatbelts mounted everywhere such as the floor just to secure equipment. I always strap the LP12 to the bench with a seatbelt and try and secure all other items best I can. In the van ambulances like we have the shelf units come with crappy plastic clips with a crappy nylon strap screwed to the shelf...we know how long those last because they mostly use pressboard with cheap laminent over it.

I think a rugged solid shelf (preferrably metal) should be used with strong seat belt type clips to secure all items.

As far as harnesses are concerned I would not have any problem climbing in one to be safe.

The KKK specs are so out dated and a standard needs to happen!!

Funny thing is that the Real ID must be used to enter federal buildings...how will that work in states that refuse to comply and if you don't get a passport how can you legally go into a Post Office, federal court house, or even a social security office.

So you get called to Federal court to do jury duty in a non-complient state and you didn't get a passport...will you get a warrent for arrest because they refused to let you in...you miss jury duty and now are in contempt for failure to appear....or you are on am EMS run to a federal prison and when they ask for your legal ID they say sorry we can't let you in...well thats not so bad I guess one less criminal if you can't get in to save his life!!

Did the goverment forget that?

and....

Wash DC should be the most complient part of the country as far as laws are concerned but its a state that is not a state but wants to be a state and respected part of our wonderful Union doesn't even comply with the homeland securities wishes to be a "REAL ID" complient issuing center; the federal law was enacted in DC.....can you believe that the government that runs DC told DC that they will not comply or atleast meet the requirments until 2011.

WTF!!!!!!!

K..I'm done venting now

ps I am already a passport holder but it still ticks me off!!

Before you read this just remember some points.

1. 
   
   
2. Do not quote me on what states do or do not comply
   
3. The web has too many statements on this topic
   
4. I compiled this list from several goverment web sites
   
5. I do not know how accurate this list is
   

From what I can find on goverment web sites the following states

Have issued Real ID Complient Drivers Lic. since 2008:

• 
  
  
• VA
  
• OH
  
• TN
  
• MO
  
• WY
  
• Utah
  

The following states refuse to comply or implement Real ID policy:

(These states refusing to comply claim security issues make Real ID's unconstitutional and they claim can contribute to identity fraud.)

• 
  
  
• WA
  
• MT
  
• ID
  
• NV
  
• AZ
  
• CO
  
• NB
  
• SD
  
• MN
  
• MI
  
• IL
  
• OK
  
• LA
  
• GA
  
• SC
  
• PA
  
• CT
  
• ME
  

All other states are asking for extensions to comply and should be up to date by 2011.

My suggestion is to just get a passport if you do not have one yet.

Oh I am all set I have had a passport and passport wallet card for years. This is just informational to others. I'm not worried and I agree with a National ID system

States say they cant meet ID deadline for National Drivers Licenses

Federal rules for licenses take January 01, 2010

WASHINGTON While Congress debates national health care legislation that could put new fiscal burdens on the states, the nations governors are pushing Capitol Hill for a reprieve from another costly federal program that states have long criticized: Real ID.

The program, created in the aftermath of the 2001 terrorist attacks, requires all states to start issuing more secure drivers licenses by the end of this year. Residents of states that do not comply with the deadline (01/01/2010) will not be able to board commercial aircraft or enter federal buildings using their drivers licenses beginning in January 2010.

In a letter to congressional leadership on Wednesday, the National Governors Association disclosed that as many as 36 states won't meet the end of year deadline. Another 13 states have thumbed their noses at the federal government by passing laws that prohibit participation in Real ID, which states have long viewed as an unfunded federal mandate that could violate residents privacy. The recession, meanwhile, has ravaged state budgets and is likely to further erode states willingness, or their ability, to comply with Real ID.

In their letter, the governors urged Congress to approve a replacement version of Real ID - known as Pass ID - that would give states more time and flexibility to upgrade their driver's licenses, including the processes used to check applicants identities. While legislation creating the replacement program is supported by the Obama administration and cleared the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee in July

"Our citizens should not be punished for the failures of Real ID",the governors wrote. "We therefore ask that you work with us to pass (the Pass ID Act) before the end of the year."

________________________________________

In short:

If you plan to travel foreign or domestic starting January 01, 2010 your Drivers License will NOT allow you to board any commercial airliners or enter federal buildings if it is NOT a National ID Style Drivers Lic.

This means you MUST get a passport if you plan to travel in country such as NY to FL. starting January 1st, 2010.

Many State Legislatures voted NOT to comply with the new federal law which saves the states money .... thus forcing all citizens of non-complient states that want to use air travel to purchase passports.

APPLY for a passport ASAP if you plan to travel in 2010 by air.

Wait times for US Passports are again on a 45-60 delay.

I agree with ya....advertising would be good with good policing policies.

By MICHAEL GANNON

Norwich Bulletin

Posted Nov 05, 2009 @ 11:20 PM

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Norwich, Conn. .Ron Alianos white 1938 Packard ambulance carried his casket in a procession through Norwich Thursday morning en route to his funeral at the Cathedral of St. Patrick.

Hunderds of people gathered at the cathedral to say good-bye to Aliano, a businessman and community leader who died Saturday at age 65. His mourners included friends, first selectmen, mayors and former employees.

Aliano founded American Ambulance in 1972 and grew the company into The American Group, which now includes the Marina at American Wharf, an automobile servicing business, a medical training firm and an ambulance billing service.

Ambulances from across the state, including Campion in Cheshire and Hunters in Meriden, participated in the procession from the Church and Allen Funeral Home on Sachem Street to the cathedral.

Led by a police escort, the procession brought Aliano past the American Group building just off West Main Street, and down past Norwich Harbor, where he built the marina and which many have credited him with saving.

Mourners began arriving at the cathedral more than an hour in advance of the 10 a.m. services. The Packard ambulance, adorned with the American logo, arrived at St. Patricks to the skirl of bagpipes. His wooden casket was carried by American Ambulance employees past an honor guard of Norwich firefighters.

Outside the cathedral after the funeral, many people were too overcome to talk about their friend. Others echoed the stories that have made the rounds in the days since Alianos death, about Norwich being Alianos adopted home, and how he became not only one of the citys most successful and respected businessman, but also one of its most tireless advocates.

His myriad community activities included being a charter member of the Norwich Harbor Commission and a member of the board of directors of the Norwich Community Development Corporation.

His involvement with Norwichs annual Fourth of July fireworks came to the fore the past two years when major sponsors pulled out, and each time Aliano led or co-directed successful efforts to raise the funds to ensure the event happened.

He also was part of the group that raised money to buy back and restore the 1860 Lincoln Banner that had been missing from Norwich for more than a century when it turned up at a New York City auction house in 1997.

The banner now is on permanent public display in City Hall.

Rhonda Davis said her grandsons are long-time Aliano employees. She got to know Aliano through her Norwich real estate business. Dick Friedrich, of Montville, a former bank vice president in the city, knew him for more than 30 years.

Im here out of respect for what he did for the city, Davis said.

Im here out of respect for Ron, Friedrich said.

He was depicted as a stern and demanding taskmaster on the job, but one who was generous and caring, and always ready with a funny line or story.

People are here because of who he was, said Brian Filiatreault, of Baltic, who worked for American Ambulance. Ive known him since 1980, and I worked for him for 25 years. He was a good friend and a good boss.

In the homily, they said he took care of his own, Filiatreault said, unable to conceal his grief. He did.

Frank and Carol Dobek, now of Cape Cod, have been friends of Alianos since they lived in Bristol.

Ron was the best man at our wedding, Frank Dobek said.

And hes our daughters godfather, which tells you a lot, Carol Dobek said.

which is no longer complicated by the high percentage of users that had no interest in EMS, just a fetish for the folks that do.

WELL SAID!!!

Most of ours are accidental activations and no residence in the home after PD and/or fire forced entry.

I think the site has definetly gotten better once the admins created the pay area. I am a long time member here and got frustrated a few years ago with all the crappy posts and childish antics that were going on.

The site has definetly become more professional...LOOKS 100% better and hope this site really takes off but I think having facebook / myspace etc...links is not the correct direction for this site.

We all know how easy it is to access the web via cell phones and PDA phones and what do most of us EMS'ers do during down time....go on the web. But boredom from the front seat of an ambulance can also cause problems with a mobile version such as facebook. It would be very easy to post pictures that we all know should not be posted and atleast if you have to wait to get to a regular computer you can think about the consequences of that picture post.

I don't think a facebook link is a good idea to promote the site...I think the best promotion is word of mouth and as you stated passing emails to friends. As money rolls in from the pay chat area and maybe some site sponsorship more advertising may be something to think about in the future.

The other factor you really need to think about is who is running the site, server space and speed. A sudden spike in membership could also slow and/or crash servers due to high traffic. EMTCity started out as a small hobby for someone and has really grown over the years...It takes a lot to run a web site/blog/BB and thats why it is a pay site for chat and also got rid of some trouble makers. The cost of server space and time needed to police everyone is tough. I have run BB in the past and it can get really time consuming to reset passwords, veryify information, etc....

I have over 20yrs in Emergency Services and have a lot of knowledge to pass and this site is a great medium for it where there are some real good knowledgable people. I am a member of four other EMS sites similar to this one and I think this surpasses the rest without question.

I would like to see in the future here are online CME's but it costs money, time to set-up, and a EMS-I/Education team to coordinate and sign-off the CME.

I am NOT an admin...I am NOT friends of admin...I am NOT even a site moderator...this is my own opinion based on the changes I have seen and hope to see in the future.

Just my useless two cents...

We are a larger service that was one of the 1st in the country to use ALS fly cars starting in the early 70's. We cover over 1500sq miles have 56 vehicles in totals with 9 ALS fly cars.

We run three to four supervisor vehicles per shift then the other fly cars are in sub-stations covering other towns that primarily have volunteer EMS systems. In one division we staff the fly car but if they are short VOL Crew members the medic can ride the ambulance as part of the legal crew (they are based in VOL Station).

The system works very well for us as far as busy days when the ER turn around time is very long. Good to use for lift assists and crew assists where they only need one extra body for lifting etc...

The "Fly Cars" are all set up as Command Vehicles with MCI gear (tarps/supplies/body bags/haz-mat books etc....)

Besides the three or four supervisors on shift any other employee wishing to get cleared on the fly car must complete additional training and get clearence to staff the car for OT/vacations etc...

Some of that training includes Incident Command / MCI Command(more indepth than what is taught in medic class).

The fly car also allows us to staff more BLS ambulances and with the occasional errors of EMD by the 911 center it allows the BLS car to call for a medic fly car and not commit a second Full ALS Ambulance for advance life support.

I guage it by how many ribs we break....

No really we use several things..

Check pulse while doing CPR

Patients color changes

Skin temp

then with the ALS side we use Capnography and color meters to check tube

I along with many preceptors in my area feel the woes of "The Student". I feel 100% as a preceptor is is your job to mold them into EMT's or Paramedics - what ever they are training to be but...........

I know EMTs have little to no road knowledge and skills so remember when you started and mold them accourding to current standards and give them a break....

As far as the Paramedic student....well......

We have found a growing trend in our area that these programs will take someone onboard into a program to further educate them to an ALS level but the instructors are now money based...when I was a student back oh 10+years ago you had to have a minimum of 5yrs city, commercial or very very busy Volunteer experience. Today we have had many students come through that went from EMT directly to Paramedic with no ambulance time....this causes a huge problem for preceptors trying to train the BLS skills throught the ALS skills.

So YES we have a lot of woes but I think a standard of time needs to be put in place by both a state and national level to have a minimum time on an ambulance prior to even starting a paramedic progam.

In it's day it was a good show but with todays tech savy EMSer's it would be a flop. I do enjoy watching the episodes on Hulu tv but to have it run on a prime channel would waste time and made EMS look old.

They need to revive the dicovery health show "Paramedics".

Paramedic accused of being abusive

A paramedic acted in a "deliberate and fully disreputable" manner by failing to properly treat a diabetic patient who had collapsed on a bus, it has been alleged.

Rapid response paramedic Jason Sefton allegedly said the woman was drunk and failed to assess her condition.

Arriving at the scene in Liverpool's city centre, he told the concerned bus driver: "Look, mate, she's pink, coherent and drunk", a disciplinary hearing in central London was told.

The patient was eventually taken to the Royal Liverpool Hospital for treatment by other paramedics after she collapsed.

The Health Professions Council (HPC) heard that Mr Sefton swore at the the bus driver and said: "It's not a job for us, call the police, we are busy you know."

HPC lawyer Sophie Kemp alleged that Mr Sefton lied to his control room by telling them he had tried to examine the woman who, he claimed, was refusing treatment.

By failing to properly assess the woman and swearing and acting aggressively, Ms Kemp alleged Mr Sefton was guilty of misconduct and therefore unfit to practise.

Paramedic Chris Berry arrived at the scene in an ambulance and was told by Mr Sefton that the patient was drunk. Describing the woman's condition, Mr Berry said: "She was slumped on her side with her head resting against a window. Her speech was slurred, she wasn't really making a lot of sense. She didn't smell of alcohol."

The patient started to come round after Mr Berry administered a glucose injection. The paramedic then left the bus to tell Mr Sefton that "he had completely misdiagnosed the patient", but his colleague had already driven away, Mr Berry explained.

The hearing was told that Mr Sefton resigned from his post with the North West Ambulance Trust prior to an internal investigation into the allegations. He was not at the hearing.

____________________________________________

My thoughts are DO YOUR JOB!!!!!

The show is already CTD FTD and at ten pm will be DRT.!!

In CT the State of CT requires all services to be electronic by 2010. So to comply with that order the State has purchased dedicated printers to be placed at every emergency department for EMS only. The laptops providers use are to have the printer driver in it. We do run into paper issues tho.....empty a lot of times. The EMS coordinators at each ER are supposed to provide paper to the EMS room but weekend restocking is not always done. If no printer paper then ER get no EPCR copies or we have our dispatch center fax them to the ER.

Hats off to them Eh!!!!

I would want to do the same thing but I know it would mean NO MORE PARAMEDIC LIC for me in CT.

It would be nice to do something like that if needed but where was the PD..they could have helped one way or another.

Who's going to Biketober fest in Daytona, Florida this year.

I will be at the rally from Octover 13 - October 18th.

Anyone going post here and send me a "PM" Private message with your number and we all can meet up.

So our department does not have an honor guard and we learned the hard way when we had a death requiring full honors. I happened to be assigned to the detail along with a few others that have had experience with either military, fire fighting, or other EMS service honor guards.

We were told 24hrs prior to the funeral detail and scrambled to borrow equipment to do the honors. We had several departments both Police and Fire offor their guard but we decided to do it on our own.

From this experience we have decided we need our own team and are in the process of building it now. It takes a lot of time and committment. I served in a Horse Mounted Military Honor GUard and know the time and detail that needs to go into these things.

I suggest anyone trying to form a team contact your local Armed Services Recruiter...hook-up with the High School ROTC drill teams and local Police/Fire Service.

From experience the ROTC kids are always looking for stuff like this to help others as they need to prove to their recruiter they are dedicated.

Good Luck forming your team.

Here are some of the fee increases directly from CT DPH website and remember these are YEARLY License fees.

Paramedics are STILL more than RN's

Profession old Fee New Fee

Physician $475.00 $565.00**

Paramedic $75.00 $150.00

Advanced Practice Registered Nurse $60.00 $120.00

Licensed Practice Nurse $30.00 $60.00

Registered Nurse $50.00 $100.00

Now the pisser of it all is that my wife (she is an ER doc) can get her renewal waived is she volunteers somewhere for a minimum of 100hrs. ALL EMSers' are excluded from that!! WTF

**Waiver of Renewal Fee for Physicians Providing at least 100 Hours of Uncompensated Care in Connecticut.

Now thats screwed up...we will have a great dinner conversation tonight!!

Yeah ...great topic I picked...it is great to hear many others having the same problem as me with all these rising costs and more requirments coming down the line.

I mean look at the required NIMS programs we have to take (online and on our own time) for what? Homeland security training and incident command...come on people I should tax the goverment for the hours I spent online taking these useless programs.

It would be better to have them as a seminar that the goverment pays you to go to (airfare/hotel/food). When I was in the military all this was paid..we are also essential elements of Homeland Security and Safety..the goverment needs to get a handle on this to help the blue collar workers in emergency services.

I mean I got into EMS 20years ago and have been paying since..I DO Love my job but when I saw the front page of todays paper and they listed the NEW State Budget listing the price as of Oct 1st I went wild. Enough is enough...I an NOT required to keep my registry and do it on my own in case someday I move but thats the only reason for me to keep that.

Our service pays for the required OSHA training like bloodbourne and stuff but thats it. Everything else to maintain my job comes from me...and you all know how crappy pay is.

I just wanted to vent and feel better that I am not the only one going broke in EMS.

We went from 75/yr to 150/yr with no warning. This all starts in 7days...we found out by reading the newspaper.