paramedicmike

Cheeky: Again, I'm no expert on eating disorders, but based on your follow up post (just a couple above this one), and based on my experience with friends who've suffered from them, you are either well on your way or full blown into one. Your diet, in a word, SUCKS! That's great you want to be in shape and be fit and all that. Your diet is not helping you reach or maintain that goal. A healthy diet does not consist of eating the same foods day after day (as evidenced by you saying your "daily diet always consists of..."). Maybe, just maybe, part of the reason you are having trouble returning to your perceived pre-injury/illness level of fitness is because you are eating ridiculously poorly. Variety, for good reason, is the spice of life (sorry for the cliche). You have no variety in what you eat. That is, in a word, bad. Please, for the love of all things good and healthy, talk with your doctor and see a real life, honest to goodness dietician recommended by your physician. If not for that reason, then for the sake of your own health and that of your family. Trust me on this, it's not any fun to watch a family member starve him/her-self to death. Get help and fast. -be safe

If you're consistently losing this kind of weight (up to seven pounds a week?!) then you need to talk to your doctor. If you really are eating a rounded, healthy diet then you don't need to waste money on dietary supplements. What's more, if you're ensuring that you're eating a well rounded, healthy diet then your family is most likely eating one as well. That will carry over to your kids developing healthy eating habits for when they become adults, too. If you are looking for help with this speak with a Registered Dietician (or whatever the Canadian equivalent is... NOT some quack who labels him/her-self a "nutritionist"). An RD can help you evaluate your current diet (taking your work out into consideration) and help you plan for yourself and family. I'm no eating disorder expert. But every person I've known who has suffered from one has made statements similar to the above. The fact that your doctor is weighing you regularly suggests that there may some deeper lying concern. To get back up to where you were takes time. It took a while to get there, it'll take a while to get back. Be patient. Work with your doctor. See if s/he can recommend some PT or a service that offers personal trainer services (complete with dietary assistance from a Registered Dietician). Push yourself too hard, too fast and it'll backfire. Consider the patience you'll need to get back to where you were part of your work out. But talk with your doc first. -be safe

I think if they said anything specific about you being "out of touch" because of your age and then they don't hire you your next call should be to a lawyer for an age discrimination suit. -be safe

I'm not even sure why they were reprimanded. For what? For failing to manhandle a drunk? If EMS manhandled him the people behind the accusing voices in the background would be calling for the heads of the EMS crews for racism and brutality. It was the cop trying to escort the guy to the ambulance when he ran off. So was the cop reprimanded, too? I'm at a loss to understand where this thread is supposed to be going. -be safe

+1000 There's no comparison between circumcision and the mutilation women undergo with a clitorectomy. -be safe

Ok...based on the replies so far I'm inclined to think none of you read the article. Or, if you did, you missed the point. That may be my fault, though, in how I presented this. This has nothing to do with the fact that she is a world class athlete (Sorry, Terri. Wrong again!). I'd still broach this topic if the patient in question was my neighbor or an homeless guy out on the street. This has everything to do with the reports by the family that she was awake and able to communicate with people around her. I understand people have the right to refuse treatment even if it means they'll die. But at what point, in a case like this, does it become murder? She was, in effect, asking to be killed. We have the right to refuse treatment. We do not have the right to be killed. Nor do we have the right to ask people to kill us. Last I checked, right, wrong or indifferent, suicide and murder are both illegal (except under very limited circumstances in Oregon). Let me frame the discussion a little better as I don't care what your personal beliefs are (nor will I share mine as I know you don't care either. ). How about this: Do you think removing this conscious, coherent (based on incomplete reports I know) from her vent constitutes murder? Suicide? Does she have a right to ask people to, in effect, kill her? Do we as family members (hypothetically, of course) have a responsibility to pull the plug if our loved ones are awake and able to communicate? (Brain dead or in a vegetative state is different so please don't confuse the two.) Do we as health care providers have a responsibility to honor this woman's wishes? Would it constitute murder on our part? Does this violate primum non nocere? After all, we would actively act to take this woman's life. How's that for a start? My apologies for a confusing introduction. -be safe

How in the world do they justify withdrawing care from this woman? Vent status aside, if she's awake and able to communicate how does any medical professional justify the withdrawal of care? Please discuss. -be safe [web:bbf8271fa5]http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080829/ap_on_re_us/obit_warren[/web:bbf8271fa5]

I wonder if the OP is willing to *buy* stories from us instead of simply trying to get rich off of the experiences of others. I suspect he's not really interested in buying them. I imagine he'd even then try to claim ownership of the stories so we couldn't even capitalize on our own experiences. I don't have a Commodore 64. But my folks have a still functional Apple IIc. -be safe

I got this from another forum I frequent. I don't know if this was written by the guy who posted it or what. And while I'm not normally a fan of "potty humour" I just couldn't let this go... -be safe

I was just going to PM you about school. Glad you're starting. Kick arse! :headbang: :headbang: :headbang:

I like chbare's questioning. Do we have an answer to this yet? -be safe

You're right. There's nothing like judging people based on a minute and a half tabloid news video. Yep. Stupid people, indeed. -be safe

This is sort of "non-EMS" but it may, potentially, affect what we do and how we do it. It is interesting reading, to say the least. -be safe [web:d99a2c2e59]http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2008-08-20-hospital-death-rates_N.htm?se=yahoorefer[/web:d99a2c2e59]

It would be folly to believe we're the only ones. -be safe

Search the forums. There are several threads that will give you some insight. -be safe

Glad you have pictures. You'll need them to remind you what the place looked like after a bunch of forumites descend on your place for the party. It certainly won't look like that afterwards. Alas, I won't be able to attend. Thanks for the invite, though. -be safe

There are still some diploma programs out there. They're becoming few and far in between though. Salary wise, I've not seen any difference between diploma or ASN RNs.. However, there are several hospitals locally that have stopped hiring diploma or ASN nurses altogether. If you don't have a BSN or higher they won't even look at you. Just something else to consider.

Interesting. No assumptions were made. That's why I asked questions. Those questions were added to the thread as they were directly related to the responses following the original post. Who's defensive now? :roll:

Boe, At what point are you driving? You initiated this thread by asking what other forumites thought. Then, when people told you what they thought, you became defensive and offered the "we're the upcoming generation, we think it's ok, so move out of our way" defense. Did you really want to know what others thought? If not, then why did you start this thread? Honestly, judging by your responses, it doesn't sound like you were really interested. It sounds like you were asking to justify your already formed opinion. You asked. People responded. Why are you getting bent out of shape over this? What's more, after skimming through all the responses to this thread, I don't recall anyone saying "no tats" or "all tats are evil". Most of the responses centered around showing some respect for those with whom we interact, recognizing that not everyone will look favorably on tats, and if common sense dictates they be covered then cover them. If you ask, be prepared to hear something you might not like. But at least be open minded enough to consider the viewpoints of others. Especially after *you* asked what others thought. -be safe

There seems to be an awful lot of "I don't care..." and "who cares what others thinks..." going on in this thread. Unfortunately, that's the wrong approach. Once again, this isn't about us. It's not what we think. It's not what we want for ourselves. This is all about our patients. Our patients are the purpose of our job. We MUST care what they think. We MUST make the effort to make them feel more comfortable. We MUST put our personal beliefs, feelings and biases aside for their benefit. Tats are just another example of that. Despite their increasing popularity and social acceptance, there are many, many, many people out there who view those who wear tats as thugs, punks, criminals or worse. Are these knee jerk reactions and stereotyping? Absolutely. Does everyone who has ink fit this description? Absolutely not. However, that being said, many of the people we treat aren't in the position, nor do they really want at that time, to engage in debate that their beliefs/biases are wrong. They want to feel better and they want to think that the people sent to help them feel better can be trusted. For them, walking in with visible tattoos doesn't instill a whole lot of confidence. If you want a tattoo, there's nothing saying you can't have one (unless your organization has a specific policy prohibiting them which is not uncommon). But as has been mentioned, use some common sense. Not everyone is as free spirited or liberated in thought to think that they're fine and harmless. Not everyone views them as art. And it's what *they* think in these instances that matters. It's not about us, guys. As much as it pains us to think otherwise, it's true. We need to start thinking that way. -be safe

I'm with Doc and Vent. There seems to be an awful lot of ego driven "we are great" in the original post. How about moving away from the ego boost and getting to the substance of the matter? How about, instead of a letter to the editor style ego trip, a series of serious educational seminars be held? You could discuss what to expect when someone dials 911. You could also discuss what information the caller might need to have available when EMS arrives. You can also discuss what the caller should expect from EMS. Rely on verifiable facts and not myth or supposition. Please, at all costs, avoid stuff like "I want you to go say thank you" and "Please don't abuse the system. We don't like that.". To sum up, less ego, more fact. Seems pretty simple. Good luck.

Dust might have a heart attack? *I* am having one after reading that! I just hope the apparent change in attitude holds and follows through with everything else. Add some ketchup to the crow. It might help it go down easier. -be safe

You're welcome. Well, you, rather unknowingly it seems, just walked into a potential fire storm. This is going to turn into another fire versus EMS debate. I just know it!:evil: You need to make a decision. You either go on to be a paramedic because you want, 100% deep down in your bones so bad you dream about it at night and can taste the threads on that nifty patch you'll get to wear, to be a paramedic or you decide to be a FF. If you're doing it only because you think it'll make it easier to get hired by the local FD then stop wasting your time. In fact, stop wasting your time, your instructor's time, your classmate's time and the time of any patient you may potentially [s:675eed030a]kill[/s:675eed030a] treat. You won't be doing any one any service if you're doing this only for the purpose of getting a totally unrelated job. Your heart won't be in it and that will be reflected in you lackluster care. Yeah, I know the local FD runs EMS. If you're in the Bay area (as your posts make it sound) you need to seriously research the mess that is SFFD and their EMS program. There are major and serious problems with regards to how SFFD runs EMS. There is also no shortage of SF Chronicle coverage of the mess that exists. If you *want* to be a paramedic, then go to paramedic school. If that is what you have your heart set on doing professionally, if that is your end goal, if that is what you think is your ideal next career, then by all means, do it. Despite the potential negatives mentioned above it can be, and often is, a very rewarding job. If you want to do it only because you think you'll have a better shot at becoming a FF, then please do yourself and everyone else a favor and move on to something else. EMS is not a game. It's not something cool to do when you're not riding the engine. It is a world entirely of itself. Please read and search through these forums. You will find more information regarding EMS, Fire based EMS, becoming a medic only to help become a FF than you can possibly read all in one sitting. Then, when you have additional questions, please ask. Understand that I'm not trying to discourage you one way or another. This is simply thrown out for your information so that you can be better informed as to just what it is you're attempting. -be safe

I bet the crew left it running with the keys in the ignition which would explain why it was stolen so easily. :roll: If that's the case, fire the crew for being lazy. There's no excuse for that. Especially given the security threats that currently exist with regards to stolen emergency vehicles and their potential to be used for nefarious activities. Seems they did find the ambulance later that afternoon. -be safe (and don't be lazy!)

Earning a $100K a year doesn't mean you can't get burned out. Running non-stop from the start of your shift to the end, every day you work, can drain you. Dealing with people when they're at their worst can drain you. Dealing with the dregs of society on a daily basis can drain you. Dealing with people who treat you as nothing more than a taxi can drain you. Add to that the items Ruff outlined and you find yourself in an environment where, if you don't take care of yourself outside of work, you'll find yourself with a very short fuse. EMS is not the end all and be all of anything. Stress management is important...more-so than in many other professions. Don't get sucked into living your job. -be safe