paramedicmike

NOW it's fixed. While I've worked with some rather, shall we say, interesting partners, nothing anyone has done stands out as being particularly *****-y. I guess I've been fortunate in that regard. -be safe

...olympic water polo today. It's a shame about the horses. - be safe

...poo.

No. Not Steve Martin's skit. Although, that's funny in and of itself. A friend of mine (who's more philosophical than I) and I recently had a discussion on feeling small. It's an interesting way to approach a topic if you think about it. Anyway, I came acrossthis site recently. Check it out every once in a while. It's certainly an interesting perspective. If it doesn't make you feel small...well, then I don't know what's wrong with you. -be safe

Armadillos are natural carriers of Mycobacterium leprae. If memory serves from having lived down south, I think it's the nine banded armadillos that carry it. It's present primarily on their feet. I don't remember ever hearing anything about eating armadillos, but we were always cautioned against handling them. We used to call them "nature's speed bumps" because they were often seen right before, or after, getting hit by a car. They jump, too, when scared. If they jumped at just the right time they'd slide up the hood and ramp off the windshield. Some of them got pretty decent air time before their rather abrupt landing. -be safe

Seriously burned patients are going to get some pretty significant antibiotic treatments. The burn itself, if serious enough, is more an infection threat than the IV. Start the IV where you can and go with it. The fluids and analgesia you can give be a good short term intervention until you can get them to the burn center. -be safe

Sounds like the hospital's attorney stood up for the medic doing the triage. Isn't there something out there, JCAHO rules or something similar, that mandates an RN do triage? Either way, seems the question of paramedic education has come up *again*. -be safe

There are examples nationwide of the massive failures associated with fire taking over EMS. From the NYC*EMS/FDNY debacle to San Francisco and beyond. Some searching here in these forums as well as your friend Google will provide a whole bunch of information as to why the proposed merger is such a bad idea. Do the residents of your community a favor and don't let this happen. You all will be much better off in the long run. -be safe

Follow up story.

Have you noticed the user name "Admin" hasn't added anything to these discussions? I find that intriguing... -be safe ps. I'm still not admin!

I wondered why me ears were burning. I'm sorry to disappoint my fans, but I am not admin. -be safe

I believe the "Funny Stuff" forum is down a bit.

Party at Herbie's!!!! I'll bring the marshmellows. -be safe

My comments about keeping things on track were more directed to the individual who admitted he didn't know enough about the topic to talk about it and who then proceeded to make broad, general and borderline ignorant statements requiring the smackdown from the rest of the more thoughtful participants in this thread. I've been around long enough to know how thread topics can vary widely, thank you. -be safe

This thread isn't about universal health care. This thread is about mortality rates in US EMS services and how that may compare to Australia (Timmy's neighborhood) or elsewhere. Can we keep it on those lines please? If you want to discuss universal health care, something I don't think americans are qualified to discuss, please consider starting another thread. Sorry, Admin. Had to try and keep it on track. -be safe

Please! Not another one! This is completely out of control. I can't stand this....

We cannot help you because you failed to tell us where you are. Correct that error and perhaps someone will be able to help direct you to your answer.

The forecast for tonight is dark with increasing light by morning. -be safe

Congrats, 'zilla!

Actually, I did. But since you continued to ask I figured you forgot what you wrote and needed some reminding. Police departments have as much business running EMS as does fire. That is to say, neither has any business running EMS. EMS needs to be a stand alone operation. In a sense, it makes sense for the hospitals to run it as hospitals are, by definition, health care facilities. We provide health care. We need to work under the guidance and supervision of a physician. So why not be affiliated with hospitals? But there is (anecdotal) evidence to support that B/P partnerships lead to faster burnout. This is demonstrated across the country every day. So you would argue that a system promoting burnout is the way to go? -be safe

Perhaps you missed this: So now we go back to the question. Are there any successful fire based EMS systems? I'll even expand that to ask what criteria is used to base that alleged success? -be safe

Because, unless I'm mistaken, state law only allows medics to be employed through hospitals. At least that's how it was explained to me by several NJ medics. -be safe

They're not any worse. They're just more numerous. All volunteers do, nationwide, is hold back this profession. This isn't trying to start yet another volly vs paid thread. There are enough others out there. Search the site to find out just why vollys services should be put out of business. There are plenty of jobs available? Perhaps because people have no desire to work there? Naming individual departments doesn't affect the statewide system. NJEMS is broken from the ground up...state-wide! Why do people single out NJ? Perhaps they bring it on themselves. Maybe take a step outside the state and look at it from a different perspective will allow you to see it for what it really is. -be safe

You should be. Want to know one of the bigger problems NJEMS has? Volunteers. Want to know one of the first steps that needs to be taken to turn NJEMS around? Get rid of the volunteers. Or you could go with my original idea. High placed explosives along the Delaware and let it drift off into the Atlantic. -be safe