paramedicmike

I have the same answer as your friends. There haven't been many flights in which I've been involved where I think we made a huge impact. Granted, there have been a few. But they are few and far in-between. Fortunately, our pilots are smart enough to decline a flight if it's questionable. They also go out of their way to ask if anyone else has turned it down. The bosses say that if there's ever a question and one of us says "no" there will be no repercussions. That being said, I have not had to say "no" during my tenure here. Every time I would have declined a flight due to weather (or other concerns) our pilot has already turned it down for us. It's alright. I've been back and forth between the air and the ground and without a vacation in way too long. I know all about tired. -be safe

Not many flight services use MD/DO as members of their regular flight crews. As specialty team members? Sure. But most will use either RN/RN, RN/P or RN/RT. As to what flight crews can bring to the patient, that will depend on the service. My service brings RSI/advanced airway management. Some places I've heard about can do more invasive procedures up to and including chest tubes. So it depends from service to service. I didn't not initially notice a slant towards interfacility flights versus scene flights. Although, looking at it now, it could be interpreted that way. I wonder if Dr Bledsoe intended that slant or if it was just a result of how he wrote the piece. -be safe

I think it's more along the lines of "if it ain't broke don't fix it". Never let it be said that the progress in the fire department was ever impeded by tradition. :roll: What's more, I think FDNY does it simply so the FFs don't have to deal with EMS crews. What better way to segregate your employees, create an atmosphere of "separate and unequal", and essentially develop a caste system within the organization? -be safe

This bugs me to no end. It's "Y'all". Not "Ya'll". Please get it right. Except it doesn't work. There is no evidence to suggest it works. It's all a guessing game. You were asked once to provide evidence to support your stance that this is better and you have failed to do so. You then asked to stick to the topic at hand and then dragged this back into the discussion. Provide the evidence to back it up or leave it out. What's more, if you can't get out of your station within a minute or two, then you have larger issues than whether or not turning your truck off is a worthwhile issue to debate with your employers. -be safe

I know! I liked that, too! -be safe

I'll admit up front that I work as a flight medic. More and more, however, I have to question the wisdom of continuing my employment in this segment of the industry. Dr Bledsoe makes an interesting case. Thoughts? [web:2d34dbb96c]http://www.ems1.com/ambulances-emergency-vehicles/articles/404642-Alright-Ill-Say-It[/web:2d34dbb96c] -be safe

Just how is turning off your truck delaying response times? -be safe

Is this sarcasm? Or are you being serious? I'm not very good at picking up on internet sarcasm, either. If you're being serious, can you please provide evidence, in a separate thread so as not to hijack this one, that what you're advocating works. If you're being sarcastic, how about using those goofy emoticons a little more liberally so we know that you really are, in fact, being sarcastic. -be safe

Can't we just place some explosives, blow it and let it drift off into the Atlantic? You do know what the best view of NJ is, right? The view in your rear view mirror as you're leaving! -be safe

Damn. That was a little more blunt than I anticipated. Sorry about that. They had already managed to pick up the patient and were on their way to the receiving facility when they went down. All three crew members and the patient died in the crash. This is really sad. We went almost the entire year of 2007 with no accidents. Since December we've had six incidents four of which were fatal. Please keep the families, friends and coworkers of all involved in your thoughts/prayers/meditations...whatever you do. -be safe

The patient was on board when the aircraft crashed and is now dead.

No. Read it again. What's more, until the final results of the investigation are released everything is speculation. -be safe

There's been some debate regarding the use of misting fans. Here's an article about their use in fire ground rehab. Turnout gear is usually heavier than sports gear (even football padding) but the principles are the same. A quick google search will also reveal info regarding how (in)effective misting fans are or can be (the one I linked above is just one of the many I found). You might be better off just having an air conditioned area for them to cool off in while the drink fluids. -be safe

You don't tell us what level provider you are now so it's a little difficult to help with the overall presentation of your post. If this was your job and you took it seriously 200 hours of additional training wouldn't be a big deal. You would find a way to get it done. After all if your employer said to you you needed additional training to keep your job you would get the training, wouldn't you? So now the question becomes how dedicated to this are you? If you are truly dedicated to doing right by your patients then this won't be a big deal. You will make it work. If you aren't truly dedicated to doing right by your patients then please do them, and the community at large, a favor and stick with the fire side and avoid EMS. Or you could find a new hobby all together. Good luck. BTW, just so you know, mine may well be one of the gentler posts on this topic you may receive. Please don't think I'm being harsh. I'm actually holding back a bit. -be safe

Perhaps you should Google the Missouri office of EMS and contact them. If anyone will be able to answer your questions it will be the people in charge of EMS for the state in which you live. And no. I'm not as generous as is Wendy. You'll have to look that up yourself. -be safe

What's worse is that it's not photo-shopped! [web:64e17417ea]http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24943229/[/web:64e17417ea] -be safe

Interesting to see differences in training ideas. Every FD with which I'm familiar doesn't want anyone to have any type of firefighting background or experience prior to hire. They'd prefer to train a complete newbie. This prevents some smart-arsed know it all from being a discipline problem in the academy. This also creates an environment where everyone is taught the same information, trained on the same material and does the job the way the department wants in an attempt to limit the lone rangers who go off on their own because "that's the way my vollie squad does it". -be safe

I'm amazed at the pervasiveness of arrogance among EMS providers. Although, I haven't been able to determine if that's a personality trait present before becoming a prehospital provider or something that develops with experience. Given that I've seen it in brand new basics I'm inclined to think that it's the former but I can't say for sure. With that arrogance comes a very visible disdain for those in possession of a higher level of education (or anyone who may be perceived as "better than me"). Unfortunately, this is demonstrated in very vocal shouting down of others not seen to be in agreement with the masses. In fact, those who are most vocal in their contempt seem to be the ones claiming to not need the extra education (not being limited to medically related education...college level education of any type fits this discussion). Is it jealousy? Is it regret? Is it something else? This also ties in to a few who do possess college level degrees. They feel some insatiable need to flaunt their achievement but only as a tool to belittle their peers, colleagues and coworkers. All of this, I think, ties into a very serious and deep seated insecurity many EMS-ers have. This stems from several origins and isn't limited to lack of respect shown the profession, poor educational standards and underlying personality (but could be addressed if more and broader educational standards were required). Of course, these are generalizations and don't apply to everyone. Don't think, however, that my cynicism doesn't play into the larger issue of personality traits common in EMS. Just a thought. -be safe

Pain management when indicated. To withhold analgesia when you have the tools and ability to do something about it would be unethical. Why not gather the research (readily available over the internet) and talk to him yourself? You may be surprised at what happens. -be safe

I am really, *really* glad all are ok.

[web:f9f7c05ab6]http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/05/28/AR2008052803312_pf.html[/web:f9f7c05ab6]

I think the question should be if there is a place in EMS management for those *without* an MBA or some other formalized business education. Your observation about current EMS managers if accurate. This is part of the reason EMS is still in the position it's in. The solution to the biggest problems in EMS is education. From basics to medics to managers. Increase the educational requirements and you'll see an increase in the standing, efficiency and respect help by the industry. Not to mention people will start taking us seriously, too! -be safe

Welcome to the City. Please do a search of the forums regarding education, degrees and problems caused by the lack there-of. I'm sure you will have plenty of reading material to keep you busy. Perhaps it might even offer some insight CONTENT REMOVED - ADMIN -be safe

I was just wondering how the bathing suit stayed on...

Friends help you move. True friends help you move the bodies.