medik8

Aww geez....guys...let's not start the pissing matches about who works harder or who truly works EMS or the like. We all work hard for our money and we all deal with the BS calls, as well as the good ones. It's just the way this business is. It doesn't take long to figure that out. Attacking each other because of our frustrations doesn't solve anything...it just sets us back, yet again, because we, for some reason, love to devour our own. Who does what has nothing to do with the problem at hand. Let's just keep this thing on topic...OK? *Listen to me....I'm not even a mod....* LMFAO!!!!! xoxoxo Luv, :wink: 8

I work a crap load and I don't have a problem working out. It all depends on how badly you want to stay in shape. I don't buy the "I don't have time" excuse. Like I said...I have almost zero free time. I work for two departments, teach EMT school and have child activities. In addition, I work lots of extra days. I still find time. It's an obsession to me....I have to do it. It clears my mind and makes me feel good. I run about 5-6 miles in the evenings when I'm not working. If I'm at work...I walk or run outside by the station. We have a weight room at work and I work out there when I'm at work with free weights, the bike, stair-stepper, etc. Once a week, I do cardio-kickboxing classes and I do Tae Bo at home as well. I fit in swimming here and there during the summer or at the gym when I have free time. I'm a firm believer in the fact that it keeps me healthy, strong, sharp and ready for anything. Plus, it makes me feel good, is good for the ticker, and I'm never gotten ambulance ass...(thank God). It's not for everyone...and I certainly won't knock anyone who doesn't work out. However, I'm a believer in...if there's a will...there's a way.... Plus...nothing feels better than to work your hiney off in a good workout, and to take a long shower...(if the EMS gods allow) and then to relax. It makes you feel like you could move a mountain. PS..I used to HATE exercise. Now, I get cranky without it... :roll: Lots of luck in your goals... xoxo Luv, 8

...And that's a very good point and a ditto for me, as well. Something I forgot to mention... I rarely work anything in the patient's home unless totally necessary. I do most of my stuff in the back or en-route mostly. I don't like spending much time on scene. So, yeah...most of my trash is in the ambulance, and then we can pick it up at the end of our call. But...if the mess is made at the house...refer to my post above. xoxo 8

I don't know about you all...but I'm getting a job as AK's partner... :blob4: Holy crap.... :shock: Naked EMS....sounds good to me...maybe it would make the patients feel more comfortable if we exposed ourselves as well. Heyyyy...now that's an idea.... xoxo 8

I always clean up after myself in a patient's home!! I do not see there to be any other way, or any excuse, not to. If the patient is an arrest situation, then yeah...I may leave something behind, but I apologize on the way out. I've never had anyone complain in that situation. I use a side pocket on my jump bag, and I also have an area where I keep a few small trash bags stashed, so if necessary, I throw everything in one of those and carry it out that way. Then, if anything is slimy, it doesn't get on the rest of your equipment or contaminate anything in your bag. I think one of the factors here...is...and this sounds silly, but it's true... How long have you been in EMS? New or easily excited providers tend to go haywire and things go flying in all directions. You can just as easily tear the side off of a 4X4 gently and drop the paper at your knees as to rip into it like a dog after a beef steak with the paper flying over your head and landing on their couch. :roll: There's no reason to be a maniac... Your mess should all be contained in one area, for the most part, and easily able to be scooped up. If there's a bloody situation and you have lots of soaked gauze, as I accumulate a pile in ONE spot...when I am finished...I will scoop it ALL up in my gloved hand and then peel the glove off inside out leaving all the contaminated pieces inside the glove. That solves that. Then, grab a new glove from your wanker pants pocket (which you should always have extras...I feel...) and replace it with a clean one. Bottom line...there's many ways to do things, and different things work for different people. We all have tips and tricks...but the one fact remains. Don't be a slob. It reflects on you as a person, you as a provider, your service and the community you represent. Respect people, their feelings, their vulnerable moments, and their home. It's a package deal. There's no reason any link should be left out. xoxo :wink: 8

:shock: OMG! Please....It is absolutely absurd to think that everyone needs their clothes removed. Like Rid and others have said, use common sense. I think AZCEP's post reflected my feelings most accurately. Major/Critical Trauma= adios to your clothes, most definitely. And unless it's really critical or big time trauma, even then I use modesty when possible (meaning I don't just let everything flop around... :shock:) I cut the clothes in such a manner that when i discover that area is "trauma free"... I can pull the flaps back over. Otherwise, I just use a blanket. I've seen lots of medics expose...and then leave things exposed while the patient is just lying there, shivering, in pain. Not cool. Major medical; again cardiac/resp= clothes off. Again, as comfortably and as best done as possible. (arrests...duh...self explanatory to everyone... I hope...) I admit, if someone's dying, screw the modesty. They definitely are NOT going to care about it in that case... This is, once again like many other things, common sense. Definitely expose your patient enough to perform a thorough assessment WHEN NECESSARY. But, let's not get stupid with it.... :roll: xoxo 8

Cute, Terri! Sooo true...and cute. LMAO xoxo 8

Cool...at least it's nice to see that our quotes are read; and not just by us. At least one person sees us in action and now has a greater respect for what we actually do in the back of an ambulance. It's about time. It's not enough...but if one person is convinced...that's one more than before. Maybe he will pass it on to his friends and family. :roll: Regarding the glove issue...call me anal, but I do everything I can. There are a lot of ways you can be humanistic without touching someone with bare hands. Excuse me, but I'll pass on that. I wash my hands...all throughout the day..so chances are I've washed them pretty much before a call. I wear gloves...sometimes double if it's really nasty trauma or really slimy or something like that. :shock: I am careful about the way I peel them off, and I wash my hands immediately afterwards. That is something I am obsessive about and I make sure I do not get complacent with. We are exposed to a lot of stuff. Accidents happen...but anything I (God forbid) should ever get is definitely NOT going to be because I was careless. Just the way I am.... xoxo :roll: 8

Ahem... :shock: And you all wonder why I'm so happy and calm... Just JOKING! But, Yes...it IS very much like the Prozac capsule..green and white! Hmm...Interesting Chick!! LMAO.. xoxoxo :wink: 8

Thanks t_Pritchard06. Some people don't like him 'cause they say he gives them a headache. I like him. He's a pill (a capsule)...just kinda hangin' out and lookin' for a place to happen... I think he's cool... xoxo 8

=D> Ahhh...definitely true. I like this one. Thanks for sharing, Hammer. xoxo 8

Hmm... These are good...funny... How about... 10. After telling someone something, they answer with, "Seriously?", or "Really?"....No...I'm just feeding you a line of crap because it amuses me to hear you ask that... xoxo 8

Did someone say hot and sweaty? :shock: xoxo 8

Hmmm....I kinda do both. Personally, I would try to get the City job if I were you. You see a lot, but as Dust said, you are close enough to most hospitals and resources that even though you can have some pretty hairy deals, they are somewhat short-lived. Rural....as mentioned...do not do as a newbie. When I work in the country/county, there are times that my calls take 2 hours EACH. Only a very small portion of that is response time and time on scene. The rest of it is spent en-route to the hospital with the patient. Meaning, you'd better be comfortable being in the back of that ambulance with that patient who is VERY pre-code looking or that you may have already had to tube, or going down the tubes...whatever the case may be. There's no calling for help. You're it. Sink or swim. Not a position I'd want to ever be in if I was new. Trust me. It's scared the crap out of me a time or two. Get some experience and then move to an area that's more challenging. You'll enjoy it more because you will feel more in control, and you will be better at your job in the long run. Just my advice... xoxo 8

Meh...no thanks. I don't have time for crap like this...and no...I'm not trying to be difficult or arrogant. I just don't like "stuff". I'm not a fan of ANYONE relying on things like this to assess their patient. I'm sure someone had good intentions, but I'd rather not mess with any of this. I'll take my 12 lead and a thorough assessment (which like someone already said....we're going to do anyway, regardless of what anyone thinks they found with this contraption.) :roll: xoxo 8

YAYY!! Way to go! You already have my vote for EMT of the month...even though you aren't yet...just because your mind is on the right track to having all the stuff it takes to be great! I'm a big fan of learning, as is Dust and Rid and many others on here. You will see and hear us preach about it constantly. I must say, I'm impressed with your attitude right off the bat...and at 18 none-the-less. I think you're going to do a fine job...just keep that attitude going and there are no limits to your abilities or accomplishments. NEVER stop learning. Don't just perform skills; find out why, and then go one step further and look up something strange you ran across...learn about it, use the information to expand your knowledge and understanding of medicine. Best of luck! xoxo :wink: 8

Where do you think I learned it from?! ....Ahem... :shock: xoxoxo 8

Nope...Naked all the way baby!!!! Heck, I don't even like to put my clothes on after I'm done showering! TPBM likes to roll themselves in corn syrup and then in brown sugar and offer themselves as a treat! :shock: xoxo 8

Thank you, PRPG. Geez...I understand the point and the difference...but like PRPG said, does it really matter? As long as you do your job, under your title and your scope of practice, and you do it well...we all have the same goal here (or we should) and that is to provide a high level of excellent patient care (including driving their arses there ) Everyone's job in this business is important in some way. Like Dust said....it all boils down to EDUCATION! Understand what you are doing...further your education and skills not by title only but because you actually know what the hell you are doing. Just because you are a Paramedic doesn't mean you know what the hell you are doing. Yes...you should...but please!!!! :roll: We've all run across Medics that should be basics or nothing at all...and Basics that should be Medics. What separates them is definitely NOT the title...it's the education and how seriously they take their job and responsibilities as being emergency caregivers. If we are to ever be taken as seriously as so many of us deserve, we've got to get over these stupid bitch sessions and pissing matches that we so often do amongst ourselves, and realize that education and learning are the keys to our success. Then, let's put all that knowledge in motion and to good use and PROVE our worth. The public doesn't really care if you are an EMT, a PCP, or a Paramedic. They only care that when you take their loved one, child, etc., away in your truck, that you are going to take care of them, make them comfortable, help them breathe again, and they are going to return home safely. Essentially...they just want us to do our job. :roll: GOOOOOOOOOOOSSSHHHHHHHHHHH....AAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRGGGGGHHHHHH....(with full Napoleon Dynamite tones!) LMFAO! xoxoxo :wink: Luv, 8

:shock:

Riiiiight...What DOC said. I have seen many situations where I suspected fractures, but there were no obvious signs. And then, sure enough, right there on the x-rays... There doesn't have to be swelling, deformity or the like for the fracture to be present. Duh... Once again, we have to take off the blinders...guys... xoxoxo :wink: 8

Unfortunately, I do not have much to add. Everyone is right on target and gave great advice. I feel your pain, hon...I went through a few tough times myself, although I do have to admit it sounds like you are going through much much more than I ever have. Please remember we are here to listen, but you DO need to talk to someone professionally. Thank you for realizing that there is a problem. You can help a million people, but in the end, your happiness is what is important. Please don't ignore the warning signs of depression and helplessness you are feeling. I want you to be happy, healthy and safe. Please don't let it get to the point where it continues to affect your family and health to the point of no return. After all....you are family... I wish you the best... xoxoxo :wink: Luv, 8

I guess it's not fair for me to play...since PRPG told me this story and I know all about it... *8 walks sadly over to the corner and sits indian-style ...big sigh...waiting and reading all that is posted...* :wink: xoxo 8

Wow...you managed to spark my genuine interest and it's not even 10:00 yet. THAT, in itself, is amazing. Very cool! Thanks for sharing... xox :wink: 8

Wow....come do some rides with me....you think you're fed up now? LMFAO.... Hey...it's all good....no sense in getting your panties all in a bunch. You're not gonna change the ways of the abusers, or where they come from. Do I agree with it? No... But, it's a pattern, and it will keep repeating itself... :roll: xoxo Luv, 8