jw-c152

I disagree with all of the posts that say "Dock them the pay." Shit happens. People are going to bump curbs. It's a cost of doing business.

In Ontario, a firefighter can not drive an ambulance either. In order to drive an ambulance in Ontario one must possess what is called an 'F' Class license - so all paramedics in the province have this F license. Firefighters (usually) do not possess this license, and although the licensing requirements to drive a fire truck would be more stringent, it still does not allow for a FF to drive the ambulance. Most calls, in my opinion, do not require two paramedics in the back, but in instances where it is required and there are no other paramedics (from another truck or response vehicle) then police officers are allowed to drive. Even though PD does not have this 'F' class license, the Police Services Act of Ontario allows them to drive any type of vehicle in the performance of their duties. If we just need an extra set of hands to perform CPR compressions we will often take a FF along in the back to do that. John

Check out www.emshonourguard.com for information on the "Alliance of Canadian EMS Honour Guards." They have lots of useful information to share. John www.ParamedicPipeBand.ca

Tylenol

10-4. Didn't read it like that, but that makes sense.

I would be surprised if a CFL game was a volunteer post. I'm sure they service is being paid to provide coverage for the game. I am not from BC and therefore am not certain on this... however, the area I work in has an international speedyway and 'Mosport' pays my service (quite well, I might add - somewhere in the neighbourhood of $185/hour last I heard) to ensure there are ALS units there on every race and practice day. A lot of the major sporting events in Toronto (Maple Leafs, Blue Jays, Raptors, Toronto Football Club, etc.) as well as special events all hire private first aid companies to staff their events. In the event of a 'call' they call Toronto EMS on 911. Not the same, I know, but still shows that they are paying for the service as well. However, if you are correct that BCAS medics are volunteering to staff the CFL games then that should change.. But I somehow doubt they do. Cheers, John

Announcing the Ontario Paramedic Pipe Band! The mission of the Ontario Paramedic Pipe Band is to support Paramedics and promote Paramedicine. We will help honour those who give their lives in the service of their communities. Our band is brand new. At this point our main goals are to spread the word of our new band and raise funds to purchase instruments, uniforms, etc. Our primary method of spreading the word is by our new website: www.ParamedicPipeBand.ca. We are still in need of band crest/logo which can be used on either the website and/or uniform. If you are in to graphic designs and would like to help us out (we currently have no funding so would only be able to offer our sincerest thanks) please contact me at john@paramedicpipeband.ca In the meantime, I invite everyone to browse our site - www.paramedicpipeband.ca. Like the band, our website is a work in progress. Regards, John Paramedic - Durham, Ontario, Canada

The whole event won't be broadcasted, however there will be media coverage. I'll post what I can here following the event. John

The 2009 National Paramedic Competition (Canada) is being held this month on March 28th, 2009 in Oshawa, Ontario, Canada. Check out our website at www.paramediccompetition.ca In the area? You're welcome to drop in! Registration is complete and we have a full compliment of Advanced Care, Primary Care and Student Paramedic teams - 36 in total! Banquet tickets are available for purchase on the website under Events. Hope to see you there! John Lindsay Chair, National Paramedic Competition comp.chair@paramediccompetition.ca

The National Paramedic Competition (Canada) will be held on March 28, 2009 in Oshawa, Ontario, Canada. 2009 marks the 7th annual event hosted by the Durham Paramedic Association. Paramedics and students compete in one of three categories - Advanced Care Paramedic, Primary Care Paramedic or Primary Care Paramedic Student. Check out the website at www.paramediccompetition.ca for more information and photos/media coverage from previous years. International teams are welcome to compete as well. You can also email me for more information: comp.chair@paramediccompetition.ca Cheers, and Happy New Year! John

So was she supposed to stand there and watch the driver burn to death? Even though she wasn't giving NTG for chest pain as she is trained to do or some other skill she is TRAINED to do, as you put it, she was doing her job by serving the public and saving that persons' life. BECAUSE she was performing her job and the specific act mentioned was not a normal situation we see in our job every day, she DEFINITELY deserves to be recognized. I take my hat off to her for being someone who has the courage to do something out of the ordinary to help her fellow (wo)man.

This is one of the safest Air Ambulance programs in the world (see the stats in the post above). But accidents will happen...

Yep, used it on Friday.

Did these patients in wheelchairs require spinal precautions??? If not, using the KED seems a bit odd to me in this situation. Why not just pick the patient up and move them to the stretcher? A nice fore-and-aft lift works nicely.

My guess is that the guys sat at the computer at the firehouse and put this together for themselves.

I'm no opposed to taking someone down if he's a danger to me, my partner, himself or anyone else. I have done it before, as I'm sure some of you have. A 78yo male hypoglycemic who we couldn't approach d/t violence, so while we were waiting for police he decides he's going to attack my partner by running at him and grabbing him around the neck. We took him down on the front lawn infront of 10 neighbours. Mind you, we didn't kick him once down. No complaints from him or any of the bystanders. Even if there had been, I wouldn't care because my partner and I are okay because we did it. If these firefighters perceived that this person was a danger to them based on his words, demeanor and actions, then I am okay with them 'taking him down.' I don't think the kicks were necessary, but none of us were there and there were firemen blocking our view of the guy when the kicks happened, so we don't know what he was doing at the time - maybe he was biting one of the guys or something. I think an investigation should take place to determine what happened. I also think the findings will be that the firefighters were right to protect themselves.

I'd like to add that oxygen is contraindicated in any patient who is currently on fire.

Worst OD I've ever had was dead. Can't get any worse for the patient than that. Cheers.

I might have missed it when reading through, or perhaps it was a typographical oversight.... But I believe the first item on my treatment list would be high flow O2. Cheers.

[quote="Redcell19512 I have a general rule. I don't debate guns, abortion, or same sex marriage...and I'm now adding flu shots to that list

It's not safe to pull your car off the side of the road to help someone out when kids are in the car. Yep I can understand that. But if your kid's safety is important (as it should be), what's with the handgun? I guess I just don't understand the 'American Gun Mentality' (meant in the nicest possible way). But that's a whole other can o' worms. Cheers.

Glad I'm not living in PA...

PCP from Ontario. Top rate for PCP in my service is $33.18/hour (increases on April 1, 2007 to $35.30/hour). Top rate for ACP currently is $35.89/hour and increases to $37.88/hour on April 1, 2007. We are on the high side compared to most services in Ontario, but I would guess that average PCP wage would be about $30/hour. You guys definitely deserve more than $21.60. Good luck.

Just curious... the provincial government repealed the requirement for paramedics to have mandatory flu shots a few years ago (I believe due to some legal action taken against the policy). I was under the impression that the services can no longer MAKE anyone get the flu shot. My service follows the provincial Patient Care and Transportation Standards, Section C. Influenza Control which should have been sent to your service operator on Oct 25, 2006 by the director of EHS Branch. This document states that "Each operator shall ensure that, as of December 8 every year, each paramedic a. provides a valid certificate signed by a physician that states that he or she has been immunized againsted influenza, or that such immunization is medically contraindicated; or b. provides a written statement that he or she has taken the educational review and has not been, and does not intend to be, immunized against influenza. My service goes further to say that should a paramedic not be immunized (by choice or contraindication) then s/he must wear an N-95 mask on ALL calls between October 31, 2006 and March 31, 2007. cheers.

I love it. Anything that can be done to try to prevent these accidents are helpful. I responded to a nasty MVC on Saturday night. I was the 6th car in for a single vehicle rollover into a tree - One car, 6 teenagers, only 1 person wearing a seatbelt = 5 ejected. Two are dead, others serious - Except of course the driver whom I heard was drunk. She had only minor injuries. I was the last crew in and all patients had already been transported except the VSA so I didn't provide patient care, just saw the remains of one of the worst crashes I've come across yet. 1st VSA pronounced on scene, 2nd fatality was conscious while transported, airlifted to the trauma centre where he died.