dstevens58

Only once in my career has this happened (to one of my partners), we had extra personnel on scene to help load and he had to go badly (early morning call). He was done and ready to drive when we had the patient loaded and ready to go.

When I was in law enforcement training, they hid weapons all over our subject/suspect. We had to find them all, or it cost us a quarter for each item missed. In real life, it could cost a life if the bad guy still had weapons on them after you searched. Same thing goes with assessments. Gear your reward system towards the class, but when properly explained to a real patient out in the field, you can do a assessment with modesty intact (mostly). Being on both sides, my modesty went out the window when I fractured my leg in three places some years ago (poor x-ray tech was more embarassed than I was). I just completed a basic class last year (after being away from medicine for quite a while) and was surprised at the immaturity, giggling and rude comments came when discussing anatomy & physiology; assessment & treatment, obstetrics, etc from the majority-male students.

Being comfortable will come with practice. You can't pick your patients, so some sort of randomized picking of Student:Patient partnering needs to be drawn up. Sent from my ADR6300 using Tapatalk

As far as my Basic class, we were told to do an 8-hour shift in the Emergency Room and by the end of class, our instructor expected us to have ten runs with any squad, including our home squad. We had an abbreviated patient form that we had to fill out on each run and turn it in by the end of class. I didn't have to go any where out of my home EMS station to get my runs in. Medic class on the other hand, I have to have 200 hours of ride-time in at least four different "pre-approved" departments. Then, 150 hours of clinical time in various categories (ED, ICU, OR, OB, Respiratory Therapy) with specific skill sets we are to observe and/or perform. Strict school guidelines as to uniform, unless told differently by the department you are riding with.

Personally, I was involved in Boy Scouts back in the 1970's, then after getting basic first aid and liking "field" medicine, I enlisted in the Navy with a guarantee of Hospital Corpsman. A couple of duty stations later, I got my NREMT in the late 70's, started volunteering at a city fire station. Been volunteering since. After thirteen years in the Navy, leaving as an Advanced/Indepent Duty Corpsman, I took a break and went law enforcement for 20 years (dispatcher, administration, computer support and reserve officer). After retirement, I went back to EMT-Basic and started medic school this past August. Proudly serving my local (rural) EMS/FD.

According to www.indb.com, 40 years ago today John and Roy of Emergency, Squad 51's release date to television air waves, introducing the public and what a paramedic is and what we do on a day-to-day basis.

I was having problems before, but when I saw the above post I tried it again and now am able to log in with Tapatalk and my Android phone (Droid Incredible).

I think this would be awesome and will be looking in to it. I know there will be a need for a director with patience, but not sure of age guidelines. I would imagine they would have to be a "first responder" or is there a special category for explorers? I'm looking on my state's website now to try to find out age requirements and the like.

On the sign outside our vet's place of business, "Have a Meowy Christmas and Yappy New Year."

Greetings from Northeast Ohio, small town, rural setting.

Worst this year for me (I've heard it twice)...."You can either go with me in the police car, or go to the hospital" Always know I'm going to be in for a long night when I hear that on the scene.

I tend to agree that political office shouldn't be a career choice. Vote often - Vote early

<------- Over 45 and got all wrong with the exception of the first one (I went random) Guess I'm not a total pervert.

People buy that stuff because of the commercialization of the product. Same thing that makes you think a product can make "it" bigger, makes you empty the wallet. Bigger is not always better, but we naive young boys are led to believe it and we will do anything (including emptying our wallets) on something that we believe will work.

Stolen from the web, but Google search found this at http://www.byrum.org...istmas/ems.html 'Twas the night before Christmas and all through our town, Ambulances sat quietly-call volume was down. Dispatchers and medics, without any calls, All settled all cozily within station walls. The city grew silent as the night grew deep; My partner and I settled in for some sleep. But no sooner dreaming in our beds were we, When dispatch awoke us, crying, "Hurry! Code 3!" The call had come in for an MVA; Some nutcase claimed he'd hit Santa's sleigh! "Head trauma," we thought, as we gathered our gear, "Or maybe a drunken driver - it's that time of year." As we raced to the scene with our sirens and lights, We hoped for the best, tonight of all nights. We had no idea we were in for a surprise And, on our arrival, couldn't believe our own eyes. I said to my partner, "This must be a trick! That man in the ditch just can't be St. Nick!" A smashed-up sleigh! Toys thrown far and near! And off to the side, a group of reindeer! The driver of the car, with a bump on his head Was crying and told us he wished he was dead. "Oh, why did I have that one extra beer? Now I've killed Santa - no Christmas this year!" By now we'd decided that this was too strange, So we tried to call backup, but were out of range. "No radio contact," to my partner I said, "I'll check that one while you dress this one's head." I approached the man in the ditch with great care. He was dressed so oddly - he gave me a scare. He wore a red suit and a strange kind of hat. I thought to myself, "Who dresses like that?" Then he opened his eyes and said, "Do not fear. Just please help me up - I must catch my reindeer." I said, "The reindeer are fine, but stay where you are. You've taken a pretty hard hit from that car." I didn't want to leave him, so I let out a holler: "We're gonna need backboard, head blocks and collar!" As we worked, the man creid, "No! Please don't strap me down. I have toys to deliver all over town! All of the children tonight are depending on me To get their presents under the Christmas tree." "I'm sorry," I told him, as I shook my head sadly, "You're going to the hospital - you've been hurt too badly." He looked up at me and wiped away a tear And told me, "The you must bring the Christmas presents this year!" "Visit every child's home in this town?" asked I. "Sir, you must think I can make an ambulance fly!" I thought I had made a serious blunder, For his eyes grew steely, and his voice was like thunder. "Now Dasher, now Dancer, now Prancer and Vixen, Come Comet and Cupid and Donner and Blitzen! Hitch onto that truck and take to the sky For tonight, indeed, an ambulance will fly!" I just shook my head as we loaded him in, Then climbed in the cab and I just had to grin. There were the reindeer, all in a row, In front of the truck as if ready to go. "That's cute," I thought. "I'll just go around." But then they took off and our wheels left the ground! Away we went, up over the trees, Sailing along as light as a breeze. We touched down on rooftops, delivering toys, Dropping gifts for good little girls and boys. We stopped briefly in the hospital's ambulance bay And wheeled him to the ED - and hoped he'd stay. "We'll call in report later," we said on our way. "This man's turned our ambulance into a sleigh!" Then off we flew, all through the night, Delivering toys til the dawn's first light. Finally, at our station, we headed down, Both of us happy to be on the ground. Dispatch was mad, but the more we explained, The less they believed us and the more they looked pained. So we sat in our quarters - boy, were we in trouble! We turned on teh news and perked up on the double. As the TV crews interviewed people around town, It seems that some very strange things had gone down. Tire tracks were found on a rooftop or two And children said, "This year, Santa wore blue!" I grinned at my partner and said, "It's no mystery! This Christmas we will go down in EMS history!"

Not saying for sure or not, but life choices I've made brought me to military medicine, where my first duty station was a Navy field hospital with the Marines. I liked MASH, it brought humor to an otherwise humorless experience of battlefield medicine, but there were also some episodes which brought reality to war and the situations I (and many others) faced with emergency medicine during the heat of battle. Rest in peace Colonel Potter......it has been a pleasure following you through the years of MASH (and lets not forget Dragnet).

I do not post on my Facebook page anything that I wouldn't say to your face, however there are some limitations. I realize that now, major companies (including governments) are worried about image and what you say on social media, the pictures you post (think about that stag party with you drunk and kissing the stripper). If that would bring a disparaging remark from others, if it would question your character or integrity, it would also say something about the employer that employs you. As much as I disliked my previous employer, I would not say it on an open/social media forum. It's all about IMAGE. I don't/didn't post anything that could come back and bite me. I still needed a job while I was looking for a new one. Sort of like keeping it quiet while you're sending out resumes to everyone. As previously stated, if you don't like the rules your employer imposes, you don't have to work for them. As it is, if I work for someone that has rules against what you post in social media, then I watch what I say and what I do. After all, my reputation is also at risk.

Saw a twist on shepherd's pie with ground turkey and mashed sweet potatoes. I want to try that next time I cook.

It is so easy to get into the fast-food craze, especially if you grab something in between runs. Seven years ago I made a drastic change in my life (yes, I had surgery). I went from 360 pounds to my present weight of 175. Size 54" waist down to a size 34". Yeah, surgery was a tool, however, it is still work to maintain. I try to ride my bike as much as I can, but a fracture fibula has put me out of commission for a bit. I stopped going to buffets. I stopped going to the restaurants that seem to "PILE" the food on your plate. I have a different appetite now. I go out to a restaurant and get a meal and share it with my wife and we still have food to bring home with us. I stopped beer (well, not entirely if you say one beer in the last six months. I don't eat before going to sleep. Big life style change. I need to exercise (cardio) more, but I feel so much better having lost almost 200 pounds.

Four EMT - Basics (one of which is a medic student) All Volunteer servants

Guess I'll chime in and introduce myself. New here, but been around a while. I was a member of another EMS-type forum and have grown to dislike the way members treat one another. Found this forum by searching around. I'm a native of Northeast Ohio, been away for 33 years and have recently moved back. I serve my local volunteer squad as an EMT-B and am currently attending medic school, of which I will be graduating sometime next May. Looking forward to meeting everyone.

My daughter dated an Army Ranger and he was scared to death to talk to me and I didn't have to instill that fear in him - at all.