TechMedic05

Honestly, I'm kind of surprised to see so many "No freaking way!" responses. Morals and ethics can be argued all day long, and you know what? And really, no one else is right but yourself. I'd suspect that the larger issue, and the reason why I am against it is: Scope of Practice. Depending on the state and local protocols, unless they're using epinephrine, atropine, D-50, thiamine, or potentially glucagon, they shouldn't be pushing it. Someone had mentioned nurses - well, if they have written MD orders, fair game. If they want Intermediates to start the IV's, that's all well and good, as well. IMHO, they should get away from lethal injections. Remove the medical aspect from the death penalty all together. Remove all doubt. Electricians never needed to take the Hippocratic Oath, and you don't need protocols to tie knots.

In the toilet

blue strawberries mixed

than you'd think

All overya Face

which was disgusting

Did I...uh...Miss something? [Edit] no, sorry - I had my sound turned off. I'm dum.

I believe it was JP who brought up education. I generally leave education at a large blanket statement of "We don't have enough, next." And there are slight differences between education and training, too. Everyone knows we need more education except for the gross majority of people who are hindering us getting what we want. :wink: How's that for vague? Private companies or services only fund so much, and everyone wants the cheap, easy, 2 days a week for 16 months, in and out, no fuss, no muss schooling. Once Canada finally decides they wnat to invade the US, and is successful [because they will be], EMS will be a bit better off. I'm not 100% sure of their requirements, but it seems their education is closer to what it should be. I should move north. National oversight with higher requirements for education. Period. I mean, how can we compete when services are putting a new 120 hour basic and a 80 hour First Responder on a truck, and wishing them well? People get away with it. If only there were a tactful way of educating the public on what they're missing...

Okay, now we're getting places. Working 2 jobs - not many aren't guilty. Some depend on it, no? It's a tough situation because it hits the employees where the emplyoers don't want to be hit - the wallet. I'm all for it [Hell, I'll stock shelves as a second job for a while], but we need something larger scale. We don't even have a single EMS Union or federal unit yet, as discussed several times before. EMS is too cut-throat - We needn't be every person for themselves. If ambulance got more expensive, sure, they'd still get bought...eventually. There are too many excuses out there for companies to blind employees with to keep them from sharing money. Excuses from my current company on why we can't get adequate supplies: We lost a share of a tertiary hospital's discharges, fuel, STATE WORKER'S COMP is too high, they pay too much in benefits, the main station just spent XXX dollars, and there's nothing left. It's all a crock. That's just for what's needed on trucks. [shady, I know.] EMS Employers [again, not all, but quite a few] know EMT's and Medics are dispensible. 2 - I like the plan, but it's probably not doable in many situations. I'm sure companies would lose track of that sort of thing. I absolutly am thrilled with the idea, however. I think profit sharing is a great idea. Smaller companies who just listen to employees is an even better start. I mean, how far is too far? Is it considered professional to bring legal action against your employer who may not be paying in accordance with Federal Law? Is that a start? In what I've seen, it's still too easy to identify one troublemaker and make an example out of them. We need bigger numbers.

On another note [hense the seperate post] At my fulltime employment - Crews are regularly going out for blood pressure check ups, active in community groups and planning, and train with local fire Departments regularly. I guess what concerns me isn't that we're told to do it because it's good Community Awareness and recognition, but to get more people to call us, instead of a previous ambulance provider via a non-911 basis for emergency calls. When working with Private companies, do they honestly care about EMS, in general? Why would they want to pay us more, or give better benefits? Is that in their best interest? uh huh. We're fighting ourselves.

Alright, lets get it on! We've covered the lists of what needs to get done several times while I've been active on these forums [education, lobbying, money, jobs, etc] and haven't seen huge changes yet, although have had good ideas to bring back to my own services. Now, in an attempt to stop being a cynical bastard - and stop with excuses, lets look at some reasoning: FD's - Federal level seating. Lobbying. Money. Every community needs one. Looks pretty set to me. Police: Everyone needs one, educated, responsible, lobbyists and funding. Nurses: They just make money hand over fist. [Just kidding.] Many years in with doctors, hospitals, and the health field DEPENDS on them. Hands down. EMS: People state they're 'just as good going in taxi's'. Research shows trauma patients have better survival rates brought in POV. some towns have multiple providers all fishing and scrounging for calls. We're all famailiar with the average pay, benefits, employers, etc. We're dispensible. Many companies go hospital to hospital begging for calls, bearing gifts and presents [mmm...doughnuts..., etc.] Now, EMS, where do we start? From the bottom up? Educating people of our abilities. Educating ourselves. Take private EMS out of 911? Or from the top down? Throw money at the problem, and it will all fix itself? As of yet, I've not had the ability to try to help EMS from the top down, but from the bottom, we all have our duties. Honestly, I do not have the answers. I'm not smart enough for that. Have suggestions? I'll follow them. I do not mean to be part of our problem. We're too busy fighting with ourselves.

2006 Volkswagen Jetta TurboDiesel. 5 spd. All the luxuries of JPINFV's vehicle, sans first aid kit. Although, it does come equipped with a in-dash 6 disk CD changer. Diesel. I love the summer months. Not only is it cheaper, but I get 47mpg [/brag]

Flying Spaghetti Monster was an idea that was sent, and has since grown, to the State of Kansas Board of Education after their arguments on whether or not to teach Intelligent Design as well as Evolution. http://flyingspaghettimonster.org/ I was trying to throw some sunny-side-up fun into that. I didn't mean to offend. Now back to you regularly scheduled post.

Well, seeing Optimus Prime actually is a US Army Reservist [who is a firefighter in the Reserves...]: http://www.wkyc.com/news/news_fullstory.asp?id=3828 That kind of limits Optimus Prime. Honestly, I follow The Flying Spaghetti Monster.

By all means, if we gripe now and then, we didn't mean to offend thou, GAmedic. Now: I'm not saying that there's nothing out there that EMS wants to change. But try this on for size. Out of any person regularly active on this site, with a few exceptions, we're all in EMS to make changes for the better. We're not here to tell you your ideas are crappy, or awesome. We're not here to be criticized of every shortcoming that EMS may face. We're not here to be complacent. We're not here to bash other people, especially those outside of our 'community'. We're here because we want to. Because, perhaps, many want to improve themselves, and the others wish to help that. We're here because we want to know more. We want to do more. We want to be better. I can only think of a very small number of people who came here to be lazy and complacent. And, usually, they shape up, or ship out. [i really just wanted to use that phrase today...Day's complete.] Like many have stated: "Preaching to the choir". And, just because we don't all jump on your bandwagon, go door to door with AED's, sterilize everything in an ambulance and give activated charcoal to everyone who has ingested anything not certified organic, does not mean you have bad ideas, or mean that the viewers here at The City are bad, either. Regardless of how you decide to call us lazy, scared, or indifferent [Note how "Dedicated, but preoccupied" wasn't a choice in the topic.] You are a crusader, GA. Go for it. Just remember a few things: Recognize what you can fix. If it ain't broke, don't fix it. Only fix what you can fix. And don't step on the toes of those whose support you'll require to get the rest of those tasks done. We're not lazy, we're not scared, and we're not indifferent. And GA: regarding 12 leads, pulse oxymetry, computers, intubation, medications, and anything else we've gotten in the past 40 years. It took just that. 40 years. EMS has rarely ever gotten anything 'overnight'. In fear of sounding redundant, you may not be the first to think of such great, or not so great, ideas. "Search" works wonders.

Hey! That's my book! It's an awesome book. Their other ones are good, as well.

You call, We haul, That's all? And Ace, it only says "Got Shoes" Perhaps you should do a search. :wink: :wink: please don't hurt me.

Perhaps what GA wants every licensed or certified EMT or Paramedic to do is go door to door educating people to put down the Twinkies, stop smoking, and inform them that "Death is bad, and you should really really avoid it." Yes, CPR and early defib is most likely a benefit to nearly dead patients, or those who wish to soon be, but your analogy is off. You keep using building codes. Well, that's something that can be changed and enforced before hand. Besides, Fire Dpeartments have the ability to also inflict monetary damages to the owner of a building, like shutting it down if it does not conform to standards. Some can even place fines. Who is going to be the agency that will place a fine to Mrs. Smith who didn't take her lasix this morning? not me. The appropriate end to your analogy would be that "Look, Fire departments have stations set out across a city, to lessen response times! Woohoo!" Most places 'mobile post', so we've got that down pat. And, like JP, Ace, and VS have stated - dead is dead. Some people need to die. Preaching to the choir here. I hate to say what Ace has, but search for it. Your computer will freeze with so many hits. Uh. Honestly, not knowing much about portable laboratories, I don't really see a great need in many systems for this technology. Long transports with specialized crews, definitely more appropriate. Regular run of the mill 911, I dun think so. I'll stick it out without this stuff until I can get my own tricorder. Those look cool. Pharmaceutical references - Book. It always starts, the batteries are never dead. Intradepartmental communications? Sounds like you need a radio. Dispatch? Not so sure on, honestly. I've never had the pleasure to be dispatched by computer. As far as documentation goes, it's a great idea, but I don't believe many are 'ready' for it. In one company where I have worked, where some had tablets - they sat in front of the patient and asked questions to answer each little open box in the form. There are over 300 separate info points on this. For some, it got tedious. Granted, on the other end - run reports of many have sucked. Education is the key. And it's been beaten to death...three or four dozen times already...NEXT! The golden hour is still the same, we've just [hopefully] done better things within that time. Again, sometimes people just aren't going to be able to get the appropriate level of care in the time needed. [i'm thinking like 9th grade algebra- Distance = Rate * Time, where Distance is constant, and speed is extremely limited] What can you do? A level 1 trauma center in every little town in America? Money plays this game. We don't have much. Can things be improved, absolutely. Will having someone come and lecture other active and progressive members of this field change all that much? No.

With the terrifying

S/He probably did not expect to encounter quite a few EMS professionals who happen to also be nurses, as well. teeheehee

Guys named Barry usually mean trouble....at least every one in EMS (or even outside EMS) that I have known was a pain in the ass.

Okay. clean equipment, and don't use dirty things. That's easy enough. Just because providers wouldn't necessarily stick something in their mouth doesn't mean that it shouldn't go in someone else's. I mean, if I had a syringe filled with succs, I honestly wouldn't want to try it on myself first before my patient, y'know? With a clean or dirty needle :wink: . Does that mean that I shouldn't be able to administer medications? I don't honestly believe anyone out here is, or would admit to, using an unacceptably dirty blade for whatever reason. If there are isolated incidents, they're just that. It's an individual that did not complete their job. And if a dirty piece of equipment is missed by 1 or 2 shifts - shame on you. And shame on the crew before you. I'd suspect there's more damage done by EMS crews not effectively checking their equipment every shift before service than by dirty laryngoscope blades.

All across the boards.

of the obvious

Eh, I figured I'd be charged with that, as well, eventually. It happens to everyone else, right?