THE_DITCH_DOCTOR

After the events of recent weeks I need to desperately restock my jump kit, but I have had little time or spare money to do so. Below is the list of what I normally carry (at present I'm down to about half the listed amounts of disposable or non-reusable items) Adult BVM Pedi BVM Neonate BVM Oral Airways Nasal Airways "D" cylinders (1 in the bag, 2 in the truck) O2 regulators (2) Adult NRB (2) Pedi NRB (2) Neonate O2 Mask (1) Adult Simple Face Mask (SFM) (2) Pedi SFM (2) Venturi Mask (1) Oxygen Tubing (2) Non-latex exam gloves (10 pairs) 4 x 4's (200 non-sterile) Trauma dressings (2) 5 x 9 dressings (10) Kerlix (generic) (10 rolls) Scalpel (1) OB Kit (1) Extra pairs of umbilical cord clamps (2 pair) Scissors (1) Kelly Clamps (2) EpiPen (my own) (2) Benadryl tablets (my own) (1 bottle of 100) Albuterol inhaler (my own) (1) Aspirin (one bottle) (1 bottle of 100) Oral glucose (two tubes) Pulse Oximeter (1) Stethoscope (2) Adult BP Cuff (1) Pedi BP Cuff (1) Penlight (2) Glucometer plus strips and lancets Aluminum Foil Sterile Water (2- 500 ml bottles) Burn sheet (2) Plain sheets (4) Treatment reports (25) Pocket knife (1) Space Blanket (2) Stifneck Select C-Collars (3) Blankets (2) Cold Packs (4) Hot Packs (4) Porta-warm Mattress (2) Flashlight (2) Biohazard Bags (10) Sharps container (1) Ammonia inhalants (10) Sting swabs (10) Atropine autoinjector (HELLO- I live downwind from the world's largest stockpile of nerve gas....this is for me only) Triage tags (25)

-Is it crazy to think that I could be an EMT-B and even progress on to an EMT-P at the age of 33? No, not at all. Welcome to the family. -Has anyone ever heard of other women my age starting this career? Yes, and I can do you one better: one of the EMT students I precepted was a 58 year old retired school teacher. Actually I was her student when I was in 1st grade. How's that for coincidence? -Is there any gender/age bias in the field (or in school) that I should prepare myself for? Off the record of course. Maybe....depends on where you are. -The first chapter in my textbook states that I "should be able to lift and carry up to 125 pounds". I can do 80 so far, will that be a problem for me in school? I wont have my ride along until mid July. Im sure I can get there by then. I don't think it will be a problem. You be surprised how out of shape a lot of EMT's are. Remember you won't be lifting 125 lbs by yourself most of the time. That's what your partner (or even better the fire department is for) -My school only does one 10-12 hour ride along at the end of the program. When you were a student did you feel that was enough in the field time? Do people ever get more time if they volunteer for it? We had to do a lot more clinical time than that.....40 hrs for basic I do believe and we had the option to do more if we wanted. I would double check with your school to make sure you are correct about the ride along because that sounds way too low for an EMT course. -What is the harsh reality of actually finding employment (at any rate of pay), as a fresh EMT-B grad? Good luck....it can be a real challenge. EMS is not much of a career honestly, be prepared for long hours, low pay, bad working conditions, high stress, above average risk, potentially less than stellar coworkers. Personally I tell anyone who wants to be an EMT or a paramedic to keep their day job and do it as a volunteer. -Is there anyone else who has ever gone through my similar situation and is in California? Nope, sorry...can't help you there. -How many of you went to a trade school (or vocational school) versus a junior college or university? Basic EMT was a class through a 4 year school; EMT-Intermediate was at a junior college. My other training was through the military

I believe it's because if we can make lite of a situation then perhaps it doesn't seem as bad. There's a formal psychological term for this, but I don't know what it is off the top of my head. I've always called it the "laugh or cry theory"- either you laugh or you cry. Also many times you might notice the jokes revolve around how the patient got themselves into the situation that caused the call. It's simply displacement- if you can find someone else to blame, you don't feel so bad about not being able to help more.

If you've ever been browbeaten by your former high school math teacher for goofing up a drug calculation (one of my partners can't do them in his head, so he counts out loud while doing it) If you've ever had a patient threaten to "tell your mother" when you didn't get an IV on the first attempt and feel this is a valid threat because your mother had the patient over for dinner just last week.

I agree Summit. WEMT is much better than an OEC course, and even the WFR course seems much more well planned out.

Why is "Kick small animals" not an option on the poll? Now I can't vote.

I'm guessing your judiciary comments are a result of the Schiavo case? They stood up for the law as it was written, as it was intended. They didn't wipe their a-- with the Constitution. The Congress and Executive branch were the ones who overstepped their bounds. I don't believe in killing, but then again I also don't believe in rewriting the law of the land to needlessly prolong the existence of a person simply because not doing so violates the "moral" standards of those in power (and I use to the term "moral" very loosely when it comes to a lot of politicians on both sides). People need to remember that our country was not built with the intention of forcing everyone to hold the same beliefs as whomever happens to be in power at that moment, but rather on the ideal that you might have to bite your tongue in order to avoid trampling the rights of the less powerful. We're not a theocracy, despite everything President Bush says, and anyone who believes that we are is deluding themselves. We're not any better than any other developed country on this planet, and in several ways we are worse because most of us tolerate bigotry and hatred because of religious or social reasons. It's like George Carlin said, "There's a bigot in almost every living room in America. People just will never admit it." I don't see a problem with gay marriage, the right to die, abortion (but only under specific circumstances), etc. But what I do have a problem with is these issues being made out to be the most important thing in our world. I'm sorry, but I think the fact that gas is $2.20 a gallon because of our country's foreign policy ("You mean they're not a Christian democracy? BOMB THEM!") is a little more pressing an issue than if Bob and Joe want to get married. If it's a sin, they'll pay for it later. Leave them the hell alone. OK....coming down off the soapbox now.

If you've never seen a meth lab. If you can go all night at work and you (and maybe your partner) are the only members of your own ethnic group you see. If your law enforcement seems more concerned about the guy on scene with the video camera than anyone with a gun (INDY!)

OK....you have a right to be pissed, and normally I think Shorthair tends to speak without thinking a little too much, but he does make a valid point here. The terrorists did die for a cause they believed in, just as our soldiers are dying for a cause SOME of them believe in. Most of them are just fighting for their lives. I was in DC on 9/11, witnessed the things that happened there, and it sickens me that people could hate a country I love as much as I do this one enough to want to harm people who had nothing to do with the policies that they take issue with. As a former military member who has lost friends in both Iraq and Afghanistan, I can state that death in battle is nothing glorious, it's death. Period. Most of the men and women who are fighting and dying "for our country" are not in it because of some grand patriotic belief that separates them from the rest of us. They are in the service, most of them- my guess would be >90% (there are a few who do it for glorious patriotic reasons) simply because its a steady job. Many of them are reservists or guard members who never counted on getting deployed. They aren't fighting for our right to say or do anything- they are fighting for their own survival. They're dying because of the will of an administration who wiping their collective a--es with the Constitution ever since 9/11 and their corporate masters. It's just not acceptable to say the Pvt. Smith and Lt. Jones died in glorious service to Halliburton so it's wrapped up in this BS about how they died trying to free the Iraqi people. As for the true meaning of honor and sacrifice, and that we would never inflict terrorism upon someone- two words: ABU GHRAIB. Two more: Guantanamo Bay. We've killed civilians by the thousands: Dresden, Hamburg, Tokyo, Hiroshima. There are countless other cases that can be cited. It doesn't matter whether war has been declared or not. Pure and simple: There is no difference between war and terror. War is terror. Terror is war. Lesson number one: The quickest way to win a war is to kill large numbers of people and break the spirit of those who you don't kill. And nothing will do the latter quicker than the former. There is nothing honorable about death, there is nothing honorable about killing- no matter the reason. There is nothing honorable about sacrifice for an abstract cause in war, because there are no abstract causes in warfare. There is only survival, minute to minute, hour to hour, day to day. Don't be a bleeding heart....yes we've lost innocents and we've lost brave men who fought valiantly as they were ordered. It doesn't make it hurt any less by pretending they died for "us". Dead is dead. The reason why is inconsequential. If someone die in battle trying to protect their buddies, you deserve to be commended. That means you did it trying to protect your buddies, not for some right of all Americans. But back to the main gist of this: Yes, it was wrong what the terrorists did, but I think Shorthair was just trying to point out it took balls to do what they did. And he's right. It did. Not many of us have that kind of dedication to anything, let alone religion or politics. I don't see you lining up to put your butt on the line for the first amendment.

By all means you can use it. I don't have a problem in the world with it.

Actually I would do neither Mike. Granted, I see the humor in your comment, but I would like to say something. I'd save his sorry a--. Just because, despite being a miserable excuse for one, he is a human being- as much as some would argue that what he has advocated has made him not deserving of even the most basic human considerations, such as being saved from a burning building. What gives me the right to say he doesn't deserve to be saved? Nothing, it's not my job to judge people. It's my job to save them. If I (or any of us) start judging someone as being unworthy of being saved, then I am no better than Bin Laden and his cronies who have judged us as being too degenerate to live, no better than Hitler and his counterparts. I don't have a problem putting my life on the line for anyone, regardless of my personal feeling towards them, regardless of what crime(s) they may have committed. When we all started in this job our first charge was to serve as protectors of life, and to do that without question or regard to the race, religion, ethnicity, economics, politics, creed, color, or personality of the person in question. That means everyone. Everyone. Granted, I might stomp Bin Laden's head into an unrecognizable bloody pulp if I just happened up on him in an alley, but if his life is in danger (other than from a legal execution of course ), I would feel compelled to act in the same manner to save him because it's not only my job, it's the right thing to do. We are best judged not by how we treat our friends but rather by how we treat our enemies when they lay cowering, helpless and defeated at our feet. If anyone has any problems with what I have said here tonight, you know where to find me.

Your name wouldn't happen to be John Bolton would it? :wink:

One of my friends who is a fourth year med student at IU told me a joke: They pith (destroy the brain with a blunt instrument) the bottom 10% of the medical school graduating class. Those that can crawl away after this go into gastroenterology, proctology, family practice, etc. Those who can not crawl away become orthopedic surgeons. I remember reading a piece of advice somewhere: don't mess with orthopedic surgeons- they are strong as oxen and almost as smart.

I like that idea.....I think they FDNY and NYPD should get the first go at him.

WOW.....well said. I don't necessarily agree with everything you said....but that has to be one of the best ways I have ever heard that expressed.

Nah, I can spot racists a mile away.....the white hood and robe and flaming cross are dead giveaways. ***COMMENT ABOUT SHORTHAIR REMOVED BY ME IN THE INTEREST OF PROMOTING PEACE AND MAINTAINING THE CEASEFIRE***

***COMMENT ABOUT SHORTHAIR REMOVED BY ME IN THE INTEREST OF PROMOTING PEACE AND MAINTAINING THE CEASEFIRE***

I wouldn't want a monkey trying to intubate me. And I wouldn't want a first responder doing it either. And no medical director or state EMS board in their right mind (and Illinois is still in their right minds- they're far from perfect, but they haven't crossed the line into insanity yet) is going to allow them to do it. ***COMMENT ABOUT SHORTHAIR REMOVED BY ME IN THE INTEREST OF PROMOTING PEACE AND MAINTAINING THE CEASEFIRE***

***COMMENT ABOUT SHORTHAIR REMOVED BY ME IN THE INTEREST OF PROMOTING PEACE AND MAINTAINING THE CEASEFIRE***

From what I've been told Punk: They are looking into Combitubes for first responders as a state wide policy. And looking at making ETI a standard skill for Basic EMT's. I don't care how far up their butts anyone thinks IDPH has their heads they would NEVER allow a FR to intubate. That's beyond stupid to even consider it.

Prince George's County MD.....I used to ride along with one of the local VFD's (I couldn't actually join the fire department because my AF commander had to approve it and she refused "because it's too dangerous" :roll: ) and we went to a scene of a shooting one night. The cops were there but as was the norm they were still sitting in their cars (read as "no scene control"). One of the medics hollered for an additional backboard (apparently they had found another shooting victim- bringing the tally up to 3) and I hear a voice behind me say "I got it dawg!" and I turn to see one of the victim's buddies (I know this because he had a gun sticking out of the back of his pants :shock: ) open the compartment on the ambulance and pull out a backboard and take it to the medic who asked for it. I looked at the EMT I was friends with and asked, "How does he know where those are kept?" The response? "We run down here all the time. They just learn where stuff is at." :shock: :? Remind me why I am glad I don't live in Maryland anymore.

What about FF/EMT-I?

Back room of an adult bookstore. 'Nuf said. I've also walked in on a call for "man down" at a hotel to find a very beautiful naked woman (who I assume was not his wife ) doing CPR on a guy. Not awkward or weird, but I still wish we had had a camera for that one.

I think the real concern should not be what is being displayed, but rather the intention of the person displaying it. If the person flying a Confederate flag is a bigoted racist then I think I have a problem with it. If it's just someone who is proud to have southern roots, then I don't have a problem with it. It's like George Carlin said when he spoke about "bad language": "It's not the words we should be concerned with. It's the racist bigoted a--hole we need to be concerned about."

Not among everyone....just amongst the more vocal portion unfortunately.....