EMS49393

Oh, I know. It's a con-ed class, not a part of a larger class. How do you decide what to teach in that small period of time? I've got a list of what I want to discuss during the class, however the list far outweighs my time frame. I might be able to give a total of 30 seconds worth of discuss on the LVAD. Since I'm certain few people I'll be teaching have heard of them, it's a crime that I can allot more time. You have got me thinking though (not that it's hard to do) and I may visit the local hospital and see if I can get some information on how many people in our area may have a LVAD. I'm sure if I don't ask for personal information, I should be able to get a round about number. If I can present that number to our education people, I may be able to hold a class on that topic alone. As far as I'm concerned, if one patient in our area has this device, it should be more than enough grounds to provide a con-ed assignment. But, as you all know, it's often easier to launch a shuttle into space then to prove the need for increased education on a subject in EMS.

At my last job we had a patient in our service area with a LVAD. The hospital that was caring for him sent out a letter to the EMS service that outlined care tips for the patient in the event he required EMS. They also sent an education DVD about the device. I'm pretty sure I was the only one that watched it, but I'm a heart girl, so I was pretty interested. In my humble opinion, this is not addressed well at all in the educational setting. Most providers I know have never heard of the device and have no idea what caring for a patient with one entails. It appears that use of the device is on the rise, and if the EMS services won't educate, it's good that the hospital makes the effort. Of course, you can lead a horse to water... I'm teaching a cardiovascular emergencies class this month, and I'll be touching briefly on the device. I have a lot of information to cram in to two hours, so it will be brief, but I hope that my students won't be caught completely off guard when they happen upon this type of patient. Thanks for your story and your post. I hope some of the other more experienced providers chime in on this topic. This could turn into one incredibly educational thread. (Side note: I hope you get your heart in a timely fashion. I can't imagine what you're going through physically and mentally while you're waiting for that call. Good luck to you.)

I recognize your name from another forum I briefly participated in before the tsunami of suck came in.

Another name I recognize. Welcome, hope you enjoy yourself.

I knew I recognized that screen name from somewhere. Welcome.

It was like a really big train wreck. I wanted to look away, but I was just transfixed by now ridiculous it was. It's 43 minutes of my life I will never get back, however, it did give my husband and I some quality bonding time. It's not nice to sit and make fun of regular people, so instead we took it out on this show! What a total EPIC FAIL. God I hope they cancel it before it does even more harm to our profession.

Exactly. I haven't seen that in years.

They should write an episode around a call my partner and I ran last week. We went to pick a lady up off the floor and my partner, being the sweet and kind person she is, emptied and cleaned the lady's commode chair for her husband while I was doing an assessment. That's real life in EMS, picking people up off the floor and cleaning up poop.

Tetralogy of Fallot.

Speak for yourself. Unless I am physically unable to continue to work because of fatigue, I will remain at work to cover until I can get someone else to relieve me. My station has two ambulances, a MICU that runs 24 hours a day and a day shift BLS ambulance. I'm not deserting my post as the sole ALS provider on shift until I find someone to cover me. Besides, my supervisor isn't a tool, and he routinely works shifts that he can't cover with part time providers (attempting to save overtime for when it is really necessary). There are still people out there that value their integrity.

Did anyone else notice how poorly written that article was?

It's not a local protocol. My service doesn't even carry procainamide or amiodarone. My knowledge about WPW is from both education and research. My bad for attempting to share what I know. I now know that next time I want to offer help here I'll just shut up, read, and snicker to myself.

Procainamide is the anti-arrhythmic of choice for WPW, both diltiazem and amiodarone are contraindicated.

This is the best thread I have ever seen here. I wasn't even born when The Beatles broke up and I was only 5 when John Lennon was shot, but they are the heart and soul of my interest in music. They have been my favorite band since my 4th Christmas when my father gave me his copy of Help! to go along with the new disco-light record player Santa Clause had brought me. This Christmas will be the 30 year anniversary of my best Christmas EVER!

I've had the same cardiology III for a decade. I haven't really had any problems hearing lung or heart sounds even in the ambulance rolling down the street. It has soft-seal earpieces that really help to block out noise. I've never heard ANY good things about the electronic scopes.

People always say that test is hard. I thought it was a breeze. Frankly, I was disappointed at how easy it was especially after all the hype.

I disagree that any A&P class is good unless it has a lab attached to it. You need that lab time to bring together all the concepts you're learning in the book. I initially took a great A&P course that used the Martini book, but only had a day long cadaver lab attached to it. I later went through college level A&P and was amazed at how the weekly lab, lab assignments, and experiments actually helped me better understand what was presented in the text. I wouldn't recommend anyone take the easy way out with an A&P class that isn't offered by a college and requires a weekly lab.

I do the hold at the intersection of the blade and handle like spenac described. I also try not to bend my elbow, which also helps to keep from rocking the head.

I'm a chick with some tiny hands (ex-small to small gloves) and I don't have any problems lifting jaws to intubate. Actually, the bigger the head the more it's weighed down and the jaw is the only thing I move giving me perfect visualization of the cords. Maybe you can check your technique, it might need revised or practiced.

That city is as f***ed up as a football bat right now. They have a mayor that is currently under indictment for a host of charges, including theft of gift cards intended for needy people. They have a fire department that is so disgruntled they may never be able to function effectively again. They have this ridiculous academy that spits out intermediates faster than you can count them. They appear to hate their new fire chief despite his repeated efforts to work with those guys on the issues that concern them. It's no wonder this happened. It's more than obvious those people don't even want to be there judging from what is read on a fire forum of theirs. I don't know if I'm allowed to post the site where they have a forum for their department, but if you're interested in reading some whining and carrying on about how bad they have it, feel free to PM me and I'll link you to it. It's actually a pretty comical way to pass an afternoon. It beats a soap opera. In my opinion, the paramedics are at fault, period. I don't care what the police want you to do, when it involves a patient, they come first, and that includes assessing whether or not they are dead at a crime scene. I'll do everything I can to preserve their scene, but I have to ensure that any potential patient is taken care of as well. It was a fail, period.

I must have been the only person that sat through all 6 minutes of the video. I'll highlight, since I have so much time on my hands right now. I love some public television. A. They stated that the deer do not appear to act differently than any other animals. "At times the white deer appear dominate, and at other times the brown deer appear so." Are deer so intelligent that they are able to understand and practice racism? Probably not, and honestly, the racism crap is pretty played out. B. It is a hefty fine to kill an albino deer in Wisconsin where this little film was made. They're one damn expensive steak. Although I'm glad I got to see this video as I need a little beauty in my bleak life, I wish I had found it another way. Thanks crotch, once again you ruined something so beautiful with your "keeping the man down" garbage.

I don't twit. I also could care less when my friends are: a. walking their dog b. taking a crap c. watching Judge Judy d. pissed off about their boss e. insert other mundane updates here I'm sure my friends feel the same way about me, since none of us twit. I'll text, but I'll leave the twitter to the self-absorbed that actually think q five minute updates on their lives is necessary.

Your diaphragm is paralyzed? Is that conducive with breathing? Some quick googling revealed a wealth of information about your condition. Of course, your doctor should have provided you with information as well, and if he didn't, he sucks. Good luck.

Sorry to say, but you are NOT in full compliance with MIEMSS if you fail to update your current address with their office within 30 days of moving. You are required to notify them of any change in residency, and if you failed to do so, you have no one to blame but yourself for your suspension. EMTBs in Maryland are certified not licensed. So you did not have a license suspended, you had a certification suspended. I'd worry less about a volunteer organization (after all they don't sign your paycheck) and more about righting your certification standing. Having any certifications or licenses suspended for any reason can greatly impact your chances of gainful employment in EMS, should that be one of your goals.

The average life expectancy in Guatemala is 69 years. If she had the boy when she was 25, she's now be 60 and could conceivably be considered elderly by their standards. I'm on the hospital's side. I can't afford to see a doctor and I was born in American and have a legal job. They spent enough money on someone that isn't even supposed to legally be here.