CCMHmedic

Somebody else actually remembers the "Land Shark". I remember when my parents wouldn't let me watch SNL, but I would sneak into the room whenever I heard the music. Talk about bringing back memories!!!

Feel free to touch base with me. I'll help out in any way I can.

We are stuck with black EMS pants and white shirts. We can choose between button-up or polo. Personally, I would like to see something other than white shirts. Not really the best for the type of work we do. I wouldn't mind having jumpsuits either. Makes it a bit easier when we pick up a call late in the evening.

So THAT'S what the BangBus looks like. Kewl !!!

Don't get me wrong, but I think the medics did the right thing. Saving the life of the child was the primary objective.

Allow me to wish everyone here HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!

Too funny. I love it.

I run in a hospital-based EMS system. We have a station in the city, and we also have a unit based in a VFD in a rural town about 15 miles outside of the city limits. The coverage area of the rural unit is about twice the size of the city, and covers four towns and a wildlife refuge. Granted, there are more calls in the city, but they are rotated between three units during the day, and two at night. The rural unit handles all of the calls in their coverage area, sometimes running more calls than the city units combined in a regular shift. Since we are all based out of the hospital, there is no difference in protocols, rules, regulations, etc... between the two, plus the EMT's from the rural unit regularly run shifts in the city during their time off. I agree that the transport times may be longer in the rural areas, but there is always ALS assist available, and the EMT's have the smarts to use the skills they have obtained both in the city, and in the sticks. I would gladly put our rural EMT's up against the city folks any day. G.

I have seen this happen a few times in my area. I must applaud the businesses in the city where I work because they really do appreciate the fire and EMS providers, and show it by giving discounts and benefits on a regular basis. We do, however, have a few that like to abuse the privilege. I admit, I haven't heard of one of my colleagues going into a bar or liquor store in uniform, but it wouldn't surprise me. For us as an agency, we need to be mindful of the image we project to others. We are trying to get more respect and recognition from the public at large, but we do so much to damage that. We aren't going to see a change until we change ourselves. G.

Our Medical Director encourages a thorough field diagnosis. When we encode to the receiving facility, they, in part, depend on that diagnosis to better prepare for that patient's arrival. Once we arrive, he will almost always take the time to get with us and explain whether we were correct or not, what we might have missed, anything else we could have done, etc....I like that our Director encourages his medics to think for themselves. He has a lot of confidence in the information we provide, and respects our level of training and experience. It helps that he is also a paramedic. (grin)

This is a topic that I haven't been able to get a lot of help on, so I thought I'd throw it out here for some advice. I work in a hospital based EMS system. We provide primary 911 ALS response for a pretty good sized city. We also have a BLS unit based at the volunteer fire station in a town about 8 miles away. That is our only rig that works 24 hour shifts. (24 on, 48 off) Herein lies the rub. The crews out there are only paid for 16 hours. The shift starts at 8a and runs until 10p. "Sleep time" is from 10p-6a, then shift time starts again from 6a-8a. If you get a call during "Sleep time", you are on the clock for the duration of the call. If the call comes between 1a-3a, you get paid for the full 24 hour shift because it interrupts 5 hours of uninterrupted sleep time. How fair is this? Actually, how legal is this? Our feeling is that since you are not permitted to clock out and go home during "Sleep time", and are required to be available for calls, follow the rules and regulations, get into uniform, etc.... you should be paid for the full 24 hour shift. Does anyone have any ideas as to whether that violates any laws? The Fire station is unmanned, and even though there is a shower, the only kitchen amenities are a refrigerator and microwave. Does anyone have any thoughts on this? Some of us are trying to find out if we can file file a claim for back pay.

We have a number of students completing their clinicals with us right now, and I have run into a few things that are a bit annoying. Allow me to chip in with my $.02 worth. 1. Don't sit at the station and selectively choose which calls you want to go on. You are there to learn. You should be chomping at the bit to get on every call that tones out. 2. When the truck stops onscene, do not jump out and start heading into the patients house. You have no idea what you are walking into. Wait for instructions from your preceptors. 3. When asked to take vitals signs, show the patient the courtesy of asking their permission before grabbing their arms and tugging at their sleeves, etc.... 4. Limit your conversations with the patient to the necessary things. The PM gathers a lot of general pt. information based on simple observation. Your casual conversation with the pt. interrupts that process. Your mission is to OBSERVE, unless asked to do more. 5. When your clinical shift is over, it is in very poor taste to ask the crew to drop you off at home in the ambulance. Especially when you plan it that way for the sole purpose of showing off to your friends and neighbors. 6. Do not make yourself too "at home" at the station. Follow the same rules that everyone else does. Surfing the internet on the dispatchers computer is a good way to get booted out of class. Eating food out of the refrigerator that does not belong to you is a good way to become a patient instead of a student. And please, please, please, don't think it is OK to stretch out on the couch and go to sleep during the shift. Especially if you sleep heavily enough to miss the tones. That says a lot about your professionalism. In short, remember what you are there for. You are trying to learn. We are eager to teach, and will gladly answer your questions, regardless of how stupid you may think they are. The only stupid ones are the ones you don't ask. Just show a little respect and act like you know you are supposed to. We'll all get along fine.

I don't really consider myself a Newbie. I have been lurking for quite some time, and I love what I have found in this site. I was a paramedic for six years starting in 1991,until I was injured on the job and got gun-shy. I left EMS for a number of years. I recently got "Siren-Fever" and decided to start all over from scratch. Here I am now as a basic, in "P-School" again. This site is the best. I love the advice given from all levels of EMS(though ABRASIVE AT TIMES). Thanx for all of the input. Gregory

Looks like a lot of us are starting "P" school this fall. For me, this is the second time I've been a paramedic, so I have an idea what to expect, but I know that a lot has changed since the early 90's when I did it the first time. All of the advice I've seen seems to be right on target. Add me to the list of well wishers. Good Luck all.