LasVegasEMTI

I think one of our better laughs was in a radio "black hole" next to one of the hospitals...

Dispatch: J24, at XYZ hospital....... (static)

J24: Dispatch, you cut out. Didn't hear what floor the patient was coming from. I'll give you a landline.

Dispatch: I DON'T HAVE TIME FOR THIS! GO GET YOUR PATIENT!

So, we went to every unit and asked if they had a patient they wanted to get rid of.

Another funny day was when we were bouncing around doing raisin runs...

LPN @ Nursing Home A: The patient is alert but unresponsive. She does this sometimes.

Me: What were her last vitals?

LPN: Oh I don't know.

Me: (under breath) of course.

walks to patients room...

Me: Hello Mrs. So-and-So, how are you today?

the patient stares at me, no response.

Me to LPN: Did I see that she had a french name?

LPN: Yes.

Me: Bonjour mademoiselle. Comment ca-va? Je m'appelle Ashley. Es-tu bien?

Pt (with big smile on her face): Je suis tres bien!

I guess she just didn't like Americans...

We were at Nursing Home B dropping off a patient. As we were walking out with our empty stretcher, the front desk nurse goes, "Wait! I've got one for you. We weren't sure if we were going to send him, but since you're here it'd probably be a good idea,"

Me: Alright, but you'll have to call our dispatch and request it so they don't line any more up for us.

Nurse: Ok.

Nurse: Alright I called them, they said it's fine.

Me: So what's his issue today?

Nurse: He's unresponsive.

Me: Unresponsive? Is he breathing? Does he have a pulse?

Nurse: Yeah, he's breathing and has a pulse, just can't get any response from him.

Me: Alright, what room?

Nurse: 77A

walks to patients room... finds old man laying in bed.

Me: Good evening Mr. So-and-So, how are you?

Patient: I'm doing great. These women are crazy. Let me guess, you're here to take me to the hospital?

Me: Well, I guess its where they want you to go. You look fine right now but I can't say anything about earlier, I wasn't here. But we'll get you checked out and I'm sure you'll be back here tonight.

wheels patient to ambulance, find Paramedic unit waiting for us.

Me: What are you guys doing here?

Medic: Dispatch sent us. Said you guys had an unresponsive patient.

Me: Oh god. This is Mr. So-and-So, as you can see, he's fine.

Medic: Well, do you want me to join you to the hospital?

Me: You know what? Sure. Why not. If dispatch is going to take the liberty of calling for an ALS unit, I'll take the liberty of taking you out of service till we clear the hospital!

When necessary...just like a helmet.

Gloves are OVERWORN in ems...

I can't keep enough gloves near me. Perhaps its a ocd tendency, but I always have to wear them. Of course it isn't reality, but I assume everyone has AIDS, Hep C and MRSA. I figure the one time I assume someone doesn't have any communicable diseases, will be the time I am wrong. I know I know, there's a lot more ways to get infected, through the hands being the least of my worries. I also like wearing them because some are blue! Whatever works, right?

As for this helmet issue...

How far does it go? If we are wearing them, are our patients wearing them too? Its only fair. Why should our brain housing group be more valuable than theirs? But wouldn't this hinder our PA, ESPECIALLY when they have a head injury? Just playing devils advocate here.

I am ALWAYS hitting my head in the back of the rig, even had a concussion once. I think maybe to find a happy medium we should mandate either helmets or safety belts... one or the other must be worn. I say this because of the mass transfer system that exists. Most of our transfers (BLS) can be done while belted into the crew bench. If mobility is required, then sure, give me a helmet. I've had too many egg heads, bruises, blood and dizzy spells! Ok, so my spacial awareness isn't in peak condition... I've also broken four or five toes walking barefoot into door sills :-P Maybe I should be wearing a helmet 24/7... :-D