bumper

As many times as I have done CPR and as many saves (which is none) as there have been, I would be willing to try anything but I would really rather keep the current method. I have gotten people back for a short period but with our area being so big and so rural it is hard to keep them with ya. Just my opinion.

Yes EMS shows would be great but I would really like to see some firefighting shows that aren't fake.....

I am currently a Fire Fighter (engine boss, haz-mat, wildland hand crew boss and secretary) and also am an EMT-B. I start EMT-I99 class in May and as soon as I pass that I am either going to school for Paramedic Technician or RN. I have not decided yet. I love Firefighting but since I have become an EMT the FF crew has been pretty protective since I am usually the only certified EMT on the fireline most of the time. They like to keep me safe in case something happens to them. Gotta love those guys....

I usually try and stay true to our protocols but sometimes they are too restrictive when dealing with certain scenarios. I usually call in to the doc on duty and ask them. A lot of our docs know we are in rural areas that can take up to an hour to get to and then back to the facility. IF and only IF they instruct me I will do something but not ever on my own. Did you guys hear about the two medics in FL (I think) that arrived on an MVA and the Fire Dept was performing CPR on a full term OB and they decided to perform a C-Section on scene.....YIKES They saved the mother but the newborn died.

I would feel comfortable with about half of my crew mates. The other half either thinks they are Doctors even though they are basics or they just do not provide the best patient care. I spend alot of time in the back of the rig when I am on call with certain individuals. It is sad to say but you cannot change a leopards spots.

oh wait.... and wake up to "my friend" in the morning hee hee

I want a Canadian beer fridge..... to go with my game of horseshoes of course.....

Our county is 3600 sq. miles, we respond to about 1600 of that automatically and frequently assist on the remainder. We are surrounded by reservation and help them out quite a bit. Sometimes our response times are up to 1 hour maybe more. We went 70 miles on Sat for an unresponsive assault victim.

thanks for the poll guys......just wonderin I am trying to think of a good poll but cannot decide between confined space work and being able to rely on your law enforcement to show up in a timely manner.....hmmm will post decision tomorrow.

I am lucky enough to have my best friend who is also in EMS and my guy who is the fire chief to talk with. Yeah we go have a beer or two and smoke a bunch of cigarettes. My best friend is still new at this so I spend alot of time talking with her. She still gets pretty down on herself but she does a great job. She dwells on the what ifs a little too much so I try and make sure she knows that she did the best possible job she can do and that's what matters. My stress comes from pulling the drunk driver out of the vehicle and putting the sober driver in a body bag. PISSES ME off to no end. We get alot of trauma here. Thing is, this county is small and we are surrounded by reservation so most of the time you know who you are working on. I have been telling my crew mates about this site so hopefully they will start trickling in.

Great pictures Summit I try and spend time with my family, go riding, work the dogs...(did I mention clean the house, clean the barn, mow the lawn, fix fence, wash my vehicle......ect) Basically I catch up and then relax. Lately it seems as if there is no time. We have actually had a busy winter with MVA's, structure fires and ambulance calls and it looks as though spring and summer are going to keep us hopping.

Hey guys, I would have to say Ron White is mine, just because he gives his bulldog snacks to wake up to after napping....hee hee

Dixie, I think I am going to take your lead and add some things to my program. Right now I walk for 1 hour 3 days a week on the treadmill at 4.0 mile an hour. (when the weather gets nicer I will walk outdoors) I ride my horses at least once a week or more, I try to wear the dog out by playing with him but he usually lasts alot longer than I. I try to lift weights but usually don't get time or procrastinate :? Thanks for the ideas!!!!!!!

Our ER Dr.s are pretty good most of the time. Since we are a critical care facility only we have alot of visiting Dr.'s from the bigger hospitals. They come down and think "gravy" and what they get is 48 to 72 hours of "clinic". They usually laugh and come back time and time again though. Our Med. Director refuses to work in the ER after 5 pm, doesn't like to take any info from women and gets really upset when we bring people in that are intoxicated or over weight. He actually sent a pt home because they were drunk and not very clean, being mouthy. He said,"Tell them to go home, it will work itself out" Crazy, huh? On the upside though, most of our RN's are pretty dang friendly no matter what. We usually stay and help them if they are busy. There is only one nurse on staff every 12 hours. (That is how small we are)

I smoke and occasionally chew out on wildland fires as to not risk starting a secondary fire. Nothing irritates me more that watching a person smoke on a fire and then throw his butt out the window or on the ground. I have been trying to quit and am down to 1 pack every four or five days. Don't smoke in our house, rigs or any building, only outside in designated areas. Hopefully I can kick it soon.

I am a firefighter/emt-b in South Dakota. Separate services. Our fire dept is all volunteer and our EMS service is run by the hospital. We volunteer to be on ambulance call but get paid for the runs or transports we respond to.

I drive a 05 Ford Escape. It is my first NEW vehicle and although all the other EMT's and Firefighters give me crap about buying a smaller vehicle after all of the MVA's I have been on, I really like it. For the heavier jobs I have a 99 Ford F350 Turbo Diesel Crew Cab Shortbox. (That one is my baby.) :wink:

Our Fire Dept. is PROUD to be all volunteer and our EMS is paid by the run only. My gratitude goes out to all firefighters and ems personnel. It takes alot to do the job that we do and to go through what we go through.