shozzy

We do a whole day with grade 9 classes (try to get them just before they start driving.) First thing they do is write a small test or questionnaire in the morning, then the fire chief talks to them a bit then we do about a 30-45 minute presentation for them on various injuries, golden hour, safety ect ect. After that they go outside and we do a scenario with the FD , MVC with extrication and what not. From there they move to the hospital where the ER doc talks to them a bit, mid way through his speech he has us come rolling in with a mock patient and does the whole works from chest tubes to reducing a femur # to when the pt. finally codes and he calls it. Hes amazing at it to, he has a whole bunch of props and makeup and some concoction hes made up that looks eerily similar to eviscerated organs. After that the students have lunch supplied but when they sit each of them has a card in front of them with a different disability on it and the physio people have it so they eat lunch with whatever disability they received, could be someone has to feed them to a muscle stimulator that gives them tremors. After that they then have family members of victims of alcohol related trauma come in and speak. It's and awesome program, Myself and a coworker set it up with the boys and girls club 5 years ago and it keeps getting better. I work in a smaller town and we have actually seen our statistics drop locally for alcohol related trauma in the younger age group. I like to think that we've had an effect on it anyways. If anyone is interested in starting up something like this in there area get in touch and i can try to help out in any way possible and thanks again for all the links and pictures its been a big help. shozzy

Thanks for the links all! We've been using the Jacqueline Saburido pictures for a few years and seem to really drive a point home. Anyways keep em coming! Its appreciated shozzy

Hello all, I'm looking for some photos from car wrecks for PARTY program (Preventing Alcohol & Risk Related Trauma In Youth). Best if you know a bit of a story to go along with them and also involving alcohol, drugs, no seat belt, excessive speed ect.. Preferably, as bad as it sounds, fatals or debilitating injuries. It's also good to have a little blood and gore for the shock factor! If anyone can help me out it would be awesome, either post here or PM me please. thanks a million Shozzy

I have to say, after reading all of her posts i have come to several conclusions. First of all, I do doubt that this girl is involved in EMS or fire as much as she leads on to be. She started by saying she saved a burn pt. last night which then turned into a smoke inhalation/resp. distress. Secondly, if i ever ran into a burning building without BA.let alone by myself my firefighting days would be over I'm sure. If its true, its great she saved a kid but like we all learned very early on in school, don't try and be a hero, safety first because we're no good as a rescuer if we go down with the pt. As far as the whole age issue, I am on the fence about it. I started into EMS at 18 and became a paramedic at 22 (I'm only 23 right now). I know i am good at my job and always have been, but i have seen some young people get into the job that shouldn't be. I believe that a large number of the young people who get into EMS do it for the wrong reasons, thinking its going to be all glory, they want to drive fast with lights and sirens, where a uniform and be a hero, i think this girl is a perfect example of that. Out of curiosity what is the age requirements for most levels in the US? Here in Alberta we have 3 levels of training, EMR, EMT-A and Paramedic (EMT-P), The minimum age for all levels is 18 and each level is a pre-req for the next. That does keep the age up a slightly for ALS practitioners but it is still possible to become a paramedic at 20 or 21 if you go straight through. That brings me to my next point. What is every ones view on people going straight from BLS training to paramedicine without working (and i mean working full time emerg cars not just doing practicums). I am a strong believer that there should be at least 2 years BLS experience before being accepted into a paramedic program. There are certain things that can only be taught/experienced on the streets and not in a classroom and i think it's important to gain this experience before furthering your training. Anyways that's my rant! :-({|= , looking forward to hearing everyone elses views. Shozzy