FormerEMSLT297

All: We are pleased to announce that the CONTOMS program is celebrating its 25th year ... We have several basic classes that we are offering this year, and the spots are filling up fast. To view the contoms schedule and site training locations please visit our web site: www.nps.gov/uspp then click on the CONTOMS banner on the left side of the page.......

do not bother with the parents, as the person is 19 and no longer a minor. Agree with the no driving portion as should a wreck occur, they will ask a lot of "what did you know when did you know it questions" As far as sending them home hard judegement call. Whoever said being an officer was going to be easy ? Thats why they pay you the big bucks, or at least let you have a cool title and extra gold on your collar. Whatever you decide, DOCUMENTATION is mandatory to protect against any lawsuit that may come later. Good luck

Do not paint the entire department as uncaring unprofiessional ____________based on the actions of one person or based on one fouled up response. DC Fire/EMS has some of the best and most dedicated personnel in the country. Unfortunately for them, they have some managers or supervisors who make bad decisions..... but i caution everyone to wait for the dust to clear and read the entire final report on this incident before passing judgement. Remember, right now, the only story we know is the one being put out there by the NEWS MEDIA, in an attempt to boost their ratings and sell more papers, TV Commercials etc. Patience is thename of the game, but i will admit it does not read very well if what is being put out in open source is true.

I refuse to get into a war with someone on the internet. When you register, you are told, DO NOT MAKE AIRLINE OR HOTEL RESERVATIONS, until you here back from the registrar. The problem we had was that the company that was managing our web site, True Research, went chapter 11, because of that we were forced to cancel the class. All persons who paid for the class were offered make up spots in the next class, but the poster, who lost money on airline reservations was obviously upset. I am sorry that happened, but I and more importantly the program had nothing to do with that. The company is very professional, and we have some of the best most experienced instructors in the world, unfortunately, we partnered with this group that went belly up, as did several other non-profit organizations.

The next class is filling up fast, if you or your Dept. has about $900. to spare I highly recommend this class. The class dates are March 5-9, 2012 in Alexandria, VA.

Hmmmm,,,, THANKLESS job .. I 100% agree..... I do think that anyone who walks around wanting people to "bow down" to them because they are in the Emergency Services profession, well, that person has some serious psychological problems, not to mention maybe some type of a PERSONALITY DISORDER. A co-worker of mine, Jim Thompson wrote this book several years ago. My guess is that the title of the book, kind of illustrates his frustrations with the life of an EMT. http://www.ebay.com/itm/Just-Say-Thank-You-James-Thompson-Paperback-2005-/341366168571 I read the book, and it has some good stories, but the best thing I can tell you is IMHO, it is not worth $10.00 let alone $18. I found it thru the lend and loan library AFTER A LOT OF SEARCHING....... THE USFA library in Emmitsburg had it.. As some other reviewers commented, it did make for some painful reading.

I knew Rob for many years, only as "DUSTDEVIL". I always enjoyed my on line and pm conversations that we had together. Whether we were talking about military medicine, combat, tac medics or just regular EMS, I always found his comments insightful. He was a true EMS Professional who believed in trying to advance the EMS profession, and increase training and education for all providers. His presence on this site will be sorely missed........ R.I.P. DUSTDEVIL

What do all married men who cheat have in common ??? They all think they will never get caught.....!!!!!! It is a dangerous game to play, especially nowadays with all the technology, and internet, and phones, etc. You use a hotel 40 miles away, and think you are good, until a neighbor happens to have car trouble and checks into the same hotel and catches you. Or you get a photo RADAR or red light ticket in an area you have no business being in, or there is a violent crime in the area where the hotel you use is, and the detectives review video surveilence and what to talk to you and your "wife" about what you saw, or whatever... Why not just marry the correct person and be happy. Or do not get married and play the field as much as you want.

I stand corrected. Alexandria FD is EMS only. Did not know that. DC Fire used to have stand along EMS, but they no longer do. They are making all single role providers go to fire school.... And the IAFF marches on...

OK, So Ive read all your posts, and I have to admit I'm a little LOST. Your are going to work for P.G. County Fire, yet you do not want to do firefighting ???? Hmmm... Let's just say that there are VERY FEW stand alone EMS ONLY Departments left in the DC/Baltimore Area. Career ones are even less. The following will require you to at least attend and complete basic fire school: DC Fire/EMS PG Fire/EMS Anne Arundel Co. Fire/EMS Fairfax Co. Fire/EMS Fairfax City Fire/EMS Alexandria Fire/EMS Arlington Co. Fire/EMS Baltimore County Fire/EMS Prince William Co. Fire/EMS (6 month academy) three of that I know do not require a full firefighting academy are: (paid) Charles County Emergency Services which provide EMS and ALS services as well as Haz-mat and tech. rescue Calvert ALS, which is the last all volunteer fly car medic unit in the Maryland and Saint Mary;s County ALS -which is also a volunteer ALS fly car system. PM me with further questions cause I worok in DC and I volunteer in both Calvert and AA Co.

Yeah Doc, I think the OP took a powder on us.

I posted this in the Training area, but figured I would link it here in case anyone is interested. http://www.emtcity.com/index.php/topic/20529-contoms-tactical-medic-class-2011-2012-dates/page__fromsearch__1

First off, why did you leave ATC ??? Also, You are too old for Pararescue, i'm fairlyt certain the cutoff for the USAF is 29. If you meant civilian medevac units, there are not many opportunities for on Long Island. Nassau County use cops, who are medics, and Suffolk uses civilian crews out of Stonybrook, but the competition to get that job is 1,000 applicants for maybe one or two positions. Good luck to you anyway .

Let me tell you a little story about someone who wanted to be a "SWAT Medic" since he was a little boy. He became an EMT in high school, and joined the local VFD. Then spent 3 years in the U.S. Navy as a Combat Corpsman attached to various Marine Infantry units. He also rode volunteer as as FF/Paramedic, and was a Fire LT. then Captain for 14 years. He then worked 10 years full time as a Paramedic, and LT in NYC. He left that job and went to work as a police officer. After 8 years full time as a cop, making many arrests and being involved in a bunch of high profile incidents, and still riding p/t to keep up his medic skills, the SWAT team invited him to join on as a tactical medic. So, that is the kind of road you have ahead of you. Remeber, when the bullets start flying, and the stuff is hitting the fan, the SWAT team you are with wants someone who has seen hundreds or thousadns of patients, and many many trauma patients. I was fortunate enough to ride in NYC fron the mid 1980's till the late 1990's, I worked in Harlem, the South Bronx, and Jamaica, where I saw hundreds for GSW's and traumas. This is what the SWAT team wants in a medic, a mature, provider with great skills and a deep deep knowledge base from which to draw on. Not some 19 year old right out of school. Good luck with your quest.

Sadly there are no volunteers in DC anymore. The National Park Service does have a volunteer EMS bike team, and there are some volunteer Fire/Rescue/EMS units in MD, and VA, but they are all career, and supplemented by vollies. Where do you ride in NY ? And what is your goal ? Do you want to become a meidc ? do you see yourself as one day being in the field as a career, or do you just want to volly while you go to college ? This is the only 100% volunteer county left in the DC area, it is about 30-45 minutes drive south and east of DC. www.calvertfirerescueems.com