batgirl

It's not a new screen name, same one as before.

I doubt many people will remember me, but I was a member years ago in '06. I took a long hiatus due to finishing up college and getting my life in order, but after lurking around a bit, I decided to come back. Back then I was an EMT-B for my school's volunteer squad and also for a private transport company in New York. I have since then become a Paramedic and have been working for a large hospital based ems system that does both 911 in New York City and the surrounding Burroughs (I myself work 911 in Queens) and also interfacility bls, als and als critical care transports (including picu and nicu transports). I just celebrated my 8 year anniversary in ems this past December and looking back, I know I've grown so much as a provider. I'm happy to be back here to share in some stories, laughs, scenarios and fun!

Usually any mention of the Q word, S word or B word (quiet, slow and busy) will get you slammed beyond all reason. Also, it seems like if you say you haven't seen any other trucks around (this is for the privates) your area, you're almost sure to get that transport of a 380 pound woman who had both her knees replaced and is dead weight. And guess what? No lift assist because you're the only truck in the area.

I've never been involved in any sort of accident while on the ambulance. While there have been fender benders and even a major accident (a moron fell asleep at the wheel during an overnight shift), we are told that unless we are told to go code 3 to a call, we don't, and we use our better judgment when it comes to going to the hospital code 3. Not only that, but most people who are in my corps are the kind who even when going code 3, don't go crazy speeding and rushing through reds. I'm happy to say that most of the people I work with still err on the side of caution when running lights to a hospital or to a scene. It's better to take a few extra seconds or minutes to get everyone to the destination safe and in one piece. Now if only we could keep the AEVs from breaking down in the middle of the road, it would all be great.

Hello, I'm Ariella, an EMT-Basic from Long Island, New York. I used to be around here a while back, but took a hiatus due to life and all it's craziness, but now I'm back. I've been an EMT from 4.5 years and got my start in upstate New York. I'm also a soon to be medical student (cross fingers for fall 2010) and have a Bachelor of Arts in Comparative Literature.

Something of this nature happened to me as well, and I did a combination of the things mentioned. I am not a driver nor a crew chief, so my entire life is spent in the back of the rig. However, I was working with another Basic (newly certified) who was also in the back with me, and she felt the need to inform me that I was going to be the "vitals taker" all night, and she would handle the rest. When our first call came around, she was struggling with connecting leads and basic things like that. I offered to help and she told me to "stay in my chair and do what I was told." Basically I let her struggle through that call. When we got back to the squad room, I calmly told her that she can't order me around like that, especially after such a poor performance on that call. She glared at me and left me alone for the rest of the night. The next day I reported the incident to management and found out that she had done it to people even when she was not an EMT and doing her clinicals.They got her off that shift immediately and she was reprimanded. Sometimes if the person is not willing to make a comprimise, going to management is a good move, but in my opinion it's also ok to remind that person that you are not to be pushed around.