treaux

Ok, so the entertainment of our night shifts right now is this Words with Friends game for the iphone. It's essentially scrabble, though the board is setup a little different probably due to copyright issues. Anyways, there's a free version that has ads that pop up between moves, though I just paid the $2 for the ad-free version. Unfortunately, it's only for iphone at the moment, but if you download it start a game with me! My username on there is treaux and I am currently the champ. If you beat me, you will earn gloating rights all over this thread

Good advice from VentMedic. As a product of a vocational school (though a well-respected one), I had a good basis to start work, but felt lacking in a complete education. I've spent several years studying on my own and learning from real world experience to really feel comfortable with what I do, and I don't have any college credit to show for that. Go the college route for sure if it's available for you. Where I used to live, it wasn't available to me and I would have taken advantage of it if I could. I now say this having an intern who attended NCTI and has a lot of studying to do to fill the gaps in his education just as I did. Now I'm going back to school for nursing and I'm pretty much starting from scratch, so I wish I had the credits for the time I put into my education after medic school. Anyways, good luck with your studies and I hope you enjoy being an EMT. I'm local to the bay area as well and I'm happy to answer any questions you may have.

Another useful tip is to slightly abrade the skin directly under where you place the electrodes. This is to get off any oils and the superficial layer of dead skin that can cause artifact. In fact, some ECG electrodes come with a little bit of rough plastic or cloth on the back side of the adhesive for this purpose. I just throw some non-sterile 4x4s in my monitor and use them to prior to applying the patches. Also remember that the electrodes are meant to stay in their packaging until use. As soon as you open them, the gel begins to dry out and becomes less effective as time wears on. As far as lead placement, I think that was already covered quite well.

I understand what Happiness was trying to say, but I think the comparison is inaccurate. Happiness referred to different specialties a Medical Doctor can go into. Yes, no matter what they're still a medical doctor and be called a doctor. As far as the term "Paramedic" goes, it's different in different areas. While I understand there are some countries where the word "Paramedic" refers too all Emergency Medical Technicians, there are also many that don't (including the US). Our levels are EMT-Basic, EMT-Intermediate, or EMT-Paramedic. Thus, referring to yourself as a paramedic means that you are at the EMT-P (ALS) level. Therefore, Happiness, were you to come to California and tell me you're a paramedic, I'll think that you are ALS certified and can start an IV or administer meds for me.

That sounds like quite a shift. It's shifts like those that remind me exactly why we do what we do. It needs to be done. Sounds like you did the best you could and you should be proud. Honestly, remember that it's not us making the world the way it is (not directly at least). Our job is to roll with the punches and try to help a few people along the way. Yes, we get thrown head-first into situations that many people may never get to see or experience in their lives. We see death, pain, sadness and we often can't do anything to remedy the situation. We help where we can, and we support those who need us. It's not our place to judge other people or to burden ourselves with their pain. That is no way to stay mentally healthy in this job. Remember, show empathy not sympathy.

The difference with the epi-pen is negligible. Even though it's in your scope to assist with an epi-pen, you still can't do it without medical direction. So if you are hired as an EMT in any fashion, they must have a medical director and some standing orders. If you are working as a teacher, then that's what you are. It must be defined in writing somewhere. For example, I work as medical staff for a camp up in the woods. The first thing I did when I got hired was ask for a copy of their medical protocols and the information for their director. This is my own CYA in case I have to treat someone there (even within my scope). Sounds like you are employed as a teacher and they just like that you have EMT experience, in that case I think you're fine to administer a student's own medications for them.

It will be hard to find prescription "wrap-around" style glasses as the additional curve of the lenses would warp your vision (there's a small tolerance allowed, but generally the lenses can't be too curved if they're going to be effective). I had this problem when I ordered prescription Oakley sunglasses (though Oakley does make a few that work with some prescriptions). These wouldn't qualify as safety glasses though. Panoptx.com used to make high end Fire/EMS/Military safety glasses with available prescriptions, but now they appear to have dropped the line and only make sport glasses.

He's ready to triage...

Very true, but the trade-off is time vs money. The faster the course the more it costs.

Well, you can also be an MICN which is just about the only way to get on a helicopter or plane in California as well as doing CCT. The paramedic scope here is rather limited compared to other states. However, if you have an EMT program at your local college, just do that so you can get started. If you want a faster method look up NCTI in Roseville as they have accelerated EMT classes (though you still get a good education).

If you really want to become an EMT, then go for it. It's a relatively quick process and an easy field to get into especially in California. There are several 1-6 month programs that can give you the most basic education to function as an EMT. However, I'd agree with your counselor to get more of your basic classes out of the way and then re-assess your options in the medical field. There are many other positions aside from EMT which also tend to pay better and allow a more regular schedule (plus you'll need them to become a Paramedic if that's also your thing). I only say this as I prepare to go back to school next month to work on my nursing school pre-requisites. Welcome to the forums though and good luck in your endeavors! Let me know if you need any help.

Heya. I'm in week 10 of a 32 week program. It's super-fast paced and difficult to keep up, but that's how I like it. What I love is that all my teachers work in the field. 2 of my main instructors work for CalStar (along with about 6 other calstar people who help out), one is the local fire-medic QI guy and PA at the local hospital, and the rest work in various places and have a lot of experience. It's great for getting a real world view of how it all comes together. The hard part is how much information I have to process. We have 24 hours of class time each week and it's just non-stop critical information. It takes me an extra week to process it all and finally put it to use. So far I've kept up through A&P and all the other little things, and I'm only half way to my clinicals. After week 25 I start my 160 hour clinical rotations (can't start it until I have ACLS, PEPP, and PALS done). Once I'm done with those I'm off to Austin, TX to do my field internship. I'm excited about doing that out of state where everything is different than what I know. Anyways, I love my school and I love being in school. If any of you want to buddy up and talk about stuff, feel free to AIM me when I'm on: SecrtAgentNate

I see your point, but physicians don't work on people in the middle of the highway nor do they respond into people's homes. Why don't we all just wear scrubs on the ambulance then? Ambulances and EMS are a public service. Yes, it is medicine, but like I said...hybrid job. How many fire companies fight more fires than run ems calls? Almost none at this point. They practice medicine as well. I don't see much point in arguing over it further, as it's just an opinion clash. I'm just going to leave it at this. I just think it's unreasonable to call me a wanker because I have a badge. I used to have an AMR ID card, and that worked just as well. The point is we need something looking official when working on the streets. If a badge is how we do it, then so be it.

Whether we have real authority or not, we are considered authority figures. Maybe that's the wrong word. Public servant DOES sound better. When the public needs help, we go. We don't have a choice. Public or private agency, it's all the same. Once again, it's dependent on where you are working though. No, I don't have "power" over the average Joe (and that's not why I got into this btw), but if someone assaults me they get the same treatment as if they did it to a firefighter or cop. It's a hybrid job in that sense. The fact is, when someone is looking for help, they go towards badges. That can be good or bad. Bad if they're running from a guy with a gun, good if they're having a MI. It's the growing sentiment where I work. Maybe it's our way of coping with having to wear badges now. Think about what it is we do. We show up with lights blazing, walk into the homes of people we've never met, and we ask them questions and do things to them. If they're altered, we force them to come with us. I can see how a badge can make family members and even patients show us a little more respect. What's wrong with that? Do you not want respect for what you do? We don't get much else for it. We make less than some fast food workers, we get little to no respect in the medical field, and we're on the bottom of the food chain for helping the public. However, we are still in that chain. In my county, everyone who provides services to the public on the streets gets a badge. It doesn't have to be that way. I'd be fine with only cops having badges. I'm just not going to fuss over something as trivial as being called a "Ricky" or "wannabe" for having a badge. I'm more concerned about our turnout coats which are metallic dodger blue with lime green reflective tape....yuck. Much more tasteless than wearing a badge and a name tag (which I'll say again looks plenty professional for our field).

Since the a new company took over where I work, our entire workforce has been issued badges and required to wear them during the day time. I think they do add to the "professional" look (along with our nice Flying Cross shirts and pants). I disagree about the authority thing. Everyone has different authority in different areas. Police obviously enforce the law and have the most authority. Firefighters have their authority in fires/mci situations. EMS personnel have authority in medical situations. This is how it is in my county. While the EMS provider is a "private" company, we are working as a leg of the public EMS system in our county. Our turnout coats don't even mention our company's name, they simply say "Monterey Co. EMS" (not to mention the county paid for em). Frankly I'm tired of our own people trying to place us below police and fire. We are all on the same team. We wear badges because we are here to help the people of our county. I never wear mine off duty, and if I'm on my way to work I don't put on my dress shirt until I get there (you're damn right I don't want to get shot at for wearing a uniform off-duty). It's different everywhere you go, but that's my take on it. Personally, I can do without them. I've been called officer so many times since we got the damn badges that I've almost wanted to yell at someone and tell them that I can't press any freaking charges. Then again, I could do without class-b dress shirts. It's all under the category of dress in my book. If the standard is a nice pressed class-b with a badge, then I will damn well wear it and show pride in it.

I got 26! I'm #524, hehe.