ebemt

Just wondering if anybody has some tips regarding this. I'm a little nervous and just want to know if there are certain things in particular I should study prior to the class. I know anatomy and physiology is a must, but I'm wondering if there are other aspects that I could study up and get ahead. Thanks!

We called in a stretcher vs. car once....thank godness there was no pt.

It is definetly a realistic goal to become a medic @ 33. However, before you are employed even as a EMT you will probably have to do some volunteer time. Most places around here prefer 2 years of volunteering.

I make $15.24 an hour for a starting Per-Diem EMT. Full-timers start at $19 and get benefits, Per-Diems don't. Your wages are ehh but benefits will attract some people.

Ok now i've learned this through experience that BLS should not write up ALS procedures. I accidentally stated the pt received 1 nitro on a call report when they really were given 2 by ALS. In New Jersey, or at least the two squads i'm on we simply write " Medic work-up" in the narrative. We leave it at that just to keep things clear and cover our asses.

Well some of the first questions I'd ask are: "Did you hit your head?" " Are you a diabetic?" " Did you use any drugs(Rx or non Rx) or alcohol today?

If there are any type of "embarassing" information you need to know, try gaining it through a conversation with the patient. The other day we had a call that came in as an overdose. Pt. took a little more than 1/2 a bottle of tylenol. I figured more than likely she was attempting to kill herself, but I wanted to find out for sure. En route I was talking with her and through the conversation she told me she was indeed trying to end her life. Worst case scenario you can straight-up ask the patient, but I prefer trying to reveal private information through a casual conversation en route or on scene.

I'm a big fan of 15 on a NRB. However if they refuse switch to a cannula if they aren't in severe respiratory distress. I think you did the right thing in the situation, especially if the medics did not change to a NRB.

I just got into a debate w/ several members of my squad about this issue. As an EMT-B are we allowed to administer nitro to a patient using Viagra? What exactly are the harmful effects of doing this?

I would report it in order to prevent further damage to the patients health. Yes I acknowledge I'm not the police, however I feel it is a personal responsiblity.

Into The Breech was a great read. Just finished it up about a month ago. I'm slightly biased however since it takes place 30 minutes away from me.

Volunteer squads should only be terminated if they can't keep up with the call volume. For example my town answers a large amount of mutual aids to the bordering town. My town however is too busy to keep sacrificing a rig to another town. At this point I do believe a paid squad should take over the volunteer squad in the next town.