Katiebug

I've been wearing the same pair of Red Wings for three years now. My feet have never gotten wet and I abuse the crap out of my boots. When the soles wear out, you can get them resoled for $75. It's like having a brand new pair of boots that are already broken in. The leather and stitching lasts forever. There are a lot of opinions on this one, but I'll be sticking with Red Wing.

Memphis is a murdering, homicidal town. There is more violence here than in the surrounding tri state area. I have been in some very rough places surrounded by some very shady looking people. I have never had a problem. People know we are there to help and pose no threat to them. I would like it to stay that way. I do on the other hand wish I could carry a taser or stun gun. I equate that to the mail carrier carrying pepper spray to defend against dogs. It is non lethal but effectively repels the attack. I have (thankfully) never been attacked. I am also 6' 3" and 240 lbs. If I was attacked, I would like to have some form of non lethal self defense. As it stands now, I would either have to run or seriously beat down the attacker. My final answer: Guns-No. Stun gun-Yes.

What I like to do is read the protocols on the way to the call. A lot of times though you run into something completely different than what you're dispatched to. Then you just wing it. At least there was a chance to study a protocol and most calls are BLS anyway. In Memphis, most calls are BLS without the L.

Got to agree with this. Although with the information presented, it was still a judgement call. I can't say the medics on scene were wrong because they probably not aware of the real amount of blood loss. With an estimated 1.5 L frank blood on scene though, the book says to bolus 1-2 L NS or LR. Easy to say looking at it from this standpoint and having time to think about it. I'm pretty sure I would have run a L wide open then TKOed a second. Again, I wasn't there and will not call the medics out on the carpet that were without them being able to explain.

I also agree that a life is a life no matter how much time has passed since conception. HOWEVER, if it was my wife or daughter that was raped and impregnated, I would not be okay with continuing with the pregnancy. Nor would I be okay with it if my wife's or daughter's life was on the line due to a pregnancy. I also have a problem if the fetus is seen to be seriously deformed or brain damaged. I suppose that makes me a hypocrite. That's just how I see it.

A few people have told me that the NREMT practice test was just like the real McCoy. They said they even saw some of the same questions. I've also heard that parameducators was good practice. I'm doing the NREMT practice test and taking a month to re read the textbook . I've been told the Brady is the best textbook to study.

I'm about to take it too. I'm with you... Nervous as hell. I went through a one year program where all the information was crammed down our throats at lightning speed. Only about 7 or 8 out of our class of 22 graduated. People from my school are going well over 100 questions before the computer shuts off. People are saying to worry about the practical, but it's the cbt that's really the intimidating part. Here is what I'm hearing from the people that passed: Keep it on a basic level whenever possible. Go in thinking like an EMT Basic- not like a paramedic. I have one friend that did not deliver one drug, (other than O2), the whole test. He passed. They're saying that the Registry wants to know that you will cover your basic skills first before jumping to any advanced procedures. Take it for what it's worth, but that's the approach I'm taking.

HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA! Yes it does!

Orwellian or Armageddon? Jeez.

I start paramedic class in the morning. I've got the same emotions I had the day I got married. Hopefully this profession will be better to me than my wife was. Thanks for the encouraging words.

Sometimes you just have to lift when you know you shouldn't. My partner and I lifted a 370 lb woman last week. I am 6'2" and 226 lb. My partner is a little shorter but is a muscle bound ff working part time ems. We were sore for days. With two strong men weighing nearly 500 lbs together, this was still a dangerous activity. All it takes is one wrong twist or a loss of leverage and you are down. Another example is an old classmate popped his knee out while twisting with a pt. So body mechanics is not just for your back. Protect every joint.

Strange that I choose now to check out this thread. I like to play footsies after sex. TPBM has had a punk haircut.

Good luck Dust. Keep your head down and spring for the body armor. I hope your tour is completely uneventful. If you do see some action, get testicalogical on them. Be safe.

The only problem I have with expanding the scope of practice for EMTB is that most in my B class can barely grasp what we are doing now. I don't believe they belong in the class any more than I belong in an algebra class, yet some of them will pass. I could pass algebra, but I wouldn't be a good mathmatician. Especially if a little calculus was added to it. This is my niche. I love this field and I will continue on to be a medic. Some of us could handle an expansion of protocol, but I don't think some others should. There is one fellow in my class, though I like him personally, if he asks, "is that gonna be on the National Registry" one more time I might just punch him in the face. That is a case of just learning enough to pass the test. I hope he doesn't respond to someone in my family. He certainly does not want or need more responsibility. One thing I agree with the medics on; if you want the responsibility, show that you do and take the class. I wish some colleagues and I could do more, but not at the expense of some others getting the same responsibilities. That could wind up being more cases of EMS looking bad. I'm sure I'll take a few punches for this post, but I feel it's the reality of it. You can't assume everyone is going to do a good job, regardless of the profession.

Lotho Loamsdown. I thought there would be more criteria.

So was it a panic attack, TIA, ACT or what? Ever do the follow up?

That's a bunch of b.s. Is that even legal? If I'm not getting paid, I'm going home. If they require you to be somewhere, you are on their time and should be paid. Period.

Is there any pain with respiration? Are there seat belt marks on the chest or abdomen? Was he having trouble breathing while lying down? PEARL? Was the abdomen palpated?

In Memphis BLS services start out at 9-10 bucks an hour. If you want to make a decent living you can try to get on the FD, but your chances are about 1 in 2000. Even if you do, you have to split your time between the ambo and pumper because all ff have to be EMT certified. Paramedics have a better than 50/50 chance of being hired on the fd and spend 99.9% of their time on the ambulance. Almost all trauma calls are routed through the FD so the pm's run their arses off while the ff play x box. That also means that almost all private does here is transports. I don't know what private pays pms here, but the fd starts out at 45,000 /yr + OT and benifits. Max out at 60,000. The shift is 24, off, 24, off, 24, four days off. I'm taking a 2.50 pay cut to run transports until this time next year when I graduate pm training. It's a sad state of affairs when I take a pay cut to leave Home Depot to make sure someones beloved grandmother stays alive from point a to point b. I want job satisfaction though, so I'll take the cut. This time next year I'll be a fd paramedic and making well above average income for the area. I'm just sorry no one offers that kind of pay and bennies in the private sector.

Brilliant. How many marriages would be saved if everyone took this advice? I love it. Good insight Rid.

I am 33 years old and just getting into this field. I am finishing up this semester top of my class. I am top of the class because I am the most motivated. For the last 5 years I have been a roofer. For five years before that I hung drywall. Want to talk about breaking a body down? As far as physical strain goes, this job is a cakewalk. Lifting the occasional bariatric is fine with me. I have spent the last few years kicking myself for not using my head to make a living instead of my back. Now I have found EMS and I love it. Now I can help people, provide a valuable service and almost eek out enough money to live on. This time next year I will be a medic. I am here to stay. Too old? Never. If you find something you love, at least you can have a happy life doing it. Trust me, it's better than doing something you hate no matter how much you make. Happiness is more valuable than money. I'll take job satisfaction and low pay over a life of regret and plenty of money any time. Appearantly, so will you, cause here you are. Do what you love, and you will be rich.

Wow. Now that was a good answer!

Sounds like your boss likes to treat the pulse ox instead of the pt. If someone is having trouble breathing, they should get O2 regardless of what the machine says. The pulse ox is handy, but it has its place. I would trust my own eyes and the pt more than the machine. Bob is a retard. If he questioned your methods, he could have done it quietly and in a conversational tone. I guess his ego is more important than the pt.

What about Starling law? Does this not apply to cpr? Wouldn't elevating the legs add more volume to the ventricle, thus increasing the effectiveness and force of the compression?

81% Dixie. Do you still use Confederate money? Reared in McNairy County Tennessee. Home of Buford Pusser.