emtannie

I disagree Bushy, and I don't usually disagree with you - Dust's mantra is usually that education solves everthing, but his recent comments to a new user on this site were more belittling than educational. It is possible to educate without being offensive.

Cosgrojo's request is legitimate.

Excellent thread cosgrojo! I hope that EMT-B's decide to post to this thread, as well as ALS providers.

Where I work, we don't have EMT-B's, but we have a comparible level, called EMR (Emergency MEdical Responder).

As has been discussed in a number of other threads, general consensus is that the majority of calls are BLS calls, not ALS. BLS providers do have a place in EMS.

A good BLS provider should have the following attributes:

- have a thorough knowledge of your scope of practice

- ensure that the knowledge is not merely memorized regurgitation of textbook materials... know WHY something is the way it is, and WHY the body responds to situations the way it does, not just "the text says that heart rate will increase and breathing rate will increase". Know WHY this happens!

- be professional, to your supervisors, co-workers, and patients - remember, just because you are not an ALS provider, doesn't mean that you are not professional - you are a professional! Always do your job to the best of your ability.

- always strive to learn. If you don't know why something is the way it is, ASK!

- if you are working with an ALS provider, try to learn from them. If you work with them regularly, learn how they like their calls run, and anticipate what they will need and be prepared. You being organized and prepared will be of great help to them. They don't have time on an ALS call to monitor you too.

- ensure that your unit is always properly stocked, and clean, and ready to go for the next run. Know where everything is, so that you can provide care and assist the medic should they ask for assistance.

- know your region! Study the maps, know where major landmarks are, know the best routes.

- drive appropriately for the call - remember, not every call is a "lights and sirens" call

- use your profession to be an advocate for EMS and educate the community. Too many people still consider EMS providers to be nothing more than "ambulance drivers"

- if there was something that you didn't understand, follow up on it after the call - do not question your ALS partner in front of the patient (unless, of course, your ALS partner is doing something which is obviously incorrect and will do more harm to the patient)

- do not use your age, or lack of hands on experience as a crutch for not knowing your stuff. Yes, you will learn a lot in the field, but learn it! Making the same mistake over and over, and then using age or lack of experience as an excuse is not an option.

- be confident in your knowledge and skills

Note to ALS providers here:

- as ALS providers, it is YOUR job to EDUCATE your BLS partner on what you want, not to berate them or yell at them, or treat them as lesser individuals - you have the opportunity to educate, and provide guidance.

I know that I have probably missed a number of attributes, so please, feel free to add to this thread!

It is very possible that she had a latex allergy to her spandex clothing. As stated above, there are lots of items that contain latex that we don't think about.... I too have a latex allergy.... so am careful.

I have seen that reaction to neoprene as well - athletic braces and sandals. With a latex allergy, even balloons at a birthday party, even if the person with an allergy does not touch them, the latex particles in the air can set off a reaction.

The problems in this scenario are too numerous to mention....but... the blame does not lie completely with the volunteers....

The municipality should be ashamed of themselves for having a volly service when it appears that they have an adequate base to support a full time paid service. The administration of the existing services should abe ashamed of themselves for screwing up the scheduling....

I guess is that until there are enough lawsuits in the region this occurred in, that the municipality won't bother really reviewing the situation and making changes....

To blame the volunteers themselves is focussing blame on only part of the situation. This problem is much bigger and needs to be addressed that way.

There are areas in every county that are remote, and response times to those areas are bound to be longer... and yes, people moving to those areas may not always take that into consideration. But, as emergency services, part of our duty is to educate our communities not only on what we do (we are not just "ambulance drivers") but what they can do for themselves.... Education, or the lack thereof, plays a big part in all the issues in this scenario....

I am not surprised. It was only a matter of time..... and this was only comments made on a site. Just look at the accident pics that are on youtube and other sites, where you are able to see the victims. I am surprised we haven't seen more of it, unless this is just the tip of the iceberg. Myspace isn't the only site where this will occur....

Remember.... if you post something that can potentially bite you in the ***, it probably will...

Be safe,

Annie

I have been to so many patient funerals, I have lost count. However, as I am in a very small community, at least 90% of my patients are also people that I know well either through church, business outside of EMS, or other community involvement.

I do not attend as a member of the ambulance service, but as a friend to either the deceased, or their family member that I am friends with.

The only time I attend a funeral in uniform is if it is a member of emergency services, and then as was stated earlier, we are all in uniform and seated in formation.

I would like to add one I saw today, and decided had to become my new signature line....

I'm sorry.... your IQ test came back negative...

Well this really explains everything.......

Hi Annie , thanks for using JobPredictor to get your career back on track, after seconds of analysing Annie we have todays ideal job for you, and it is...

a Rally Car Driver

Wait until I tell our Staff Sargeant!

This sounds like a difficult situation.

Based on what you have said, there are a few issues that you may wish to follow up on.

What was your original offer letter? Did it outline the orientation program? At any time did you receive any official documentation regarding the orientation program? Was there any evaluation or review of your skills in the interim? Did you receive any written evaluation of your skills? Did you document that the Asst. Chief of Training's absence on most if not all of your scheduled days together?

Now, if you have documentation on this, you may be able to appeal the decision to release you from employment. But, you have to decide if it is worth it – you may not want to work for this company anyway. It does appear that your employer was not a quality employer – this may be the underlying reason for the service’s being “desperately understaffed.”

Although they gave you a reference, you may also want to consider having someone else there provide a reference. Was there someone you worked with regularly who saw your skills and can provide an accurate reference? If a potential employer asks you why you only worked there for three months, you can refer to the fact that you returned to school and that your school schedule didn’t match with their staffing schedule of 24/48’s. You don't have to bring up anything regarding them "letting you go."

I realize that this is very new, and that the loss of employment was unexpected, and from the details you provided, possibly unwarranted. However, I do hope that you don’t feel your paramedic training was a waste. Any education is never a waste. It does sound like EMS is where you want to be. Stick with it and things generally work out in the long run.

In the short run, working at a fast food joint may be the route to take for income. Although not a career choice for many, a lot of people use those jobs to support them through schooling (and yes, I have been there – I did my share of slinging beer and washing dishes). It may not be great, but consider the training you get in customer service and working with difficult people.

As an employer, and having been in the situation of hiring many times, one of the traits I look for in staff is tenacity and the ability to turn a negative situation into a positive one. No one wants to be in the negative situation – but what you do with it is important. Losing that job may, in the long run, be the best thing that happened to you.

I wish you all the best. Don't give up, keep your chin up, and you will do fine.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Hope it's a good one.....

Annie

A box of condoms, package of razors, can of shaving cream, bottle of lotion, and a painters drop sheet

Like the previous posters, I too am appalled at the behavior of this person. EMS struggles for professionalism, and this does nothing to assist us in achieving that.

We all know of incidents where people use the uniform for personal gain, and it continues to be an embarassment for the profession.

AK, I hope that the person you refer to reads these posts, and that they take it seriously. THe actions they commit now will have a detrimental effectnot only on their own career, but on the profession as a whole.

AK, keep us up to date - hopefully this thread reaches this person in time.

1. Yourself: Tired

2. Your boyfriend/girlfriend?: who??

3. Your hair: short

4. Your mother? a sweetie, but tougher than she looks

5. Your Father? my hero, taught me what courage really is. I miss him

6. Your Favorite Item: computer

7. Your dream last night: like I would tell you

8. Your favorite drink: COKE

9. Your dream car: red convertible Beetle, leather interior

10. The room you are in: library

11. Your Ex: gone - yay

12. Your Fears: too many to list

13. What do you want to be in 10 years: happier

14. Who you hung out with tonight? no one

15. What You're Not? warm

16. Muffins: choc chip

17: One of Your Wish List Items: winning the lottery

18. Time: 1339

19. Last thing you did? had lunch

20. What You Are Wearing? office wear

21. Your Favorite Weather: hot hot hot

22. Your Favorite Book: I dunno

23. The last thing you ate: chinese food buffet

24. Your Life: tiring

25. Your Mood: quiet

26. Your friends: I have the best friends!!!!!!!!!

27. What are you thinking about right now? dreading going back to work at the office

28. Your car: 1999 Volkswagen New Beetle - which I am emotionally attached to

29. What are you doing at the moment?: Lunch break

30. Your summer: can't come back fast enough

31. Your relationship status: married

32. What is on your tv? noise

33. When is the last time you laughed? this morning, on the phone with friend

34. last time you cried? yesterday at funeral of very good friend

35. School? I love school, I would go back in a heartbeat if someone else would pay for it

Terri, What makes your post really funny is that some of my EMS friends have really done those things for me!!!!!!

EMS friends will return to the station L&S so that I can fix a nail that I broke on the call..... (OK, didn't really happen, but at least they offered!!!!)

We practiced IV's on each other in class.......I wore long sleeves for two weeks afterwards until all the bruises healed.....

In order to get approval from our medical director, we also had to spend a day in day surgery, starting IV's on all the patients. After a full day in there, you get very comfortable starting IV's.

I found that starting IV's on the fake arm wasn't at all like starting lines on real people, so the practicing on other students really was useful....

I am glad to see my study style imitates those who I feel are well educated on this site, although I feel far from well-educated. I read the forums, journals, and when I have a call that I don't feel I know enough about, I research the patient's injury or illness further. I am lucky to work with doctors and medics who are willing to answer my questions. I read every day. It doesn't seem like studying when it is in small time frames when I have a few minutes.

Ahhhhhh - professionalism at its finest........

I own a SAR dog, which I retired this past month due to age and injuries. It was certified through our police service and we have attended calls for both searching for people (both alive and dead) and evidence. You may want to check with the police service if you don't get answers anywhere else and they may be able to direct you in the right direction. It is a lot of work, but incredibly rewarding, and you meet excellent people as well. Go for it!

Thank you for posting this, AK.

I hope that her willingness to help others in life and in death does not go in vain.

May she rest in peace, and her family have comfort knowing she helped so many.

As disappointed as I am in the intelligence of elected officials, I am very happy with the posts on that link made by Rid and Mike. EMS services continue to be misunderstood by the general public, and as a whole we do need to educate our communities more.

Although I do hope that original post was a joke, my fear is that it is not. We deal with the same mentality from some of our elected officials here, who didn't think it was necessary to provide a new rescue truck when ours was deemed unfit for highway travel by the department of transportation. Our council's recommendation to us was "leave some of the equipment at home - you will be fine." (by the way, we do have a new truck now).

I would hope that the departments in question attend a meeting with the elected officials to educate them further on the merits of NOT going back to the good ole days.

I took a pain pill....... why are you still here???

Take care, AK, stay safe. You and your famiy will be in my prayers. Keep in touch with your friends at the city!

I have been injured in the back of the ambulance - cracked ribs...

Was in the back with a code, doing CPR, driver was a newbie.....we were running L&S, and a little old lady decided to pull out of a hidden alleyway in front of us.....my driver slammed on the brakes without warning, I went flying. We have shelves behind the passenger seat that hold our suction and AED units, and I hit those....

Yes, I think my driver was going way too fast, and I also think she wasn't thinking enough about possible dangers.....and no, I wasn't belted in, but you can't do CPR when seatbelted in.

Sometimes, sh** happens...

Now, I am a little more conscious of watching what my driver is up to, especially when I have a newbie, and I try to brace myself more in the back....and we have regular sessions with our newbies to remind them about safe and smooth driving.

@#$^^$#@%$#!!!!!

I am older than I think I am!

Eric, I loved your post - I thought it was hysterical.....

And Hammer, you are right.....I don't want to claim Celine Dion either.....but I do kinda like Mike Myers........and my Canadian Tire money is all over the floor of my car too!

Thanks again, Eric - appreciated the laugh.