STAT

Agreed....Moving on.

Wow... so getting back to the article....Anyone care to make any rebuttal? or are we moving on to a new topic all together now? If so, You know what I hate? Wal-mart greeters! Fuck those guys!

And here is a quick question.... Why are people so quick to defend fire? Maybe that's our problem....Im not saying we become assholes....just have a bit of backbone once and a while without feeling the need to defend "big brother" lest he become angry...ooooooooo Let's stand on our own 2 feet, and when news articles hit the mass media such as this one, we shouldn't be afraid to speak our mind. At least to point out the unfairness of the articles. Heaven knows, if the shoe was on the other foot, (for some reason) the IAFF would have no mercy on us.

Preach it brother!

We see it all the time, the media is full of it: "Firefighters save lives" on stickers and on license plates. Ask anyone why they love firefighters its because "they save lives" Fire prides itself on "saving lives" First of all, I dont 100% agree with that statement. Yes, you do fight fires, and time to time, you may even rescue someone. When it happens firefighters do a fantastic job, and for that, I give them a lot of credit. But those occasions are rare. Truth is, saving lives and helping people doesn't just consist of being the hot shot and running into fires. It means that yes, if you want employment, if you want to continue to be these life saving icons, you have to do some grunt work. You have to respond to medical calls. It bothers me when I hear these guys talk about saving lives, but also hear them moan and bitch about going to medicals. These pt's need help too! Sorry, its not as thrilling as running into a fire. Sorry you dont get the same media attention you do for going to a medical calls as opposed to fires..but regardless, its part of your job. And truthfully I think the most "life saving" can be done at medical calls. So let me get this straight, you are "life savers" but you don't want to help people in need of medical attention? fire has to understand that this is how it is now. Fire prevention laws have reduced the amount of real fires to a minimal. So, like stated before, in order to justify your existence, you need to go to medical calls. Get used to it, or get a new profession. It's not gonna change. Also, as a sidebar....how can they possibly bitch about doing medical calls? How long does it take them? 15 minutes? carry a few bags, start some o2 and help with the lift and then, back to the firehall for BBQ and TV. We are the ones having to continue pt care, drive to the hospital, traige, off load and do the paperwork...come on! I think they should come ride out with us for a few days, we will show you what real work is.

Bump..... anyone else have any suggestions or arguements....I think this can be explored a little bit more

Anyone last year write both these tests? which would you consider easier? which one was more challenging and why? are their any big differences between the two? just curious....is their a different way to prepare for both tests?

but you obviously see the problem in that dont you? Its downright dangerous!

Great! I've been watching this thread all day and waiting for some good input. Whether or not you agree with me its nice to here others opinions. My issues with transfer services: - the people who work for them who only have their first aid or EMR and call themselves paramedics I totally agree with MedicMal on this one but my original thread was getting too long for me to touch on it. It seems that with some people you give them a Navy uniform and an Ambulance and they dont hesitate to call themselves Paramedics. This personally burns me and should ANYONE else whom has had to slug through one of Ontarios 2 year PCP courses. The term "Paramedic" is arbitrarily thrown around by people (mostly employeed by transfer services) whom have no idea what it takes to get that title. A police officer wouldnt stand for a $12 an hour Security guard calling himself a cop so I dont think we should have to stand for our title to be thrown around so carelessly. Becoming a Paramedic is something you earn through hard work, hours of study and months of unpaid preceptorship. And to touch on my point about the uniforms....I have no problem with Transfer services wearing reflective striping, safety first, right? but we all know that the public doesnt look at arm flashes (most times) they see a navy uniform and an ambulance (or something that looks like an ambulance) and the immediate thought is "Paramedic". The public has no idea most times of the difference between the 2 (real MOH Ambulance and transfer companies) as an example, how many times have you been in your service uniform and had someone call you a cop? The public just doesnt look that closely. So what ends up happening is these transfer people whom look like paramedics are seen by the public not upholding the same level of professionalism that ANY good paramedic should uphold we get the bad rap for it. No wonder we have to fight for respect that police and fire get automatically! We have hundreds of psuedo paramedics floating around with no care of how they represent the profession!

ya Ive seen the sprinter vans as well I think they are a great idea...lots of space for patient, and easy to repair. Also better on gas. I think the transport industry should make a shift in this direction. Instead of trying to look and act like real ambulances/Paramedics they should set their own style.

Good point....Transprt services are important, I have stated this....however, and I again repeat myself I am talking strictly about the system in place in Ontario. Anyone out their from Ontario...that works as a REAL paramedic have anything to say about this? I think the issues are getting a little too clouded by everyone else thinking they have something really important to say but missing my point altogether.

Lets get this straight, Im talking about Ontario, not Edmonton. If that was the case, it wouldnt be an issue but in Ontario it is much different. If it is like you say in Alberta good! thats a step in the right direction. but please read carefully, I am speaking about the GTA (Greater Toronto Area) and the transfer companies surrounding it. The minimum qualification to be hired is Standard First Aid and an F class licence. You also have to pass a lift test. After that you go to it. Now I know for a fact that some Paramedics do work for transfer services while waiting for full time hours at their MOH service. that is also good, however most (if not all) of these transfer ambulances dont have ANY medical supplies on board. No symptom relief or even Defibs (too expensive) It seems these companies want to look and act like ambulances but dont want to have to put out the money to stock them or hire qualified people. Alberta and Ontario EMS systems are very different and from what you said so are the Trasnfer systems. you cant compare apples to oranges.

Well thats not really the point im driving at...we can explore what they should do with old inventory in another thread. Im more or less wondering if anyone out their agrees with me or not....Do I have a valid point or am I off? Im open to whatever. But more then anything I want to know if Im the only one who thinks like this or not.

This is something that has been stirring in my head for a while and I was wondering what everyone elses opinions are out their in EMT-City Land. In the GTA area I see many ambulances that belong to speciality "transfer companies" cruising around the city. These companies do a fantastic job at stable patient, non emergency transfer from hospital to hospital or hospital to home. Transfer companies are important because they do all the "Code 1" transfers so real MOH Ambulances dont have to. That means an Ambulance is available to respond to an emergency and is not tied up doing "taxi" work. The job they do and the service they provide is not in question. I understand how important it is and so should any paramedic out their whom would not want to do a code 1 at 3 in the morning. My problem with it is how they go about doing their job. I see these pseudo ambulances EVERYWHERE. They look exaclty like real MOH ambulances. Most still have red emergency strobes that are still functional, and a working siren. Many companies seem to strive to make their transfer ambulances look as close to a real ambulance as possible. Some companies have opted to decal the sides of their trucks to give the feel that they are providing some type of medical care to patient. I see ambulances up and down our roads that have huge "star of life" decals. Many still have original decal work from the service that sold them (ofcourse without the services name) Some campanies have even went as far to call themselves "Critical Care Patient Transport" WOW! really? what the hell did I go through paramedic school for? I could have worked for you guys with only my standard first aid! And then the uniforms....These transfer people look exactly like REAL paramedics! They have navy uniforms with reflective striping and shoulder flashes. Some even carry stethoscopes and scissor packs, for what reason....I dont know. My point....Paramedicine is the newest of all 3 emergency services. We are still to this day are in a fight to be recognized as professionals. Our industry is in a never ending fight for respect it seems. Respect that real, hard working paramedics have been earning for the last 30 years or more. It sickens me how these companies jump right in and present themselves as real ambulances/paramedics. They capitalize on the fact that the public cant tell the difference. I think that the whole transfer company industry should eat a huge slice of humble pie. Get rid of the ambulances (no need for them anyway) get vans that fit 35a's...get rid of navy paramedic uniforms and get golf shirts and khakis. As the rock would say...."know your role and shut your mouth" Im not a hater I just know that we have fought hard for the respect we have now and it can be so easily lost by people working for these companies that have nothing invested into it. I think that their needs to be a definitive line drawn that seperates the real from the fake... Anyone else have anything to add? Am I wrong to think this way? I figure this should be an interesting debate....

So Im graduating mid 2008 from an Ontario PCP course....just trying to catch a vibe, what is hiring gonna be like this year? Some sources say that though it will be another "low" year it will be a slight bit higher than last year.....whats anyone else heard? And more specifically....I heard rumors that Centralized may be down with this year, can anyone shed some light on this for me? I think its a GREAT idea to get rid of it, but thats my humble opinion as a student. If it is going this year, they dont have any info about it yet posted and its less than 5 months away....