Star09

If I believe that a c-spine injury was possible and I can't rule it out, then I'm going to be boarding them. I'm not likely to regret making that decision, however I could regret not making it.

I know it depends on where you work and how busy the service is, but I'm able to workout during our office hours. We have 24 hour shifts which include at least four consecutive hours in the office. My partner and I go to the gym for one of those hours a day. Our employer doesn't mind because we need to be in shape for our job. It works out really well. Even if you can't work out during your shift, you should be able to find time, I think a lot of it becomes about keeping motivated.

Ummm....I'm with MedicMal, it sounds like you know where you want to go based on that post.

I got to see the fruits of my efforts to gain a patients trust. We were called out to a woman in resp. distress. She was scared of anything medical - to the point where she was combative and tried to refuse to go to the hospital. She wouldn't tolerate the NRB and actually managed to land a flailing hand across my face. I firmly asked her to look at me. I managed to get eye contact with her and I told her that I knew she was scared, but that we were going to do our best to help her if she would let us. I added that it had hurt when she had hit me and I asked her to relax because I didn't think she really wanted to hurt me. She nodded in understanding, but you could tell she was still really freaked out. On the way to the hospital I explained everything I needed to do in excruciatingly thorough detail before doing it. I convinced her to hold the NRB herself. Arriving at the hospital was another struggle and I ended up remaining with her and holding her hand throughout the exam. I would explain what the nurses were going to do and if was the same or different than what I'd done in the ambulance. It was a long night and I didn't know at the time how comfortable I had made her. We got called out to her again a few weeks later. I was actually a third on the ambulance that night, so my two partners went in before me and I brought the stretcher. I came in and she was freaking out again. But as soon as she saw me she calmed right down. They began taking her out to the ambulance while I packed up the kit and she actually got upset because she thought I wasn't going with them. I rode in the back with her and she was fine. She let us do whatever we needed to, she took the O2 without hesitation, and answered all of our questions. It was really neat to see her improve so much in her attitude with us. That experience sticks with me now when I'm dealing with my patients.

Hey Janmarie, I can understand where you're coming from. I had a similar experience, thankfully I wasn't driving or officially in EMS yet. I was making the switch from my old job to EMS though. One evening me and my roomates, (now partners) were at a get-together, no one was drinking. At first I was fine, then I started having issues focussing. From there I was lightheaded, my heart was doing jumping jacks. I hate being the patient so I just sat still , got quiet and hoped it would go away. We went to leave and I had to hold onto the wall to walk. I admitted to my roomates that I didn't feel too great. To make a long story short I didn't get better at home and my partner ended up taking me to the hospital after I couldn't make it down the stairs (they also decided I was altered, which I could have sworn I wasn't). The doctor did a basic neurological assessment, you know, touch your nose type of thing. I had blood work done, but nothing remarkable came up. It was scary, but all I can figure is that I must have been really stressed and that was my body saying that it couldn't take it anymore. It hasn't happened to me since, but I would strongly recommend that you get thoroughly checked out, or else you'll be left wondering if something is really wrong.

We work 24 hour on-call for six days, followed by three days off. Of course we have a fairly low call volume (rural), but if we do get called out late in the night then we're not expected to report for office hours in the morning. Then you just hope that you don't get another call as soon as you hit the sack.

I don't think it matters if they're faking it or not. The guy who first introduced me to EMS always had a big problem with fakers. He would get pretty worked up and would say that he was proud of his ability to "pick out" who was faking it. I personally would rather just do my job to the best of my ability whether they're faking or not. If they are faking then they are doing so for a reason; they obviously need attention if they're desperate enough to call an ambulance, they might be able to get help for that. Of course, on the other hand, frequent flyers become a danger to themselves when they continuously cry wolf.

Has anyone mentioned "Jem" yet, I watched the t.v. show and had the cassette tape. I forgot about some of that stuff.

Actually, I had all my required classes finished before the middle of grade 12, @ 17. The person below me has seen "Bringing Out the Dead".

I think it's all in how it's done. For those who come into a service with a "know-it-all" attitude, yeah, they probably do need to be shot down and brought back to reality. However, I'm new, and I know I have a lot to learn, so my coworkers are patient with me and each one has done a great job of trying to pass on their know how. I lived with three of my coworkers. One would quiz me on signs, symptoms and treatments while cleaning the ambulance after a call, another would run scenarios with me whenever I asked and the other just finished taking me through an extensive driving course with the ambulance. They've all done a great job. Instead of making me feel insecure about what I don't know they made me more confident in what I do know while still teaching me. I've been extremely fortunate in my service.

Your 2005 Song Is Mr. Brightside by The Killers "It started out with a kiss How did it end up like this It was only a kiss, it was only a kiss" Let's just say you're happy to be done with 2005!

I lived with three EMTs. We were doing an IV in-service for fun one night. I had never had an IV done on me so I volunteered. My roomate begins one on my hand and suddenly I can't hold my head up. The next thing I know I'm on the floor with my legs on a chair and a wet cloth across my forehead. My one roomates trying to give me a sugar cookie to eat and another's going "wow! look how dilated her pupils are!"