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"The Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), in partnership with the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the General Services Administration (GSA), recently awarded a contract to AMR to provide emergency ground ambulance and para-transit services in coastal parishes of the State of Louisiana during a federally-declared emergency or disaster.

This contract award demonstrates some of the federal government's efforts to develop a more collaborative and strategic approach to responding to national emergencies.

As the nation's leading medical transportation company, AMR must be ready to respond to emergency events wherever they might occur across the United States. This means having a team of professionals prepared now and in the future to deploy immediately to wherever local governments and communities need us, or when we are called upon at a national level.

As with previous disasters to which we have responded, hundreds of employees may need to be deployed to affected areas to provide medical care, establish communications systems, maintain a vehicle fleet, and offer other key support services to those rendering aid.

Before continuing, you should know the following:

* You are volunteering to be deployed to a "Theater of Operation". Conditions in the area may be drastically different from those where you ordinarily work. Conditions for shelter, food, power, equipment, facilities may be rudimentary - as a volunteer you agree to work in these variety of conditions.

* If deployed, you must be able to be on-site where needed within 24 hours (travel arrangements will be made and paid by AMR).

* If deployed, generally this will be a 15-17 day assignment.

* If you are a current AMR employee who volunteers and is deployed, some aspects of your employment will change during the period you serve on the DRT, including your shift, number of hours worked, compensation, and working conditions. If you are a unionized employee, other terms, conditions, and/or obligations may or may not apply. Except as provided herein, this does not change the terms and conditions of your employment with the Company or create an employment contract."

BDU :

Shears

Pen light

o2 Key

1 Pair gloves

1 Pair Skel gloves

1 Field Guide

Belt :

Mini-mag

Radio

2nd pair gloves in pouch

Shirt Pocket : Pen

Ambulance :

Stethescope and smokes anytime for emergencies...

If you use it, keep it on you... Nothing's just for decoration. :?

lol relax people, he just took a picture of the ER bay of the hospital he's taking his EMT class at. Don't you all remember that little "tinge" of excitement" we had the first day of our EMT classes? :roll:

2 or 3 of em are usually just sitting there not being used. St. Vincents D has 1 BLS and 2 ALS units working each tour. Bellevue... you know I use to have trouble finding their entrance. When are they going to fix that back alley of a road. Although I heard it's actually a lot better than before.

Well, have fun on 6king... hehe. At least you won't find yourself bored from doing nothing.

doesnt Toronto (Canada) have a good St. John's program? I think they involve cadets, first responders and actual BLS and ALS crews.

so Nate, did u transport? If you did maybe that guy's psych issues would of been solved. :shock:

stay safe.

I had a friend that did that program last year. They don't do immunizations, and mine didnt either. Got to go get your record and your updates at your primary doctor. Good luck in their auditorium. They have the most uncomfortable chairs. You'll have springs diggin in your arse for the entire year.

I'm actually doing my paramedic program there. G'luck.

It's a shiny ID. n That is all.

an alternative to reading the small letters "EMT-Basic" on your cert. For those that can't seem to understand what EMT stands for.

as for authority and responsibility, it basically cuts short when someone refuses your requests because you can't do jack about it until the cops arrive.

oh and no, I did not end up getting the shiny gold DT style badge. :roll:

I have the traditional ny EMS shield that I don't even bother using anymore while on duty whether I'm working 911 or with my private. The only time i've ever shown it was when a curious cop at a tunnel checkpoint wondered what it was for while I was taking my driver's licence out. He let me go without doing the full licence check like he did to all the others. It saved me 10 mins of my time. Woop dee doo. He ended up asking for my employee ID's anyway.

You like it? so wear it and be proud of what you do. Just don't run around flashing it like you can do whatever you want.

I don't know, that's just me - a little more than a year later after having done some time in nyc working in both private and non-private. Uniform's just as spiffy by itself anyways :wink:

nice summary. If only people knew what we actually did. Just this morning I was at the usual gas station getting some diesel before puting us in service. The gas attendent pointed at the side of the ambulance and asked if we were hiring. Then he was like.. "yeah.. all I need is my driver's licence right?"

I'd have to agree that I wouldnt put any family member in most of the nursing home's I've seen. The environment just plain reeks of disaster. Some of them are just plain unsanitary. As for the nursing home staff, yes, they vary. That's usually how accidents happen. From falls to patients ODing on drugs they got off the street right outside the facility, it does get ridiculous at times. If it's one thing I've had in my experience working at a transfer company, it's usually when the staff screws up majorly that we actually have a call where we can do much more than the usual. They're either really good or really bad. Yes, some places do have the nurses that just leave the paperwork on the desk while the patient is basically going down under, but some don't. There's one that I know of that even has the doctor waiting in the lobby for us to give the full report himself.

Resistence is futile... :roll:

If you saw the recent episodes of Saved where the "NMR" medic goes and becomes a supervisor for them, those changes that they had to deal with are somewhat realistic believe it or not. It'll depend on your local management. Other than that, the advice everyone else gave is pretty much on the money.

What? Clip on ties, and ambulance black boxes? :shock:

Union?? HAH. Lost that a while ago...

Had a call the other day which required me to do so in a tiny tiny bathroom. With 4 of us crammed in, we immobilized the pt. standing. And yeah, if it's truly immobilized you can go sideways and even upside with no problem. Some instructors kindly demonstrated this to the class using me as a dummy back when I was in class. :shock:

so call em, ask for an update. I couldn't really tell you much, since I've had experience with AMR in a different part of the woods and they seem to vary. You gotta keep nagging sometimes...

"I mean, what the hell do you learn in two years of school? how to drive an ambulance fast? I learned how to strap someone to a board in a half hour."

wtfffffff :shock: :shock: :shock:

LOL

Psych transports are a common occurence here in nyc and is usually dealth with by the private transfer companies that are contracted with hospitals. These interfacility transports are either accompanied by the NYPD or Hospital Security staff. However, a large percentage of these transfers do not need either because of the reasons stated above. These transfers can be anywhere from 10 min-2 hours. The hospital usually assesses the situation and determines whether an escort is required, however at times I've argued.. and for good reason. When you're on a long distance psych transfer in the middle of no where.. with help so far away... well, it's your ass on the line. So the crew better do their own assesment and observing before getting on the way. And yes, these are usually BLS crews, unless the pt has some other health issues that requires ALS monitoring.

Dunkin Donutz XL...Burger King.. Turbo Shots.. :shock: n Timmy Ho's XL. Yeah, that's all about you can do. Stay awake all night the previous night, and conk out during the day. You won't be adjusted yet, but it makes it easier for the coffee to take into effect. The first time I ever did a over-night, I was asked to do it after my 5-1am shift. So I did the double, figured I'd do them a favor. So it went from 1-9am. It was painful, I wasn't prepared for it all. From then all I would avoid them at all costs. It's just not worth doing something stupid - not to mention it's dangerous. I get forgetful and I tend to do have to fight to prevent myself from doing something off. Especially if you need to drive as well. Rotating shifts.. that can't be healthy. You get use to staying awake.. but the risk is more likely involved with zoning out and staring into the wall as you slowly crash into it... :shock: The light thing is very true to, stay in a well lit area and it'll help. Get into the darkness during the day and you'll sleep. Stay safe.

Check out the search function... or scroll down a bit in this case.

http://www.emtcity.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=4339

I posted about this recently. There's some information that should be helpful to you.

Tiz true...

If I had a chance to go back I would of purchased ankle high safety toe shoes. I wear my safety toe boots now, but I have more use for them during my nature hikes then EMT work in the city. They get real icky after 13 hours of driving and ems work. If your urban service requires them than you don't have much choice. We're not required to tuck our BDU's into our boots, so why bother. The extra support might assist you with your stair chair jobs or what not but really, it's not that big a helper.

Does anyone know of any first responder courses/websites for the wilderness in or around NYC?

I have a friend that is interested in this type of work :

http://www.coe.cornell.edu/goto.jsp?course=WFR-SP06

(Except in this area)

(Wilderness First Responder)

" This 8-day, 80-hour course, provides the prerequisite training and certification necessary for employment as a professional outdoor instructor at nationally recognized programs such as NOLS and Outward Bound. The curriculum goes beyond the basics needed for first aid certification to emphasize the skills and knowledge needed in backcountry rescue situations when extended care may be needed.

The Wilderness First Responder course has been arranged with Wilderness Medical Associates, the premier provider of wilderness emergency medicine for over a quarter century. WMA's hands-on scenario-based teaching, combined with strong AV and written materials, has proven to be extremely effective in building knowledge, skills, and confidence. Inside and outside activities will be included as well as an all-day search and rescue in the local area."

http://www.wildmed.com/

--------------------------------------------

For EMT's/Medics/RN/PA/MD's that may be interested :

" The prerequisite for certification at the Wilderness EMT level is a current EMT certification ( basic, intermediate or paramedic). PA’s, RN’s and MD’s may also participate in the course for a Wilderness EMT Audit card. Others with medical backgrounds (e.g. military medics, EMT’s with expired licenses, and foreign pre-hospital personnel) will be admitted to the course on a case by case basis. "

Day 1

10.5 hours

Registartion/Logistics

Introduction

Medical Legal Issues

General Concepts

Major Body Systems Scenario

Spine Injury Evaluation

Patient Assessment System

Practical Assessment of Vital Signs

PAS Practive

Day 2

9.0 hours

ALS/BLS Appropriate Technology

Dislocations

Anaphylaxis and Asthma

Musculoskeletal System

Extremity Splinting

Dislocations

Scenarios

Day 3

8.5 hours

Quiz/Review

Lifting, Moving and Extrication

Litter Packaging

Improvised Litter

Litter Carries and Assists

Wounds Lab

Small Group Sims - Patient Management

Day 4

9.0 hours

Quiz/Review

Hypothermia and Hyperthermia

Near Drowning

Frost Bite and Trench Foot

Altitude Problems

Diving Problems

Toxins, Bites and Stings

Expedition Medical Problems

Small Group Sims - Leadership, Communication Problems, Group Management, Risk Assessment

Day 5

8.0 hours Scenario

(Search and Rescue

Backcountry Navigation

Personal Preparedness

Helicopter Operations)

Expedition Medical Problems 2

Final Exam2

Clean Up

There's a section for ALS as well on the website.

Any resident of a large city knows that sirens are a large part of noise pollution. As someone who use to be a resident, and frequents NYC presently for school and work, I've noticed different uses of L&S.

Basic EMS education teaches that priority one calls are for lights AND siren use. The simple reasoning that I was taught was that the general public may become confused if only one of these are used. Another reason is because people can't always see or hear it from a distance.

However, I have noticed that when certain companies, mostly our lovely FDNY counterparts only use the sirens to alert vehicles directly in front of them, or as they proceed through a intersection with cars in site. (Couple short bleeps). Do they teach you FDNY guys something different in the academy? This is how I can usually tell from listening whether it's a FDNY/911 ambulance, or a private. :roll: The privates, especially the transfer ambulances who are running the emergency usually have everything blaring, with the often change of pitches to make it ever so obnoxious. (Although I was taught that you should change the pitch once in a while to avoid not hearing another emergency vehicle)

Using sirens with your (the driver) discretion, may make your ambulance more susceptible to being hit as leaving both on would ensure that everyone hears and sees you. I guess there would be a less chance of error, but more noises.

What are your thoughts?

The way in which I drive L&S is that when approaching a intersection, I'll go with Pitch 2 left on. When proceeding on a straightway with cars ahead, I'll leave it on pitch 1. With cars right in front of me, I will alternate pitches 2 and 3 which usually gets their attention. :? On a empty street, I'll leave sirens off, and bleep once or twice when approaching/proceeding through another intersection. The lights of course, are left on at all times...

I'm writing this to try to figure out why some companies operate in one way, and to perhaps make my own L&S use safer and more effective without scaring the crap out of the poor old lady walking on the sidewalk of an empty street. :twisted:

I see,

thing is, most EMT schools, as you've made obvious already, don't really prepare you enough, some don't even let you do more then 1 ride along.

There's this one high paying hospital that operates 911 - they always want people to do lots of observer ride-alongs before hiring so they "become familiar with your face, and see how you operate." They only have a few units, and I've done one ride-along before and dropped by a couple times (For reasons other than employment), and in my opinion it's very social-club like, and if they don't like you, (even if you're the best EMT) they won't hire you. (I heard some stories about some classmates attempting) So that wasn't a very convincing experience.

"100% right...amazing how unqualified personnel are allowed to perform aspects of care in this situation. One law suit, and that squad is shot."

I was refering to those certified already.

"To 1ace....do accountants do other peoples tax forms to 'see if they like it???' Do surgeons perform surgery to 'see if they like it'? Do mailmen bring me my bills to 'test the water'? Do women strip to 'see if they like it'? "

I'd hope not, but surgical interns have to do a lot of observing. EMT-Interns are usually only required to do one ride along which is severely lacking in the neccessary training. That's the problem to begin with. I had felt minimally competent with the job when I first began, lacking in much medical knowledge - but ready to peform the required basics, but there seems to be those that feel completely nervous and unready. Like Dust said, the EMT program may have been horrible, but what's a student to do... Maybe the best thing for the original poster is to find employment instead, and making sure they spend significant time riding as a third.

well then. How is one to gain more experience without actually practicing some of the skills in the field and being uncomfortably employed. Maybe there is a different ride-along agreement, but the only ones I've seen are the "observer" forms and the EMT-school ones.

EMT - B Transfer : 9-12/hr

EMT - B 911 : 16-19/hr

Paramedic : 25-35/hr

I don't believe there is a lifting requirement for ride-alongs. In fact, you're usually not required to do anything. Usually when someone says "ride-along" you sign on to ride as an observer. However, if you are certified, than the department may let you peform other duties under the unit's supervision. But it's a great way to start practicing everything including the lifting.

EDIT : oops, somewhat mis-read your post. The services around here usually do require lift tests. I believe they are around 125 pounds.