angelbaby1414

Noone is saying that 1 epipen is going to cure a severe allergic reaction, but if it buys you 5 or 10 minutes until the medics get there, I'm all for it. I am also speaking as someone who has idiopathic episodes of anaphyalaxis, and may have to wait 10-15 minutes for ALS, I am VERY GRATEFUL for my epipen.

As a NJ EMT-B Instructor, I can say that I think BLS carrying epi is a good thing. I know of at least 2 squads that in the past had patients die from anyphalaxis because they had no epipen and the medics were too far away. I think that recognizing a severe allergic reaction is usually not very tricky, especially if the patient is covered with hives or has a known history of allergic reactions (not necesarily anaphylaxis). My students are well trained in the use of the epipen and I hope to see the new protocol saves some lives, especially out in Sussex, Warren, Hunterdon counties, etc.

smell

Hippos (it was my daughters favorite game as a kid)

18% and I'm normal. Geeeeee I haven't been called normal in a long time....

Hey I agree that we should be able to use intelligence and common sense to treat our patients...the only problem with that is when we get sued. If you deviate from the curriculum you make yourself open to liability.

For EMT-B's, the National DOT curriculum says EVERYONE gets a NRB at 15L. unless they can't tolerate the mask, then they get a NC at 6 L. If you patient is truly having cardiac issues, the NRB is a must!

WOW!!! Don't ever give me a pilot's license. I think I'll stay on the ground! LOL

BLS - Basic Lizard Slinging! Sorry Kyle.

I was in the ER yesterday and there was an e-mail lying around : You might be an ER nurse if... It also applies to EMT's/Medics. I thought I would post the best of the list here and then have everyone add one of their own, so here goes: You might be an EMT/Medic if... 1. You believe that 90% of people are poor excuses for protoplasm. 2. Discussing dismemberment over a meal seems perfectly normal to you. 3. You have the bladder capacity of 5 people. 4. You believe in aerial spraying of Prozac. 5. You have your weekends off planned for a year in advance. 6. You automatically assume the patient is drug seeking when presented with the complaint of Migraine, lower back pain, chronic myalgia (choose one of the above), a list of numerous allergies to meds (except Demerol), and the statement that the family doctor is out of town. 7. Your idea of comforting a child includes placing them in a papoose restraint. 8. You believe that "shallow gene pool" should be an recognized diagnosis. 9. You believe that unspeakable evils will befall you if the phrase "wow, it's really quiet" is uttered. 10. Your diet consists of food that has gone thru more processing than most computers. 11. You believe that chocolate is a food group. 12. You say to yourself "great veins" when looking at complete strangers. 13. You don't think a referral to Dr. Kevorkian is inappropriate. 14. You have ever wanted to hold a seminar entitled "Suicide...Doing It Right". 15. You believe that "too stupid to live" should be an acceptable diagnosis. 16. You have ever referred to your partner as a "weirdo magnet". 17. You think that caffeine should be available in IV form. 18. You have ever restrained someone and it was not a sexual experience. 19. Your most common assessment question is"what has changed, tonight, to make this an emergency after 6 (hours, days, weeks, months, years)? 20. You refer to vegetables and you are not talking about a food group. 21. You have ever had a patient say"...but I'm not pregnant; I can't be pregnant; how can I be having a baby?" 22. You carry your own set of keys to the "leathers". 23. Your idea of gambling is an ETOH pool instead of a football pool. 24. Your bladder expands to the size of a Winnebago's water tank. 25. You get an almost irresistable urge to stand and wolf down your food even in the nicest restaurants. 26. You have ever referred to subcutaneous air as "Rice Krispies". 27. You have thought OD instead of BBQ when asked to get the charcoal. 28. You believe that a large part of your daily calorie requirements is provided by Tylenol, Advil or Excedrine. And my addition to the list: 29. Your have ever used the term "lizard slinging" in conversation. HAVE FUN!!

[/font:a6d071ef87] Shame on your PD! An incompetant adult cannot refuse medical attention. And if you allow him to RMA and something happens, it becomes your responsibility! I would have asked the Doc to get on the phone with PD and explain to them that they needed to make the patient go with you (I have taken many uncooperative patients to the ER in handcuts with a PO). Maybe your Medical Control would be willing to call this PD and educate them...this situation could have ended in disaster for all involved!

[/font:4c4aadfe7e] NJ has no state regulations for volunteers (only motor vehicle regs) and all the other ambulance regs cover paid services, but not personal vehicles. That being said, listen to all the others..being a whacker will only get you in trouble!!!

[/font:72178d48c4] I know we are not suposed to repeat what others have said, but aren't we all looking for the same things? 1. Be treated with respect. We are professionals. People that do what we do in hospital are paid much more to work in an organized environment with plenty of help around. Our butts are out in the dark, in the middle of a highway, in the rain, with very little assistance. We are dedicated professionals who put our lives on the line every day. Treat us with respect! 2. Someone to watch over the training. I know instructors who have taught 12 hour ICS classes in 2 hours and 24 hour refresher classes in 4 hours. What did those students actually learn????? That's why we get idiots for partners!!! 3. People who take care of the rigs and the equipment. People who leave the O2 bottle empty or forget to restock the bus make me crazy! There is nothing more frustrating or dangerous to our patients than not having the tools to do our jobs.

[/font:257c0cba91] A few come to mind; The 20ish male, very, very violent who claimed that aliens were trying to get into his head. I know we are not supposed to play into their hallucinations, but the only way I could keep us all safe was to tell him my ambulance had a force field around it to keep the aliens out. We had a calm ride after that. Had the 50ish female who called us at 3AM to massage the charley horse in her leg!! And in the ER: A 20ish F who claims she was stuck in an elevator for 30 minutes, THE DAY BEFORE, and it was scary, so she wanted to be checked out today. And the F who came into complaining of foot fungus that she had been suffering from for over 3 years! You just can't make this stuff up!

[/font:7648ba1904] Juice, You did exactly the right thing. Never withhold O2 from a patient, even if the pulse ox says 99%, if your patient says he is having difficulty breathing. And EMT-B curriculum states that you always apply the NRB unless your patient will not take it, than you use the canulla. As for withholding or titrating O2 for a COPD patient, WRONG! unless you have a considerable drive to a hospital (like an hour or more). Good work!