I agree that this is a totally out of context discussion. I mean, I notice that most dermatologists suck at obstetrics too. Most wildfire fighters don't know anything about structural tactics either. Duh!
Turning it around, most civilian medics don't know dick about medical emergencies either, beyond EKGs (if they're lucky) and when to administer D50. I recently saw a ten year paramedic treat Shingles as an AMI. How many EMT-Ps do you know that even know where to start when trying to determine the cause of nausea, vomitting, diarrhoea, or abdominal pain? All they know is IV, O2, and transport. Does that mean they are inadequate for their job? Well, okay... you probably could make that argument. But the point is, that is not what their system deploys them for. Similarly, we don't deploy Whiskeys for practising cardiology on mostly healthy males under 30 years old. That's what battalion surgeons, nurses, and the occasional competent PA are for.
Turning 18 year old field medics into jacks of all trades is no more realistic than turning cardiologists into field medics. It's a preposterous propositon. They would so very rarely use their EKG skills that they would dangerously deteriorate. There just isn't enough call for that in a combat unit.
As for calling them "medics," they were using that name for about fifty years longer than we were in the civilian world. In fact, civilian medics stole that name from them strictly out of laziness, because it is just too much of an inconvenience to say the full word, "paramedic". I have yet to see an NR or state paramedic card that actualy says "medic" on it, so it's a little disingenuous for us to presume to lay claim to that term.
Incidentally, this "problem" you describe is more evident in the Army than elsewhere. I am impressed with the quality of the Navy Corpsmen I work with daily, as well as the Air Force medical specialists. They get a lot more of a clinical focus in their school. But then, you'd probably say they suck because they aren't trauma gods like Army medics.
Dust you are full of shit...you come off as the all knowing medical guru...If I am right your profile says retired...and with your statements about EMT-P's, I have serious doubts about your claim to be a retired one. A civilian medic would smoke a so called military medic even in trauma. They do it everyday day in and day out. As for medical knowledge...I want to challenge you to take a written or skills test against me. I bet I smoke your ass. People like you spout generalized blather about topics but have no real credible sources. You get off on making people think that you are the expert concerning any issue by talking negatively about others. Dust is correct, between the ears!
military medics versus paramedics
in General EMS Discussion
Posted
Dust you are full of shit...you come off as the all knowing medical guru...If I am right your profile says retired...and with your statements about EMT-P's, I have serious doubts about your claim to be a retired one. A civilian medic would smoke a so called military medic even in trauma. They do it everyday day in and day out. As for medical knowledge...I want to challenge you to take a written or skills test against me. I bet I smoke your ass. People like you spout generalized blather about topics but have no real credible sources. You get off on making people think that you are the expert concerning any issue by talking negatively about others. Dust is correct, between the ears!