Dmurphy73

I posted this on the Texas list serv but no one replied.. you guys are a little more lively.. well dust is lively..lol so please help me out.. I have a question I figured I'd post on here to gather up some responses.. My shift is considering taking work related pictures (off duty and if possible on duty).. My question is we are familiar with all the "formal" poses, but we want some other ideas to help make these pictures more memorable... We have a professional photographer who is also our dispatcher, and we have obvious access to all our equipment and/or fire monkeys and blue canaries.. please feel free to post your replies here.. once we take them we will be sure to post them on here for all to see.. Thank you, Daniel Murphy EMT-P

**** Please send all suggestions to my email @ daniel.murphy@att.net as i will be on shift then traveling and not able to check emt-city for a few days.. thanks... Daniel Hello All, I am the PO/PE officer for my EMS service, and have recently begun taking a good, hard look at what we do, and what we can do for the residents within our service area. Very often when we visit places (senior centers, daycares, etc) unannounced, people ask "what's wrong?", and though i understand why they would think that, i feel that we could have more "face" time with the community, and educate them on who we are, and what we can do beyond emergency care. I would like to solicit ideas from the group about outreach/education/injury prevention that they are presently doing, have heard of others doing, or tried and didn't really work. I am compiling a list of daily, weekly, month, and yearly events, and am open to any suggestions, which i will present to my Director and fellow employees for their input. I will tell a little bit about our service, it's residents, and future plans to help with ideas. Again, please don't hesitate to make any suggestions and if so desired, email me directly at daniel.murphy@ att.net which i receive on my mobile as well, and i will promptly answer as needed. My goal is to meet with the Director some time early next week (July 29th - August 1st) and then the employees and implement things as soon as possible. Our service area is comprised of approximately 25,000 persons and we respond to approximately 2300 calls per year. We are a 3rd service of the City of Lockhart, subsidized by Caldwell County. We cover approximately 2/3 of the northern part of Caldwell County borderin with Hays, Bastrop, and Travis Counties. We have 12 Full time field employees, 11 EMT-P and 1 EMT-B with 2 ALS units responding 24/7/365. Both units are stationed within the City, which is comprised of approximately 11.3 square miles. The City of Lockhart and Caldwell County has a broad mix of residents from lower middle class to working class, and even a significant population below the poverty line. We have a large population both in the city and county that do not speak english, primarily only spanish. We have a large population of senior citizens, and a few chronic individuals with a wide range of problems, some several miles from the nearest station. Our arrival time goal in the county are 15 - 20 minutes, and we have several aeromedical resources available. We are also supported by a paid FD within the city, and VFD within the county (some more organized and funded than others), and a medical assist team comprised of all levels from ECA - EMT-P (mostly off duty LEMS personnel) who are provided with first in bags up to EMT-I level of care. There are several AEDs assigned throughout our service area (Each CCSO SGT vehicle, several first responder organizations). We have an in-house AHA training center that provides CPR/FA twice monthly to the public, and in the past we have instructed EMT-B and EMT-P classes with good attendance. The general consensus among city planners and persons in the know is that the City and County, particularly in our service area with its close proximity to Austin, is that we will soon experience a population boom that could possibly double our population within a few years. I know that in the next few years the Hwy 130 segment will be constructed, and it will run right through our service area causing a significant increase in traffic and therefore motor vehicle based EMS needs. It has been said that in the near future we will be adding at least one station with more personnel, and of course the necessary equipment needed to function. Sorry for this post being so long, again please feel free to send your ideas to either the group and/or to my personal email daniel.murphy@att.net. Thank you for your anticipated cooperation Daniel Murphy NREMT-P Public Education/Outreach Officer City of Lockhart EMS www.lockhart-tx.org <http://www.lockhart-tx.org> The opinions, facts, figures, and statements expressed in this posting are of myself alone and not necessarily the opinion, view, and/or of the City of Lockhart, it's governing bodies, the City of Lockhart EMS, or any other individuals or member bodies mentioned within. MEMENTO MORI -

**** Please send all suggestions to my email @ daniel.murphy@att.net as i will be on shift then traveling and not able to check emt-city for a few days.. thanks... Daniel Hello All, I am the PO/PE officer for my EMS service, and have recently begun taking a good, hard look at what we do, and what we can do for the residents within our service area. Very often when we visit places (senior centers, daycares, etc) unannounced, people ask "what's wrong?", and though i understand why they would think that, i feel that we could have more "face" time with the community, and educate them on who we are, and what we can do beyond emergency care. I would like to solicit ideas from the group about outreach/education/injury prevention that they are presently doing, have heard of others doing, or tried and didn't really work. I am compiling a list of daily, weekly, month, and yearly events, and am open to any suggestions, which i will present to my Director and fellow employees for their input. I will tell a little bit about our service, it's residents, and future plans to help with ideas. Again, please don't hesitate to make any suggestions and if so desired, email me directly at daniel.murphy@ att.net which i receive on my mobile as well, and i will promptly answer as needed. My goal is to meet with the Director some time early next week (July 29th - August 1st) and then the employees and implement things as soon as possible. Our service area is comprised of approximately 25,000 persons and we respond to approximately 2300 calls per year. We are a 3rd service of the City of Lockhart, subsidized by Caldwell County. We cover approximately 2/3 of the northern part of Caldwell County borderin with Hays, Bastrop, and Travis Counties. We have 12 Full time field employees, 11 EMT-P and 1 EMT-B with 2 ALS units responding 24/7/365. Both units are stationed within the City, which is comprised of approximately 11.3 square miles. The City of Lockhart and Caldwell County has a broad mix of residents from lower middle class to working class, and even a significant population below the poverty line. We have a large population both in the city and county that do not speak english, primarily only spanish. We have a large population of senior citizens, and a few chronic individuals with a wide range of problems, some several miles from the nearest station. Our arrival time goal in the county are 15 - 20 minutes, and we have several aeromedical resources available. We are also supported by a paid FD within the city, and VFD within the county (some more organized and funded than others), and a medical assist team comprised of all levels from ECA - EMT-P (mostly off duty LEMS personnel) who are provided with first in bags up to EMT-I level of care. There are several AEDs assigned throughout our service area (Each CCSO SGT vehicle, several first responder organizations). We have an in-house AHA training center that provides CPR/FA twice monthly to the public, and in the past we have instructed EMT-B and EMT-P classes with good attendance. The general consensus among city planners and persons in the know is that the City and County, particularly in our service area with its close proximity to Austin, is that we will soon experience a population boom that could possibly double our population within a few years. I know that in the next few years the Hwy 130 segment will be constructed, and it will run right through our service area causing a significant increase in traffic and therefore motor vehicle based EMS needs. It has been said that in the near future we will be adding at least one station with more personnel, and of course the necessary equipment needed to function. Sorry for this post being so long, again please feel free to send your ideas to either the group and/or to my personal email daniel.murphy@att.net. Thank you for your anticipated cooperation Daniel Murphy NREMT-P Public Education/Outreach Officer City of Lockhart EMS www.lockhart-tx.org <http://www.lockhart-tx.org> The opinions, facts, figures, and statements expressed in this posting are of myself alone and not necessarily the opinion, view, and/or of the City of Lockhart, it's governing bodies, the City of Lockhart EMS, or any other individuals or member bodies mentioned within. MEMENTO MORI -

Having just taken the nremt cbt 5/8/08 (i passed btw 1st shot), i can speak from experience that it was both very easy, and very difficult. Let me clarify my statement.. There were no medical math problems, the drugs were easy, the strips were even easier, yet still there is the problem of wording, crazy ass scenarios, and just basic crap i've never heard of and i went through 3 years of hell to in college to earn my paramedic patch. Example (without looking it up) you are called to an mci and you call for an ambulance strike team.. what does that consist of? 5 ambulances, additional ambulances, 4 ambulances and a supervisor, 2 helicopters and 4 ambulances.. some crap like that. Now i'm sorry if i didn't pay 100 percent attention to NIMS, i was busy with all the rest, but seriously, is that necessary? I answered 82 questions, and the rest of my class mates were inline with that from a college based course, but another set of friends graduating from 1 year programs all answered well into the hundreds, and most of them failed. I can only say go with your "gut instinct" the way you do in the field, and you'll be fine. Also brush up on medical terminology because they use that often. Example: thoracocentisis (sp?) instead of chest decompression.. good luck.. you'll be fine... btw i'm now officially a state of texas EMT-P bitches.... lol

Thanks dust.. You're right about moving, however this is home no matter how broke i am.

[/font:65c65203e0] [/si Paramedic Application Summary: Application Confirmation ID: 2008036718 Application Created: 4/8/2008 7:41:00 PM (CST) Exam Date: 5/8/2008 (CST) Results Date: 5/9/2008 (CST) Examination Scored Congratulations on successfully completing the cognitive portion of your EMS certification. To obtain national registration, it is also necessary to successfully complete a psychomotor (practical) examination. And on the 9th i passed all my practical stations.. I can't believe that at least this part of the journey is over.. now the real learning begins.. My FTO stated it best... "Now we'll see a sudden increase in pucker factor"..

I guess the first question is, what is your full time job? How about going to a community college, getting tons of financial aid, doing a work study? I found earlier in my schooling that working at a couple of bars was easy money.. theres always private services prn, 911 services prn, where theres a will, theres a way..

Thanks dust.. I've obviously been busy.. I've been reading the posts, just haven't felt the need to reply until now...

First things first.. go for it.. Over a year ago I was faced with the same dilemma, I had just completed EMT-B training and was entering a 2 1/2 year paramedic school (i'm a year and a half into it and love it), and there was an opportunity at the city third service ems where i live. Against the advice of some of my emt city colleagues, I went ahead and took the opportunity and signed on part time. I worked alongside a paramedic every time, and it was great. The further I progressed in my training, the more comfortable I felt, and the more time I spent on the ambulance, the more comfortable I felt in school. I am now a NREMT-I, taking an 11 week cardiology class, and working FULL TIME with the same service. Its like getting paid to do a clinical because I assure you that your partner will only let you get so far before they step in and take over, much like a preceptor. In closing I suggest you take it to paramedic, take the longest, most in depth program you can find, and enjoy the ride.. congrats and good luck....

ha?

Thanks for the input.. the general consensus appears to be keep of trucking.. I'll do just that..

OK.. finally i have a question. I am a new EMT-B (as of July 06) who is currently enrolled in one of the top EMSP programs in the nation in Texas in my first semester of a total of five. I took my EMT-B at the college and as soon as i got my blue patch i was hired part time to work two local 911 services. One service is typically staffed by paramedics, and use basics as relief, the other typically staffs a medic and an EMT-B. One is rural, about 30 minutes to the nearest hospital averaging about 1 - 5 calls a 24 shift. The other is in a medium sized city that has a great hospital very close at hand. The problem that I'm having is that i feel like a putz. Both services know I'm a student, as well as that I'm a recently badged EMT, and i feel blessed because its like I'm on a clinical, but I'm getting paid. The only thing that gets me is i haven't quite gotten down my history taking and general assessment stuff. I can take a BP (though I'm learning not to palpate on a truck), take vitals, and all that, but i always feel like I'm missing something and not quite "helping". Most times the medics assume the call and i assist with equipment and such, with them typically asking me what i think. I guess my real question is should i have waited till i graduated the program to pursue employment in a 911 service, should i have gone to work for a transport service instead, or should i not work at all and just focus on my clinical and schooling. As i stated earlier, i am blessed to actually see conditions first hand, instead of looking at slides, or reading about it, however am i a burden to these medics? Any input is appreciated