Andrewtx

I see no value in his work. It's not a movie, at least not in the storytelling sense. It's certainly not a documentary. So what, exactly, is it? A waste of my time, I guess. I won't see it.

Steven Katz, M.D.,

President, National Paramedic Institute

From the website of the National Paramedic Institute:

"The International Association of Fire Fighters and National Paramedic Institute have partnered to provide cutting edge online EMS Training to our country's heroes."

You don't suppose this has clouded his professional opinion, do you?

The pre-existing right to keep and bear arms was premised

on the commonplace assumption that individuals would use

them for these private purposes, in addition to whatever militia

service they would be obligated to perform for the state. The

premise that private arms would be used for self-defense accords

with Blackstone’s observation, which had influenced thinking

in the American colonies, that the people’s right to arms was

auxiliary to the natural right of self-preservation. See WILLIAM

BLACKSTONE, 1 COMMENTARIES *136, *139; see also Silveira,

328 F.3d at 583-85 (Kleinfeld, J.); Kasler v. Lockyer, 2 P.3d

581, 602 (Cal. 2000) (Brown, J., concurring). The right of self-

preservation, in turn, was understood as the right to defend

oneself against attacks by lawless individuals, or, if absolutely

necessary, to resist and throw off a tyrannical government. See

Silveira, 328 F.3d at 583-85 (Kleinfeld, J.); see also id. at 569-70

(Kozinski, J., dissenting from the denial of rehearing en

banc); Kasler, 2 P.3d at 605 (Brown, J., concurring).9

When we look at the Bill of Rights as a whole, the setting

of the Second Amendment reinforces its individual nature. The

Bill of Rights was almost entirely a declaration of individual

rights, and the Second Amendment’s inclusion therein strongly

indicates that it, too, was intended to protect personal liberty.

The collective right advocates ask us to imagine that the First

Congress situated a sui generis states’ right among a catalogue

of cherished individual liberties without comment. We believe

the canon of construction known as noscitur a sociis applies

here. Just as we would read an ambiguous statutory term in

light of its context, we should read any supposed ambiguities in

the Second Amendment in light of its context. Every other

provision of the Bill of Rights, excepting the Tenth, which

speaks explicitly about the allocation of governmental power,

protects rights enjoyed by citizens in their individual capacity.

The Second Amendment would be an inexplicable aberration if

it were not read to protect individual rights as well.

Parker v. District of Columbia

http://pacer.cadc.uscourts.gov/docs/common...03/04-7041a.pdf

A masterfully written opinion, I recommend you read it in its entirety.

So, maybe the problem is that you guys don't trust your law enforcement agencies? Maybe they're not trust-worthy?

Bare with me here, I'm trying to get in to this mindset. 8)

It's not a question of trust. It's much simpler. It's the basic realization that in a free society, the police cannot be everywhere at once, and that the individual should accept foremost responsibility for his or her own security.

:roll: :roll: While some people make good points, they tend to hurt the cause by not using the spell check or the proper forms of a word.

Icelandic?????

:? Icelandic is the proper adjective. He's referring to an earlier poster from Iceland who was relating firearms in his country.

you sentences.

:wink:

Any known allergies?

Has he ever experienced anything similar?

In addition to what did he eat, what was he doing before he ate, specifically did he handle any unusual substances or materials, and did he wash his hands before eating?

How does he describe the numbness in his hands? Did it start in his fingertips and progress proximally? Can he move his toes normally and is there any similar sensation?

Can we please drop the stereotypes A2L, I am sorry you have this attitude that all southerners are just simple minded hicks with a beer in one hand and their sister in the other. Do you really believe everyone from the south who has a carry license is an ignorant redneck? I am sure that some of the people who work for such redneck magnets as NASA & Boeing will be among those with concealed weapons at home. The fact is that ignorance and prejudice are everywhere, even in this very forum everytime you stereotype a large part of this country with your comments.

The people of Texas who might carry guns are normal people, they live in the burbs and have normal jobs. They do not live in fear of anyone, they just want protection in case something terrible happens. To be honest I have been all over this country and by far the most paranoid people I have ever met are from major urban areas along the east coast. I have never seen such rude & paranoid people as I have seen in cities like New York and Boston.

My wife and many of my friends are from the South, they are all good people and extremely intelligent. My wife still says Hi to strangers when she walks down the street even though that is very foreign to most west coasters.

Please drop the Bubba stereotypes and I will not start with the New Yorker stereotype of an uptight businessman with a latte in one hand and a PDA with the number of a crack addicted transvestite in his favorites in the other.

:wink:

Peace,

Marty

Great post. Asys certainly isn't painting a caricature of the Texas I grew up in -- a place whose residents are much friendlier, and also less paranoid, than the sophisticated elites here in DC. In fact, of those I knew growing up who either carried a weapon or owned firearms that weren't merely packed away in a box somewhere, nearly all were intelligent professionals who seemed perfectly competent to responsibly keep and carry a firearm. How they are aiding terrorists I haven't a clue, who I'm sure don't need the protection of the second amendment to attack a civilian target. :roll:

You what's really funny, is in the war on terror, the loud, flag waving gun toting types are the ones doing the most to make sure the terrorists win. From supporting the oil cartels, to making sure that its easier for Muhammed and Akbar to get an assault rifle or sneak a concealed weapon into your neighborhood shopping mall, these reactionary scumbags are the ones who will have the blood on their hands . . .

Actually, sir, the terrorists are the ones who will have the blood on their hands.

I have no experience with this software whatsoever, but your question made me wonder why I never looked for this or a similar product before! A well-designed program along these lines could be amazingly helpful, especially if it offers quizzes and so forth that will reinforce your weak areas until you have everything well-learned. Great idea..wish I had thought to look for something like this sooner.

I'm a little bit confused by a couple points in this article. Maybe someone can clarify.

The goal is to handle non-emergency, social service 911 calls such as rides to a hospital or falls in the most cost-effective way, Tucson Fire Deputy Chief Todd Pearson said.

I'm not sure exactly what they mean by this. Are they planning on transporting patients in these SUV units in cases where they can sit upright and buckled in? Or did the article just mean to refer to elderly RMAs where someone just needs a hand?

They are staffed with one paramedic and one emergency medical technician. If the call requires only basic life-support skills, they will cancel the engine or ladder, leaving it available for the next call.

If these units are already staffed with a paramedic, then why would they require an additional engine or ladder on scene for an ALS call? Needing an ambulance, obviously, I understand -- or an ALS engine if the hybrid unit is BLS. :?

I said a prayer for you and your family..best wishes for you in this very difficult time.

I was wondering..............how many times must we have to read about how great and wonderful Canada's EMS education is and how the US just pales in comparison? VS, can you not come up with better topics that are less beat to death? We all know the US is light years behind most of the civilized world in EMS education, so let's move on, unless you and all your infinite wisdom has a glorious solution to OUR problem here in the States.

But, to answer the question in the original post....No, I would not work there, I am satisfied with my pay, I like having lower taxes and I like the Ga./Fla. sunshine.

Exactly.

This morning, after reading this article my Andrew McIntosh of the Sacramento Bee, I was bothered enough to write him an email. Not because he said that some EMS personnel have drug problems, but because of the slanted way his article was written. He wrote me back, saying his article was "fair and balanced" (does he moonlight for FOX?) and had the following to say about EMS, and those who work in this field:

"Dear Mr. KinCannon:

Wow, can I ever feel the heat out of your key board. And Iike it.

My newspaper does dozens of stories every year on the heroic deeds of paramedics and EMTs ( yes i know the difference, as you soon shall see) and guys like you never call to praise them or say, gee nice story.

You guys like to live on a pedestal and you crave public worship.

However, when we shed a little sunshine on a taboo issue in your world - one that is less flattering - you're jumping up and down and making groundless accusations.

One of the cases I have reports that EMT partner went to work with a paramedic for 3 months and everyday she strongly smelled of alcohol? Did he report her? No. What's that about? Shame on me? Shame on you - for taking cheap shots at the messenger.

.The state agency here says there's a problem. Are you saying they're full of it?

Employers in your field prefer to fire or force people to resign rather than deal with employees with problems and get them help.

Far from reckless, my article was comprehensive, fair and blanced. Dozens of your peers have written in to praise and celebrate it's groundbreaking scope. I' m not sure you went to our web site and looked at the entire package, either. Look at the case studies. A Lot of pain and suffering there. If it were my business, I'd be concerned.

That said, I like to hear from guys like you. Keep em coming. Dialogue is good."

regards,

Andrew McIntosh

Assistant City Editor, Investigations

The Sacramento Bee

Comprehensive? How could his piece be considered comprehensive when he put absolutely no perspective on the prevalence of substance abuse in EMS compared to any other population? Clearly he wrote the article with a "mission" in mind to pull EMS providers off the pedestal that he thinks they seek.

I love hockey but only really follow the NHL. By default, though, I'll go with Canada as it's the land of my birth.

personally, I hate shootouts.... its no way to decide a game of hockey... its just like flipping a coin, but oh well it has to be done somehow.

I couldn't disagree with you more! I love shootouts, I think they're incredibly exciting, showcase great talent, and are a great way to excite new fans. I also love period after period of sudden death OT, but purism will be the death of the NHL and a few other North American leagues if they don't adapt to attract new fans and viewership. Besides, as far as the NHL goes, both teams have 65 minutes to settle the game properly. :wink:

Another decently cheap solution is to get yourself one of the many different electronic handheld games (solitaire, sudoku, battleship, connect four, whatever keeps your attention). They don't cost much and you can choose one that has an illuminated screen.

I like sudoku, myself. Keeps your mind going. http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=4601215

Hey John,

Just curious as to what your source for this info is.

Googled it because I was bored.

http://www.emedmag.com/html/pre/tox/0502.asp

This article about induced hypothermia in cardiac arrest patients was printed on the front page of yesterday's USA Today. I thought the article did a pretty good job of reflecting the value of progressive, high-quality EMS agencies for communities and their residents.

Thoughts on this practice and its application in EMS?

[web:e06c9a2c9b]http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2006-12-10-body-cooling-cover_x.htm[/web:e06c9a2c9b]

Great post. Thanks asys.

hypothermia

You don't say? :wink:

Post liposuction with N+V and weakness? I don't know about you or your EMT partner (or any other advanced EMS provider), but post liposuction complications aren't covered in much depth where I was educated. Simply elucidating "what is wrong with them" based on their "pain meds" knowing nothing about the patho/surgical procedure in question? Nor having the ability of advanced assessment? I would offer them transport to the hospital and suggest they go...

I wouldn't be very comfortable with the situation either.

It's not safe to pull your car off the side of the road to help someone out when kids are in the car. Yep I can understand that. But if your kid's safety is important (as it should be), what's with the handgun?

I guess I just don't understand the 'American Gun Mentality' (meant in the nicest possible way). But that's a whole other can o' worms.

Cheers.

:roll:

I had a feeling this would be blown way out of proportion. As I said before, don't assume I'm running around trying to kill people on the truck. I've never used it to cut a seatbelt and I know better than to use it in a confined space or within three feet of anyone as they might bump me etc. And please do not also assume that I'm not well read on local and federal laws of self defense, and I do take those laws very seriously. Jeff Cooper puts it, "I'd rather explain it to 12 than be carried by 8." I'm simply prepared to defend myself if nescesary. Sorry if you think my avitar gives me a "tough girl" kind of immage that offends you. If it makes you happy, I leave my gun at home when I go to work. I've carried a knife in my pocket since I was 10, and the day I leave it at home is always the day I seem to need it most. I've never stabbed anyone or even pulled it in defense. If you'll scroll back a few messages you'll see that I casually listed it among the things I keep in my pants. Pretty much anything in my pants could be used as a weapon with the right motivation, and yes, that includes my knife but that's not what I use it for. If having a knife near you makes you uncomfortable, well... we'll never have to ride together so it won't be an issue. You've taken what I've said, exaggerated it in your mind and judged me for it. At this point I think you're just looking for a reason to be better than me. Maybe you are better than I am, but making assumptions and putting down people in a forum certainly doesn't convince me. But what do I know, I'm just an EMT-Basic afterall.

Now if anyone wants to have a rational, freindly discussion about things job related I'm all ears.

Speaking of the gun, I do hope you had that camera on an auto-timer and were prepared to lose both the camera and whatever stood behind it, or else you were breaking the number one rule of firearm safety. :wink:

But about the substance of all this, look, knives are perfectly fine and useful tools for a variety of chores, but I don't think they have a place on an ambulance. And I say that not because I think I'm better than you or think poorly of you in any way, but because hundreds if not thousands of EMTs and Paramedics manage just fine without knives on their person or in the ambulances. And while lots of things can be used as weapons, a knife is a particularly obvious and dangerous one that adds much more risk than utility. That's my judgement on your choice, not on you.

I agree with everyone else who has said that this is wrong and reflects the continuing perception of EMS as being an adjunct to, rather than an important part of, the medical profession.

The solution, as Scaramedic wrote, is for the state to train its own executioners to establish the IV if they wish to use lethal injections. They don't need to be trained as healthcare providers, as they won't be providing healthcare.

What about triage? I understand that not all will survive, in an attempt to [theoretically] save the most amount of lives, but why make exceptions now?

I disagree that these are contradictory positions. As I said in another thread, if a person already near death dies during an MCI triage situation because resources are diverted to those with a better chance of survival, than that person's death is a passive consequence of the actions of healthcare providers. That is, that person is dying just as they would had no healthcare provider made it to them at all. The death of someone who was administered a lethal dosage is an active consequence -- if nobody had showed up to kill the person, then that person would have lived.