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KTD by far. Easy to use, minimizes moving Pt and cheap.

I am looking for a supplier for clear narcotics cases. We currently use a gun case with an inventory tag but you can pop the hinges out of the back and get the drugs out with the tag untouched. Our medics also want to see the narcs they are signing for. I tried to buy a clear plastic box from EMP to find out that some of our vials don't fit because they are to large, anyone know of another supplier?

I understand that some companies treat their employees good, others don't. Costco and Les Schwab Tires are prime example of a company that is good to there employees and are non union. Streetsmarts, your more likely to get what you want if you collectively ask for things instead of individually. One union, one voice.

Did you read the part of the information that you are suppose to do an "assisted lift" when your Pt gets to be 300-350 lbs? With out you saying what the problem was, how are we suppose to be on the look out for the same problem?

1) The company: We were members of the United Food and Commercial Workers, a great union for supermarkets, bad union for EMS. We got crap for support because they were busy getting better benefits for the checkers at Safeway that were making $27.00 with some of the best medical insurance there is. We made $7.00 an hour and had to pay most of our medical. I made more as a laborer for the government at $10.00 an hour with better benefits. Granted I started working their to get experience to prepare for medic school, was 19-21 yrs old, didn't have a family and lived rent free in a fire station. Most of the married guys worked a bunch of hours to make ends meet. 2) The fire service/government: I am now a IAFF Firefighter/Paramedic and love my union. They work hard for us in regards to wages, hours and working conditions. They have helped save several jobs, increased our staffing and improved safety equipment. Case in point, we had a medic get in a bad off-duty accident with a severe hand injury. The department doc, who's has little experience with firefighters and does not know our duties, said he wasn't fit to come back to work after the orthopedic doc and occupational therapist who specialize in hand injuries said he could. The union fought to get a second opinion and won, he is back to work doing everything the department doc said he couldn't. With unions there are two factors, what state your in and who represents you. Many states, including Arizona, Florida and Virgina, are called "Right-to-Work" states. They do not recognize collective bargaining, so even if you do organize it is up to your employer to say yes. Right-to-Work = right to fire. Other than you being fired and it violates Federal or State discrimination laws, you are an at will employee. If your boss wants to fire you he can. Other states, including Washington, California and New York it is your legal right to organize. If you have problems with your employer your union will assist you trying to rectify the issue. The union negotiates wages, hours and working conditions, one set of rules for all instead of a set of rules for each employee. As for who represents you, in the first story we weren't represented by a union that understood EMS. You have to have a union with experience in EMS, it could be the IAFF, Teamsters, SEIU or several others, to get the best representation. In the electronic age it is easy to do research on what union will best fit your organization. You also get out of a union what you put into it.

We just got a our first one a few weeks ago and like them, and so does my back. We have started doing two person lifts into the back of the rig instead of on guy trying to muscle it in themselves. As for carrying them up stairs, we have been using new stair chairs for about a year with really good luck. If we can't get them downstairs with the chair (i.e. full arrest) we use either a board or a scoop. Anything that helps keep me off disability is a + in my book. I started looking a people as a career ending disability and act accordingly. If I need manpower for the lift, I get manpower for the lift including at the hospital when some of our RN's (whom I love) say "I'll get the feet" when the Pt is 300 lbs. I also recommend getting names of departments in your area from your sales rep that bought the cots then contacting them directly. Within a day I had 10-15 responses from MSO's in my region after I e-mailed the following questions: 1) What do your medics/EMT’s think of the quality and operation of the unit? 2) Are they user friendly and durable? 3) How long have you had the cots and have you seen a decrease in lifting injuries yet? 4) Do you have any proposals you used during the budget process that you can e-mail me? The key is to keep the questions short and if you need anymore information ask after the initial e-mail. Good luck.

Don't act like you own the place or are a full member of the crew. I know it sounds harsh, but remember that you are a visitor to their house. If and when you are included in conversations they will invite you. Also, help with duties like stocking the unit, station cleaning, washing rigs etc. It will go a long way and they will see that you respect their equipment and them.

Contact a Recruiter 8th Coast Guard District

A few things. I am in the Coast Guard Reserve and as long as you have a NR card you can act as an EMT. I Have my NREMT-P and am allowed to practice at that level as long as I have a Medical Officer for oversight. The only people required to be EMT's are all Aviation Survival Technicians (Rescue Swimmers) and most Health Service Technicians (corpsman/medics), although most HS's are EMT's. Some units are required to have a certain number of EMT's but they come from all the other jobs. HS's are assigned to larger cutters (I think >170'), isolated duty, and larger shore commands. They also have some that are assigned as part of the duty flight crew at the air stations. As for training, if you are NR they probably won't send you back to school, if you don't have it they might. HS "A" school is 20 wks and is required for anyone that is going to be an HS. Currently there is a 12-18 month waiting list from the time you get out of boot camp till the time you go to school. You generally get sent to a cutter or small boat station while you wait to go to school. And Dustdevilis right they probably won't give it that much interest when you join, and you will be an FNG just like everyone else. Look at the links below. Military.com HS forum USCG HS School Good luck, if you have any more questions send me an e-mail.

- Why you start the IV - i.e. critically sick child? simple post-ictal? simple trauma? critical trauma? I start about 5-10 peds IV's a year. most of the time it's on Sz patients, but have also had a few traumas. - Why you don't normally start IV's on children - non-confidence, children don't generally need IV access by EMS, child is too scared, parents don't want it... If a kid needs an IV I start it, if it is marginal I wait, no sense in poking a kid twice (1 IV, 1 blood draw). - Your general proficiency. I've done alright, my favorite is the AC or foot (big vein, easier place to start due to straight veins, less upsetting because the don't get their arm tied up in an arm board). - How many (if any) IV's you attempted/successful during your clinical/preceptor experience prior to autonomous practice. I started 38 in school with 30 successes. If a kid needs an IV they need it, from what I've seen the PM's with kids feel more comfortable when they have their own. Peds is the weak point of EMS, please take the time to educate yourself as much as you can.

I don't live in the north east but, having worked many schedules, I would not go back to the 24-48 again. Look at the modified detroit (on-off-on-off-on-off-off-off-off) or the Orange County, CA (on-off-on-off-off-on-off-on-off-off-off-off). The 24-48 sucked because if you got hammered you only had one real quality day off because the next night you had to get ready to go to work. I hated the Orange County at first because of the change, but it has been the best schedule I have ever worked. Good luck.

You have to be joking right? You spent all that money on crap for you car to respond to calls? Your 17, doesn't your insurance cost enough without the added risk of responding in your wally mobile? What are N.J.'s state laws in regards to ages for emergeny vehicle driving? Good luck, DELETE THIS TOPIC!!!

I think Grays County in Washington State carries it. Like all other meds I guess it's risk vs. benefit. I think it would be more of a hassle than it's worth in pre-hospital, for inter-facilities it might make more sense.

I love our Brauns, good quality considering we run the crap out of them. As for Medtech, we had two '95's and got rid of them in '96 because of very poor quality, the drawers were flimsy and the ride was even worse. They were great for turning a patient into a pin cushion while trying to start IV's.

Thank your Rid for your first post, I totally agree. And I whole heartedly agree with all the other ones too. A lot of stuff on here has become either a b***h session about what people can't do, or stuff to make people look bigger and better. Also, people should try and do some research before posting, a lot of stuff has already been said in previous threads. And delete the people that look like they are looking for dates, marriage and other activities. Post in the right forum or better yet, keep it professional.

First off, try and register instead of being a guest. Second, I can understand working the ambulance job, but why would you be a volunteer firefighter? What is going to happen to you and your family if you get hurt and cannot go to your paid job? Since we have no idea where your from I don't know what would happen when the money runs out and your bills aren't paid. I have considered moving to an area with limited fire coverage and didn't, but if I did there is plenty of other ways to get involved in a non-hazardous way like helping with training, administration, etc. I won't even mention union issues if the department you volunteer for has union firefighters and you are also in the union. I am also a Paid Professional Paramedic/Firefighter in a "combination" department. We have 80 career staff that ran 8000+ calls and cover 120 sq. miles, including a large rural area. We have four staffed stations and eight volunteer stations. I say "combination" because we still have volunteers on the books for fire insurance ratings. 99.99% of our calls have career personnel on them and we rarely see volunteers. I can count on one hand how many times I have seen them on calls in the last year, fire or EMS. My problem is that even with low recruitment and retention rates my department is still stuck in the past spending money, time and effort on a program that has lost it's viability in my community. I am not saying that there should not be volunteers, many communities cannot afford hiring career staff or run the volume to support it. Many systems, career or volunteer, provide great service to there citizens and should be applauded. People from other online communities must have logged on and taken this one over for the "career vs. volunteer" debate. Bet it's the same people who wear the "I volunteer to fight what your fear" t-shirts, and ask "what's the best light bar" or "where can I get a Hurst tool to carry in my car?" Thank you for your service as volunteers but get over yourself.

A public system is not going to "make" money. With Medicare/medicade being the way they are, your lucky your getting 70%.

We use King County's (Washington State) online CE with practical stations for each topic (i.e long board scenario) for EMTs. Medics have to do both the EMT CE, monthly medic base station meetings with CE topics plus the typical ACLS, PALS, and other classes. The old way for EMTs was having a monthly class with no real lesson plan that turned into a group test and no hands on. I like the online topics and think they are very much more in depth than just having anyone teach the class. At the end you have a timed online test that you cannot close to look up the answers with an instant score. The scenarios are graded with a sheet that is not as extensive as the national registry, but on the same token is not dumbed down. Online CE can be a good thing as long as you have some sort of hands on evolutions.

1) Show of force (Fire and LE) with verbal "talk down" (that always works). 2) Restraints. 3) Chemical restraint, Versed, Ativan or Inapsine. I like Versed IM, not much luck with Ativan, and never used Inapsine due to possible cardiac effects. If the coppers handcuff them, they have to ride with us. Our MPD has is liberal with chemical restraint so there is less risk of us getting hurt or the patient. No hog-tying, backboard sandwich, choke holds or use of hand/flex cuffs by EMS. After all is said and done we have to fill out a form for QA/QI.

Dust, with all due respect, as you know, it's no so black and white. Depend on the situation. Hope everything is doing good in the sand box.

We have crappy cheap stethoscopes in the kits on the rigs and the medics got issued Littmann Cardiology III's. It's nice to be able to hear breath sounds rather than not hear them when in the back of the rig. I had a light weight Littmann when I was an EMT and it worked good as an EMT since I was more conerned with bad vs good lung sounds. As a medic I need to know rales vs rhonchi to help with treatment decisions, one less thing to worry about. I also guard my scope with my life and only let a select few get their ear booggers on it.

Are the coppers EMT's? Is it a Public Safety Department (combo fire/police)?

I've seen both at trade shows and wasn't impressed by it, and really don't like the charging system. We love the current Strykers we have, thats why I was looking at the Power-PRO. Where did you get grant money to buy new cots?

Anyone using the Stryker Power-PRO cots? What do you think of them? Stryker Power-PRO

Yes I did Ace, I was just addressing the cost factor.