Richard B the EMT

Based on the article, and taking in to account the combined potential nuclear destructive capability of the US, China, and that presumed to be in possession by North Korea, I'd have to go with the line from "War Games":

Oy!

If for no other reason to say "no" to sweatpants, most I have seen, and worn, are meant to absorb sweat, or other fluids. Blood is a fluid. Need I say more? While I have worn sweatpants on calls, it was usually UNDER the work uniform of the day, in mid-winter, as an insulative layer, out of sight of co-workers, the public, and the patients.

In a small piece of defence for Mr Woo, he may have the same lack of spell check on his computer (can't seem to reactivate mine, either), and/or while a good Paramedic and administrator, has difficulty typing (I am just a fast and possibly prolific 4 finger typist, myself). Inability to type, or use a computer, doesn't indicate lack of ability to formulate ideas that, while some here may or may not support, are genuinely believed to be as an improvement to all in our field.

Richard B's laws of EMS: 1) Most EMS rules quoted are probably from Reilly's Rules of EMS, believed first published in JEMS circa 1977-1980. 2) Both Mr Reilly and Mr Murphy are believed to be optomists.

Simple idea, here. Accelerate the cleaning and polishing from once a week, to as needed, even if this means daily.

My "Fail" comment was to the condition of the EKG/Defib batteries at the start of the transport. A good point of having a model that could be plugged into either the 120 Volt AC inverter, or the vehicle's 12 VDC, however.

Hmmm, I had not thought about it until just now, but someone pointed out that just because another area's protocols and/or guidelines says you can do something, does not have proof that the "whatever" is solid medical practice. Witness what happened during the NYC HHC EMS days: Brian Watkins, from Utah. For blood loss, protocols stated to use the Medical Anti Shock Trousers, commonly called MAST. The device worked as advertised, but noone had thought about deep penetrating chest wounds, such as Mr. Watkins received during a mugging in NYC (He and his family were in town for the US Tennis Open). Theory was, the device would slow or prevent blood flow to the lower extremities and abdominal cavity, and keep the blood more into the heart/pulmonary/brain circuits. Mr.Watkins, through the use of the MAST, had blood available, but it was also available to be pumped out the penetrating chest wound. He exanguenated, the family sued EMS, the hospital where he had been taken, and, of course, the city. EMS changed the protocols from the then national standards, and started calling penetrating chest wounds a contra-indicator for MAST use. Eventually, MAST were removed from all NYC EMS vehicles, even if the state still has the protocols as manditory to be taught.

Let's be a bit more specific, please. To my way of being educated, a "Class 'A' Uniform" is the uniform worn for parades, funerals, and getting presented with medals by the mayor, as opposed to the uniforms worn for getting your hands dirty working assignments that eventually get you awarded the medals by the mayor.

Here we go again!

I see a "Fail" here, but I can't point fingers. Yet. Who's EKG machine was it, sent on a trip of that known duration, without sufficient power; the OPs service, or the sending facility? There should have been both a fully charged EKG unit at the transport's start, as well as a fully charged backup battery. The event described took place in Canada, eh? (Sorry, couldn't resist) In the medical pecking order, who is higher medical authority, the tech, or the RN, riding this particular call? If it is the RN, the RN had the authority to elevate the call status, or not, and took such option. Otherwise, the Tech could have made the decision. Original Poster, what was the outcome?

If you can get Drs. Kelly and Kaufman behind you, FDNY EMS protocols might get changed. I'm going to expand on something Alex mentioned. Sometimes time is waiting for the one elevator working in a 26 story "Project" building to first get you up to the patient, then get back up to get you down. We've had number of good (and not so good, yet functional) hospitals close in the last few years. Once you get back in the ambulance, usually you're within 15 minutes travel time, nonetheless. Then, you have road conditions like we've had from Sunday December 26, 2010, as we've been hit by a 20 inch deep blizzard, with some 6 foot drifts in some spots, Roads have not been plowed out, and our crews are carrying equipment in, and equipment and patients back out to the ambulance, covering several blocks on foot. We're trying not to have an episode like that one in "Philly" last year (think we had one, anyway, someone will post if the case).

I have handled both the Combitube and the King in the classroom, but as of this time, FDNY EMS has not started any Pilot Programs for us EMT-B (BLS) personnel to use them, as far as I am aware. They've not set out the mannequins for us to try practicing, at least. From what I have seen, and as I understand the instructors, however, usage seems similar.

Unfortunately, modern warfare has resulted in no defined front lines. One of the first deaths in Iraq of a member of the US Military, working in a a "support service" capacity, was a "Native American" woman, in a non PC phrasing, a Navajo "Indian". To quote the song dating to the "War Between The States",

Tongue firmly planted in cheek, I mention that's probably why we, the nurses, and the doctors are "practicing" medicine.

I agree, later for the semantics. You had an unresponsive patient gone "Smurf-y" on you, and returned him to normal mentation (for the individual), and normal skin coloration. Well done, sir. Well done.

Someone suggest a few EMT textbooks?

Easy, Alex. Kiwimedic is in New Zealand, therefore, his local protocols and scopes of practice, indeerd, the titles he runs under are different than what you and I run under, here in New York City and State.

I do not have a good philosophical answer to that. The Bible says, "thou shall not kill", then mentions wars in the names of religion.

KNDoug1, It is not just differences between US States, or Canadian Provinces. I live in the Queens County section of New York City. My local section has the county line to Nassau, where A-EMTs can start IVs. However, if one of these A-EMTs should wander over the county line into Queens, the same A-EMT is not recognized as one who is allowed to start an IV. Note my mantra below. Follow local protocols.

...or investing on Wall Street, or gambling at Atlantic City, Reno, or Vegas!

Momma B has always taught me that most Houses of Worship, regardless of the actual religion, are supposed to be hospitals for the soul, not museums for saints.

I just realized, EMT City used to have a direct link to that site, selling City merchandice

I have a T-Shirt showing a totally disassembled truck, next to a box with comparative prices between an assembled ambulance and the disassembled one. The group of men assembling the ambulance are saying "This time, the chief went too far!"

As we are from the same EMS in the same state, you beat me to saying that, Alex. Lawyers eat for breakfast EMTs or Paramedics who don't document, and use that line