Dustdevil Posted February 15, 2006 Share Posted February 15, 2006 Whats your problem with Firefighter/EMT's? Nothing. Who said anything about firefighter/EMT's? :? SPELL CHECKED: No errors found. 8) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UMSTUDENT Posted February 15, 2006 Share Posted February 15, 2006 Sure, if you want half-assed "medics" with no ongoing experience working on you. That's even worse than training firemen to be paramedics! I wouldn't want half-assed bodyguards either. Every man gets a job. One job. This isn't the Special Forces where we have to maximize efficiency by giving everybody a couple of jobs. There is plenty of room for specialists on a presidential protection detail. Actually, the Secret Service operates a pretty sophisticated EMS and medical system. Some of their medical control is run through Johns Hopkin's Division of Special Operations (DSO). The level of training these people go through makes them more that qualified to think quickly and do the job. The Secret Service gets the job done, a lot. It's amazing how much information you can commit to muscle memory. I've never personally seen them in action, but I imagine they are superb at doing the job. Also, remember that agents in the United States Secret Service are required to have at least one Bachelors Degree and that selection is extremely competitive for field work. They already have more education than the majority of paramedics in this country and are probably VERY capable of further education. I doubt paramedic would be hard for these guys to tame if they wanted to take it. These jobs require you to be an absolute boyscout now days. I'll admit, I'm not sure if their paramedics are neccesarily field operatives. They might just be that: paramedics. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dustdevil Posted February 15, 2006 Share Posted February 15, 2006 I've known quite a few USSS agents. Even dated one briefly. I guess the firefighter analogy was not a particularly valid one since, as you point out, they more than have the aptitude for paramedic school. My only point was that the call they have for their knowledge and skills would be so low that deterioration would be a significant factor. Not to mention the dilemma faced when there is a simultaneous call for medical and protection duties from the same person at the same moment. Obviously, one man doing the job of two is rarely an ideal arrangement. SPELL CHECKED: No errors found. 8) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ridryder 911 Posted February 15, 2006 Share Posted February 15, 2006 I was thinking Chaney was trying to get a new heart... now, finding out the attorney had a MI .. he blew it !. Be safe, R/R 911 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lone Star Posted February 15, 2006 Share Posted February 15, 2006 That's even worse than training firemen to be paramedics! Judging from the quote above, it seems that you're implying that Firefighters are not mentally competent enough to perform medical procedures. Personally, having worked in both fields simultaneously, I find that the Firefighter/EMT can actually perform in conditions that would prevent a rig based EMT from even getting near the patient, due to the lack of protective gear that the EMT doesn't have and the Firefighter/EMT does. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UMSTUDENT Posted February 15, 2006 Share Posted February 15, 2006 Doesn't mean the patient care is up to par. That's why firefighters should be trained at the first responder level. So they can recognize obvious life threatening injuries and get them out. No more and no less. EMS is more healthcare that anything else... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dustdevil Posted February 16, 2006 Share Posted February 16, 2006 Protective gear is a non-factor if the fireman is working on the ambulance. Anyhow, you completely misread my statement. I'm not saying there are no firemen capable of being good medics. I am saying that making the practice of emergency medicine a "side job" instead of a primary profession is a horrible idea. That is indisputable. Both functions are important enough that they should receive the full attention and devotion of its practitioners. And the same thing applies to Secret Service agents. SPELL CHECKED: No errors found. 8) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paramedicmike Posted February 16, 2006 Share Posted February 16, 2006 I was thinking Chaney was trying to get a new heart... now, finding out the attorney had a MI .. he blew it !. Be safe, R/R 911 Looking for a new heart?? And he shot a lawyer? What was he thinking??? :shock: Oops! Was that out loud? My bad. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Beegers Posted February 16, 2006 Share Posted February 16, 2006 I read the title of this thread and thought "Stewie?" (My volunteer ambulance corps's vice president and one of our local cops) who has no common sense but text book smart. We were shocked they actually issued him a gun and on top of that he hasn't shot himself yet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Asysin2leads Posted February 17, 2006 Author Share Posted February 17, 2006 Oooooh, I know, I know, I know this one!!! They're stupid, they smell bad, they drink too much, and don't like to practice good medicine. Sterile equipment and turn out gear just don't mix. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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