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Since there is nothing in the article from the medics, and all media reports show that this was a snowstorm of a lifetime, I do think that until all the facts are given, that the lynching has to stop. So, I am going to play devil’s advocate for the medics… "You get out of the damn truck and you walk to the residence, that's what needed to happened here," said Huss. (Safety Director, City of Pittsburgh) OK, so the medics drag all their gear to the house, and do everything they can, but really, the patient needs to get to a hospital… then what… carry the patient on their backs back to the ambulance? Somehow I doubt that there were enough crews available that night to call for a lot of backup. I also suspect that most city plows were already out, and even had they called one in, what would the wait time have been? So then the patient still dies, and it is still their fault… they were in a no win situation. How about Huss provide EMS and Fire with vehicles able to handle the once in a lifetime snowstorm? Then the city can get into all the budgeting logistics of what that would cost…. Quote from widow: "Someone should be held responsible, the paramedic or the city, someone has to be held responsible." It is a very sad thing, and had his illness occurred on any other day, he probably would have made it to the hospital. BUT… whatever was wrong with him occurred during the worst snowstorm in recent history. Crews did try to get to the scene. I don’t see anywhere in the article where crews just gave up… they made several attempts to get to the residence. Sometimes life isn’t fair, and bad things happen… and although I realize that the widow spoke during a time of great grief, the attitude of “someone has to be held responsible” does need to stop… Sometimes people die, and sometimes we can’t stop it… it is a fact of life. Another fact of life... our safety does come first, because dead medics don't save lives.

Lucky ... I ended up with pretty much all adverse reactions ... still, better than the any flu I've ever had.

Five years? I would have said anyone who's been in a nursing home or homeless shelter once or twice ...

I never said the flu vaccine was the best way to prevent the flu (or other things for that matter). There are other simple things such as handwashing etc that can certainly help, that people seem to be overlooking. Really? Well thanks a million for that recommendation, because I never would have thought of that! I guess the dispatch information you receive is 100% correct AND complete all the time. As an example ... Last night we went for a 43 year old complaining of chest pain, no mention of any flu like symptoms at all. He's lying down, appeared to be resting. Soooo we go up to him and start talking etc etc, he starts productively coughing, telling us about his body aches and other flu like symptoms and ohhh now there's SOB involved. Then we get to hospital and get this guy registered only to find out at the hospital that he's MRSA+. So it must be better over there in BC because here we don't always get all the information one would need to make a call of whether or not to gown and mask, along with the usual order of gloves and eyewear. I guess we should start going into every single call on every single shift with every single piece of BSI imaginable, because here we can't always trust the dispatch information. (For you dispatchers out there, yes I know about the cards you have to use so no it's your fault). Tell me rock, are you putting on EVERYTHING before each call you go into? So when presented with something like that, say if there was only one mask on hand with the rest being elsewhere, I would cover the source first.

Yeah she's a volunteer, but she could always go work for a paid service. It's a choice she makes, just like I choose to be paid. As everyone has said, she really does need to grow up. There could be people walking around in public when she's not on call who have the flu and cough at or on her. What's she going to to do about that? Her best protection is still proper BSI according to the call and washing her hands, but I guess that's a little tough for her. (Glad I don't live in that area!) Think about it ... Have we all been exposed to MRSA? Probably. Have we all dealt with a patient with the HEP or the HIV? Probably. Have we all been around someone with the flu before? Probably. If you go to an "unknown" call and it turns out to be someone with the flu, would you run out of the room? Hope not. Would you put a mask on that patient, then mask and gown yourself to try and prevent further exposure? Hope so. I can hardly wait until this "pandemic" is over with so people start acting *normal* again.

Historically, medications and such always do take longer to be approved in Canada than in the US. I had my doubts on getting the H1N1 as there is really no information on long term effects of the vaccine. There was no scare tactic used on me such as how the media whipped everyone up into a frenzy, then told everyone to stay at home if they have the flu unless respiratory difficulty is present. I made my decision on the information available and had the shot. If my shoulder necroses in 2 years and moves my elbow to the other side of my arm, well, it was my decision. (I'm double jointed anyhow)

Why can't crews give swiney shots to other EMS, fire, police? Last year for what I think was a few weeks in a row, we had paramedics taken off the road (voluntarily) to do a flu clinic in our central station for us. Way better than standing in line for 3 hours (or 8). They're obviously competant at giving IM shots and obviously have permission from the medical director. What's the big deal? Saves time.

Sorry, Kiwi, my post was directed at the OP. And yeah, I say it is a wholly different assessment based on what you gain from doing it. You can teach a 10 year old to perform a NREMT assessment, doesn't mean they're doing the same assessment as an EMT-P... Wendy CO EMT-B

And I agree with you! LOL I am trying to think if when I was working in the US our AEDs said that; I am pretty sure they did because I can remember being given the mandatory "training" despite the fact nobody could figure out why we had to be "trained" on something a layperson can friggin use! May be worth checking the Good Samaritan Laws in <your state here>. To continue in English, press one, Para el español desfibrilador externo automatizado de instrucciones, pulse dos. From my understanding <your state here> will probably have a law saying those who use an AED (like giving first aid) are to be held harmless if they toast you incorrectly (pretty impossible to do, but still)

www.radioreference.com

Without a suppression piece to block the scene, you're taking your life into your own hands. For one, take a second lane with flares. The most important rule to follow is to never turn your back on traffic. If you need to go back to the ambulance, walk backwards, and wave your light back and forth to draw attention to yourself. Having PD onscene helps, as their blue lights are highly visible at night. One thing's for certain, each motorist sincerely believes that they're the most important, the center of the universe so to speak. They'll squeeze through any space that you leave them to get through the scene. As far as getting off of the road quickly, it wouldn't be a bad idea to place the pt on a board, maintain manual C-spine, get the pt in the back of the bus, keep C-spine while your partner pulls the rig to a safer location, and then the two of you can finish the spinal motion restriction properly and safely. In the winter, when it's below freezing, we routinely hold C-spine on the cot/LSB and finish in the back of the bus, so our pts don't freeze. I've almost been murdered several times on the Jackie, the ever popular GCP/CIP, LIE/GCP, and the dead man's curve on the GCP EB just past LaGuardia (111 st? I forget).

SOCMOB- if you are truly interested in the world of EMS, fire, or law enforcement, then listening to a scanner is NOT the way to learn about it. Find a ride along programs and actually SEE for yourself what this business is all about. A radio call- especially in today's world- other than hearing the basics of a call- little can be learned about what public safety is all about. Privacy issues now keep much of radio traffic pretty mundane, and minimal information is actually sent out over the air. Dispatching is another entity all together. Warning- generalization alert: Nearly every dispatcher I know around here is a frustrated fire/EMS/POLICE fan. For some reason they cannot or will not take the steps needed to follow through to become a firefighter, EMT, or a cop. Physical disability, psychological issues, cannot pass an entrance exam, cannot accumulate the needed education, or cannot pass the physical agility test- whatever. I am NOT saying that many dispatchers are highly skilled in what they do, but it's a different breed. In some areas, dispatching is a tool used for field personnel that are either temporarily or permanently unable to do their jobs- a light duty. Around here, that is simply not an option- they are a different group altogether. Dispatchers now have training specifically designed to suit their jobs, but it's also not always available everywhere. Years ago I dispatched for the private company I worked for to make a couple extra bucks and fill in when needed. I found it frustrating to try to figure out what the problem was over the phone, what resources were needed, and prioritize the calls. This was also in the days before dispatch triage protocols, computers, or GPS so you relied on your medical training, education, experience and intuition(yeah, I'm old). You had no other choice. A good dispatcher is worth their weight in gold- it's a tough job, but it's also very different than actually providing the service. It's a different mindset, and a different skill. As for scanners, in many areas people are "on call" and volunteers and the scanners are vital to them. For some it's a hobby they have had long before they got in this business. Simply listening to others misfortunes is creepy to me, but different strokes, I guess.

I'm not going to insinuate anything here. I'll flat out say that there's very little foundation material in EMT-B training to do anything but crude inferences and rudimentary DDxs unless serious extracurricular education is sought. You can't think critically about pathologies that you don't know exist.

Our government wasting money? Noooooooooooooo You think we paid the tab for that one? Uh huh. As for closing the Muni, all I can say is that's just plain STUPID. The increase in flight time for some of these short haul trips required within or near city limits will in many cases, likely negate the benefits of using STARS. Heck, there's probably a special little helipad at the International they'll want to close too! But Stelmach won't care, neither will Mandel ... until it's a member of their family who dies as a result of delayed treatment. Wait and see, wait and see ...

Nothing exciting really, just the typical ones ... mild headache, nausea, low grade fever. Weak/tired as well, which bothered me the most. I don't think I had ever been exhausted to the core like that before ... still, better than the flu.

... and in some areas, employers are saying (in no uncertain terms) that it's "mandatory" for staff to get the H1N1 shot. It should be the choice of the individual whether or not they receive a treatment. If you get sick and it could have been prevented by receiving (this shot) in particular, don't whine. It was your choice. I got both the H1N1 and seasonal shots, had all the nasty side effects however found it "less unpleasant" than having an actual flu. Maybe I'll still catch a strain not included in this year's seasonal brew, who knows ... I took advantage of clinics that were set up strictly for provincial health care workers, however would not have thrown a fit if I had to wait an extra day. I mean come on, how many times have we got into nursing homes or other health care facilities only to find out after the fact that our patient is MRSA+? Every one of us is probably MRSA+ ... Don't sweat the wait, everyone will get their turn.

Sounds like Edmonton! ... now I'm hungry for Kraft Dinner

It is a sad state of affairs for EMS in BC and Alberta. Unfortunately the only people who will soon be able to properly afford our services will be those who claim to be "running things" in either province (including one doc here who makes his bonus based on cutbacks to services for the rest of us). Some really good points made here ... health care should certainly NOT be a for profit business! And how about those people who think going into the hospital by ambulance will get them seen by a doctor sooner than if they went in on their own? What about granny who decides at 3am that because she hasn't been able to eat/sleep/poop for 2 days, she should call her daughter/son over to phone 911 for her? COME ON PEOPLE! Unfortunately here we cannot refuse someone transport if they request. Yes, ridiculous. Don't even get me started on people treating the ER like a walk-in clinic. That gets me going, especially when we're sitting their with a perfectly downloadable patient and a walk-in "I've got the sniffles" gets seen before my patient, and the only reason we're waiting with this person is because they're old and ooooohhhh just might have to pee at some point. But ohhhh that doesn't matter because the nurses are happy that granny has someone to talk at while she paces around in her pajamas wondering why it's taking so long. I love being in this industry and doing what I do. The people who abuse the system over and over and over again however and are continued to be allowed to do so, are one thing making it REALLY hard to want to stay and work in a province and city I've lived in my entire life. Not to mention the financial toll they're taking on all of us ...

... yeah, and our illustrious government along with AHS think they're doing a fantastic job. They went in LESS than half cocked, and slowly people are starting to pay for it. EMS will be in ruins within 5 years unless something is done PDQ to remedy this situation. They SAY there was a lot of thought that went into the changeover, however I'd believe that about as much as I'd believe that one day my cat could be a paramedic. If there was so much thought, then why the "being in the dark" for everyone? It was not and never has been "business as usual". My ranting will however not do anything about it, except for alleviate a bit of my own stress.

The new provincial system in Alberta is anything but "run properly". They went into it with an immensely insufficient plan; already in debt over a billion dollars around the April 1 takeover date and they expected to sustain and ohhh, better the health care system by making EMS a provincial thing? The provincial government and AHS seems to be flying by the seats of their pants, and don't appear to have much of an idea what they're doing, and the little bit they have done hasn't made any of us here feel more secure about working EMS in Alberta. There are issues with forcing people into a union without giving them the right to vote on it, issues with freezing wages of EMT's in certain areas until the rest of the province "catches up". I am Alberta born and raised and have lived in the same area for my entire life, and used to want to spend the rest of my life here. However with the career I have chosen and the recent changes in EMS and AHS trying to run things with their own shortsightedness, I feel I am also left in the dark and will certainly not vote for Stelmach in our next provincial election.

... and with Alberta having gone "loco provincial", it's all just a matter of time before that happens here. The singlemost important reason I'm in school right now for EMT-P is for the mobility. If somewhere else in Canada isn't appealing, there are plenty of other countries a paramedic is welcome in.

That must be why the NYPD, FDNY, and FDNY EMS refer to someone as "Being Under", as opposed to "Under Arrest", so we don't get erroneous calls for prisoners whose (alleged) hearts are still beating.

Now you're just being facetious, they don't even need to have a pulse to give them drugs. First of all, if you want to be registered in ACoP you have to challenge the entrance exam...don't you? The biggest barrier is that SCoP simply has not written an entrance exam yet. SIAST grads have to write the ACoP exam but, so far, there is no SCoP exam to write. If you want to be registered in both ACoP and SCoP I would suggest you complete the ACoP exam, then you can apply for and receive membership to SCoP. If you are a member in good standing with ACoP you should be able to get reciprocity in SCoP. I didn't have to jump through any hoops to get registration here, I predate SCoP. Edit: Here is the link to the SCoP registration website http://www.collegeofparamedics.sk.ca/SCP%20Pages/SCP%20Registration%20Information.htm