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They did not violate a state law. That's far different than saying they didn't do anything wrong. No apologies from me yet. This was a disaster situation and by definition, normal rules do not apply. By definition, a disaster overwhelms local resources, which means tough decisions need to be made. Technically, any medical complaint can develop into an emergency, but the whole point of triage is to take care of the immediate life threats. In the vast majority of cases- and especially in a disaster situation, abdominal pain would not be considered a priority 1, or red. We can "what if" this thing to death, but think about this. What happens if you have a disaster situation where you have dozens of victims, and you need to make decisions as to who lives or dies. What if someone comes by after the fact, plays Monday morning QB and second guesses every decision you made? Is that fair?

Is there more information? I find it hard to believe some evil firefighters are going out of their way to pass a law so they are not part of an EMS system at all. There must be something else going on that is causing this side effect which definetely should not take place. No medical oversight is WRONG. I wouldn't want to practice on my own in a million years with just a paramedic license or EMT cert. It's nice knowing that as long as I use sound judgement and common sense while following what the Medical Director wants us to do we are generally safe from litigation etc. Out here firefighters have started a new medic school in order to improve the quality of paramedics coming out of school. Before you laugh too hard consider that there alot of new medics coming from schools such as NCTI that run 5-6 programs a year and require an EMT cert and no other pre-reqs. Something needs to be done to improve education and training in EMS and in my example the FD is trying to do that. I'm one of the few who was involved in EMS first and fire second. I've been blown away by how much better FDs train than EMS personel. Once you're hired at a private EMS company you just need to maintain you certs outside of the company. I don't know any privates around here who spend time on a daily or weekly basis training on actual patient care.

I was not working during the snowmageddon of 2010 because I was on sick leave. However my husband was at work during both the first and second storm. The service increased staffing, and he told me at the end of his shift that he had waded through waist-deep snow several times to get to patients. He's 6'1", so waist-deep is pretty far up there. He also told me that he and his partner along with help from another paramedic on a chase car and the fire department successfully removed a patient via stokes basket and ropes from a residence. The had to move him nearly a block in around 3 feet of snow. The patient was also on CPAP that was initiated in the home before they were packaged and moved. He said the operation took nearly a hour to accomplish and was more difficult then he could have ever dreamed. The point is, he, along with several other people DID THEIR JOB. They did it in adverse conditions, and had to wait for enough help to clear up from other calls to have enough people to safely do the job. He initiated treatment in the residence, after upgrading the call from a BLS dispatch to an ALS call, called for more help, and took care of the patient while he waited for help to move him. For the record, we are in South-central PA, and we had just as much, if not more snow then Pittsburgh. We also have the PA priority dispatch crapola here as well. Dispatch decides if a call is an ALS or BLS response, and more often then not, they are wrong. So really, they couldn't get to the patient? I don't buy it. They didn't try hard enough, period. Even if they had to wait for help to move the patient, they could have gone to the patient and began to assess and treat. While I agree they are not the only ones at fault, I do believe they did not act in an ethical manner.

Remember, the patient themself, cancelled at least one of the calls. If the doctor that called the house wasn't 'concerned' by the patients condition and complaints, then why should that raise 'special alarms' for EMS? We've seen in this forum alone, how rushing to make 'snap decisions' has resulted in some people having to ingest a very large serving of crow, and yet there are some members that are still willing to justify the crucifixion of someone based on a poorly written article that lacks all of the facts. Herbie, In one line, you withold apologies to those involved, and in the next; you defend their actions....hoping to fall on the 'safe side' of the fence on this one? The point is; the state has cleared the crews of any culpability in the death of this man. While it's regrettable that he died as a result of his condition, there's no reason to continue trying to hang the crews involved. I highly doubt that the city will be able to come up with any finding that contradicts the states conclusions. I for one will be very interested in seeing how the Mayor extricates that huge hoof from his mouth.

Seriously, this is the most blatantly brazen anti-EMS move that I've seen the firemonkeys ever make. I have to say that I am genuinely flabbergasted. They have truly soared to a new low.

Last night, I sat around with my best friend -- a 20 year Dallas Police officer -- and watched a DVD marathon of "Hill Street Blues" episodes from 1981. We both (I am an ex-cop) commented on how absolutely realistic that show was. Neither of us could remember a single episode ever where we shook our heads and said, "oh, that's bullshit!" Best I can remember, nothing was ever in an episode that pushed the bounds of reality. That was thirty years ago. Why can't "Trauma" (or "Turd Watch") at least meet that one standard? Same thing with character development. You actually cared about the people in Hill Street Blues because you got to know them, beyond their professional life and who they were sleeping with. How hard is that to do? Hill Street Blues characters weren't all angels. Sooner or later, seems like almost all of them pulled a shady deal that pushed legal boundaries. But then they went on being professionals that you still cared about. They made mistakes. Sometimes they made mistakes that cost people their lives. But they went on with their life and career, rising above it, and going on being a professional. I don't see that happening in "Trauma" And, of course, nothing ever blew up on Hill Street Blues, yet it remained interesting enough for people to keep tuning in season after season. It CAN be done. I can't speak for all the criticisers here, but I personally am not asking for perfection by EMS technical standards. Like many here, I'm simply asking for an interesting and stimulating show that stays relatively within the boundaries of reality. Again, it CAN be done. We're not asking for miracles. Hell, I'm not even asking as a medic. I'm simply asking as a viewer. I WANT to like this show. I think all of us do. But for fuck's sake, give me something to work with!

For clarification – Dixie and Dr Early were married – not on the show, but in real life. Emergency was a completely different genre than Trauma. Emergency was a public service announcement worked into a 1 hour television show. Trauma is just nighttime soap opera with no basis in reality. Emergency touched on topics of “drinking and driving is bad,” “drugs are bad,” and the politics of hospital and EMS/Fire. Emergency was based a lot on James O Page, one of the pioneers of EMS, and who the Johnny Gage character was supposedly patterned after. It was also based on actual events of the time, including touching how medics were trained, the legislation in California which allowed the paramedic program to be developed and implemented, and the hurdles they faced. In comparison, Emergency and Trauma are two completely different creatures.

Here's a thought, why dont you actually educate the EMTs to use nitro and remove the need to run off and ask "doctor may i?"

NTG? Dose? IV? SL?- I'd start with SL @ 0.4mg Lasix? Dose?- meh, don't know if id use lasix- the dose would be 1mg/kg (or 20-40mg). The concerns I'd have would be the renal shutdown, but it seems acute, so it may be benefical The EKG findings point to Hyperkalemia, so Tx should include - calcium chloride- 8-16mg/kg - Sodium Bicarb- 1mEq/kg - ventolin neb- 5-20mg - insulin/glucose- 10U/25g- over 10-15 min So, why may be the cause of the renal issues? I think that the renal failure is caused by the cytotoxic therapy the pt is undergoing, but not sure of the specific patho behind it. Use the PICC? if IV access was a problem, I guess I wouldn't have much choice, although I'm not sure if it would be a good idea to put the bicarb down the same line as the other drugs, does anybody have an opinion on that?

I hadn't seen the show before, so I asked Babs to record it for me. She said, "I watched a little bit of it..I think you're going to hate it." But you know what? I didn't. Did I see a lot of inaccuracies? Sure, but I see just as many in House, and I love that show. Why didn't I hate it? The folks were dressed decent and were actually able to to speak in full sentences. It showed the fact that some of EMSers believe that intelligence is held in higher esteem than bravado. The pilot guys is all screwed up, and we see those folks, but he's also a cowboy (guessing from peoples' comments towards him) and for a change no one was in awe of the 'cowboy' but held him in disdain. They showed an inexperienced provider, I don't know if he's a new medic or basic, screw up, and actually explained that that is part of EMS. He had to make some decisions, as he'd asked for help and been told to "deal with it", made some poor decisions when he had to, without guidance, and now has to live with it. Often we (at least me) have to make decisions and hope that they are the right ones. Most times they are, sometimes they aren't, but the possibility of really screwing the pooch is there. Can I say it was a bad idea to split the crew from the allergic reaction and the chest pain guy? Sure, I would have managed them both on the lawn. But then the kid wouldn't have been alone, wouldn't have screwed up, and the point wouldn't have been made. They gave us, as professional providers, plenty to bitch about, but I think they also made some effort to give us some things to like if we look for them. Do kids believe that all firemen are heros because they've watched a lifetime of shows that explain the exact angle of attack for a fire? Or because they've watched years of them spending half an hour defining the optimum number of personnel and equipment necessary to fight a structure fire before running in to save the baby? No man, they showed them doing a bunch of nerve wracking, exciting stuff. You all seem to want EMS explained to the masses in these shows. How about being happy that they were presented in professional, intelligent manner when viewed from the uneducated point of view? I was actually shocked after all the comments I've read here to actually see it. We can pick apart the fact that the chick in the backyard was bagging without making a mask seal, that the kid gave three shots of nitro, that some of us would or wouldn't actually work a trauma COR or afterwards be fucked up by it, but all in all it appeared that they tried, from the outside looking in, to present EMS as having an overworked, kind, decent spirit...and for me that's a good thing. Let's watch what they do with the macro impressions and work backwards from there to the micro and see if that isn't a better approach? I look forward to seeing how the show progresses. Dwayne

I'm not stressing. Just frusterated/amazed at the amount of whining going on about the show. Like I said...we get it. It's BS. But it's been hounded to death already. All I'm saying is if it's that bad, don't watch it. Don't watch it, then come on here and bitch about how bad it is???? Just my two bits, dust.

You're the only one who seems to be stressing over it, Mr. All Caps.

I don't give a flying fuck what the statistics are. All I know is that I AM one of those statistics, and I damn sure wish I had been wearing a helmet. Skull fractures are no fun. And I was already ugly enough without this scar over my eye. So yes, I am all for REQUIRED headgear in the ambulance. I was pleasantly surprised to see it being worn in Japan (where you can't go ten minutes without seeing an ambulance flying by). But no, I do not know of any agency that currently requires them, nor have I ever been with such an agency. We had a very thorough discussion of this issue here a few years back: http://www.emtcity.com/index.php/topic/3679-would-you-wear-a-helmet-during-transports/page__hl__helmet I'll repeat my initial (among many) response to that thread: A quarter of respondents to that thread said they would voluntarily wear a helmet. A quarter said they would not, and would even defy any policy requiring them to do so. The other half were somewhere in the middle. I'm curious if the numbers have changed as the makeup of the board has changed.

This is what I love hearing! I can understand (via talking to different levels and walks of EMS folks) how it can get frustrating, and exhausting to say the least. I have heard some horrible things, and some wonderful things. And I get that I wont "get it" till I have worked in it. However I love knowing that there are those who still talk about their job with such enthusiasm, and happiness.

I have worn turnouts to the point that avoid putting them on at all cost. I have been on the largest fires in the history of California. You guys are not getting it and that might be why we have a problem. <br><br>Are u willing to wear the gear you have been issued for a week, running 24 calls a day, day and night in a disaster zone. It seems a couple of you have an aversion to the Fire Service. The Fire Service runs the show in 80 percent of america when it comes to 911 EMS, and I see an aggressive take over of Private EMS by the Fire Service in the next few years due to budgets needing to be justified. Unified Fire in Salt lake has just about ran every company out. They do Medic Engine Transports. <br><br>The point is that Dickies style pants, Red Cap, Lyons, whatever.... are not appropriate clothing for long term EMS Operations. Look at England, and other countries. Look at the red cross in Spain and France. This was an issue during the world trade center 9/11. It was an issue during Katrina. Why not have a Standard Ensemble Outer Wear that could be adapted or modified for use by the user for cold wx or warm wx. Somewhat like Ski Patrol wears. Mandated by the DOT. Same Color and spec in every state. If a person saw you in San Diego or Miami it would be the same uniform. <br><br> I am not Ricky Rescue......it is your emergency not mine. I am not going to expose myself to the cold or heat or the rain, get my boots wet, get my shirt wet. Some of you have higher levels of medical training. OK.........why is it that you don't touch a sink with your scrubs when you wash your hands? Why is it that you don't allow soiled linen to touch your Scrubs? Why is it that you Don't allow Scrubs to be removed from the hospital, and why do they wash scrubs in a SEPARATED washing machine. The first code of the day, your uniform is contaminated, and you take back to the Quarters, it cross contaminates the Rig etc, etc. Then you put it in your washing machine at home where you wash you kids cloths. SICK......my sons mom never let me wash my uniform it the washing machine she said take it to the laundrymat. <br>Her mom was a trauma nurse, she knew about MRSA, and all the microbes and pathogens that remain. I challenge you to do some research on the subject. Now I feel the subject might be that EMS providers are not receiving the correct training, they don't understand what they are&nbsp;&nbsp;being exposed to. The first SNF you go into and kneel on the bed of a PT to lift them on the Gurney you have contaminated the crap out of your pants. <br>Then you go eat lunch in those pants, gross.<br><br> <div><br></div><div>The globe stuff is right on point.....hats off to the FDNY EMS division. Ever run into Captain Morris from Rescue 1.?&nbsp;</div>

I see what you're saying and I partially agree . . . That said, the biggest difference in the two shows I see is Johnny, Roy, and the rest of the gang seemed genuinely caring and always did the best they could. And they were no where near as angst ridden as the characters on Trauma. But some of that can be chalked up to changing times. Dixie's humongous pointy rack was there for a reason, but it still seemed in line with the morays of the day. And Blondie's behavior, in some circles, will also be acceptable, except it isn't to us. All the EMS woman posters, and many men too, are deriding the depiction of females on Trauma while no one at the time ever called Dixie slutty. On the subject of Chet. I actually found his character a distraction on Emergency. I felt like they were going for a cross between Lumpy and Eddie, from Leave it to Beaver, and they hit neither. The bottom line difference, and again only to us, is Emergency was a positive look at EMS (medical inaccuracies aside) while Trauma is a negative look at EMS and the medical inaccuracies just seem like a further slap in the face. And while Johnny and Roy weren't above a small giggle when they encountered something out of the ordinary (the poor schmuck trapped in his folding bed/couch comes to mind) in the serious extraordinary cases they' huddle up and calmly figure out what to do. In Trauma, and on scene, most of the characters seem to be in panic mode. I think the very first lesson I learned in the field, and just from watching other providers, is no matter the gravity of the situation just act like you've been there before. But the real truth of the difference between the shows is today Randolph Mantooth can sit behind a folding table at an EMS convention and be adored. If Wabbit tried the same thing, today or twenty years from today, I'd fear for his safety . . .

Did anyone notice this at the bottom of the page?? "The Stat Kit 900 contains oxygen, a hazardous material. There will be a $30 hazmat fee added to your shipping costs. Please note: A filled oxygen cylinder cannot be shipped via Air. If you are requesting express shipping of your Stat Kit, the sylinder will be drained prior to shipment. Or, the full cylinder can be removed from your Stat Kit and shipped via Ground." This kit is going on an airplane, correct?? PC

Danny Boy, The Pipes, The Pipes . . .

What information do you have that the rest of us do not?

Yeah, if I stay long term it would be because of the work environment. There is a large percentage of medic/basic teams that can be a drain to your mental/emotional energy, but the rest, in my experience, tend to be smart, kind, hilariously funny, intelligent, competent, curious, team players. And they seem to find joy in helping those around them be the same. I find spending my days with, and attempting to be like, these types of people is great for my heart and head, as well as my spirit. Management? Nah, if I choose to take a path that continues in EMS it will be because I love these folks. If I choose to take a path with more responsibility and/or pay, then I'll move on to something more lucrative. I'm not the best person to take this advice from. I was exhausted with two years of medic school plus work, reexhausted in Afg, so now I'm just kind of hanging out thinking "Holy shit...I get to run interesting calls, make ok money, spend my days with my family and my nights with interesting/mentally challenging people, are you kidding me?? Did I win the friggin' lotto?" I'm kind of coasting...My thoughts may be completely different after I recharge for a bit... Dwayne

Doesn't really matter to me Hey no prob, I should be running into him in the next couple of days at work. It's been a couple years but he might still have some inside info that might help to stop you from running around in red tape circles! I'm considering working and travelling when I'm done school in a year. Don't know where yet, somewhere warmer than here in the winter! My dad is American and lives near San Diego and I have relatives in other parts of the state too. Please let me know how things end up going for you as I had also considered Cali.

Who are these 'experts' you talk of? Where are the studies behind what you're talking about? What book and what book company? What reason? You can sit in the middle of a busy intersection doing chest compressions 3 minutes away from hospital. I'll continue on as originally planned with perfectly good CPR and meds

Not if they're less than 20 feet away in the other room and it takes a full day for VSU ... I mean working a code etc etc ... EMS doesn't usually go to doors making notification if that's what you thought I meant.

I guess it's different everywhere. I've worked small town where VSU was very close at hand, and I currently work in a large urban area where it takes a bit longer to mobilize VSU. If we are called for an unconscious/man down sort of thing and the person hasn't been seen in a couple or few days and we find them, if family is on scene and I'm their first contact, yes I will tell them. If family is nowhere to be found, the police end up making notification when family is contacted. The first notification I ever made was to someone who was soon after charged with the murder of their mother. It was not my place to give my opinion of them when they asked if there was anything we could do for her. I removed the whole homicide aspect, put myself in the position of someone who was about to learn of their mother's death and said what I needed to say.

I haven't had a chance to watch it yet, however it sounds like the usual bang up job of medical accuracy.... But you know something......IT IS A TV SHOW. I know it's been mentioned before, however people seem to still be hung up on how lousy this show is. IF YOU DON"T LIKE IT, DON'T WATCH. It's really as simple as that. If the show is that bad, It'll be canceled, and we won't have to worry anymore now will we?? Trauma is NOT an accuate portrayal. We get it. Nor is it a recruiting video. The show is complete BS, yeah, but you know, I don't mind it. I laugh at the error's and ego's. and realise it is a TV SHOW. Just like HOUSE, Law&Order, etc. And I bet you guys watch those, errors and all. Relax. because really??? Is it worth stressing over??? Especially when it'll probably be gone by the end of the season?

Advising family of a deceased relative is part of what we do. Do you remember the first time you had to speak to a family about this? Would you change any part of your communication if you could?

Dont let them bother you some folks just like to spank there monkey

OK I just have to ask is this for you or the company you work for

Sorry, I think that they lose a little bit of protection when asking the patient to walk the trek. Sorry, but if it's safe enough for the patient to brave the weather, then it's safe enough for the crew. What's next? Fire fighters refusing to enter any burning houses because the people inside should just walk out on their own regardless of their condition? Regardless, the crew would have to walk from the ambulance to the house even if the ambulance was parked out front. In the mean time, some suggestions: PLUS equals Or use a to move patient from house to ambulance. or at the very least, set up shop and administer care on scene.

i watched one episode of this show and found it boring..but that's just me. People here love to bash the show, but they seem to watch it A LOT. I'm sick of hearing the lame comments such "this show makes us look bad" blah blah. It's a TV show, and a boring one at that. Let it be, if ya don't like it, do what I did, and don't watch it!