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I might be a fireman, but I am also a pt advocate.

If you cut someone's property without an imminent medical need, you're really not thinking clearly and just being a douche. Sorry. You can dislike the "emo kid" and all his jelly bracelets... but unless you can't get them off without cutting, you have no right to destroy his property. What's wrong with you? If there's a medical need, you do as little damage as possible but do what needs to be done. If there's no medical need, and the original post doesn't really indicate whether or not there was, then keep your scissors to yourself. I'm actually really disgusted by this... is it OK to cut off someone's coat because you don't like the designer? Because you think it makes them stuck up? Where do you draw the line here? Wendy CO EMT-B

We are not here to merely make a living. We are here to enrich the world, and we impoverish ourselves if we forget this errand. ~ Woodrow Wilson To start out with, I have no clue if this is a quote by Woodrow Wilson, and I frankly do not care. The content of the quote is what should be discussed. The quote gives a reason for existence, to enrich the world. In my meek world, I question quotes like this, but more importantly, the meaning of existence. So, the question to be discussed, what is the purpose or meaning of our existence? This thread is purely an exercise of mental masturbation. I think it would be an interesting discussion topic. I hope others concur. To start off with, I want to say this without stepping on everyones toes. One answer I do not accept personally for this question is the religious view. This is not to stop those who are religious from joining in on the conversation, but, I ask that we do not simply say in so many words 'we exist for God'. Follow the religious answers up with something of great sustenance. I am willing to explore the area of religion as it applies to this discussion, but, I hope too many do not get pissed off with where it may go. See what I am saying? Matt.

Yeah 4c6, I took it that you were being an asshole to this kid too, and was surprised by it. I'm guessing when you reread your topic, description and post that you can easily see where people got that idea. I do believe your posts show you not to be that asshole though...just sayin'. What I do have issue with is those that have stated, "If it compromises pt care, I'm cutting it off." as if cutting or not are the only options available. In my experience people often cut off clothes for the same reason they can't wait to get to c-spinin', because it makes them feel very heroic. All of my trauma pts get near naked before going on a board, but rarely do I cut more than tshirts. You know who I love to cut the clothes off of? Those people that explain to me how bad they are going to kick my ass if I do. You know who I really, really, hate to cut the clothes off of? Homeless people. My basic partner, who teaches me something new just about every day, and I had a homeless man that had been attacked and stomped to whale shit. He was wearing a nice warm leather winter jacket and I friggin' hated the thought of cutting it off, though there was no question that in needed to come off. I finally made up my mind to do so, shears in hand, when my partner simply reached over his head, grabbed the back of his coat and the collar and pulled it over his head without moving him an inch. He got a thorough assessment and got to keep his much needed coat. Things rarely, if ever, are black and white. Protecting peoples lives is important, but so is protecting their property, and the trust that showing that respect exemplifies. Let's try and think outside of the box when we can... Dwayne

Sincerest apologies ALL, I stand corrected and a bit embarrassed I work off the military time and my error, sub therapeutic caffeine levels perhaps ? I did search with goggle but nodda came up, my information was very brief and I did jump to conclusions in error. But this brings up a point being that in the vast numbers of HEMS crashes as this is the typical senario, pushing the envelope with single pilot and restricted to VFR as a result just look to the FAA website for HEMS incidents stats and adding in that the weather factors. I do stand by my statement: Looking deeper into the 222 ... quite a poor history with "tranny" issues and that said in passing only, they (FAA) are still looking for possible causes. Thanks for the real info and background. cheers

Looks like a good idea for a PSA. Noticed this at the bottom right of the page. Seems like it would certainly get someone's attention- until they realize "Annie" doesn't look like those models. LOL "Now that we’ve got you interested in learning CPR and the abdominal thrust, go get properly certified by taking a class through one of the many certifying authorities in your local area"

I am rather new here but reading this has made my eyes sore since I thought there was two sides to the story. It seems that Lifeguard will not awnser any questions beside the one he wants to awnser. Since all Lifeguard has done is complain about why he could not pass the test and has not said what the protocol was he failed on he has no desire to better him self and learn. Sorry to be the one to state the obvious and if its out of taste im sorry but if you cant cut the mustard and be willing to work hard and learn maybe EMS is not for you.

I want to preface this post by saying that yes I have worked in both Afghanistan and Iraq; however, I would never compare these experiences to that of a soldier. Doc D, I do understand your point; however, you must understand there is a big world beyond the four months or so you spent in San Antonio. I appreciate your energy and willingness to discuss your point of view with us; however, as you continue in your medical career and education, you will find that the one way you have been told does not always apply. I hope you would at least take my points into consideration. Again, I do not oppose tourniquet use; however, like any modality at our disposal, we must be careful and thoughtful when considering the use of the said modality. Again, I believe it is appropriate to consider using a pressure dressing trial before transitioning to a tourniquet in many cases. Clearly, the situation may dictate immediate tourniquet use however. Take care, chbare.

If it's a simple device to remove, then there would be no reason to cut it. If it's loose enough to get a shear blade under, maybe it's not tight enough?

"How to piss off emo punks" was the subtitle you gave this thread. I do not see a misunderstanding.

Yeah, nice rant. Again, you have FAILED to give any information that has been requested from you. I think this is a game for you.

Misunderstanding Alert. I didn't say what was wrong with the patient, b/c that wasn't the purpose of my quip. I don't post when I cut a trauma victims clothes off.. There was swelling, bilaterally, they were stretched so tight I just barely got the tip of the pen cap/pocket doo hickey under them. I cut them so as to restore color and use to the hands. I was just sharing my story of how I coined battle scared silly bandz. They're annoying. If the patient already had them on "tightly" b/c of arm size, consider what will happen if the extremities swell. Thanks for assuming I hate the patient b/c the patient wears black. Thanks for making me feel bad, I should have said that I cut them off b/c it was medically necessary. But since it's a big fad now, I thought I'd share my first experience with silly bandz. They stretch, but not enough, dozens of tiny tourniquets.. I've been an EMT for eleven years, paid and volunteer. Never had one complaint from a patient. I have my own way to go about things, I'm big on the statement in our protocols that allow to form them for the best care of the patient. I like to be able to go home and ask myself if I did the right things, and I did that best I could. The same protocols, b/c they aren't shaped for rural EMS, ended my week badly. They didn't allow me to save my patient, b/c of a technicality.. I thought this was a funny story, not too often can you get a funny bit out of a horrible situation. They don't teach how you talk to someone who doesn't want to see tomorrow. Nowhere does it say that I didn't like the patient. The pt., lacked appreciation of life, per se. I tried to pull them off, got one of those cause bands off. But the others were screamin', said I'll buy ya new ones kid, but they're coming off. I do that sometimes, if someone says it's my only good pair or.. or my only good.. I feel guilty and offer, once I obliged. I got called stuff that would make a preacher faint. The pt. was pissed, but when I told the pt. what (the pt) could do with them now, well that was funny, and it opened a rapport, more info was spilled out, and that was that. But nobody wants to hear about that.

Your eagerness to cut off clothing which you find trivial because of your intolerance of a certain group of people is disturbing. I have never had to cut off clothing on non critical patients, and kids at a concert are probably not critical patients. Have you never gone through a phase as a teenager? This can be seen as willful distraction of property which is a crime. You have betrayed the trust given to you as an EMS provider to do only what is right for your patients. Looks like once again flashlights, badges, lights and sirens and uniforms have attracted the wrong type of people to EMS who bring the wrong attitude to the job. Wendy, plus one for a great post.

Improvisitation is the difference between a shitbag medic and a doc (In the Army) 4 sam splints is what we carry in our bag. You can splint a femoral fracture with it then provide traction on the ends to splint a femoral fracture. Its the only splint we got, but when my guys knock on my door and someone broke their arm playing football, i always splint it with a SAM

Full Bill text on link (PDF) http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=111_cong_bills&docid=f:s1793enr.txt.pdf The Ryan White HIV/AIDS Treatment and Extension Act of 2009 passed the House yesterday by a vote of 408 to 9. The Senate passed the bill earlier this week so the bill now goes to President Obama for his signature into law. There are several new additions to the Ryan White Act which affect emergency care – and specifically emergency responders. It is important to note that the ‘list’ established under Sec. 2695 is very powerful – it essentially determines what infectious diseases should be considered ‘potentially life-threatening’. The list is also used to determine whether or not emergency responders must be notified of an exposure. The entire bill can be found at this link http://bit.ly/2YZs1o Here are the sections affecting emergency care and emergency responders: The bill adds a new section to Ryan White – “Part G Notification of Possible Exposure to Infectious Diseases” Within 180 days after enactment, Section 2695 Requires the Secretary of HHS to complete the development of: * a list of potentially life-threatening infectious diseases, including emerging infectious diseases, to which emergency response employees may be exposed in responding to emergencies (The list developed shall also include a specification of those infectious diseases on the list that are routinely transmitted through airborne or aerosolized means.) * guidelines describing the circumstances in which such employees may be exposed to such diseases, taking into account the conditions under which emergency response is provided; * guidelines describing the manner in which medical facilities should make determinations when an emergency responder is requesting a determination as to whether or not a patient he/she transported had an infectious disease * This list will then be distributed to the public and the states * NOTE: This list is very important because it is relied heavily upon in determining whether or not a responder has been exposed to an infectious disease. The bill also reestablishes some of the notification provisions that were struck during the last Ryan White authorization. This is good news for emergency responders. Specifically, the bill requires Prompt notification – not later than 48 hours after determination is made – to emergency responders when: * A patient is transported and it is determined that the patient has an airborne infectious disease AND WHEN * A patient that is transported by emergency responders dies at or before reaching the medical facility, the medical facility ascertaining the cause of death shall notify the designated officer of the emergency response employees who transported the victim to the initial medical facility of any determination by the medical facility that the victim had an airborne infectious disease. The bill also contains a provision for emergency responders to request a determination as to whether or not a patient had an infectious disease. Basically the provision states that: * The employee must first make a request * The request is then examined, facts are collected by a designated officer * The designated officer then makes a determination – if the designated officer feels that an exposure may have occurred then he/she submits a request to the medical facility * Once the medical facility receives the request, it has 48 hours to respond * The medical facility will make a determination, based on the information possessed by the facility, regarding whether or not the emergency responder was exposed to an infectious disease that appears on the list (created above). * The medical facility can make 3 determinations, Notification of Exposure, Finding of No Exposure, Insufficient information * If a finding of insufficient information is made, the public health officer for the community in which the medical facility is located can also evaluate the request if the designated officer submits the request to him/her.

As much of a proponent of rectal temps as I am, I don't know if it needs to be done in the field. It isn't going to change your treatment really and there isn't the most privacy. I would never fault any crew for coming in without a temp. Where is trained and where I currently work, no one in the field checks a temp.

I'm licensed to carry an M-388 Davy Crocket nuclear recoilless rifle, concealed.

Well my friend, the tournakit is meant to control arterial bleeds, which are life threatening. If someone tries to use one to control venous or capillary bleed's, so be it. It will do the trick, it maybe a bit too serious for such a simple injury, but it will still do the trick. The main issue i see, is wheneever we move on to the higher escheloes of care they CUT the tournakits off with trauma shears instead of just unbuckeling them, thus wasting a 40$ tournakit used once.

It was a combination of skills to address airway issues. However, the protocol is irelevant. The fact that it was not taught in class is serious.

Your a real winner...........and to support wendy....please....