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"They are the majority of females..." Dust, I think you are assuming that just because they don't want to sleep with you, they are dykes...

Dwayne, my mouth dropped open at your excellent, well thought, intelligent post. But I digress. I have worked both at a private service, and a hospital based EMS system. At the private service, I worked with one lesbian woman, and one gay man. At the Hospital based system, I can name at least 6 gay or lesbian providers, and those are only ones that I know of. (Not to say there aren't a ton more that I didn't know.) One of them was a lieutenant and went on to become assistant chief. I hate generalizations. To say that "gays" are relegated to 2nd tier services, and have no chance for advancement, is crap. It is like saying all white people are racist, or all black people are criminals. Do either of these statements have any merit? Not at all. You can't paint every person with the same brush. I think that sometimes people "create" discrimination because they are not getting what they want. Every situation is different. I could say that as a woman in EMS, I get stuck with "bad" jobs, and I can't advance. Is that really the case? Am I really qualified for other positions? Is there jobs available? How many other people are competing for those positions? I could be bitter that I did not receive one of those jobs and say that I did not get the position because I was a woman, my race, weight, sexuality etc. But is it discrimination or just my perception of the situation?

There it is.... the end of the thread. Poor me I get discriminated against because of my weight. Oh no... I am not overweight, I am very underweight! At 6'3 and 145lb, I cannot enter a room for more than 15min without someone making a "skinny" joke (Which I then follow with a fat joke at thier expence, immediatly followed by an invitation to continue poking fun at eachother's weight - or drop the subject. Funny how overweight people get so offended yet underweight have to endure a lifetime of punishment) OK, a little rant there My point is, although I am underweight, I act as society expects me too. I do NOT walk around in shirts that are too short to show off my tiny waist, nor do I continually bring up how small my appetite is, or that the average adult can put thier hands around my abdomen and touch thier fingers! I do what it takes to "fit in", no I do not hide my body with huge clothing or anything like that... yes I do take my shirt off at the beach. But if I do not want people to "be offended" and I use that term loosly, by my weight, I do not demand they agnowledge it on a daily basis. Put the person first. Are you a Gay Paramedic, of a Paramedic whom is gay?

back when this event took place Military anti shock trousers were common place in trauma protocols almost everywhere. Today there are few circumstances that allow them to be used. Most state equipment lists don't even require them to be a part of the required equipment list. Did the application of MAST cause the death? Hell No ! the person who stuck the knife in his chest caused the death. END of discussion.

Yeah, to a certain extent it is I think. I've spent a lot of time working with gays, both 'flamers' and not, have good friends who are gay and my previous supervisor and soon to be partner is a lesbian. I only mention those things to try and give context to my opinion. If my sexual preference (not implying that homosexuality is a lifestyle choice, but I do believe that the exhibition of it is) is Dom/Sub, or S/M should I then be allowed to come to work in a spiked collar? If I have infant fantasies should I then be allowed to come to work an speak only in baby language? Much, if not all, in my opinion, of the 'flaming' gay behavior is not an effect of being gay, but an affect meant to push the fact that they are 'different' in my face and force me to accept them 'for who they are, no matter what." Bullshit, that just isn't going to happen. But you know what? Come to work talking about 'all the bitches I fucked', or fart, or belch the night away in my ambulance and I'm going to shut you down too. The whole concept of 'you have to let me be me' is ridiculous and unhealthy for all involved. In this world it can be hard to get by sometimes...if you're blessed to have found love, no matter who you've managed to find it with, then I'm truly happy for you. But use that as an excuse to talk baby talk, walk with an exaggerated swish in your hips, or find that you're unable to speak without out girl'ing Marilyn Monroe (speaking of men of course) and now you're just bullshitting and being unprofessional. There are appropriate professional ways to speak and conduct yourself in a professional environment. I don't believe that being gay, or straight, or black or white, or older, or younger, male or female, should relieve you of the burden of doing so, and I refuse to disrespect you by accepting a lower standard of behavior, to treat you like a child because you are gay. We live in a world where being different.... having been molested as a child, being addicted and in a 12 step program, sometimes, being gay, has come into vogue. Each thing makes you different, removing your need to actually produce to be considered special. Unfortunately, I still live in the world that believes that you need to bring good things, produce something, even if it's just good energy, and I'll consider you special...the rest is just a bunch of rah rah drama. I want everyone to be happy, and fulfilled. If I walk in on my male partner when he's changing, gay or straight, and see him standing in a lacy pink thong....I could give a shit. Walk in on my female partner and see her hairy armpits and cammo men's underwear (Not exactly sure how to stereotype lesbian underclothes)? Ditto. People are different and varied...that's what makes them interesting to me...but put any of those interesting variables out and demand that I validate them, or where patients have to tolerate them, and I'll do what I can to shut you down and push you back into you lane. I'm disappointed that the OP has chosen such a shallow demographic for the article, as well has chosen not to participate in this conversation. But alas, as often happens in sub groups, it appears s/he is looking for ammo to fulfill a predefined agenda as opposed to write an actual, informative article. And that's too bad. It tends to make the entire gay EMS community appear too ignorant to know the difference, and I know that not to be true. I would love to have a gay partner, the same as I've loved to have a black partner, and a tiny/beautiful woman partner, and a big fat partner as well as others of course. They have had unusual challenges in their lives...their lives seem to have more perspective than many lives lived 'normally' or without such challenges. They tend to be more tolerant, less dramatic, able to love more without being needy...I just seem to 'get' them..and that's who I want to spend the biggest half of my life, the professional part, with. The rest is just set dressing. Dwayne Edited to make a very small grammatical change. No change in context.

Basic list of equipment to get for a new EMT 1. Field guide 2. At least 3 pairs of shears - you never know when you will lose a pair so a spare is important 3. Stethoscope - either a basic litman or another mentioned in other threads 4. Boots - whatever have been mentioned - boots are personal preference 5. Pens - good pens and lots of them (you will lose them very very often) 6. Pen light 7. Good quality socks These are the basics that every new emt or medic should have.

I'm paid to respond to 911 calls. If there are none, then why should I not be able to sleep? I mean seriously, EMS is hit or miss, we may be busy, or we may be slow. Does it matter what I do in between calls? People don't care what we do, as long as we are there when they call and handle their emergency. If we don't have calls or department work to do it hardly matters what we do. When you start your shift you can run around and do whatever you'd like. I'll catch some Z's just in case we get the big one tonight, mmmmmmk? I've never heard of ems people bitching about sleeping on the job, thats a new one. Wow. I'm not getting paid to sleep. I'm getting paid to sit at this firehouse, away from my family, and to be always ready to respond. You call, and I'm there to handle it without fail or question. That's what I get paid for. Sometimes you need us, sometimes you don't. I am compensated for being there. Whatever I do at the firehouse between calls is my business. I suppose you think we should throw a free car wash for the citizens of Chicago every shift day to earn our money huh?

I am liberal ? I thought I was quite the conservative, silly me. I would think it would be hippy liberals who all about having sex with minors, and excusing the behavior. Most liberals are closet child molesters, most conservatives are closet homos, glad I am independant.

yeah, they also should get someone to the hospital in a timely manner. Not waste time

It's just research. get a life dude