Chief1C

The only time I've had a camera on me while treating a patient, was a skateboarder who broke a humerus. Everyone had a camera, from cell phones to a commercial digital video camera-like a production company would use. And this was just in the local park. I did what I was supposed to do, ignored them to a point, and got the patient out of there.

The video was so short, I was expecting it to end with a violent explosion. It will be interesting to see where this goes. Kind of like the American Frontier... People decided they were doctors, and that's what they did. Formal training or not, I have a DVD on the subject, Frontier Medicine. Certainly not condoning it, but it won't affect me, so I wanna see what's next.

Lawn Guy Lin... Pffttttt... $1.3M tiki bar in the station.. We can't even have a fricken pop machine.

Pros: You fricken people Cons: Hey, I still have a killer hangover, and possibly a concussion - so I can't think of any right now that haven't been previously addressed.

A bag of large carabiners, a roll of 1" webbing, backboards, reeves, folding stretchers (the orange, maroon, green, black things w/ or w/o wheels and posts)...and a fricken school bus. Instant ambulance.

I can do all that at the same time, while drunkenly tripping over the rug just inside my mud room door. If that were a patients house, I would lecture them on the dangers of throw rugs. 80% of falls in the home are attributed to throw rug use. But I'm still going to pick myself up and neatly situate my Philly Phanatic rug for the next time I stumble in. (true, but supposed to be funny)

I don't see how there could be anything wrong with leaving a patient in Triage, upon being told to do so by the receiving facility. Except we don't leave them unattended, on the stretcher. That's a lawsuit waiting to happen, suppose they try to get off, and it tips over? Screwed. "A high percentage" of the people who ride in on the stretcher, didn't need an ambulance-or a trip to the ER in the first place. Triage or fast track areas, for EMS, is a great way to metaphorically slap someone across the face that feels if they're in an ambulance, it will be considered an urgent matter, and they shall be whisked right in and taken care of before anyone else. In a recent incident, as is common is rural areas, I was summoned to give aid via my home telephone. (I don't use the land line, I use a cell; and internet, etc., is through the cable line. So, when my phone rings; it's like 30% wrong number dialers and 70% "I need the ambulance".) I got there, gave first aid, then suggested they call their doctor the next day. Nope, "I think I'd get seen quicker if I went in the ambulance". No, you don't need an ambulance, in fact, you didn't need me to come all the way out here. They agreed, I left. An hour later, they called the ambulance. In transit, a call came in for a medical, in an area that takes more than an hour to access. I never make someone regret using the ambo, I WANTED TO, but I didn't say anything. I said in the radio report, "triage appropriate", and the person sat in the waiting room for six hours (according to them). They said "next time I'll complain of chest pain. Great, @$$#01e.

I always vote, it's my duty. But if that's all I have to choose from, I'll do what I do when there is nobody local that's any good. I'll write in my own name. I always have at least four votes for Mayor, Sheriff and Constable..

I keep a bagging w/ a puke bag, towel, two nasal cease swabs and two cold packs; and call it the epistaxis kit. (on the ambo) You can get the swabs in most drug store first aid sections. Of course I wouldn't suggest stuffing anything up there if it was trauma related. But lots of folks naturally have horrific nose bleeds.

Only if they're going to die BEFORE talking to anyone important. (Sarcasm)

This is the first time I came back to this thread. But after reading crotch's post... I feel faint, someone get the MAST; and the spirits of ammonia. Maybe put my feet up, too. lolz

Shit happens in rural areas, just gotta deal with it as it comes...

We had to transport 7 ppl from a CO poisoning incident w/ two ambulances, quite a while ago. Hotter than the blazes of hell outside, late at night. Good night to sit outside, power went out. These folks put a generator in the bedroom closet to run an AC unit. Darwin Award. Two unresponsive went in one unit, and five in the unit I was with. Used an MCI Minilator and a second oxygen cylinder that we stuffed under the bench seat, strapped to a short board w/ blankets to keep it from moving. Tried to get more units, but nobody else responded.

It's common to take two per rig here, the one that's worse off goes on the cot. I've had more than that in an ambulance, but I won't share that story. It was a matter of do, or someone dies. They weren't trauma patients though.

Nearest Bariatric unit is 50+ miles. One of our cots is a 500lb; one is a 750lb. The mounts are steel; which are mounted to and bolted into steel mounts. Those are bolted to the module frame, with two, three inch bolts each. There are three of these at the head, and one of them on the locking post. Which itself is also bolted to the frame of the patient module. How do I know this? I watched them build the ambulance, one day at a time. However yours is installed, falls upon whom ever spec'd your ambulance. Mounts should always be installed by someone certified to do so. If yours are just screwed to the floor, perhaps the service is just cheap?

Good way to keep you in line, beat you with sharp, blunt objects.

http://obits.dignitymemorial.com/dignity-memorial/obituary.aspx?n=Robert-Davis&lc=4274&pid=153980515&mid=4839234

Concur

...and flaming?

You asked a question: Then, you answered it: The typical response would be: Which you already provided: Here's a question for you:

Yep.. Good practice from old time ambulance care. Protecting them from the rain or cold, the towel I mean. Another good use, aside from the obvious; tall patients. Put it over the bar that is at the foot end of the cot. To some extent, any Ferno or Stryker cot has a means to prevent the mattress from sliding off the foot end. This adds comfort as oppose to having a pressure spot on the back of the legs or ankles.

I make up the stretcher, as if I'm going to be the next person laying on it. Whatever we use, we replace, and wipe the mattress, straps and rails off after every patient.

Yes, C-Spine protection is very important. But not every patient has a spinal injury. I think if I were about to BURN ALIVE, I'd want to be pulled out. I could always OD later on when I'm paralyzed. But the dude in that video that's posted... He had burns and smoke inhalation, I'm sure the dry chemical he breathed in didn't help either. I've treated firemen that inhaled it. That stuff is made to smother fire, melt, and smother it. It's nasty. Anyhoo.... I couldn't live with myself, if I stood by and watched someone that was awake and aware, burn to death. Nah, that would probably put me in an early grave. It's bad enough seeing someone after the fact.