Chief1C

The only class I ever aced, with 100%, was typing. Ironically..on a typewriter. Our school didn't get full rooms of computers until just before I graduated. We had two full rooms of massive Smith Corona Typewriters, though. I had the fastest hands in the classroom, 72WPM, during the test for that, no mistakes. Then when it came to the computer class, I had an incomplete b/c I came down with a nasty strain of the flu and was quarantined for three weeks. Yes, quarantined. Long story.

Well, if you're looking to protect someone from the elements, then the disposable blankets are the way to go. If you're looking to keep them warm, then you'll probably need to cover them with a dozen or more. Most "Emergency Blankets" are solely for visibility and protecting one from rain, snow or wind. We swap out the current blankets at ER's, and carry about double what is required. Then we have heavier blankets for different purposes, like woolen, fire retardant ones to cover ppl when we're cutting them free of a wreck. We also carry numerous polar fleece blankets in kits I assembled and dub "Hypothermia Packs". These, we never see again. If getting more is an issue, and you have the call volume, you may just want to consider using a linen service for blankets; and using disposable stretcher sheets for cot to bed transfers.

I fell asleep. But I got the band-aid off. It was like waxing my arm. Skin. Hair. Et al...and tore the SOB open again.

I WILL have page 69, if I have to sit here all night Holy ouchers. I used this new "reinforced" band-aid on my arm, have a pretty gnarly cut, it's like a steri-strip, but it's a Band-Aid Brand Adhesive Bandage.. It looks steri-strippie like. Anyhoo... trying to peel this %$#@er off. No go. Tried hot water... rubbing alcohol...cold water...ice cubes to numb it. no. fricken. go. Shits on there, yo

No, he's packing up and taking off to be a tropicalislandEMT

Only every other year for my free JEMS gift. I have quite a collection of stuff.

I only read the article itself, when it was in my digital copy of JEMS. The first time I ever read it online. Usually like the paper version, b/c I buy shit from it. Then again, I only read it b/c we get six copies free. We're either Speshul, or really good with words when writing letters.

Happens

There once was a man from kent who...

I watch b/c I wanna see what happens next. or maybe I like to play with hose.

I will get Pg. 66 shit

Spleen's gonna need a nurse...and a medic... and possibly a doctor.

The pouches, where they look like gauze pads with pebbles inside, work quite well and fairly quickly. As opposed to arriving at the ER with four bandages and 200 gauze squares on a wound b/c (not more than ten years ago) we had no tourniquets, the BP cuff wasn't good enough and pressure points weren't enough. Since TK's were always a no-no, last resort.. I hate to admit this, but if we HAD to use one.. It was a wooden dowel rod and a cravat. That's just how the protocol was, the only reason to use one, was if the limb wasn't viable, according to the state. No mention if the person was going to bleed to death. Now there's at least a dozen mechanical TK's on the ambo, prolly six packets of QC and a bunch of those 4" bandages with the blood stopper pads that North American Rescue makes for tactical EMS. Unfortunately that it had to come because of war, but fortunately for EMS, we have a shit load of awesome "tools" to stop bleeding anywhere on the body. It's no longer "oh god, tear me open a bunch of those", or in the case of non-sterile gauze, hand me a good chunk of those. I can recall wrecks out in the boonies where I'd have three people on board - three patients; and at least one would be holding a 4-5" high stack of gauze on a wound b/c you just add more, don't take it off. Common first aid measure taught through the ages, if it bleeds through, add more to the pile. But the more you add, the less pressure you're going to be able to provide. So you're really just making a big sponge. It's a hand saver. If you need something stifled quick, and you need your hands for something else. Slap it on and wrap it up, move on. I could go on and on. But I won't. I just came on to check my email, and clicked the wrong tab.

I suppose you could ask permission to search the bag, and if they refuse; either call PD; or refuse to take it along. If that's a problem. TAXI! (the ones that don't have red lights)

You were gone? I kid. WB

Put the siren in the bumper. Problem solved.

If I went outside and seen a whale...someone would have a lot of explaining to do. Of course, it could just be a Bariatric decedent arriving at the funeral parlor across the road. I know, that was wrong. I felt it was deserved, b/c my left foot is numb from shifting one from bed to cot.

That's ok, everyone looking for an empty parking space in the US, becomes an @$$hole as well. I prolly would have just let him have the spot, then had the illegally parked cars, towed...then of course park somewhere else for a few hours so they don't blame you b/c their car was towed.

Congrats! My mother said she wants grandchildren. So I got her a cat.

Are you still scared? Careful you don't ship your pants.

It's important to use these events as reminders. There's probably a lot of fellow rural folks on here. This could happen anywhere, maybe not on such a large scale, but the potential is there if you look around. We're trained to observe stuff. So, do that, look at what is in your backyard. Farms? Ammonium Nitrate and Anhydrous Ammonia. Probably every large farm, or ranch has some of this stuff. Some have excessive amounts. I've turned out to a lot of barn fires in the past sixteen years. Anyone that has been to one either with EMS, or as a firefighter knows that you're probably going to be there a while. The longest I recall, we were on scene over 25 hours. Aside from the attack being a royal PITA, the overhaul, mop up; and finding a tractor big enough to get the pumper, which is beached frame deep at nearest pond; they're exhausting, massive, dangerous fires. Plants have MSDS lists, and sometimes the fire dept. has one.. Barns don't. You have no idea wtf farmer john has stored in there. Propane heating, fertilizers, pesticides, paint, cleaning products... So, while you're trying to be a safe firefighter, and a good neighbor by getting the animals out.. There could be a cocktail that could level a country block brewing above your head. Typically, we'll do any animal rescues first, if safe; before we start lobbing hundreds of thousands of gallons of water into the flaming mass. B/c The fertilizers usually react extremely violently when they're burning and you apply water. There is no way in hell ANY fire company, short of an airport carries enough dry chemical; and you'd need a truck load of foam. I can't think of anyone locally that carries more than five, 5gal. pails. Shit goes quick when you're flowing high pressure and and using an eductor. And anyone with fire training knows that if you want good foam cover with Class A; you're going to have to be closer, than say if you were just spraying a light mix with a hand line. We have a really good foam system, with all these ethanol cars and such; and if you want a blanket to pile up, you're gonna need to be at least with in 50'. Too close if something explodes. IMO, viewing the video, it looking like a tank BLEVE. But it could have been a combination of water getting somewhere it shouldn't have. Who would expect that to happen? They were probably trying to cool the tanks, or getting set up to do that, when... That's just something you can't plan for; they were evacuating people, and even though a lot of people were injured; not a lot of civilians were killed. They did their job, and they did it well, unfortunately, they didn't get to go home after it was done. We lowered our station flag in honor of them, hard not to choke up a bit; even a thousand miles apart, we're right beside them.

In the case where the call is for someone who has attempted, or wants to harm themselves; either our crew, or PD search them and their belongings. Founds knives and such, never any firearms, which is odd..since most rural folks carry firearms, or own them. One thing I do not permit, is the patient having access to the bag during transport. I tell them we can't have any loose objects, in case of a crash, and secure it in a compartment. To be perfectly honest, I've never considered if someone had a bomb. Under normal circumstances, who would? Yanno, except the miliary on active duty. I have learned not to trust anyone, and have a tactic to subdue stretchered patients who pose a life threat to the crew or myself. I have had a patient cause harm to themselves while belted down, no weapons needed. The patient BIT through several veins, spraying everyone and everything with blood. Pumped up the BP cuff till we had the pt. tied down so as to permit treatment. Then called OMC for permission to use restraints...and PD to file assault charges. Spraying someone with blood, intentionally, spitting, et al; is assault. Also been assaulted by objects, fists, sputum, etc. Had a very large knife pulled. But IED's, or bombs, no. There was a call in the area for an IED planted to keep trespassers away, that was struck by a tractor. Its a possibility, anywhere. They're too easy to construct. All I can tell my people is to be less trusting and more vigilant, and hope they use their instincts to sway them from harm. Please excuse any errors. I'm not at the top of my game. B.R.A.T. Diet.

I am exhausted. Tie me to a tree and hit me with a shovel.

Doesn't sound too good on the status of better than half of their firefighters. Terrible shame, you just can't replace good people over night.

Will you?