Chief1C

Last time I was in a church, for a religious service, they gave me an envelope on the way in and half way through, sent people around with long wooden poles that had baskets on the end. You lost me when you brought religion into a debate over whether an EMS Chat-room should be free or not. I suggest a free social networking site.

As a general rule, I never discuss anything about any of my patients, with anyone not directly involved. If Patient AB. X tells me they like red beach balls, puppies, and their uncle Fred touched them as a child.. I'm not going to go down to the local coffee shop and casually discuss Patient AB. X's info with anyone. Telling war stories is one thing, but I never name the patient, or give any specific details. Why would someone want to do that? HIPAA

Actually, he is a career firefighter. The majority of the county firefighters appear to be paid, while only 1 in 5 are voluntary. He is suspended w/ pay. http://www.11alive.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=158923&catid=3

Oh? A drunk can benefit from it? You consider death, a benefit? We all have at least one bad habit. It's a heritage trait which I choose to continue, not open to discussion. In July, I passed the point of no return to soberness. I was down and out, and could not be woken up. Although, I doubt they tried hard. Someone had the bright idea to wake me the 'old way'. It worked, except I awoke while vomiting. My mouth, out my nose, ruined my sense of smell for a couple days. Guinness. It was like one of these adjustable flow fire hose nozzles, you turn it all the way to the left, and it flushes. Could have very easily turned into a case of aspiration, drowning in my own mistakes, literally. Done the same thing plenty of times, and never had any problems, as long as nobody was forcing me back to the light of the moon.

Learn about EMS of the past. I feel that it's important that students know where we've been, so they know how we got to where we are. Positive or negative, history should also be included in the EMT's curriculum.

Actually, I've never heard of "Pittsburgh Center for Emergency Medicine"? The roots of modern EMS owe a great debt to Pittsburgh, one of the great places where history was made and standards set. I had to look up the school, they have some very well respected names on the staff roster. So, it doesn't appear to be a medic mill. It appears to be an accredited program, so I'm sure it's reputable. They have a facebook page, maybe you could connect with other students for more insight? Facebook Link

Well, if they weren't required, I wouldn't have taken them. The first couple are packed full of need to know info, but the method by which they get the info to you, could be delivered better. I'm sure if the student knew what was involved, some of them would try getting it in their head with a bullet.

I've had all of the NIMS courses, and twenty other similar FEMA courses, by virtue of a position with municipal emergency management. They're all boring as hell, often redundant, but a necessary speed bump.

I could go for breakfast, myself.. Not a bad idea.

Depends on what kind of day I'm having. If there is other stress, sometimes etoh becomes a factor in getting my mind to another place. However most of the time, I just move on mentally, and accept the fact that not every life can be saved. Depends who and how they died. I've had quite a few pedi arrests, infants, toddlers and young children. Blank slates, to poorly cared for, to parents that take religion over medicine. Take a step back some day, and look over the stages of how people are believed to handle grief. If you summarize it, you see that we (EMS) do the same, only more briefly. In a small town, I've seen a lot of people I've known all my life, die tragically. I tend not to cry, I do a lot of deep sighing. I do the bottle it up approach, which is terribly unhealthy. So, when it comes to the point where it can no longer be held in, it's not pretty. We're only human.

Being from a very rural area... Not every fire apparatus carries "EMS" equipment. See more simple kits for minor treatment, than anything.. Many companies, whether they have an ambulance nearby or not, have quick response certifications. The list includes basic medical and first aid equipment, airway control, oxygen, resuscitation and suction (powered) supplies, splints and an AED. Just stuff to try and keep the patient alive till an ambulance arrives.

How long till you can land?

Is there any specific reason you'd be concerned about the drug test?

Just so we don't hijack a thread, and clearly not meant for the seizing victim. This is actual instruction, on how to control an airway, when alone..and miles from help. This is not an EMS procedure, it is directed toward laypersons that open the little booklet in the first aid kit they never learned how to use. Adding to that, it's also important to pin either a gauze pad or cotton to the tongue as well. Saliva won't be an issue, the tongue will dry up after a few minutes. But bleeding will be. We know why, they don't mention this. Although, the victim will likely die anyway. Either from their initial problem, or drowning in blood.

I wouldn't call it a protocol, b/c it's not aimed at EMS. Two people, in the middle of nowhere, one is dying. You'll try anything to save them, and that's the idea.

In all likelihood, the victim would die anyway. It wouldn't be for treating seizures, just keeping the airway open. Supposing you had no way to get help, and had to make your patient mobile. Stop bleeding, start breathing, make mobile. Keep in mind, that's all "absolute worst case scenario" type stuff. But be warned, Adventure Medical Guide advises would-be-rescuers, to do this, in their first aid guides. These are sold at most larger retail stores which sell their first aid kits. So, someone out there, may perform it.

Well, in theory, that is a treatment. But reason and execution are wrong, in this case. The safety pin airway, you pin the tongue to the lower lip w/ a cotton ball, or etc., to keep the tongue from blocking the airway. Also have to be sure they don't drown in their own blood. This would be something you'd see in like a remote or wilderness accident, where you have no other airway tools, no access to EMS, and your patient is unconscious and doesn't have a patent airway. Should you do this? Probably not. It's easier to keep a $2 OPA kit in the first aid kit. But it is explained in several popular survival and wilderness medical guides. As for the OP. Go for it, get trained as an EMT, or a First Responder, give it a try. That's how a lot of people get into EMS, having an up close experience just like you had. It's safe to say that you can't really be prepared for everything, we're not always mentally ready. The general public, I expect to be out of sorts after an accident or a medical emergency, especially, the person who witnesses it first hand. One of our jobs, once arrived, is to not only handle the situation with the victim, but calm the bystanders. There's nothing easy about EMS, but it's a lot fun, and sometimes it really sucks. A person never knows how they will do, until they get out and get their feet wet.

http://www.accesshollywood.com/taylor-lautner-settles-suit-over-rv-for-movie-set_article_36500?__source=rss|latest_news It was in Yahoo News last week.

Like that guy that got sued by the celebrity for the RV. He said if he had to pay, he would donate it to some Children's Hospital, but not to the celebrity. That would really make them look bad if they turned that offer down. Maybe start a country wide boycott of all of that media organizations publications?

Wow, it's starting to sound like a Media version of the Mafia.

Learned his lesson? It's a child... With cancer.. not wanting to be poked. Can ya blame him? Chances are, he will die, that ain't funny. I've been deeply disturbed by pediatric patients dying, and find no humor in the matter. Fire the bitch.

Any word from Ben?