spenac

Not so fast crotch, ADA does make exceptions. Certain jobs there is just no way to make allowances. So no real point to argue with you here. ADA does not apply in this case.

If he person does there job w/o endangering anyones safety, then the prescription drugs are not a problem unless you have to put with them. But if the drugs alter reaction times, etc then they endanger me and patients so they are out if they have to take them.

They don't have to advertise random testing. You just have to be informed when hired or when the service implements it. Saw a place start random drug testing and had 10 or 11 people quit w/o ever getting tested and a few failed testing and soon were out as well. They gave 60 or 90 days notice before it went into effect but I guess some like the drugs more than the pay check.

But with more education and not volunteering how could I get away with the lights and sirens that are worth more than my house on my old chevy chevette? :roll:

If you inform the service most seem willing to find something for you to do or to let you take sick leave/vacation/etc. But if longer than a few days maybe weeks sorry you are no longer fit to perform the dutys required by your job, bye/bye.

I see private, city, county, state, and federal agencys that do not even work with dangerous equipment or drugs getting random drug tests. Honestly drug testing could be segragated to only fields that would potentially endanger the public by ones being impaired, but most do test all employees. Did I say how idiotic the fire unions are for not holding their members to an even higher standard? While I had very little respect for the fire unions ,I now have none if what you say is true.

Policy book should cover being impaired on duty whether legally or illegally is grounds for dismissal. If a person is that messed up and has to have so much medication that they can not function, sorry time for a new job.

Let me add did I say just how stupid that is on the part of the fire union. Honestly Fire, Police, EMS, Hospital Emergency Services doctors, nurses, etc, be tested before every shift. Again peoples lives are involved and if your impaired you can kill someone. So much for being a "Hero", your really a zero.

That is just stupid. Testing needs to be random and often. We are dealing with peoples lives and should be held to a higher standard than most. Not only are we talking abusing illegal, prescription, and alchohol, we are also talking helping catch someone that could be stealing and tampering with the drugs on the ambulance. That is crap that the fire union does not hold its members to a higher standard than Joe Rednecks Broken down ambulance service.

Yes I am, thank you very much.

One of my services is in one of the largest USA countys but is also one of the poorest. In fact this past month they could not pay the phone bill and it got cut off.

Wish I could. Finally released back to work and can't afford to take any time off. Sadly even my clinicals which are all I need to finish my Paramedic are on hold.

We don't do pre-filled as they are more expensive and really do not save much time. All levels here just pop the top off the vial, pull up the epi into a cheap 1cc syringe, pop the patient. All done. Sounds like your service is needing to invest in a controlled temp box for meds. Another idea is take the drug boxes/bags in with you. 1 or 2 bags are not that hard to carry in/out. Attach the keys to the bag, so if you get toned out you have to get the bag to get the keys.

Well as you were an inmate they really should have kept you out of their cliques. I am sure there are rules about hanging out with the criminals. :twisted:

Darn even the Canadians can get there quicker than me. Wish I could go. Any rich doctors want to pay my way?

Why not? That is a basic piece of equipment. If you ever work for another service w/o get your own or demand the service get one.

Why not? I have been checking patients ears since I got into EMS many years ago as an ECA (Texas First Responder).

Dr Spears has tried to get it more into the field. http://www.911sono.com/ems_ultrasound_homepage.htm

Hey bring your pride and education out to west Texas, we treat good people right.

But those require more education than EMS.

Your system failed. It should never have lessened it's standards of care by allowing basics. If all levels were done away with and as the others described all had real education, first patient care would improve, second pay would improve and those that really want to be prehospital medical professionals would get the education.

But all we do is drive fast and make lots of noise. We don't need no stinkin' edumacation for that. No sir. I learned enough watching nascar to know what I need to do this patamedic thing.

Don't know about epi-pens as even our basics just use a syringe for epi. Well here is what the maker says: http://www.epipen.com/pdf/ord.fm.pdf [web:bcb0718997]http://www.epipen.com/pdf/ord.fm.pdf[/web:bcb0718997]

There is more liability. The family gets in the way if things go bad. Sometimes illegals claim to be family and you actually help transport more ilegals. The service that allows no family is 911 strictly, now only my part time job. My now primary service does allow some rare exceptions but requires a form filled out and signed by the rider, that is 95% 911 service. We also do not allow luggage at either service though that is enforced more fully at my part time.

I don't like your instructor. I have found that bowel sounds, heart sounds, etc can allow me to at least give the hospital more heads up even if it does not change my care many times. I disagree with dumbing down just because of short transport. But keep in mind I am in a rural area and also am a firm believer in a detailed exam. I percuss, I expose, I look, I listen, I feel, etc. The more complete I am the less likely I am to miss something and the more details I can provide the hospital so that my patient gets the best care from me and those that follow.