spenac

Good point Kyle. That would work great if you have good partner and only 1 patient.

I'm with you whats this have to do with your post that she quoted?

That would work. Draw back would have to remove it to get your gear.

Our city actually throws downtown party's around some holidays and has the volly fire dept there selling beer. I can see the lawyers chomping at the bit waiting for something to happen. As far as policy we as medics do not allow alcohol at the station. Also no drinking for at least 12 hours and if you choose to get plastered at least 24 hours need to pass before getting on duty. Again this is our policy not the citys, they have never issued a policy, other than random drug screens.

Sadly yes, many seem to be that stupid.

Sounds like some people need to carry in the entire ambulance so this might help make it easier. Where I'm at don't see the need to carry much. Most patients our jump bag takes care of what I need long enough to get them to the ambulance.

Like the bat belt. But really if a person wants to carry a lot of equipment a belt support system like I have posted would be very useful. It also should not be as hot as a vest can get.

To add to ruffs comments to you. My main service we take 2 patients to the hospital each day. So I do not see many patients, but I probably have as much if not more patient contact time each day than you do. I am very rural and the minimum transport to the hospital is 90 miles, with no air support and nearest ground support is 60 miles from my station. I do not have to carry many people up or down many steps. But I do have to climb down into steep canyons that are covered in loose rocks, cactus, rattlesnakes, mountain lions, bears, spiders, etc in 110+ degree temps and package severe trauma patients then carry them back up. I have done this in the dark only different only about 90 degrees. Or if it's night time in the winter I maybe doing it in freezing temps with ice on the walls of the canyon. Wish I were in the comforts of a building even if only lit by a flashlight. Again don't think you are better or have the most unique conditions. We are all here to learn from one another. We all face different things and we each have different ways of thinking. This site allows us to share from a huge combined experience and knowledge base and hopefully be better for it.

Since you do not like my solution to assisting your belt with a suspender system, have you considered putting some of the items in a vest instead of on your belt. Here is one from Galls. [web:6f4168aa76]http://www.galls.com/style.html?assort=general_catalog&style=EV004[/web:6f4168aa76] You asked in one of your posts how do you get patients out of the house? The answer is I have most walk to the ambulance. ABC. If it will do them no more harm they are walking. If they require more thats when we get the stretcher or stair chair. Yes you have different circumstances so you may need to have items available based on distance from patient to ambulance. I have different circumstances as does each person who has tried to get more info from you or to offer advice to you. Read it, take the info, consider it, use it if you can, build on it, and if it don't work don't apply it. Someone else that reads this topic may find what others have said solves their problems even if did nothing for yours.

Here is a great solution to your problem. http://www.emtcity.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.ph...&highlight=

This is serious. People say they have trouble carrying what they choose to carry. This would make a great solution.

Equipment weight distributing system. Having worked construction and needing lots of equipment with me I found the following helped balance weight better than just a belt. Has anyone seen something similar designed for EMS? I personally do not carry much on me but based on other posts some do. Perhaps this could be modified or you could improvise something similar with wide FF suspenders attached to your belt. [web:3ef7063765]http://www.duluthtrading.com/store/department/organizers_bags/organizers_bags2/toolbags2/91159.aspx?feature=Product_12[/web:3ef7063765]

If people see partys at the station with alcohol they assume we also drink while waiting. Why do anymore damage to our image? We all talk about becoming professionals but this goes completely against that! I'm all for partys at the station, but fun can be had w/o alcohol.

No alcohol at the station and none in your system either. This was not even allowed at the volunteer system I started out with.

Are you required to carry all that on your belt? My belt is empty other than my cell. Pretty much everything else in jump bag.

Thats right I strip wood then I stain and varnish it.

Not obsessed with your statement, but I am obsessed with getting EMS to be an essential service. As stated I am curious of any laws that make it a required service nationwide or even for just for a state. When you made your statement I actually was excited thinking maybe it had happened and I had missed it. If ever EMS becomes an essential service then funding will follow. Do you see all the grants that are available for Fire and Law as essential services? There are very few for EMS. When it happens, then hopefully we can do completely away with volly services and make all areas covered by EMS professionals.

Nope, behaved all the 90 miles to the hospital. Don't know what triggered him. I just know I will not risk it. I keep them in pocket or jump bag.

Just so the person that stated what caused me to start this topic doesn't take offense, they did come back later and say that was not what they meant, so maybe they are not quite so "full of stool"( thanks RR911). But I would still like to hear what laws you are aware of and also any pending laws regarding making EMS an essential service.

I never wear it around my neck. I have seen a violent patient use it to yank a nurse down to them and start choking them with it. So I say why give them anything they can use to get control of me.

Try www.kila.com good scopes good prices. I have 2 different style cardiology ones and like them both better than my littman.

Dude don't get offended just wondered if you knew of a new law. Geez take a chill pill.

Is EMS or ambulances a required service in the USA? On another post on another topic a person stated that all areas in the USA must provide ambulance service or make mutual aid requirements for their citizens. The last I have seen is there has been a push to make it an essential service which would make it required, but at present it is actually considered non-essential thus is optional. In other words an area can say it's not required so we will not provide it because we're cheapskates. If I am wrong please provide the law to correct me. As a side are there any states that require it?

Not trying to pick a fight but there is no nationwide requirement for EMS. It is not considered an essential service. An area does not have to provide it or make mutual aid arrangements or anything. There has been a push to make EMS an essential service but unless I missed something hasn't happened yet. Now there may be states that require it I have not checked into that. The reason I asked you for the law is I thought you had some new info I had missed since you clearly stated it is required in all the USA.

Please provide me with the law that requires ambulance in every municipality. The last time I checked we were still not considered an essential service and that being the case it is optional.