Kaisu

Where's here?

All they had to do was dial 911 - at anytime. I question the story of individuals that 1-eat themselves up to 800 lbs and 2 - live with someone that "loves" them so much that they keep feeding them. What would we say about the wife of a crack addict that keeps bringing it to him until he dies? I deal with the morbidly obese and I feel extreme compassion for them. Its a family disease tho. And do you know how much it costs to feed someone that gains 300 lbs. on top of an existing 500? While I agree with you phil that universal health care is a basic human right, I can't let you pin this entire situation on society, or health care or really anyone except the individuals stuffing their faces and those bringing the food to their elbow so they can proceed to stuff their faces.

Something made this guy arrest in the first place. PEA is a crummy rhythm to have and he is headed there again. What did you find out about the Hs and the Ts? Is he having perfusion issues? What is the BP? Any shortness of breath? I would administer a ventricular arrhythmic, specifically amiodarone.

Am I the only one that thinks it is outrageous that the defense tried to argue that the victim was ONLY an ambulance driver and/or EMT and not strictly a firefighter? Hitting ONLY an ambulance driver and/or EMT would have given the defendant 2 to 25, while the much greater crime of hitting a firefighter is mandatory life. WTF???????

Sorry for reviving a dead post, but I am curious. What was that piece of equipment? And no drivel about law suits. This is a open forum of opinion and all you have to do is tell us what thing you were researching. No legal liability there.

Regarding Kevinbutnobacon, anybody remember this paragon of British paramedicine zippyRN. Hmm.. maybe separated at birth? The only thing I can say to conversations with either one is

Or do like we did - formed a safety committee at which one of the first items brought up was the unacceptable mode of transport of pediatric patients. Result - Pedi Mates on every rig. I'm pretty proud of that.

so.. what size are they?

When I lived in Canada, we called it Honky Tire

you are beyond redemption

How about a picture of Missy?

I received the following from a member of my husband's platoon in Vietnam. The source is extremely reliable. Good afternoon all I was at Fort Hood yesterday afternoon and got caught up in the events surrounding the shooting. I was in the Howze Theater to play my bagpipes as a processional to bring in the soldiers who were receiving their college diplomas from area colleges and universities. They have one big ceremony each November for all the soldiers who have completed their degree requirements. I play for them every year. At about 1:30, I was sitting on the front row of the theater on the far left side.. A side entrance to the theater was located directly to my left about three feet away. I heard three or four muffled pops and thought it sounded a little odd. Suddenly, the door near me flew open and a man fell into the theater with a gunshot wound in his back. I started for the man to see what was wrong but two NCO jumped up and grabbed the man and laid him on the edge of the stage. One of them shouted Are there any medical personnel in the building? Two of the graduates ran to the stage, threw off their caps and gowns and began treating the man as best they could. The announced that his wound was not life threatening. As the man was being loaded onto a stretcher, five or six heavily armed civilian security personnel entered the back of the auditorium with their rifles and pistols pointing upwards. One of them shouted that everyone should take a seat immediately, and believe me, that happened very quickly. They asked that all senior NCOs in the building proceed to one of the eight entry doors in the building, and again, that was done immediately. One the security guys ascertained that the wounded man being removed from the stage would survive, they walked across the front of the stage and slowly opened a door on the opposite side of the auditorium”one which opened out onto a parking lot that separated the Howze Theater from the Soldiers Dome where the rest of the shooting occurred. We could hear rapid gunfire coming across the parking lot. One of the security guys again shouted a request for any doctors and nurses in attendance, and about 15 people immediately moved to the door where the security guys were standing. I heard one of the security folks tell the assembled medical personnel that there were many wounded people in the adjacent building, and that they were needed to help out. The medical people were told to follow the security guys, keep low, and move quickly without stopping. There was no hesitation on their part, they just moved out to do their jobs. There were three officers in the building, and to their credit they just got out of the way and let the NCOs handle the situation. I was extremely proud of the professionalism that everyone displayed. The only people complaining were the civilians who were there for the graduation ceremony, and soldiers continually moved among them to calm them down. One interesting thing about all thisabout an hour after the shooting died down, the loud speakers all over the base started playing the old Cavalry bugle call called Recall. I have never heard that on an active duty base before, but apparently the soldiers knew what it meant, that they were to drop what they were doing and return to their units. At about 7 p.m. they brought several cases of MREs (combat meals) and starting handing them out. I figured we would be there all night when that happened. However, about 30 minutes later, we were allowed to depart in small numbers. I had to pass through four check points before I reached FM116, and even after driving off the post, I had to negotiate two Texas DPS road blocks before being allowed to drive at highway speed to return home. I hope you will all keep the families of the slain soldiers in your prayers. I know that the Good Lord was looking after methat shooter could just as easily have followed the wounded man into the theater, where he would have injured many more victims. Anyway, that is a brief eyewitness report of what happened at Fort Hood yesterday afternoon. Bill Herridge, agent Gatesville, Texas

got my seasonal flu shot and the H1N1 shot today at the station. Health Department made 180 doses of H1N1 available, enough to cover all fulltime front line employees. Guess what? There are doses left over because some people opted NOT to receive the inoculation. On a related note, we had run review. This is a monthly meeting of all EMS agencies in the area and includes us (private ambo)and 4 city and outlying community fire departments. Our medical director stated that there are at least 5 deaths last month attributable directly to H1N1 at the one hospital. More scary than the numbers are the types of death - all supposedly "low" risk patients between 26 and 50 years of age without major co-morbidities. This count does not include a young female, 7 months pregnant. The baby was delivered by C-section and is doing well. Mom is fighting for her life, 2nd day in ICU on a vent. Our medical director states that it is the first time in his entire career that he is not sure of what he can do for these patients.

It's a disappointment. These once promising techniques, all based on sound physiology, proved no more effective in the field than anything else. It puts us back as providers to doing more or less the same things with more or less the same results.

Hmmm.. proximity to Seattle perhaps? .. or better weather makes people friendlier?

I'm not saying I'm interesting, but I am unusual in the field. I was born in Finland, immigrated with my family to Canada and lived there the first 40 years of my life. English is my second language, which I learned at age 7. Learned French in Canada. Grew up in an abusive family and was on the streets at 15. Never graduated high school. First career was pastry chef. Owned a bakery, and after selling it, worked as a pastry chef in hotel kitchens. On the side, started messing with computers cause I thought they were cool. Wound up with my own consulting firm, managed a client base of 140, did it for almost 20 years. Picked up an accounting degree along the way. Hated it for the last 10 years, but was making so much money (and spending it all too) it was hard to walk away from. Married an American, who I met online. Worked as Manager of Information Systems for the largest residential treatment center for abused and neglected kids in the state. Retired from the computer racket and hung out for a couple of years. Started martial arts. Decided I wanted to be a paramedic. Turned 50 during the last semester of paramedic school. (caught a baby that day too!) Got a 911 medic job 2000 miles away and moved to the desert. Learning some Spanish as I go. Got a ton of life experiences (3rd marriage - this ones going good, 4 kids, 3 grandkids) and am LOVING my job.

trust you... gee, I wonder if they are females

OK - so 9% of police officers, 10% of firefighters and 20% of EMS. EMS service levels have been affected. This is the situation in Canada. If 20% of our staff is out, we would be in deep doodoo.... I am going to get the vaccine if it ever becomes available.

You know Herbie, I appreciate the remarks in your last post. Speaking personally, when someone offends or enrages me, its almost inevitably because I have a secret fear that what they say is true. It is truly frustrating to be an idealist in this field. I've only been running for 13 months, (although I have over 1200 calls) and I am still idealistic. I can only imagine what all the years of experience and all the BS has done to you. Not withstanding, I do what I can, and what we can do is dictated by the volume and type of calls we run. I think the important thing is the mindset. Someone who is posted for 12 hours in a car running 1 call per hour is going to be intolerant of what they consider BS calls. The problem is that the issue is displaced onto the patient as opposed to a system that thinks 12 calls/12 hours is acceptable delivery of health care. I personally work 48 hour shifts, and standup 48s (where we never get to bed) are not uncommon. I spend the first day of my 4 day beached on a couch recovering. I think what enrages Vent is the simple minded idiots who think that the system is fine if only those BS patients would go away. You are obviously not one of them, but lets face it, your responses to her were pretty obnoxious. I understand that you were defensive. I suggest you ask yourself why. Respectfully Kaisu

I think I was married to this guy once....

Kudos to fire and police for respecting the picket line.

So sad. Thank you for the update

There! negative negated... and again

I've practiced the "tomahawk" in airway labs. It is not a blind technique and is not as difficult as it sounds. (of course, I've practiced yoga for 30 years )

It's relevant to any thread she chooses to reply to in that, at the risk of repeating myself yet again, you can learn something. There will be a lot of good information coming from people whose "tone" you may not like. Get over it - put on some big boy pants and read material that may not be fun, or ego stroking, or make you feel warm all over. And if you had read Vent's posts with an open mind, you would understand by this late date in this thread that the woman is trying to give you information that; 1- gives you perspective on the big picture - re: the fact that these people need something, and inadequate as it is, 911 is what they got. So sorry that not all calls are codes or major gory traumas or challenging to you or even fun. What else would you be doing anyway? recliner time? and 2 - gives you some ways to begin thinking about the solution as opposed to just plain whining about it.