Kaisu

Well.. I am 50 and begin my first real paramedic job the day after tomorrow. I graduated last May so my knowledge should be current. My achilles heel is lack of experience. I am rectifying that. I would suggest an honest appraisal of strengths and weaknesses. As long as you can do the job and are physically fit enough to pull your own weight, then age is a number.

Watt are you going on about.... (i know i know.... groan groan groan...)

I agree with Wendy. That kind of weight loss is worrying. Get checked out girl! Re suppliments - I take a multivitamin and D - that's it but I love to eat clean. Salmon a couple of times a week, red meat only one or twice a month, whole grains, lots and lots of veggies, fruits for snacks, etc. Baked goods are my weakness and I restrict them to once a week. I am currently refining my diet and suppliments may be a part of it at sometime. I am blessed with robust health, and make lasting changes only when something stops working. (although at 50, it seems that it either sags, leaks or grows hair :roll: )

Hey there... I used to run and lift weights. After a while, I burned out on it. I decided that I would only exercise if I loved it. I rode horses and did heavy landscaping work. My big thing for the last 4 years or so has been Taekwondo. I do 8 - 10 hours a week and believe me, it is enough. I wanted to improve my cardiac efficiency and build my stamina, so for the last couple of months I have been on the elliptical. I mix up the programs and usually sweat bullets for 35 minutes 5 times a week. Stretching is super important and I maintain flexibility with a stretch routine every second day after I have done the aerobic stuff. The key for me is to keep mixing it up and enjoy it as much as I can. The rewards are terrific. Good luck.

Congratulations on a job well done. I hope you celebrate your achievement and welcome to the ranks.

Husky: I'll get right on it - after my 20 mile jaunt around the state before breakfast.

Pit Bull : I may do it this time - or I may snap

I thought I felt a disturbance in the force. Big changes = big chances for growth All the best to you - congrats for having the b***s to change and don't be a stranger.

Hey there Wendy. As you know, I start with a service on Friday. They run 1 EMT/1 Medic units. Am I a poser for working with them as a proponent of dual paramedic systems? It's a reality. I for one would be honored to run with you. I would rather have you than just about any other EMT I know. Go out there and do your very best. It will be good.

Hmm - correct me if I'm wrong, but I was told that AZ has done away with EMT-I and only EMT-B and EMT-P are now licensed in the state.

3 or 4 to get into an extensive argument about whether the light bulb changers are volley or paid - private or ff.... 12 pages of flames and deceased equine abuse, followed by 1 or 2 huffy exits from the site, applauded by 2 or 3 that incited the huffy exit. God I love this place!!!!!

:hello1: YES!!!

Maybe not flamed, but your arguments are subject to scrutiny. (this is true of anyone that posts anything on this site.) You are qualified to offer any opinion you want, but anecdotal evidence provides no validity. Everyone and their brother has an opinion, but that does not mean it is backed up by facts. I know a guy who knows a guy that says onions will cure cancer and this qualifies me to have an opinion that onions will cure cancer. An ill informed opinion backed by nothing but an opinion nevertheless. I personally am one of those people that went straight to paramedic without being an EMT. According to my preceptors, I perform better under stress. In cases of pediatric death, I actually out performed experienced providers. It is personal qualities I bring to the job and has nothing to do with whether I was an EMT or not. I’ve worked with paramedics that were EMTs for years. They were idiot EMTs and they are idiot paramedics. I would hope it did more than help. EMTs are taught nothing about the physiology or anatomy or the disease process that they are contending with. What figures? You haven’t provided any. As long as there are vested interests out there that perpetrate the nonsense that an EMT is an adequate pre-hospital care provider, there will be EMTs. As long as the public remains ignorant of the issues there will be EMTs. As long as pre-hospital care is used as an excuse to justify huge budgets and fancy toys, there will be EMTs. It’s enough to make me weep. For good reason. I appreciate your willingness to put your opinions out here. I sincerely hope that you will read what I wrote in the spirit in which it is intended - to illuminate and illustrate. A lot of people are afraid to engage in these arguments because they are afraid that they will have to change their minds. Believe me, there is no shame in that. The shame is persisting in wrongheadedness and ignorance.

Do it Dust - do it! If I can help with the letter in anyway (I doubt it - you are a knowledgeable and eloquent SOB) let me know.

THE BIRTHDAY DIRGE tune: "Volga Boatmen" Happy Birthday! <thud!> Happy Birthday! <thud!> 1. Now you've aged another year Now you know that Death is near Happy Birthday! <thud!> Happy Birthday! <thud!> 2. Children dying far and near They say that cancer's caused by beer 3. Death, destruction, and despair People dying everywhere 4. Typhoid, plague and polio Coffins lined up in a row 5. Now that you're the age you are Your demise cannot be far 6. Black Death has just struck your town You yourself feel quite run-down 7. Birthdays come but once a year Marking time as Death draws near 8. Long ago your hair turned grey Now it's falling out, they say The Viking/Barbarian Verses: 9. Burn the castle and storm the keep Kill the women, but save the sheep 10. Burn, then rape by firelight Add _romance_ to life tonight 11. Indigestion's what you get From the enemies you 'et 12. May the candles on your cake Burn like cities in your wake. 13. May the children in the street Be your barbequeing meat 14. May your deeds with sheep and yaks Equal those with sword and axe 15. They stole your sword, your gold, your house Took your sheep but not your spouse 16. This one lesson you must learn First you pillage, then you burn 17. While you eat your birthday stew We will loot the town for you, The SCA Verses: 18. We brought linen, white as cloud Now we'll sit and sew your shroud 19. You're a period cook, its true Ask the beetles in the stew 20. Your servants steal, your wife's untrue Your children plot to murder you Other Verses: 21. Fear and gloom and darkness but No one found out you-know-what 22. I'm a leper, can't you see Have a birthday kiss from me 23. It's your birthday never fear You'll be dead this time next year 24. Now another year has passed Don't look now they're gaining fast! 25. Now you've lived another year Age to you is like stale beer 26. Now your jail-bait days are done Let's go out and have some fun 27. See the wrinkles on your face Like the pattern of fine lace 28. Were I sitting in your shoes I'd go out and sing the blues 29. So you're 29 again Don't tell lies to your good friend 30. You must marry very soon Baby's due the next full moon 31. When you've reached this age you know That the mind is first to go 8) Have a great one AK.. at your age who knows how many are left?

awww.. thanks so much you guys. I really appreciate the messages and the support. I found out from a PA that works out in Kingman that fire does not transport and the River Medical people and the fire department get along really well. He also told me that the local and state law enforcement takes good care of their EMS. Not sure what that means, but it sounds good to me. thanks again. You folks on this site are really remarkable people and I am so glad to know you.

There is also one on the second floor of the Stratosphere in Vegas. I passed it a couple of nights ago and there were suckers (pun unintended) lined up "imbibing".

I believe that would be The Simpsons

honey - I don't play second fiddle to anyone. I think like a lot of places, this is a little bit of a cluster. AMR bought out River Medical in March of this year. River Medical runs out of Quartzite, Parker, Lake Havasu City and Kingman. Each has different protocols and medical directors. Mother-may-I is Kingman, with the other places having more autonomy. Kingman is where you start and move out when seniority and openings dictate. The plan is to get one medical director for all 4 places with standardized protocols. River Medical has really great people, some adjusting to the changes better than others. As a brand new baby medic, I am just grateful for the chance to work. I figure I got my hands full for the next few years getting my head on straight to worry much about the system. I am sure I will be turning to you folks as the world of EMS disillusions me. I will need all the help I can get.

I have lived in Wisconsin for about 8 years - I had been spending my winters in Arizona until I went to paramedic school. I had to pick a place.. and this is where I got the job... so here I am. I guess I am moving. :shock:

I have been hired by AMR - River Medical in Kingman Arizona. I begin my orientation on Sept. 19. I am sooooooo happy. Just a little background - 12 years ago I was a systems consultant living in Canada with a huge mortgage and a life. Someone asked me what my dream job would be. I said - paramedic in Arizona. Here I am, 50 years old and starting a whole new life. I feel wonderful. Perhaps with some practical experience under my belt, I will be able to offer some real contributions here. I just wanted to let you all know. *** kaisu doing a happy dance ***

I'd vote for you Dust - cause I'm a sucker for you macho medic types...

Don't BS us Dwayne.. we know the sex slave stuff is a fringe benefit for you -

Sounds like a top notch education to me timmy. Just be sure you don't shortchange the book learning. Both are important.

Go commando... or go home