certguy

I just interviewed for a per dium ER tech job at out local hospital . The nursing supervisor told me my responsibilities would vary from paperwork tracking and afterhours pt. registration , to arranging interfacility transfers , taking radio reports of incoming medic rigs , splinting , being part of the code team ( compressions and bagging ) , and other pt. care as needed . She talked about cross training me for telemetry also . I also have a phlebotomy background though I haven't used it in years and she's talking about getting me recertified and possibly using me in different parts of the hospital . If this works out , it may become a full time gig instead of a way of keeping my skills up .

I wish you two all the best . It's a great adventure and having a great wife is a true blessing . May 1st will be 26 yrs. for my wife and I . We've had good times and bad , but I wouldn't trade her for anyone . Love her and cherish her . By way of suggestion , you can't find a better guide for having a good marriage and raising a family than the bible . God knows what it takes . I still chase my wife around the house every day and I joke about chasing her around the con home someday . I probably won't remember what to do if I catch her , but I'll still have fun chasing her . God Bless and best wishes , Craig

Just a quick " thank you " to those of you who talked to me about Medical Reserve Corps . Here in Kern County , the program's just starting and I just signed up so I'm getting in on the ground floor , like I did with CERT , I'm looking forward to seeing how it evolves .

That's definitely not your average dislocation . I'm having trouble pictureing the KED and cravats . Assuming no head or spinal problem , what about good old fashion cardboard splints supported by a pillow ? It's hard to say not knowing MOI and not seeing the pt. Just out of curiousity , what position was pt. transported in ?

I haven't worked the field in a while , but it would be impressive if they came up with a rig that had as smooth a ride as the old ghostbuster Cadillacs ( you couldn't beat them , great for long transports or pts. in a lot of pain smooth as a baby's backside ) Q2B siren ( mechanical siren that makes people think FIRE TRUCK and get the heck out of the way ) , Grover air horns , all wheel drive that handles well , lots of storage with easy access , easy access from the pt. compartment to the cab , and good engine package .

Hi April , I agree with Ruff , there's no substitute for simply getting out and driving your area . Where I worked in San Diego the Thomas Bros. maps we used were notorious for showing through streets that actually deadended with a canyon and the street taking off on the other side . We also had housing areas that were total mazes , especially at night . Knowledge of the area can save you a whole lot of time . Another trick I used to teach my partners was when you're approaching a turn , note the street name before the turn . Tell your partner what it is in case you miss it and call it out when it comes up . This gives the driver a heads up and time to prepare . I was once partnered with the world's worst map reader . She wouldn't tell me about the turns till I was in the intersection . Nothing more annoying when running code 3 than " You have a right turn ----- THERE ! " She drove me nuts till I taught her this . Also , I don't know what size area you work in , but if it's small , the FD I was in required us to pass a map test prior to hitting the field . We were given a normal map to study , then a blank one for the test that we had to fill in the streets on . This may help too . Craig :-k

Guys , be realistic ! In this day and age , there is no way ANY jurisdiction can keep enough personnel on thier payroll to handle a large disaster . Mutual aid takes time to put in place and in the mean time you're losing pts. Those who keep throwing New Orleans into the fray forget the simple fact that there were several states involved , not just one city . I think FEMA got a bad rap for this . The greatest good for the greatest number . 1 city versus several states . The area was huge and you only have so much resources . Also , no offense , but I think some of you really need to read the thread on EMS arrogance . :x

Hi Kevin , I see your point . Being a rural area , we don't have an MRC . I've heard it mentioned in the Americorps section of our CERT classes . I'll admit , I don't know much about it , but I'd like to learn . By the way , I'm not familiar with the ESF numbers you quoted . What are they ?

Ah , some things just don't change over the years , though you'd think they would . I'd like to add a few more to the list ; 1. Please don't put the pt. who fell who now has a head injury or poss. hip fx. back in bed prior to our arrival . 2. when we're heading out the door with a CTD ( circling the drain pt. ) isn't the time to tell us the paperwork isn't ready . 3. COPD pts have an aversion to lying flat . 4. Please don't let excited philipino CNA's give us report . No offense , but you get gibberish like chickenbreath for she can't breathe and sea sores for siezures . 5. In board and cares , if it's over 100 degrees , and the a/c is out in the pt's room , please don't let them stay in there with the door shut . By the way , wool suits aren't a good idea in this instance either .

The great thing about CERT is that in addition to laypeople we also have retired firefighters , medics and EMT's . Working with CERT is the reason I recertified as a basic . The way I see it , in a large incident , if the medics need a spare set of hands , I could go and free up a FF to stay with his crew and do his job . We also have other medical pros . CERT medical training is very basic and yes , it is a big part of our program . We do offer Red Cross first aid training as well and periodic training sessions . CERT leaders who don't want to do medical aren't looking at the big picture , there won't be enough first responders to go around and mutual aid may not come for a while . As an instructor I would love to see our most active folks become first responders but I'm not holding my breath . Some day maybe . Till then remember that there are some experienced folks in the ranks . By the way , open field rescue is a function of SAR , not CERT , though we probably could be trained for it . We can do light urban SAR . We are trained to search lightly to moderately damaged buildings only . If the building is lightly damaged and there are no other threats , we can treat in place . If moderately damaged , we minimize the number of rescuers inside and evac all survivors to treatment areas . If they're heavily damaged or on fire , we don't enter . If there are rising flood waters , we don't enter . We leave that stuff for the pros who have much better training and equipment . Our job is to get the ball rolling till you get there and take over , then assist you as best we can .

Whether you're medic or EMT , paid or vollie , EMS or firemonkey , SAR or CERT or whatever we do have common ground in that we do what we do to save lives . That should be the thread that binds us all together . Sadly , egos and territorialism get in the way far too often . People think , " This is my portion of the pie , how dare anybody else try to do it ! " You're right , there are a LOT of arrogant attitudes out there . Being too arrogant is a curse . Your mistakes become everybody else's fault . It's part of a good EMS pro to be a little cocky , that's okay , but when you stop realizing that you're just as human as the next guy , and think you can do no wrong , this can cost you a pt. or harm to yourself or your partner . Attitudes should be checked at the door of your stations and we all need to work together to achieve our common goal .

4 or 5 years ago my wife and I had just bought an old no frills 15 ft. camp trailer from a friend . This was it's maiden voyage with us . Just prior to hooking up the trailer I loaded the jeep with firewood . We were going to the high Sierras and it got cold at night even in summer . Even though we left in the morning , it was already getting hot , so I was wearing shorts . We were driving through downtown Bishop ( very popular tourist town ) and it was packed . Wall to wall traffic , nowhere to pull over , pedestrians walking out in front of you , you get the idea . Suddenly , I felt the wierd sensation of something crawling up my leg . :shock: I looked down and saw about 2 inches of reptilian head about 2 inches from my groin :shock: :shock: I'm thinking SNAKE !!!!! I couldn't stop . I had a semi riding my backside and nowhere to pull over . I could feel the tail way down by my ankle . Not wanting to panic my wife and son while trying not to panic myself , my mind's going a mile a minute . I REALLY didn't want to get bit there . Finally , I thought this is either going to be real bad or real good and reached down and grabbed the critter . To my relief , I pulled up the biggest blue - bellied lizard I'd ever seen . At this point , my wife did panic and grabbed the wheel from her side while yelling " CAR ! CAR ! Jeep and trailer were all over the road for a few seconds . My son was telling me to get rid of the critter and I was telling him " No way , CHP'll never believe what caused the accident if I do . " To this day I'm amazed we didn't hit anything . I handed the lizard back to my son , who proceeded to find out if it could fly . It couldn't . Moral of the story ; check your firewood for stowaways !

Yes , in CA EMS personnel are mandated reporters , however , if PD is on scene of a suspicious call , and your findings are reported to them , wouldn't this be in thier realm ? Why duplication of reports if multiple agencies are on scene ? If FD's there , now you have 3 mandated agencies on scene . CPS winds up getting multiple reports on the same incident . Why not let law enforcement handle it and make sure you document thoroughly the circumstances , the officer reported to and badge no. ? :?:

I agree the LOL should be treated as an MI till proven otherwise . They really didn't give you much to go on . The nursing home call sounds good , but again , not much info . The 2 MVA pts are interesting . I think I would've asked if the child was screaming or quiet . With a screaming pt. you know they're conscious and have a good airway . You have to watch out for the quiet ones . The slumped driver may have an airway problem and therefore , should go first . We use this type of scenerio when training CERT members . If we're searching a room with several pts . It's natural to want to go to the screamer , but in doing that , you may lose others to airway problems . Both pts would be red tags , but remember , airway is first in ABC's .

You contacted poison control and that was good . PD's on scene , if they feel there's a need to contact CPS or whoever , let them handle it , remember you're EMS , not an investigator . Pills left out around a toddler constitute felony careless stupidity but not abuse or a criminal act . With PD there , if there are other signs of abuse , notify the officer and let him handle it .