Just Plain Ruff

Any time a patient receives burns while in our care is unacceptable, but I'm sure we all know this. There was no discussion in my classes that taught about using a flashlight to find veins. There is a device that looks like a slingshot without the sling that has a high power led light in it to see the veins between the prongs. I'm not sure what it's called but it seemed to do an adequate job but it's too cumbersome to use in my opinion.

I will second that opinion Fiz But I will go one step further - do not let this job end up defining you. I know too many people who have been left scrambling for a new job when they were injured and couldn't work the field. I heard the following sentiment from all of them "all I know how to do is be an EMT. It's my life" IF you follow that logic then you are going to be in trouble. DO NOT let this job or career define who you are. Too many whackers out there who fall into this criteria. Always have a fall back plan as 10 minutes from reading this post you could suffer a career ending injury and if you have no ability to do something else then you are royally screwed. I mean Mcdonalds is always hiring but do you want to be stuck flipping burgers or do you want to continue doing something that you like to do? My fall back was EMS/ER computer consulting and I was able to use it when I got tired of working in the field. I also used EMS as my fall back when I was laid off from my consulting gig 2 years ago. Always have a FALL BACK plan.

Wash every day if weather permits clean inside wipe down and all that, about as often as someone thinks about it. We do a monthly check and then since that ambulance is out of service till it's check gets done (we have one spare unit so we can rotate units around). That monthly check allows for cleaning of the equipment and a wipedown. Does it get done any more than that? Hard to say. Some say they do it some I know do not. It's a good dream for high volume services to do this type of cleaning like you do but I don't see it as reality.

Try St Lukes hospital in Jacksonville. I put their ER computer system in. Dr. Bragg is a stand up guy. I would also look at St. Vincent's. I know one of the nurse managers there so I could give you a leg up if you wish. Good luck.

I didn't want to give anyone any ideas. I can just imagine ER Doc being presented with this.

But it would be fun to watch. But we better not or Al Sharpton or Jesse Jackson will be on us like stink of shit.

NO NO NO NO NO LONE, bad dog, bad dog, You know better than to feed the TROLLS!!!!!!!!!!!!! Now he'll never leave!!!!!!! Go to your corner and sit there for 15 minutes in a time out. DON'T FEED THE TROLLS

No longer can you jsut go to the store and purchase OTC remedies and supplies with your Flexible savings account debit card. You have to have a prescription along with it. No prescription, no reimbursement or payment via the debit card. I was talking to a doctor the other day and he recommended this. Get an appointment with your family doctor as soon as possible in 2011. Bring a list of medications and supplies that you might need for the year to come. HAve your family doctor write out scripts for all the items. Here is my list my doctor already wrote scripts out for Excedrin, tylenol, childrens tylenol and motrin, band-aids, rolaids or tums, anti-diarheals and other items. My doctor gave me a script for each of these. What you do next is when you need to buy some more of the above items and want to put it on your flexible spending debit card, you will be able to because you thought ahead to get a script for it. Otherwise you will need to either pay out of pocket or call your doctor for a appointment to get the script or have him call it in. This entire ordeal is brought to you by the Health care overhaul of the USA. I would heed this doctors advice because when people are told they cannot get their otc meds when they want them the doctors offices are going to start to fill up. Good luck getting an appointment in a reasonable time for this type of need. If you belong to an HSA or a FSA then you should have gotten the letter already from the company who manages your FSA or HSA but if not they were derelict in their communication to you.

According to the HR department of the facility I work for they are saying that unless congress extends seciton 127 of the tax code by the end of the year that all education assistance that your company pays for will be taxed as income to you. So if your company pays for you to go to ACLS, BTLS, ITLS, PALS and all that, they can and should be taxing you at your taxable rate. So if you your company pays for ACLS at 250.00 and Pals at 250.00 then they will tax at your tax rate 500.00 Check with your HR departments but as far as I know, congress did not extend section 127 when they extended the Bush tax cuts. I just don't want anyone to be shocked when they see a tax line item on education from their company.

I think this is a sick patient. She just doesn't know it yet. This is what killed my father in law I believe. COD for him was Cardiac arrest but I'll bet this is exactly what happened to him. He collapsed over the toilet and his heart could not fill enough to keep him alive. But this patient would be in a helicopter going to our cardiac center with all the strips I could muster for them. I think a pacemake is in order for this person.

I was listening to Rush Limbaugh today and he made a point. What if the soldier is gay and is asked to go on a dangerous mission? Can that soldier claim discrimination because if he wasn't gay he would not have been asked to go on that mission? Just repeating something thrown out there by Rush Seriously, are people saying that only straights can shoot straight? Are they saying that if you are gay you are less than a man? (some would argue that) but come on. I have had several Gay EMS partners and they were excellent caregivers. I have no problem with one who is gay working with me. As a matter of fact 4 out of the 9 people in my office are gay. So I see no problem with DADT being repealed. At least one of Obama's campaign promises came true. But someone said it best here, Gays in the military is like 100 out of 100 on my priority list that I think we need to focus on. Get the other 99 done and then go after DADT. For the military on here, thank you for your service. I don't think we've heard from anyone in the military on this particular subject here. If we have I'm sorry I missed it. The thing is, we don't have to live with the repealing of DADT, the military soldiers do. I'd like to hear what the rank and file have to say.

Our bigoted friend here is simply a TROLL. Sent from my SPH-D700 using Tapatalk

The last time I scooped a trauma code and hauled ass to the hospital is when the guy coded on us when we were putting him in the ambulance. I can't recall the last time that I transported a trauma code. Many years. Emtpoceit, you are a SCARY PERSON what with your other posts. Sent from my SPH-D700 using Tapatalk

If I can find my virginity I'll sell it but I lost about the time I had sex for the first time. Sent from my SPH-D700 using Tapatalk

Now that's bigoted and shortsighted. At least you have the kahonas to say what you feel. What's your bigoted opinion of gays working in EMS or hair care? Sent from my SPH-D700 using Tapatalk

Not tooting my own horn but this exact discussion is why the city is so valuable to the EMS community. Keep the discussion going. I have another good question on the way for the weekend. Sent from my SPH-D700 using Tapatalk

I was just copying delbert er I mean dwayne on the name Sent from my SPH-D700 using Tapatalk

If the pickup was speeding and passing cars in icy conditions and didn't slow down for the emergency vehicles then he should be charged with vehicular homicide. These drivers who fail to slow down when we are on the highway disgust me. I had a driver who would not slow down when we were working an accident one day. We were getting ready to move the patient to the ambulance and the driver just kept on coming. He began to slow down when he realized we were moving the patient yet did not stop. I motioned for him to stop, he kept coming at about 10 - 15 miles per hour. I realized he wasn't going to stop so I pulled out my mag light and smacked his car when he drove by. Damn he was pissed. The trooper saw what was happening and by the time the trooper got over to us the driver stopped. He was yelling at me. I told him that he nearly hit us and the patient. He said he had to get somewhere in a hurry and the Trooper cut in and said, "You aint getting there quite yet" proceeded to take him off behind his patrol car and the next thing I see is the guy getting handcuffed. The troooper at the hospital told me he had 2 warrants and now he had charges for careless and imprudent driving, failing to yield for an emergency vehicle, speeding, obstructing a criminal investigation and whatever else he could think of. I don't know what happened to the guy. He did file a complaint against me for damage to his vehicle but my boss refused to pay for it. but I did get a butt chewin for damaging his car. I tried to hit a home run with the mag light but it only made a 5 inch dent.

Welcome to the City Jason. I'm going to be assigned to the Baltimore Maryland area for about 6 months for a new contract and if Howard County is close, I'll offer some fellowship and help you in your class if you need it. Michael

WOW what vehemence. I wonder if the author has ever filed for federal or state assistance? If he has, then he could be considered a deadbeat too. He must not hold emergency workers in too high an esteem.

Damn, the world as I know it has changed. I remember studying the periodic table and memorizing the atomic weights. (they are long forgotten though). Now students will have to memorize the range. I agree with Dwayne, what will the next 100 years bring? Anyone care to speculate?

Ok, I have not had the time to research this so I'm not sure if the statement is completely true or not but I hope to have references back soon. Maybe we can have a great discussion. What I'd like to start is to have people begin to give the generic drug flash card information on Aspirin. And on with the show. Was in the cadaver lab up in Dayton Ohio last week and a cardiologist said this in our cardiac station. "Aspirin is the only drug that we give pre-hospital that has a proven life saving benefit in an MI" I think I got the quote right, if not BEorP and Anthony can give their version of the quote. The physician said that of any medication in our arsenal to treat Acute Myocardial Infarction or Chest pain, Only aspirin has been proven to provide a life saving benefit to the patient. Not Nitro, Not morphine, not beta blockers, not our ALS drugs, but little old Aspirin is the one. So he went on to say, IF you are going to give only one drug to a patient in an AMI, give aspirin. I'd like to see where this discussion goes. Thanks

After due thought, I don't actually care about the user name. It's all about what the person behind the user name is all about. I hope to read good things from this poster.

All the above but I'm going to go out on a limb and say that most preceptors out there do not have a truly firm grasp on the physiology and many don't even have a grasp on the anatomy and biology. To expect them to teach anyone about physiology or other stuff is a pipe dream. I had many preceptors because the service I was riding out at was so big. 40 ambulances on at a time. not a guarantee you would get the same preceptor twice. I had one preceptor, Michael Spuehler. His grasp of EMS was phenomenal. I learned so much from him and he made arrangements to get me to ride with him for the remainder of my time. Many of the preceptors didn't know enough about phys and anatomy and although they were good medics, I didn't learn near as much as I did with Michael. So when you find a good preceptor, stick with them throughout. That's my advice. You will know a BAD preceptor, trust me you will. They are the ones who don't help you learn, who are doing it only because it's a 40 cent an hour raise or they were told to do it. STAY AWAY from those people. But seriously, the education that we give the medics these days they are lucky if they get the basic pathophysiology taught to them. To expect more from most preceptors is asking like asking for a tax break from a liberal or a tax hike from a conservative.

What you have to remember is this. These were only pictures. I've seen some gross stuff in my career, from babies to 101 year olds. Trauma to medical. You were exposed to a entire career's worth of stuff in an hours worth of time. How often will you run on a abused to death baby? Not very darned often. I've seen only 3 How often will you run a decap - I've been in ems for nearly 20 years off and on and I've seen two. How often will you run the gross stuff - not very often. If you are on a 911 truck in a very busy urban system then you will of course get more calls than the ones who run rural but remember that there is more medical than trauma going on out there. I work in a level 2 trauma center. Since I started working the 8a to 6pm shift in the IT office I've gone days without hearing Statcode 14 (trauma alert) and some times there are 10 per day. Consider that this trauma center/ER sees 400 patients per day, I'm betting that there will be many days between your trauma calls. So just remember - how you deal with this is dependent upon how you yourself will deal with it. If you go off and hide your head in the sand and say "I can't look at this" then look into the future and decide if this is the career you want. If you can say "hey, I can deal with this, hell yes it's gross but I'm here to try to help" then you begin your long journey into becoming a good emt/medic. Just remember one more thing, these injuries are not your injuries. You have a job to do, you have a job to take care of the patient and if the patient is beyond help then your job migrates from taking care of the patient to NOW taking care of the family, bystanders or yourself. I truly believe that the teachers of your class had no intention of doing this purposeful. These are some of the best lectures that you can get because you get to see what happens after the fact. What the ME office or coroner goes through to determine why they died. the lectures will give you a better understanding of why when this happens why does this happen and when ALL of this happens, why this kills them. Michael Once the call is over, go behind the ambulance, puke your guts out, cry some tears, hug your partner and go home, turn on a good movie, make popcorn and try to get some sleep.