firedoc5

If you're wanting to be a medic for the Mariens, join the Navy and become a Hospital Corpsman. The Navy supplies the Marines medics. BTW: Welcome.

"Cover of Rolling Stone" - Dr. Hook

Growing up we gad aloe vera all the time. My mother even had her own plants. But I can say for minor burns, skin rashes, sun burn, it helps a lot. Guess I didn't mention it because it seemed normal to me and didn't consider it anusual treatment.

A 'doctor' my folks knew about prescribed the urine thing. Along with coffee enemas and all that holistic health. My dad did take things like shark cartilage, MSM, rose hips, ginger, bee pollen, and some vitamins. He would try to ge me to do some of those treatments, which I tended to decline. I would sort of tease my dad about taking a whole list of things, but I added "eye of newt, raven's claw, testicles of bat, etc." I know things like MSM and shark cartilage can be beneficial in the long run, but some of that stuff there was no way I'd even consider it.

Just remember that if you are out and around, it's "amateur night". So beware of the other drivers. Have fun, but not too much fun. 8)

Something I consistently saw with the previous generation(s) of Medics was the hesitation of pain control and actual treatment of pts. Some wouldn't even start a hep-lock or IV, none the less give medication. During that time everyone knew there needed to be some major changes. When those changes came down making Medics to be more aggressive in their treatment, I'd say 40% either quit or just dropped back down to Basic. They didn't want that responsibility. (Pretty sad, I know) This was during the very early '80's, and it was about that time more classes like mine started to produce Medics that were willing to be more intervening and aggressive. That's one reason I've said that in the mid-80's we started to come along way. Fortunately for the pts., but the local ER's were fairly quick in getting a pt. in a lot of pain assessed and given meds. Many times I've heard ER staff say "It's Medic so & so, you know he won't have anything done in the field." When I started to hear those kind of things I told myself that no one would ever accuse me of that.

Making up a test sounds like fun. I use to make up tests as entrance exams into certain classes. I'll have to try and find my old notes. I agree on not making it so hard as to try to stump everyone. They should be current curriculum for the profession. No off-the-wall curve ball questions that only 1 :100,00 would know. Let me know when it's all set up, or is it already?

I won't get into what all I had heard about in LA, especially down around New Orleans. If I did it would be going over my head because I still don't understand most of it. But there is some real strange stuff going on down there.

It's so great to be loved. :3some:

The one thing that we didn't carry in the field that I wished we had was Demerol. But on the other hand, if the word got out on the street that we carried it, we'd have to have security around the clock to prevent break ins.

Almost everyone I worked with were cross-trained, so everyone got in on it. When I was with a private ambulance service we did a lot more than your run-of-the mill services. We were extrication specialists, ERT's, etc. and did Fire/Rescue along side the volunteer and paid FD's. When I got on full time with a paid FD, all that experience carried over. By that time I was already a Medic, ERT, FF II, HazMat, and others. I felt privileged to have been able to do that.

I guess you can say I had been more of an advocate for pain management in the field. While working my way up through the ranks I noticed that giving MS or another analgesic was few and far between. On the few occasions MS was given was for MI's, not for trauma. Of course I just had to ask questions. I asked one Medic why MS was not used on a hip fx. He sort of stammered a little and said that he hadn't thought of using MS for that. For some reason several Medics before me were in a frame of mind that they just didn't think of pain management in the field. But in there defense, they rarely had more than a 3 min. ETA. But when I and several others from my Paramedic class hit the streets as Medics the use of MS and other analgesics increased quite noticeably. According to many, like the ER staff, it was a welcomed change. But in doing so you had to be more careful of who you do give pain meds to. Too many "kidney stones", migraines, bar fight injuries, etc. that only wanted you to treat them but refuse transport. Other than a possible MI, we usually held back when it came from an illness and not a trauma.

It's amazing that the dispatcher (controller) didn't just hang up after Mr. Baker collapsed. That's what most would have done, especially if they were busy. To me it sounds as if these guys are burned out causing them to be apathetic and noncomplacient. They should have been getting some help prior to this. But I don't know how the British system works. Despite these guys getting help, they should be fired. Or at least given a time of absence. It's quite evident that they didn't know they were being recorded, but being on a call and talking like that followed by their lack of treatment is criminal.

I believe this is the whole article, Doc H. 8) http://www.yahoo.com/s/1009258

Where is it that you wanted us to click? Just kidding. HAPPY NEW YEAR. Have fun, but not too much fun. :occasion7:

WAH-HOO, One year ago today I became a member of this outstanding forum. :D/ And here's to many more years of sharing, teaching, learning, occasional arguing, and anything else that comes along. :occasion5:

"Fire On the Mountain" - Marshall Tucker Band

Sort of like the writers/translators of the "Valley Girls Bible" in the early 80's.

According to Lake Superior State University in MI there is a new list of words that have been banned from the Queen's English Dictionary. To keep it short and sweet, I just saved and posted the one that pertains to this forum. "Monkey" was on the list because of what some see as its rampant use as a suffix. "Especially on the Internet, many people seem to think they can make any boring name sound more attractive just by adding the word 'monkey' to it," wrote Rogier Landman of Sommerville, Mass. So "hose monkey" can no longer be used, especially in a derogatory manner. Peace. Out.

We all know not to put butter or any kind of cream on a burn, especially a deep burn. I was doing clinicals one day when a 15 yr. old boy was brought in by his parents. He was walking funny and asked what was wrong he said that he got "burned a little". He also seemed a slow, if you know what I mean. What had happened was a cruel prank that went bad. He was hanging out with some of his 'friends' when one of them slowly sprayed lighter fluid on the back of his pants. It was so gradual that he didn't notice. After a couple of minutes one of the boys lit his pants on fire. Of course he didn't stop, drop and roll. He actually took off running, fanning the flames. Also his shirt caught on fire. To add injury to insult, the others just stood there and laughed. I believe the convenience store clerk came running out with an extinguisher. To make the story a little shorter: When he went home he told his parents what had happened. I think they were a little slow too. They had him lay down and they covered his whole back side with lard and baking soda. It wasn't until three days later they brought him to the ER. I was busy with another pt. at first, but my partner was given the task of removing all that gunk. It took him more than an hour. Come to find out he had 3rd degree burns on 35% of his body, including his rectum and genitalia. It was very serious. It wasn't until then that the police were even called. They didn't dare call before that due to the father had an outstanding warrant for bad checks. So due to having all that lard caked on for three days severe infection had already set in. He was flown out immediately to Barnes Burn Unit in St.Louis. The boys that lit him on fire said they did it to embarrass him in front of some girls. Guess they thought it was funny until they were arrested for aggravated assault, arson, and if the kid died, manslaughter.

We have the same waffle iron, but I don't think we ever used the stuff that came with it. Between day time talk shows and soap operas, TV during the day sux. I'd rather watch Sesame Street. Regis & Kelly, can you say fake as anyone can get?

Congrats . Have fun with him while you can. He'll be driving before you know it. 8)

I'll just keep it short and sweet by just asking, "Who hasn't?"

Definitely a DNR. The lividity, asystole, down time, mottling, etc. All are a dead giveaway to not resuscitating. (pardon the pun). ME has to be contacted anyway. If there was something suspicious about the death and the family, then it's the Coroner's Office and the DA's gig. Usually with long hx. of ETOH, age can be deceiving. Just this past July a childhood friend of mine passed away basically from dinking herself to death. She was only 42. I hadn't seen her in about 11 yrs. but they said she looked 62.

The only "crash" in an ambulance when I was driving was behind the ambulance building. Right next to the ambulance building was a body shop that would occasionally have several cars parked just anywhere. Some yahoo parked in a No Parking Zone in the alley. When I went to back up I ran the steel step bumper down the side of his car about 1/3 of the way. Silly me. Even though it was a No Parking Zone I still should have looked. Another example of assuming. Come to think of it, I was never in a major accident whether I was driving or not. We had one guy that could not drive on ice. He put us up against a guard rail early one morning. Luckily it was at low speed. Later that same day he took out a street sign. From then on I drove.