firedoc5

And it doesn't have to be a minister/ chaplain. Anyone working on an ambulance should be expected to know the basics. If I was hired to work in a church, then I'd be more than happy to learn the basics of what would be expected of me.

Cold-cock him too. :blackeye:

The curve is posted at 40 m.p.h. She may have been going 60. Seems like she started to skid then over corrected losing control. From the appearance to the left front and to the left side (driver's side), she hit the rail at the corner-point first then slid down the rail about 100'. Entire left side crinkled up with some of outer body stripped off. Major damage to left front. Guard rail was steel with wooden posts, didn't move much. Pt. was wearing seat belt, bruising noted to that effect. No LOC. Unknown grasp of wheel. Pt. did calm down after all passengers were removed from vehicle. All passengers were restrained properly. Skin color normal, moist (hot hot day), no immediate bruising to face. Pt. did state that prior to EMS on scene she had a very slight nose bleed which stopped after about a minute. Lung sounds clear bilaterally. Left side of chest and left breast hurt, described as a heavy feeling. Seat belt ran under her breast. Increased chest pain upon deep inhalation. Normal sounds when percussing. Upon palpating ribs increased pain mid-axillary approx. 5th-7th intercostal space(s). Patient was wearing shorts which were covered with white powder, evidently from air bag. Complained of upper legs "burning". Slight redness noticed, no bruising. Was able to move legs but complained of left knee pain, but was minor. Patient packaged per trauma protocols, c-collar with sand bags, full spine board. Pt. placed on 4L O2 per NC. O2 did not alleviate SOB which was now minor, or chest pain. Sand bag placed on pt. left side under arm. Once loaded exposed chest. Seat belt bruising noted. Slight redness (no abrasion) noted to upper left breast just below clavicle. Complained of most of breast hurting with increase of pain upon movement. Lung sounds remain good bilaterally.

From the Police Medics I've worked with in the past, they all had to become police officers. Some were Medics before they got on the dept. Some took their EMS training after a couple of years on the Police Dept. As far as I know, no matter what, you have to be a police officer. You can't be a Medic and start work with a law enforcement agency. You have to have arresting powers and be firearm certified. You can't just join up and be put with a SWAT Team as a medic only. Hope this hasn't burst anyone's bubble.

Don't put a 9v battery on your tongue. And don't take any wooden nickles.

"Bungle in the Jungle" - Jethro Tull

Talking birds just repeat things they have heard many times. So did this bird learn to say "Help me, Help me!" by hearing someone crying for help? Or did someone think it would be funny to teach him/her to say it for kicks & giggles? The bird had to have heard it somewhere. I know it refers to the bird watching TV, but of all the phrases repeated, why would it learn just that one?

Whenever someone would say that we haven't run on "so-and-so" lately, we'd want to hang them by there thumbs with concrete blocks on their feet. It would never fail and would get a call on "so-and-so".

The "victim" was a 15 yr. old from the high school. She was getting ready to become a "Candy Striper" in the summer and eventually go into nursing. Almost any 15yr. old girl is going to be a little sensitive to a comment like that about her. I don't blame her for getting upset. Jeff, the medic, was a paid part-time employee of a private ambulance serv. To be an EMT-I or Paramedic the EMS System had to sponsor you. So basically for those three months they pulled his sponsorship as an ALS provider. He could still run, but only as a Basic. Many of us thought that was a bit too much, but you can't argue with the "powers-to-be". The ambulance service still had him run, but was mainly scheduled for interstate transfers as a driver. I know Jeff, was on a call one Sunday morning to an Episcopalian Church. While lifting the lady, who was above average weight, a questionable word or two was uttered. It wasn't loud, but a few of the congregation heard it as did the minister. But I can't remember if it was actually Jeff and not the other Medic that said it. Nothing was done about it other than being reminded that we should be more careful of what you say on a call, especially if you're in a church. I myself would have made them write a letter of apology, but that's just me.

I'm just trying to say that if they are there anyway and you need help it would be nice if they knew something and wouldn't be clueless. They'd have their own priorities, but if need be they wouldn't just be another person taking up space. And besides, I think most would be willing to take the extra education for the opportunity to minister to others in that capacity. I didn't say that one job was more important than another. Why has this become an issue?

Not only with the agency, but with the EMS System we were in. And the resource hospital.

What we considered as the start of our response time varied. If we were in the station the time started as soon as we were notified from central dispatch, which was through the PD. If we were already out central dispatch would notify by radio, many times while still on the phone with the caller. So basically it would be determined by when notified by PD. Most of those dispatchers were very good at getting us rolling before they hung up with the caller. As for arrival times, if in the city( a little less than 20,000 at the time) it was rarely more than three minutes. But if it was in the county, or rural, it was never more than 15 minutes. We covered a very large area and had no substations at the time. At the far reaches of the county were a few coal mines which we were called to very often. We did our best to be there within twelve minutes. Since I've been gone I know they have established a few substations. Which I know probably dropped the arrival time drastically, but I don't know how much.

This topic is definitely not referring to the use of profanity. But I was just reminded of an incident. We had our annual Mass Trauma Drill and had students from the high school's health class as victims. The actual drill was surprisingly split into two separate incidents at the same time. The incident I was on was a "plane" crash, where I was the primary triage officer. We were using a school bus as a fuselage. The second incident was a natural gas explosion across town. Since I was on the other "scene" I don't know the particulars of what was going down with the explosion scene. But during the exercise one of the Medics doing triage was doing his assessments. He came across a "victim" and said, "This b!tch is dead." , and moved on. Evidently that didn't go over too well with the young lady. During the debriefing the incident was mentioned. We just thought that someone just shot off his mouth and didn't think too much about it. Later on the next day there were a few of us called into the coordinator's office. We thought, Great, now comes the time where we hear how we did 101 things right then be torn apart for the 2 things we did wrong. But no. The school principal and superintendent came in. The dead b!tch comment became a very sensitive and upsetting issue. Not just with the girl but the entire class of students and her parents. To make a story somewhat shorter, the Medic who made the comment was suspended for three months and was put on double secret probation for a year. They threatened to knock him down to an EMT-A, but didn't do it. So, all in all, we were reminded that we were professionals and that "excessive use of profanity would not be tolerated". There were about five agencies participating in the drill and each one had provisions added to their employee guidelines. And I know of separate incidents where a patient or their families have complained of ambulance crews using profanity. Which didn't set well. As my grandmother told me when I was young, profanity just shows ignorance of the english language. Which to this day has stayed with me.

Who would you find to be a designated driver?

Now a days, if they weren't so expensive, a Hummer would be great. Especially in rural areas where roads are rough or even sometimes impassible. Plus, they look cool.

I think you just like the subject matter. Don't blame you. :thumbup:

I'm not sure, but check into applying to a Police Dept. now or into an academy now, or as soon as possible. Talk to your local dept. and get your foot in the door.

"Too Much Time On My Hnds" - Styx

Stranger things have happened in Jerusalem. :read2: Bible

Naw, he wouldn't be able to. Just think of all the Secret Service agents that would have to suit up to follow him in.

I'm well aware of their education. I was just meaning that they should have some education or orientation for medical treatment or patient care. You might need the extra hands. Some patients may feel some comfort knowing their is a Chaplain on board. I just hope some don't think they are there to help ready them for "the great beyond". :angel5:

Oh, that would be fun. :headbang:

Just relax. Don't over-think things and make them more complicated than they are. Remember to start off with the basics. ABC's, O2, etc. Don't get in a hurry, take your time. Pay attention and don't get distracted. You'll do fine. Good luck. :thumbleft:

There's a lot of scenarios here that can be useful in the classroom. :thumbup:

Congrats. :occasion9: Good luck on your next step.