firedoc5

There are medical missionaries.

We had to drive to St.Louis to pick up a rig. When I was driving behind Randy on the way back I could see him jamming, and I knew he was listening to the same station I was. We were both jamming out.

Now our fire trucks took at least 30mins. each. Some days I'd have five trucks to check and maintain by myself. That was a real bummer.

Most rigs do have CD players now, or at least a radio which can be piped to the back. I found that playing music, especially of Interstate transfers are appreciated by both the patient and whoever is in the back. Of course played low. Once had a patient in the ER with a large femoral artery aneurism. He refused to go unless he could listen to the ball game. So we made sure the radio was working. It was, then he insisted on buying us something to eat while en-route since he found out our meal was interrupted when they called us for immediate transport. He was able to listen to the game, but we didn't stop to get something to eat. We didn't mind. He was actually pretty cool. I know some are against any kind of music in the back. How about any of y'all? Now I know I'm guilty of "jamming", especially listening to KSHE out of St.Louis, with the music off in the back and the door closed.

Fire911, are you sure you're not tapping into my mind? Have had this situation a number of times. Consider closed head injury. Supportive restraint needed usually. The confusion of events prior to the accident could be medical, but don't forget that amnesia, combativenesess, etc. can be indicative of CHI. The body's reaction to the MVA, such as an adrenaline rush can lower BG level. Is he only combative to police and not to EMS? Sedate if he keeps being combative. Monitor airway very closely. Treat medically when necesary. Does other medical problems appear while en-route? With that long of a ground transport several things could develope. Notifying air lift is a good idea. But they won't take anyone that is still combative.

I do remember that.

No signs of trauma noted. With the large crowd I think the motel added extra chlorine. The smell was very strong, but probably not toxic. In the ER I believe his ETOH was .28. Patient did finally make it to ICU. EEG was very discouraging. Large amount of brain damage due to hypoxia, but not quite brain dead. I know he was in the ICU for three weeks on life support. I believe he did develope bi-lateral pneumonia due to the large amount of chlorinated water. He was down from MI to party and the car show. He was transferred back to MI where he died two weeks later. I believe a combination of the chlorinated water ingested, ETOH, down time prior to ALS (I don't think CPR was being done correctly), were all a factor. Any other opinions? This case really frustrated me. At the scene we had plenty of medics. So when I got him tubed very quickly, I was free to do nothing but take care of the air way. It was an easy intubation. At least two others were able to adm. the rest of the other duties. And had two Basics doing CPR. It was a big help.

"Shooting Star" - Bad Co.

I think practically everyone has been the victim of someone else dropping the ball every now and then. O2 tanks empty, supplies not resupplied, low fluid levels, etc. It had always been one of my pet peeves. But it made me more diligent checking things.

Congrats. If you are interested check out the Fellowship of Christian Firefighters. They include Paramedics too, not just firefighters. I'm a member. Even though you've been called that doesn't necessarily mean you have to give up the fire service all together. Pray about it and you may be called to be a Chaplain with a fire service. My niece is in DFW right now on a missions trip. Good luck and God speed.

I agree. In a case like this, immobilizing falls into the category of when in doubt, do it. Is there a Hx. of syncope? I just now thought of it, but what is the temp? How long has he been outside?

Keep 'em comin'. :thumbup:

I didn't really have a single multi-purpose tool. Back in the day :roll: I did have a holster. I carried trauma scissors, a window punch, forcepts, tweezers, bandage scissors, medium size buck knife, I think that was about it. I know now they have different gadgets and ways of carrying them. I can say that I did have a decent Swiss Army knife, but actually didn't carry it too often. Now I do know how some guys had everything from small pliers to wire cutters.

One thing I highly suggest is a check list for everything. It systematically let's you be sure to cover everything. And to have on file in case of accident, fire, theft, anything that can cause you to lose equiptment. That way it can be covered by insurance and that you are properly stocked. Do NOT "short cut" it or "pencil whip it. I've see where an ALS unit was not properly documented so the insurance company said there was no proof of equiptment, so they would only replace what the state requirements were for a BLS unit. If you don't have one for each unit in your service, then make one. And keep it on file for at least one year, if not longer. You may want to check with your resource hospital and insurance company.

As a member of the EMTCity Old Guard, and someone who started out at a very young age, Timmy is right. Don't have the cheap & fast attitude. You are young and have time. Patience is a virtue. :roll: Don't be is such a hurry. Take quality classes. Don't worry about studying ALS until you finish EMT-B and other basic courses. It will only confuse you. Focus on what you need to learn now. Study diligently and be responsible for your grades, and keep them up. DO NOT just "squeak by". I'm not sure how the grade scale is in your area, but if I remember right for EMT-A (way back when in IL) you could not get below a 87%, EMT-I 90 %, and EMT-P 93%. If you did you had two weeks of being on "probation" to bring it up and if you didn't you were out. Maturity is a factor. You must be more mature than your age. When others your age biggest concern is covering a zit or trying to get lucky by any means possible, you will be out there responsible for lives. OK, I'm done. Good luck to you. And no, your question was not one that would get laughed at. Rather you ask a question than not to and try to wing it. Ask questions anytime you need to.

My first actual MVA was a '77 Trans AM "Bandit Edition T-top" flipped off a notorious "S-curve". Driver was not at scene. So no trasport.

Every year we had the Street Machine Nationals come to town. Actually they were in DuQuoin, IL, but it seemed like everyone would come to Mt.Vernon to party. Huge crowd, great cars, and hot babes. Very late at night had call of a drowning at a motel inside pool, CPR in progress. Male, mid -20's. When arrived he was on the deck near the pool, water everywhere. Full arrest. I tubed while one of the other guys did a quick look. Course V-fib. Defibed x 2, converted into sinus brady (no one got shocked). Still unconscious. Witnesses stated he was seen hanging onto the side of the pool flirting with a "string bikini", no problems noted. 5-10 mins. later was spotted in deep end of pool on the bottom. Down time approx. CPR adm. immediately. Possible down time 3-5 mins., 9-11 mins. prior to ALS. Followed ACLS protocols completely. One pupil dialated, the other reactive but sluggish. ETOH very evident. Large amount of water suctioned, possibly coming from both stomach and lungs. ETA to nearest hosp. 3 mins. While en-route pt. started posturing decorticate on right side. Outcome? Chlorinated water vs. fresh water? ETOH as a factor?

You smart. 8)

I would run part time with other services for buddies, mostly private services, and they had the 2mg. vials. I don't know why the pharmacy at our resource hosp. kept resupplying us with the .4mg ones.

That's what I was wondering.

"Smoke on the Water" - Deep Purple

All fluids, all supplies, all batteries, without fail. We had check lists to complete for each unit. It took about 15 mins. per unit. When you know each unit and what goes where, you can glide through your check list. Now when we were busy, we would constantly be resupplying things so we knew we were good to go. We had all our batteries numbered and rotated them at least daily.

That's basically what happened with my brother in law last late Oct. He was found at the bottom of a tree/deer stand. They weren't sure if he fell from the ladder or from the stand itself. Turned out he had an AMI, age 40. Still not clear if he did fall or just collapse prior to starting to climb.

That's pretty much what I was trying to get at. Adm. rate of any diuretic is also a key. The hypertonic saline is a must. What about Dilantin? I don't think that was mentioned yet. But I could have missed it.

I just got to read the first page, the shower is calling. I was planning on coming back to it.