Christopher.Collins

Perhaps... but you didnt just specify the carry of firearms you also mentioned the need to wear a vest. And I still fail to see how protecting yourself means your doing a piss poor job of evaluating scene safety. Do you remember that car fire a while back? Forgot where it was but it was big news. Some guy lit a car on fire and as soon as the FD arrived a paramedic was shot and killed getting out of the truck. The sniper then light the house he was in on fire taking his own life. No one expected it, and it appeard to be a nice little suburban neighborhood. Even a local police chaplain lived right accross the street. How about the D.C sniper? That guy could have opened up on any of us! Im not advocating that ALL fire and ems personel should wear at all times... but thats just an example of how a "routine" (fyi I hate that word) situation can turn violent. If you think that your safe all the time and that you shouldnt be anywhere that you need a vest well then your wrong. Yea we shouldnt be in a situation thats dangerous... but there are lots of areas that can quickly turn dangerous even with PD already there. They arnt the damn secret service protecting us, they dont scan every single person for guns weeks in advanced prior to us being there.

Not sure about other states but here in Connecticut as Ive mentioned, concealed means concealed. Even if its in your belt with a shirt tucked over it and you have the legal right to carry it (a permit), if the outline of the weapon is still visible you may be subject to arrest and your permit will be revoked. So you need to have a heavy coat that goes below your waist... or a purse or some really thick pockets.

Interesting concept... could be very benneficial to rural areas with long transport times especially. I love the memory foam idea however I see three main problems. 1 being cost... its still pretty expensive stuff. I can barley justify buying a memory foam pillow. 2 being size... at least how Im picturing it you would have some sort of cover or pad on a regular backboard. The main board being the source of ridgidity and to tie off straps. This would require more space to store in the ambulance or less to be carried. Additionally, it may take more to board a patient lying down as you probably wont be able to slide it under them. 3rd is bloodborne pathogeons. Obviously it would have to be wraped in some sort of material such as whats on our stretcher mattresses... but that may comprimise the memory foams ability to take shape. It would have to be lined with something flexible however very durable and tear risistant. Not trying to shut the idea down... I think its a great one! Just thought Id throw out some potential (opinionated) flaws if someone picks up production of such idea.

That would be great considering we are not even allowed to remove the hooks in the field :twisted: Sorry, just being a smart a$$

Its force of habbit for me. I worked for a service where they were total uniform nazis. It was cool that they were very motivated towards proffesional appearance but sometimes it went to far. Without trying or intending to jack the thread this was our uniform shirt; 2 company patches one shoulder the other left breast, one cert level shoulder patch, one photo ID name badge, one metal name tag, one full time service pin (if applicable). I have been disciplined for not having my full time service pin (which I understand is uniform polocy but its a part of the uniform that means nothing to the public) and also been disciplined for not having my name tag, even though the ID badge is supposed to be visible on the uniform as well. Both times I have not had either pin was because they use cheap backing/holders and we didnt have an option to get better ones.

Not trying to down your opinion at all... but fact remains that we do at times work in dangerous places. Im not saying that police should not be present in such areas during a call but theres no reason that one shouldnt have the means to protect themself. What about transport services? Read my longer previous post... Ive had a transport through such an area and gangbangers were even chillin' outside the local PD. Should I be tactically trained just because we needed to pass through? And any situation can turn dangerous... even in a controlled environment. Im reading a book (true stories) right now called "Angels in the ER" written by a Dr. Robert Lesslie. In it he recalls an instant where a physician gave a young man a death notice of his newlywed wife. They were in an MVC, he was wearing his belt she wasnt. Before the doctor could even finish explaining what happened, he was pinned against the family room door and being beaten. The doctor suffered broken ribs, a fractured jaw and fractured eye socket as well had 3 teeth knocked out. He was unable to return to work for several weeks. I agree that maybe some sort of tactical training should be offered in areas populated by gangs and such... but the point is even in a safe situation things can go wrong. While none of us should put ourselves in unnessecarry harms way, if your not willing to accept you work in a potentially dangerous environament or take nessecarry (but reasonable) precautions to protect yourself, then you need to find new work. By the way when I say you... I dont mean YOU, not trying to get personal, I just mean it as a generalization.

Rich, thats a valid concern but not one to be ashamed of or worry over. Its already been suggested and you yourself nailed it too... VICKS! It can be a savior. Anyways its not uncommon for even some of us seasoned EMS'ers to get sick off of smells. 5 years in and I still cant smell vomit without wanting to vomit as well. But man wait till you get a GI Bleed. Best of luck to you in your new proffesion/hobby and best of luck in EMT class as well. Welcome to the city and feel free to ask us anything!

Oh yea forgot the excedrine which is in my ambulance bag... thanks crotch! Also havea boot/shoe polish kit in my POV.

Spend some time in Hartford or East Hartford, Connecticut and tell me they do a piss poor job because they need to wear a vest. Some agencies in this state require their employees to wear or have on hand a ballistic vest while most in this area all have vests on board the ambulances. Just an FYI my EMS agency covers two state prisons, one is max security.

I will never have a reason to carry a firearm on an ambulance as an EMT. Ive driven through cities where gangbangers hang out outside of police stations in the middle of the night, where my seasoned partner would lock the doors on the rig while we are driving in transport. I know of some areas in cities where some medics wont go without police escort. Back during the civil unrest in the 80s a family friend of mine was working as a medic, she never carried and she had bullet holes in her ambulance. Is there situations where we are put in danger? Yes. Is there situations that may seem safe and not call for PD to be there but then turn sour? Yes. Could there be a time we cant escape and possibly need to defend ourselves? Yea sure. Do you think an EMS agencey would survive long once the news coverage reveals that (even in self defense) an EMT or Medic shot and killed their captor? Probably not. Even if it held up as self defense when the city prosecutes... I would find it doubtfull when the victims family files a suit, even if their child did wrong. That aside I find that most departments ban personal firearms from even being brought into the station, let alone on the rig. The State of Connecticut has some tight gun laws too... a concealed weapon means CONCEALED... if you have it in the small of your back with your shirt pulled over it, but you can still make out the lines then you can have your permit revoked and depending on where you are you can be arrested. Take into account all of the moving around and flexing we must do in our jobs... Even if I ever decide to go for State Police, if I make it through the academy and become a trooper I wouldnt carry while at my volly station. CT State Troopers are all issued their own cruiser to keep 24/7 and are technically on call 24/7 as well, so legally Im sure I could carry even as the lead technician on an ambulance anywhere in state, but I would sooner lock it up in my car.

Usually on the rig Ill have a small duffel or satchel with: *Spare uniform *A state map book *Area state map books (if working transport) *Snacks (usualy granola bars) *A bottle of water *A book or magazine (usually JEMS or EMS) In my POV I generally have extra toiletries, a change of underwear and under shirt, a sweater, a couple of movies and my laptop.

I agree 100% but thoes other problems aside, if your patient is cringing at the appearance of your crew before they even get in the house and put their gear down... all that other stuff goes out the window.

Heres an old subject (Shorts and Flip Flops on Scenes) of mine when I first joined the city... simmilar subject matter. Not trying to step on your toes with this crotch. http://www.emtcity.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.ph...orts+flip+flops I agree that t-shirts are not proffesional uniforms. If your volly and not on any set duty schedule the shirt is not innapropriate or possibly offensive then thats one thing... but if your on duty, be it paid or volunteer then there should be an attempt to look proffesional. I recall a night way back when, in a volly service I was once a member of, going to a call with the FD... I made my initial assesment and did what I could to make the patient comfortable untill the ambulance arrived and when they did I recocnized two crew members. With them was another person long hair hanging down and not pulled back, he was wearing jeans and a shirt, both dirty and both with holes in them. He was pleseant and proffesional in his care... but appearance wise looked like he was in the middle of remodeling a house when the call went out. Could he have been? Yea sure, its a volly service. To my surprise when I asked who he was (besides being the new guy) I found out hes a veteran paramedic for our area ALS service. I had never worked with him before but from what I understand hes one of thoes types that you want there for a bad call... the type youd follow into most any situation without question. So if this is so... common sense would dictate to him (in my humble opinion) that he was incredably unproffesionaly dressed. My main beef with volunteer services is that alot of times people dont think about what they are wearing. I had a junior member show up to a call with a shirt on that said "boobies make me smile." Funny shirt yea, but the fact that no other senior member nor officer for that matter did anything about it? I dont care if you show up to a call in jeans or slacks with a clean shirt on... but if you generally (or the average person in case you would) wouldnt wear what you have on in public, then its not right for a scene. If your volly FD wear your bunkers... if your EMS wear provided gear or get a cheap jump suit, I dont care how hot it is looking unproffesional just knocks us down a rung or two. Frankly with my volunteer service when Im on duty, hanging out during a storm or holiday or at an event stand by Ill always have (if provided) my Class B uniform on. If they dont provide one its EMT pants and a polo and/or job shirt. In terms of paid services around here... most EMS agencies have polo shirts and EMT pants.

So heres another one... who decides when not to pay? Is it just a bunch of pencil pushers with a flip chart of criteria? If so is it at the very least backed by accredited physicians?

So I was reading through an old post about the security of our jobs and future in EMS because of the economy; http://www.emtcity.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.ph...&highlight= I came across a post that I had replied too: Now I dont know if the poster was being sarcastic or not but I had replied: What Im wondering... if anyone knows anything about how companies like medicare operate is how they get off defining who needs an ambulance? As we have disscussed in other threads even a simple tooth ache could be a serious emergency waiting to happen... and pretty much that untill a doctor diagnosess otherwise anything could be an emergency. Now we all know that there are abusers of the 9-1-1 system and that not every emergency is actually an emergency but regardless thats not our decision to make in the field. So who is medicare to say otherwise? Additionally, I dont know how other companies operate... but regardless of any agency Ive worked for recieving payment or not I still get paid at the end of the week. So how does no payment on medicare or patient part usually effect a company? Generally we grunts are told not to concern ourselves with billing matters, but if anyone knows Im curious. Even if the patient can afford transport... is there a difference in their payment vs. medicare? Also... at least around here, they often wont pay if your patient walked to the stretcher. In one company I have on many occasions refused to falsify how my patient got on the stretcher just so we could get paid. I write all of my PCRs like they are being reviewed in court. But seriously... should a patient not be allowed to ambulate in ANY emergency? Sure in cases of trauma and sever respritory distress or anything related I can understand the need to help them. But just because my patient can SAFLEY walk dosnt mean they are not in need of an ambulance. Again, just curious on how all this works. Maybe its not important for the grunts to know... but maybe knowledge on how our "bank" works will make things easier in this economy.

I conccur with both Crotch and Ruffems in full on this!

Errr... I honestly dont want to get caught up in one of thoes damn Fire-vs-EMS discussions but I feel I have to post my thoughts on this. First and foremost, if its a part of the recruitment and rention requirements to complete and pass an NR standard EMT test then dont bitch and complain if you are let go for not meeting that REQUIREMENT!!! Secondly, I dont ever remember any reference to bear attacks on the NR exam. But if I had to guess (yes I know I wasnt there) chances are its a SCENE SAFETY question. Regardless of if you can pass the state exam that never means your garunteed to pass the NR! When Connecticut became an NR state the failure rate of EMT candidates increased drastically. Yes it put alot of potentially great EMTs out of the loop for a while... but alas it was a part of the new requirements. All I have to say to that guy who was fired is big deal and get over it... your not the first nor the last. If you want to do it that bad then stop whining and do like everyone else, study and keep trying! If you fail to do so and keep whining, then I guess you really didnt want it that much. Anyways... I am both Fire and EMS and will not bash either. But... I feel it is a horrible idea how more and more fire departments require paramedic certification. EMT and MRT is one thing... whether or not you will ever provide patient care in your career I personally and proffesionally think that every firefighter should have some sort of first aid training, especially if your an R1 service. But this paramedic thing is rediculous... especially as it continues to become a requirement and simultaneously it becomes increasingly obvious people will take and half ass it just to become a firefighter. The same, Im sure can be said, for EMTs and MRTs but its a lower standard of care for starters and less to keep up on (CME wise).

Grrrrreat now instead of prescription drugs, paint and lighter fluid... now our kids can huff waffle mix.

Forgot to add... in Westerly, Rhode Island their rescue company is ambulance based. Fire does strictly fight fires... EMS does the rest.

Ok first and foremost I DO NOT want to see this become a bash ALS/BLS/Fire/Volly/Paid thread... that is not what Im trying to get at here! This includes (personal) opinions such as fire should only hump hose and thats that, only we should provide patient care, unless your service actually has thoes kind of SOPs and SOGs stating as such. You can provide opinions, just dont use them to bash any form of service. I am curious as to how active in rescue operations (of any type) you are or are allowed to be when your on the ambulance or medic intercept vehicle? I havnt done a poll before so appologies in advanced if it dosnt help... just post your response instead. For instance... do you jump right into an MVA extrication and provide whatever care you can, even if its just c-spine maintinence? Are you even allowed to do such things (per protocol, SOPs and SOGs)? I am not curious about just MVAs however... anything else like con-space, rope rescue... etc will suffice as well. Most ambulance companies I have worked with have a good working relationship with the fire departments so in terms of that MVA I try to get right in. Regardless of any related SOPs and SOGs however I personally will only do so if I have the propper PPE. The last time I participated in an extrication without PPE my favorate sweater was covered in blood and I took a facefull of glass as well as a knock to the head. Im a little smarter now :wink: As far as other rescue operations its mostly just stay in the warm or cold zones or treoge untill fire extricates. We dont usually carry any specific equipment aside from turnout gear. In terms of fire departments... all but one I have been a member of have fire based ambulances. Thus we had turnout gear and rescue equipment and any rescue operation was a part of our job. Overall I do what I can (within reason) to stay with my patient. I am fairly aggressive in terms of I do not like to stand around and wait. I know of some services were EMS pretty much stays in the ambulance or even in the way untill requested. I also feel that its easier to provide care to a patient if you have been with them most of the time. If they are concious and alert it eliminates a need on their part to constantly repeat themselves as new people come to their aid. I find at times it forms kind of a bond if they are comfortable with you... none of this, "hi Im EMT Bob Ill be here untill we get you out..." Then later on "hi Im EMT Fred Ill be with you untill we get to the hospital." Too much confusion for the patient. If I cant participate in patient care from the begining I wont just sit in the ambulance like some others... Ill at least find someone who can keep me up to date on my patient and if Im lucky someone who knows the patient.

Untill I read sirduke's post I didnt look at the dates... I was like who are all these new people? Anyways, Id like to think that most everyone in the ED's around my area are pretty fair. I have several major hospitals in Connecticut to choose from and Im central to most of them. Lawrence Memorial, Backus and Hartford as well as Connecticut Childrens being some the closest... Westerly (Rhode Island), Yale, and Middlesex. Some are major hospitals and fall into some top national care statistics and also most are all teaching hospitals. With the exception of Yale however, I very rarley see doctors floating around unless its a serious run. When I worked for American Ambulance our main hospital was Backus in Norwich, CT, as it was right in our PSA. Its mostly the nurses running the show... in the ED and on other floors. We had a pretty good working relationship with the staff there, often bringing them coffee and food... maybe hanging out once in a while after a run (our base was right around the corner). There was the occasional trauma room volley ball (more or less keep it up though) with an inflated glove and gourney for the net. For the most part everyone around here is cool. For being some top notch hospitals I would expect (but am certainly not complaining about it) more proffesionalism and up-tightness. Frankly Im happy it isnt like that. It is possible to be a good and proffesional person without taking your job so seriously. Mean docs and nurses = Mean medics and EMTs = Upset/mean patients = Adding to Medic EMT meanness and frustration = Upset/mean patients = Continually mean and upset docs and nurses = repeat. Anyways like most everyone else said 4 years ago... unless you catch someone on a bad day they are pretty cool. The only tough thing around here more often than not is new medics obtaining med control... thoes can be tight standards but thats an area I would not to see any lax. (Edit): Also the hospitals state wide are really good to us during EMS week... food and cold beverages day after day in plentiful supply, gifts to go around for everyone as well. I will add without mentioning the hospital by its actual name there is one place situated in NE Connecticut that dosnt have the best reputation. From a transport standpoint especially you could wait a half an hour or more before the patient and or paperwork is actually ready. All this can be completed in the time it takes for a transport ambulance to make the trip there. So rather than requesting them during the ealry stages of the discharge process they most often do it upon the patients arrival to their ED.

Classic

Interesting story. Im sure dogs would do the same but blah to them I love cats more!!! If I may make an off topic suggestion to Admin though. I appreciate the fact that the adds in these posts help keep the site free. But could they possibly be relocated to the bottom or top of each post so as not to confine everything? I dont so much mind in regular text written posts but with these news articles its a bit of a pain to scroll up and down as well as side to side. Ill forward this to Admin as a PM as well.

I would hope that words like Emergency and Medical are clear cut and simple enough to understand... but thats talking about whatever percentage of mentally compitent persons that will read that.