Christopher.Collins

I agree Spen, I dont see any reason why we cant have both? When I first broke into EMS my first 5 years was entirley volunteer then I finally got a paid job as an EMT-B. The two closest paying companies to where I lived at the time were AMR and one other company which shall go unnamed. AMR in my area is incredably difficult to get into where as the other company hired brand new personel and personel other companies wont hire. So my only choice was them. At $10.50 an hour they are quite litterally the lowest paying company in the state (most start around 12-14) but with careful budgeting I was still able to get my first apartment and a reliable, fuel efficiant car. Add some utilities here and there (no cable or internet or anything I could live without... and I became a responsable adult. Within 6 months I found myself taking a second job (after a "pay cut" at my full time) and barley making due with both. Had to give up the car and even got power shut off for two weeks. I remember running into an AMR crew and when we compared pay grades their jaws dropped when I told them what I made. Hell I did the math one day and figured that after taxes my take home pay for my volunteer incentive check (if I did 4 calls in a day, which was feasable in my jurisdiction) was more than one 12hr shift at my full time job. I would do this job for free. If I were wealthy that is. But being born to the blue collar half of my family, paying $4.45/gal on gas and god knows how much on home heating oil, then the usual bills on top of that, itll never happen. Thank God I dont have kids (no offense parents). Hell Id love to get my paramedic, but at $6,000 (provided I even get selected for the class) and the fact that I cant even get approved for a student loan its out of the question for now. Nursing school probably indeffinatley out of the question. Most of us are all here to help people... but we do diserve to make more.

Ive only used the Stryker model power stretchers and I love them. I was skeptical at first because hell, you never know when equipment will fail, and of course murphys law will make it fail when in use. Fortunatley it can be operated manually as allready said, it just weighs a "few" extra pounds more. The only thing that can be a bit of a pain (IMO in the patients perspective) is they tend to jolt/bounce a little when you move it up or down electronically. Cant remember off hand whos putting it out (saw it in an ad in JEMS) but a new power stretcher has an optional charging device built into the mounting brackets in the ambulance. So you can charge the batteries already on the cot while its loaded. Not sure about the stair chair, would love to see a power one that makes thoes treads climb up stairs.

All true right down the every word of it... Ill add however that making solid plans even off duty dosnt always work. Sure you can turn down being called in (if your not on call) but with todays economy who can afford to do that? Always make time for friends and family, lol unless you know your assignment when you get called in (and its a good one) :twisted:

I dont have any one lucky pair but the day I forget my shears (usually when Im wearing a nice clean RIGHT out of the laundry, running to behind to put everything back in them, pair of pants) I get stuck with plenty of decent (in need of clothes ripping) traumas.

Obviously it is... lol because most people call it HIPPA when its HIPAA.. Health Insurance Portable Accountability Act of 1996 Sorry brother Im just being a smart @$$, no hard feelings. Thank you though for the info I didnt know that. Thank you all for that matter.

Thenks Spenac. Ive just been having a little trouble thinking about how to address this situation. There are alot of times where Im just too honest for my own good, I just need to know when to shut up I guess

Good question. Not really a superstition I suppose, maybe a coincidence? But every time I worked with one particular medic partner on the overnight shift, one hour before it ended we would ALWAYS be sent to Day Kimball (Dey Kill 'Em) Hospital for a transport to UMASS Memorial. Its a rather lengthy trip too maybe 3-4 hours (depending on waiting for turnover (Dey Kill Em never has a patient ready on time) to us then traffic in Worschter, Ma. The first day shift we worked together I turned to him and started to say, "you know at the end...." He immediatley shut me up. Wouldnt you know it maybe 15 minutes later (half way through the shift) dispatch was on the horn for our ritual calling. And then, come the end of the shift, we did it again. I had to open my mouth :evil: ~~~~~~ Of course, the big superstition is that you NEVER say the "q" word. And you never ask your freinds in the ED if it has been "q" either... unless you want a beating.

So Ive decided to give up my piddly Security "EMS" job and move back into real EMS, even if it means a pay cut. Im not happy unless Im in back of the ambulance. I face a slight dilema now. As of recent I was discharged from the US Army / CT Army National Guard for physical/medical purposes. My physician has cleared me to do whatever I want with my life and sees no immediate threat to my health. The Army however decided to play it safe and their doctors declined me from further duty. If I put down military service on an application itll look good, but come time to explain it theres that cute little red flag issue. So what should I do? I know Im protected by HIPAA, and I know that I am in no immediate danger to myself or anyone to continue working in a high stress environament. But how do I explain (if at all) my discharge if asked? Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated. Id preffer not to leave this out of my resume, but I suppose if it is for the greater good I may have to. By the way, if it helps any I was discharged for cardiac related issues... its genetic and propper dieting and exercise will not nessecarilly make it go away.

The Almond Joy and Mounds song... "Somtimes you feel like a nut, sometimes you dont" For psychs of course.

I personally couldnt see spending all that money and time just to do everything else at my convience. Part of getting a job is doing something for them in return... in my humble opinion. Afterall, they coulda put all that to waste and not hire you.

So does this mean if Oboma gets in office he will pull our troops out of Iraq and our Math teachers out of schools?

Makes me think of a certain (to remain unnamed) hospital in my area. They downgraded from a Level II trauma center because they couldnt get enough surgeons to work the night shift. I mean, if I were a Doctor.... Id make myself available whenever physically possible. Of course Id need time for family and rest, but if I wernt ready to make a sacrifice then I wouldnt be a Doctor.

I know what your talking about... but Im saying that theres talk of doing away with it all together at the BLS and ALS level all together. Ive hear rumors of tougher standards on intubation as well... trying to do away with it in some cases, but as I said these are rumors... from credible sources lol Anyways, what about emailing or trying to contact the editors of JEMS or some of the editorial posters like Gary Ludwig or Thom Dick?

Searching for new developments in emergency medicine would probably be a great start... as new technology comes out we must adapt. For example theres talk about doing away with ventilation during CPR and just doing compressions. No clue if thats still an idea or not or exactly whos it is... but Ive heard it a few times and some instructors have mentioned it as well. Its far down the road if it happens at all, but would make a great argument for the purposes of con-ed. Best of luck.

... I think Im ganna cry

letmesleep, I hope you didnt take my entire reply as a bash against you because thats not what I intended. Sorry if it seemed that way. I dont think the parents shouldnt have any responsability at all... I just dont get these parents that drill their kids as if its life or death to win or lose (respectivley). To me thoes are the ones making their kids compete. But yes the coaches are ultimatley responsible as well as any reffs... Ive seen one of the best HS football games (a team my cuz plays for) completley blown and lost because of biassed reffereeing.

:evil: :shock:

Im at a loss for words on this. I was expecting older children than what the videos showed. letmesleep, I agreee with you in some ways... but this is much different from football, basketball and even wrestling for that matter. First off, the wrestling we see in school isnt like WWF and its not UFC either. Around here t-ball and little leauge parents dont even keep score (the coaches may get competative with one another but thats all I usually see). Football, they dont even play actual games untill they are eligable or old enough to make a certain class, untill then its just practice practice practice. As far as Karate and Martial Arts... this may have forms in it, but I dont see much honor or respect. Just a bunch of kids beating eachother for the win. I live in a very big school and childrens sports community. The parents are all about the kids and the kids are almost all about school spirit. Ive also worked many a sporting event and when it comes to competition and atitude Id put this right up there with hunter style horse shows and motocross racing. All to often I get the vibe of parent->child surreptitious life styles when at such events, a far cry from pee wee football and little league. Some sports are fun and competative... where as some are extremley competative and nothing less. Would a kid have fun tearing around on a dirtbike at the age of 8? Hell yea they would. But just how much can you get a kid that age to focus on winning rather than fun? Its not like baseball where you buy a uniform and some equipment and thats that even if they lose... any of you who have ever tried to cut an injured racer or horse riders gear know what Im talking about. These types of sports are an investment, so lollygagging and having fun then losing is a bad thing. I guess what Im trying to say is you put a young child into an extremeley competative sport then (in my humble opinion) they either are very smart and know what they are getting into, or the parent is just trying to show off. Need I mention children like Jean Bennet Ramsey? Beauty Padgents may not (or may) be a sport... but the scenario is the same. Back to the point. Im kind of disghusted to see this... maybe 16 and older but these kids... it just seems so wrong.

Update on the stolen truck. It was taken by a former cadet of the department, still to young to drive an engine and with no formal training. http://www.wtnh.com/Global/story.asp?S=8726981 By News Channel 8's Tina Detelj Posted July 24, 2008 Updated 4:20 PM Jewett City (WTNH) -- A man is accused of stealing and operating a fire engine, for a late night spin. A former cadet at the Jewett City Fire Department was reportedly behind the wheel, with no training, no CDL license and luckily no accidents during the late night ride. "He's challenged, let's put it that way," First Selectman Phil Anthony said. The first selectman says the 18-year-old, who is too young to even drive one of the trucks, is now undergoing a psychological evaluation. He managed to break in through a back door at the fire house. In addition to reportedly taking the truck, the suspect also grabbed some gear to wear on the potentially dangerous joy ride. They don't know how long he was riding around, but it ended shortly after another firefighter heading South, on 395, saw the truck coming toward him. "There's no fire, there's no reason that truck should be out," First Selectman Anthony said. "They investigated in fact it was stolen." The fire truck was eventually found behind Bergeron Auto in Cantebury. "I heard the truck as it whizzed by the corner last night," Paul Bergeron, owner of Bergeron Auto, said. "He turned the siren on but the truck was going North, which was kind of strange." Little did he realize, that stolen fire truck would end up behind his building. "Luckily nothing got damaged," Bergeron said. "Nobody got hurt, so it's a blessing right there." Firefighters tells News Channel 8 that even though they would have been down one truck, if there was a fire during the joy ride, they would have had enough other equipment to cover a call.

Ive lived in Connecticut my whole life... I didnt know people like this existed around here. *Sighs* Damn.

Yea no kidding. Anyways thanks... it kinda cheered me up after the week Ive been having.

Ok so I know the muppets and seasamie street are two different shows but all I have to say is... Doo doo da doo doo, Muh-nam-in-nah, doo doo da doo

I found this kind of humorous and though I would share some news from my neck of the woods. I dont think its a good thing, but I can understand stealing cars and stuff... but emergency vehicles? Thats just insane. Like that AMR bus plastered all over wild police video shows. Things like this belong in The Darwin Awards (if there were one just for doing stupid stuff). http://www.theday.com/re.aspx?re=5ed9fd96-...27-f06bd380e527 Jewett City Fire Truck Stolen Published on 7/24/2008 Griswold — A Jewett City Volunteer Fire Department engine/tanker truck was stolen and later recovered early this morning. State police said that at about 12:30 a.m. they received a report that the truck was missing from the station. Prior to the report, a member of the fire department saw the truck being operated northbound on Interstate 395 in Griswold by an unknown subject. State police from both Troop E in Montville and Troop D in Danielson began searching the area. A short time later the vehicle was found undamaged and abandoned behind a business in Canterbury. Detectives from the Eastern District Major Crime Squad were called in to assist with the investigation. Anyone with information is asked to call state police at Troop E at 848-6500.

Planes, Trains and Automobiles... Id say you summed it up quite well Ruff. Anyways my first call was a very minor two car MVA. I was but a young arrogant MRT (Medica Response Technician). I remember it was winter and my hands were freezing in thoes crappy latex gloves. Also remember not being allowed to do anything. The only MRTs who were allowed to do anything in my first agency had been around for decades and knew what they were doing.