crotchitymedic1986

Dust, I may not be able to prove it, but I swear I read about an Urban EMS system, that took "Emergency Medical Services" off their trucks and letterhead, and changed it to "XYZ County Paramedics". It seems their patients often confused EMS with EMC (Energy Membership Coop -- Power companies), so they changed it to what everyone knew, Paramedics.

Not really the same thing, but if you havent read up on the problems associated with police "hogtying" (perp on his belly with wrist and ankles bound behind his back), you really need to google it and read up. For many patients that suddenly die in the car or cell, hogtying is the reason.

I dont think that is falsification if there is no intent to deceive. But lets say you get to the ER and find that you only gave 2 atropines and you should have given 3, and you document that you gave 3, then there is a problem. Also, I think if all of your cardiac arrests show that you gave the meds exactly on time, there might be a problem. There is nothing wrong with saying +/-, estimated, or using the symbol described.

I meant no new TOPIC posts -- I am still here. And this is real life -- not scenario world.

I have never seen a hurricane in Canada, therefore they do not exist. Just because you havent experienced racism in your little world, doesnt mean it doesnt exist. Here are some STATISTICS and scientific studies for you: http://www.opm.gov/feddata/factbook/html/fb-p36.htm http://www.hrw.org/en/news/2002/02/26/us-i...ial-disparities http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/29/us/29bar.html http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/PRESSROOM/07newsre...ntmortality.htm

I do not claim to be an expert on the matter, but I have been with the same wife for 22 years now. This is the advice I give all newleyweds, and is no way meant to demean or describe your situation Kaisu, as I barely know you, and have never met you. 1. After you get some gray hairs, you will find that you pretty much dated the same person, over and over again, just in a different skin suit. We are all attracted to something, and we tend to follow that attraction. It is subconscious, but if you look at all the guys you dated and married with an objective eye, you will see that they had something in common that drew you to them. Two extreme examples of this is women who date abusers, and women who only date cops (holster sniffers) (I can turn this on men as well; men who only date big-breasted women, or men who only date obese women). But back to the women. Women who date abusers have low self esteem, therefore are attracted to men who will not treat them right. They may encounter good guys along the way, but they are not attracted to them. The same is true of women who only date cops, as they need a daddy or authority figure in their life, and would not be happy with a passive male. So, you first need to honestly ask yourself, Am I attracted to men who are bad for me ? If you walked into a room that had 100 men in it, 1-2 guys will catch your eye immediately. So what is that attracted you to those 2 guys versus the other 98 ? Is that a good thing or bad ? 2. Communication is the key to a happy marriage and sex life, but most women and men do not communicate well. Here is a common man/woman battle. Wife comes home and wants to talk about her day, husband is in relax mode and just wants to veg-out in front of the TV. His day has been filled with decsion-making acitivities, and now it is peace time. You are not seeking a solution, you just want to vent and be heard. You start venting, now reluctantly he has to switch to "problem-solving" mode, and interupts you with a quick solution to your problem. You didnt want a solution, and you didnt get to vent, so you continue. Husband's brain says, I solved the problem, why is she bitching, why doesnt she accept my solution. The conversation deteriorates. Get this book, and it will help you decipher each other's languages and communication styles: http://www.amazon.com/Mars-Women-Venus-Com...s/dp/006016848X The second communication problem is not resolving past issues. Chances are if you are having a knock-down-drag-out fight over the garbage not being taking out, you are not really argueing about the garbage, but some past unresolved event. 3. See a Counselor. It cant hurt. Marriages are not always rosey, they do take work at times. But if it is more "work" than rosey, it might be time to seek a professionals advice. Doesnt make you crazy or inferior, sometimes you just need a tool to help you do the job better. PM me anytime.

My Christmas Present to you: No more crotchity posts in 2008 --- Hooray --- Enjoy the break.

I have over 20 years of experience as an AA in the EMS field, and your are going to lecture me on race. Walk a mile in my shoes first. And PS-- my comments towards dust were very sincere, he is one of the few professionals on this site. And I was not saying the use of the Nword is OK if AA say it. But I asked if you heard or used it at work, and it is possible that you may have heard AA saying it, so I put it in a different category. And my post are like TV channels, if you dont like what is on, flip to another post, your reading and/or comments are not mandatory for every post. Whenever you see crotchity, move on, especially if all you can do is attack the poster, and not bring any dialog to the debate.

Typical. That is like Bill Gates saying: they are too poor to eat, why dont they go to the grocery store ? You have benefited from centuries of your family having the opportunity at education, and you expect the entire AA race to catch up in 20 years. yes some doors were opened in the 60's, but that does not mean every AA had the opportunity in the 60's. Some families are just now sending the first member of their family to college. In case you forgot, most good colleges are rather expensive. Most AA are still subject to having to attend underperforming urban schools throughout the K-12 period, and then you expect them to ace college. Are some AA lazy, and still blaming the white man ? I will admit to that, if you will admit that there are just as many white people holding our race back. Here is a recent example: http://www.collegerecruiter.com/insightblog/003515.php

My apologies to the great dust, and thanks for having my back. And although AA in EMS/Fire are a minority, I do not agree that is why there are few in leadership positions, especially in the past, when a degree was not required for such positions. I find it to be similar to College Football and Pro Ball. African Americans rarely even get a chance to interview for head coach positions. How many african american coaches did U of Tennessee interview before deciding on Kiffen ? You have to remember that AA did not even have the opportunity to go to college until the 60's, so we are way behind educationally. So as our industry demands a minimum of a BS degree to obtain a leadership position, we will be left further behind.

OK, Let us recap: 1. 50/50 on use of the "N" word in your EMS workplace recently. 2. Few African Americans in your company or in leadership positions. 3. No one has invited an AA to dinner. 4. No one has dated or married an AA. And now you want your only AA kicked off the island --- that sounds about right, YET THERE IS NO RACISM LEFT IN EMS. GUESS YOU GUYS ARE RIGHT, YOU HAVE PROVEN ME WRONG AGAIN.

wow dtrick, you really shouldnt give me so much control over your emotions. It is a debate, it isnt life or death, and if I offended you as a homosexual, I do apologize, as I am trying to stop the discrimination against your people.

Before your friend does anything, you need to research your company's policy and procedure manual. If your partner was "at-fault", the policy may well state that he/she is liable for the incident. I knew of several companies that deducted repairs from backing accidents or clipped mirrors from the driver's check, instead of doing the standard write-up/suspension.

True dust, thats why I said "Incident Report", not Police Report. But having the police called out is a good thing if it is available to you. You (or your supervisor) should take lots of pictures, and write down all the information, and witness information that you can.

Didnt watch the ones posted, but I do remember a Russian Medical School video that showed a girl (I think about 10-12 years old), going all the way from minor distress, to arrest. It was disturbing to watch, but I will never forget the lessons it taught me. But then again, I come from the generation where they showed films of dead bodies and horrible trauma from MVC patients in drivers ed to scare you into not speeding.

Doc, please read my last question, we posted at about the same time so you may have missed it. Glyconeogenesis and glycolysis can play a role. You have to realize that these patients often have other medical problems and are on medications that can excerbate the issue. Besides that, glucometer strips on ambulances are not maintained at the manufacturers suggested temperature (usually 50-85 degrees), as ambulances that are housed outdoors (and even those housed indoors) frequently have internal temperatures that exceed either or both extremes. I realize that you are used to using glucometers in a controlled environment, and have a lab that can do a stat chem 7 panel. Many EMS providers do not do "controls" or have their glucometers calibrated to insure accuracy. I would bet you that if I checked every reserve truck in your state today, 25% of them would have expired glucometer controls on board, or would not even have control solution on board. It is sad, but many emts do not clean the patients finger with alcohol -- there is a good chance the patient was eating something sweet before they went unconscious, so now they have sugary fingers which gives an abnormal result. You can not put glucometer readings over and above obvious signs, symptoms, and history.

Sure it can, seen it many times. So, let me clarify your position doc: you are in an ambulance, that is not temperature controlled 100% of the time, using a glucometer that gets bumped around all over the place (probably cheapest glucometer that can be bought), and you have an unconscious insulin dependent, diaphoretic, diabetic patient in front of you. Your glucometer reading says 102, and you know the patient took their insulin, but has not eaten. You are claiming that you would not give D50 ? If so, what needs to happen for you to give D50 ?

Very wrong. YOU ALWAYS NEED AN ACCIDENT REPORT. Perfect example: My brotherlaw drives 18-wheeler and was involved in an accident where everyone slammed on brakes, he bumped a minivan. The minivan already had heavy damage to the rear from another accident. His bumping of the vehicle caused the taped-on taillight to fall out of its frame. All agreed no damage, no need for cops. Two weeks later, the minivan driver sued my brother in law and the trucking company for over $15,000 in damage to vehicle, and injuries sustained. He didnt have any pictures, and the trucking company had to pay every cent (self insured). Anytime you are in an ambulance accident, you need a full report and pictures, to protect you. When that driver gets home and starts telling the story of the accident, someone in the family will advise them about how they can make a quick $5k, by suing the company.

welcome theresa.

I am not for coma cocktails for any unconscious patient. But if I have: An unconscious insulin dependent diaphoretic, diabetic patient, I will most likely give 1/2 amp D50 if the blood sugar is anything below 120. Signs and symptoms overrule the machine, which is often faulty. When the body is reaching a blood sugar near zero, the body squeezes out every last ounce of sugar in the body, which can give a false positive, along with all the other issues that can cause a false positive. An unconscious person who is on prescriptions that would react to Romazicon or Narcan, I will give it (not D50).

EMT loses either way. If he/she hires a lawyer, he/she will be fired, and if your region is like most, the EMS gossip machine will let all employers know that this is a sue-happy employee. Under what circumstances is the owner claiming the EMT was at fault ?

If you can not differentiate CVA from Insulin Shock or Ketoacidosis, you need to go back to school.

But she will grant you one christmas wish anyway. Whats your wish ?

I have no problem with them on the ambulance, as most rookies in public safety are relatively young. They just shouldnt be in leadership positions.

Thank you for atleast answering one of the questions posted. You are the first to atleast do that. I wished some of the others would have the guts to answer all of the questions. But then they would have to admit I was right. AGAIN. We cant have that.