crotchitymedic1986

There is nothing worse than losing a coworker, especially one so young. It might help if you guys can create a foundation or some way for her name to live on. When a young emt about the same age died in our region, we renamed one of the EMT awards (for trauma care) in her name, and the service created a sholarship fund in her name to pay for EMT school for people who couldnt afford it. So even though she has been dead since the early 90's, her name still lives on.

So Arizona, in your humble opinion, is it something we should do more often. It seems we are always looking for the newest, latest treatment or skill that we can employ, but we have a cure in our drug box we never use. I never used it because it was just too damn messy, especially if they puked it back up (but i guess in hindsight, i could have let them drink it in their house before being put in the truck), but if I look at it strictly from what is best for the patient, it seems criminal to continue to allow toxic substances to be absorbed in the body, when i can stop it with something on my bus. That would be like denying D50 to a diabetic. The more i think about, the worse i feel about my lack of treatment for these patients.

yes, i am only 5'9" -- so it was much better for me --- i cant explain it, but its just way easier walking forward carrying weight, than walking backwards --- and it felt better carrying the load with my arms bent, versus walking backwards with arms straightout --- and for me, because i am short, it felt like the load was carried higher -- the stair chair wheels never hit a step -- if that makes any sense ----- try it, see what you think.

what is free standby ??????????

apparantly the website hasnt been updated --- he said they were at 52 and went to 54 in october. He works the typical 12hour shift / 48 hour week at $20 or 21/hour (cant remember the figure). 24/48 crews are paid less hourly, but same yearly.

and they also get all the overtime they want ---- sounds to good to be true for that part of the country.

I guess i can clarify that -- in this scenario there was a transport unit on scene that opted to let the pt wait on a BLS unit. In rural communities it is common to have BLS ambulances that may arrive on the scene first and then decide if ALS should be called in. My point is that the first ambulance on scene should have transported this patient, regardless of level (ALS OR BLS)

If the only report that the medics had was that she was found unconscious with a bleeding head wound, you would most likely see: The patient would be immobilized with a ccollar and backboard, it would be reasonable for her to wake up with an oxygen mask, seeing two medics working above her -- as she gained consciousness, they would ask her questions to gauge how conscious she is -- like asking her name, if she knows where she is, or what day it is -- they would ask about her medical history and medication allergies she has. Other things they could be doing or saying: Checking her pupils for response to light Checking, stating vital signs: blood pressure, pulse, EKG, glucose reading, coma scale. Starting an IV or INT (no IV bag or line, just IV access). Discussing which hospital to take her too -- trauma center --- radio/ cell phone patient report given to the hospital while enroute. Visit your local EMS service, I am sure they will be more than willing to let you see the equipment or discuss ideas.

Buddy of mine just left Mississippi to go to work for Central Ambulance in Atanta (private service). They start medics at $54k, EMTI's at $45k, and have vents and IV pumps on all 24-hour units, pneumatic stretchers on every unit. He says full family medical and dental will run him around $200/month. Dont know anything about the quality of the service yet (he is still in orientation), but it seems that they do take care of their employees. And unlike California or New York, the cost of living is cheap (can get a nice home in the country for under $150-200k, can get a nice home in the city for under $ 250k. http://www.centralems.com/

Its been my experience that you will find whatever you are looking for wherever you go to work. Happy people find a way to be happy in any environment, miserable people always find a way to be miserable wherever they are (regardless of pay, benefits, management, turnover). If there was a perfect place to work, we would all be there. Go in with the attitude of "What can i do to make this service better", versus the usual medic attitude of "what does this service have to offer me", and you will be happier than your coworkers, whereever you are. And if despite all of those warm and happy thoughts, you find yourself at a horrible job --- QUIT.

The post about the "soft stretcher" made me think of something, and hopefully i am not the only idiot who was guilty of this. The last company i worked for had the newer stair chairs with the rolling belts (like a military tank). I had only used the old ones, and was having trouble unfolding it and folding it without loosing a finger. So I did a very "unmedic" like act, and watched the manufacturers instructional DVD. On the DVD it showed the medics doing something i had never done: The medic at the head or top of the stairchair, turned around (with his back to the stairchair) and walked up the stairs forward (much like you would pull a rickshaw) with both medics facing forwards or up the stairs. I had always done it with the top medic facing the patient and the other medic, walking backwards up the stairs. This new way was so much easier when i tried it out for real with a patient. So, if any of you are still dragging the stair chair up the steps backwards, flip around and do it the easy way.

I am thankful for WHO i have in my life. I went through a rough time over the past 3 years of employment (finally better), and the knowledge that the "whats" that you have in life is not as important as the "Who's" was reaffirmed. Hug everyone at your gathering tomorrow, as you do not know which ones will not be returning next year.

Digging through some old posts on here, I came across a heated arguement over the use of charcoal (or lack thereof) in the field. I never gave it in the field, but most of my OD patients did get it in the ER, so maybe there is some arguement for greater use in the field (when indicated and not contraindicated). What do you guys think ?

Again, i beg to differ. Penetrating trauma to the torso should be a load and go. If you only have a BLS unit on the scene, they should load and go. If you have an ALS and a BLS ambulance to choose from and they are both equadistance from the call, then call ALS. But to sit on the scene 8-10 minutes waiting on an ALS unit when a BLS unit is on scene is negligent at best (the ALS unit can always intercept on the way to the trauma center).

This is the cadillac model of what i was talking about (and it is made by Reeves, but not a reeves sleeve). You can get cheaper models that are just basic tarps with handles: http://www1.mooremedical.com/index.cfm?PG=...l&PID=15586

I was referenceing the devices that look like a canvas tarp with handles sewn in (not a reeves sleeve). They come in sizes ranging from a small "seat" that is the size of an infant blanket, to 4'x8' .

Love the soft stretcher, it is great for tight spaces, narrow halls, and stairs. I wouldnt buy one for every truck (unless you can afford it), but its great to have one available in your service. If you do buy one, make sure it is the larger size with atleast 6-8 handles (I prever canvas over the plastic models). The smaller version works for most patients, but it is not as good when you get one over 600lbs (harder to lift with just 4 "corner" handles. I have even been known to use it for light patients on stairs that dont have a "back" (hollow gaps under each stair, where the stairchair wheel can slip through)

Agree or disagree, but I used something similar as a monthly safety topic once: I parked an ambulance in the street at night with headlights and emergency lights flashing. I then placed 6 medics around the ambulance in various poses. I then placed my car in front of them at a distance of about 15 feet, with my headlights (on bright) shining at them. I then took a picture of the scene using the "flash" on my camera. You could only make out the outline of one of them, because their jacket was partially blocking one of the ambulance headlights. Then, while standing in the same position, I had them put on their reflective safety vests and took the same pic. The difference made believers of all those who didnt feel it necessary to wear a vest at night.

Here is what you are looking for--- before you go to print any of the classes, realize that each one is over 50 pages: http://training.fema.gov/IS/NIMS.asp

Actually the consensus is that you have no choice. If you do nothing, the patient dies. Your actions may only be minimally helpful, may save the life, or do nothing at all -- but you tried to save the patient. It is the same logic behind rapid extrication of the trauma patient who just arrested in front of you, C-spine is important, but lack of oxygenation is more important, so you do not spend 10 minutes applying a ccollar and KED. Yes, they may have a cspine fracture, but that doesnt matter if they die. Layperson CPR on your patient may keep enough oxygen rich blood circulating to save a few brain cells, until an ALS unit can arrive and unclog the airway (or even a BLS unit with portable suction).

Typically, I would not apply anything to the pelvis, as the movement of the patient that is required to do so is too painful and may make a nondisplaced fracture displaced. I generally just "pad" the effected leg/hip with pillows, blankets, sheets, in the position of comfort (assuming good distal circulation).

Need more definition from you. The layperson's term for shock and the clinical version of shock are two different things. If you mean she is in and out of consciousness because of being too upset by something, little would be going on in the back of the ambulance. If you mean the clinical definition of shock: patient is in an altered state of mind due to too much blood loss, a severe infection, a neurological injury or disease, or an allergic reaction to something, then alot would be going on. So what has happened to the lady in your story ?

Husband and wife are in the midst of having sex, when their 5 year old son comes into the room and sees them in action. The kid runs from the room screaming and crying. Mom jumps out of bed, throws on a robe and heads to little johnny's room. Johnny is hiding in his closet, crying. Mom says, whats the matter honey ? Johnnie replies, mommy what were you doing to daddy ? Mom explains, well son, you know how fat daddy's stomach is ? Sometimes mommy has to get on top of daddy and bounce up and down to get his stomach flat enough to fit in his uniform pants. Johnny replies, mommy you are just wasting your time. Every Saturday when you go to the grocery store, the lady next door comes over, gets on her knees, and blows daddy right back up again.

Put the Lime in da coconut ........................... Or Mmmmmmmaaaaaaacccccccccaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrrreeeeeeeeennnnnnnnnnnaaaaaaaaaa

My only question is: whose responsibility is it to unbuckle him from his infant-car-seat when you guys arrive on calls ?