Arctickat

We use the Canadian Triage and Acuity Scale. (CTAS) http://caep.ca/resources/ctas It uses a scale of 1 - 5.

Poker dealer would have been my first choice personally. http://www.bendigoadvertiser.com.au/news/local/news/general/paramedics-top-poll-for-most-trustworthy-profession/2606002.aspx

Why is this considered news? Isn't it typical in California to have at least one 15+ car pileup per day?

If all but two of their medics left them, I've gotta hear the other side of the story. Something henky must be going on at Metro.

I dunno, I was just comparing it to snake bites. That seemed to be the direction this protocol was taking to attempt to slow the spread of the infection/poison. First Aid for snake bites is immobilization.

Geez, really? Permanently losing his cert? We had a guy out here run on 4 seperate occasions with infusions beyond his scope including pentaspan, alcohol, and fentanyl, tell his intermediate to push morphine, falsify a call report, and disregarding a medical order, and all he got was a 1 month suspension and a $1,500 fine. http://www.collegeof...on_Redacted.pdf

So, I finally upgraded the ol' flip phone to a Samsung Galaxy Note and I'm looking to fill it up with crap. A quick search of the google monster for "Android ACLS Algorithms" has resulted in about 5 bazillion hits and there is nothing on this forum on the topic. So, is anyone using their android for ACLS algorithms? Do you have one you'd recommend? I'm looking for one that would include the unusual circumstances, such as maternity patients, etc.

Yeah, I'm not much of a jokester when it comes to reassuring my patient. I take it quite seriously. Here's another peeve I have; "I'm going to take your vitals." or "I'm going to take your blood pressure." I prefer to use the word Check rather than Take. If I tell someone that I'm taking something of theirs, the inference is that they will be missing that item and I will possess it when I finish my task. Most would understand what I mean if I were to take their vitals....but some might think I mean their liver or heart.

One time I was called to a collision between a farm tractor and a small car. The tractor drove out of the ditch and onto the path of the car which collided with the forks on the front of the tractor. My initial survey indicated that both were concious, alert, and ambulatory. Self extricated from the car. The mom was sitting on the side of the road with her husband who had just arrived before us.(both of them being good friends of mine) I approached and knealt beside her, my first words were, "So, had a bit of a scare did ya?" Her hubby almost lost his mind. Something like "BIT OF A SCARE!!?? SHE F-IN NEAR HAD HER HEAD TAKEN OFF AND YOU CALL THAT A BIT OF A SCARE??!!" I just looked at him and asked "Is her head still attached?", "yes." "Then calm down, she and your daughter are gonna be fine."

Why would you raise the bitten area ABOVE the level of the heart? Shouldn't that have been below? Also, if they're undead, that means they have no vascular circulation. Therefore administration of parenteral medications would be ineffective unless someone is doing CPR for you.

After the third, middle of the night, call to the same drunken sot who refuses to be transported by ambulance because his drunken girlfriend called 911 when she couldn't get him to wake up this week...it goes kinda like this. What the expletive did you call us for this time? Sign here and take that expletive phone away from her.

Awww, it didn't even make it past local community news when I did it 10 years ago. http://www.kelvingtonmhs.ca/news/east-central-connection_may-2003.php

Oh, licences don't matter. The guy who usually drives the fire truck has had so many DUIs that he hasn't been able to renew his Driver Licence for 20 years.

Oh, no, he'd fit in nicely. Our VFD could really use a Designated Driver.

Umm...did you not read my thread entitled "Well, He Saved the Beer!!" Your dad would fit right in here. lol

More Valuable? Some would argue. Yet the animal has no choice in the matter. How are we to know the animal doesn't want to fight for survival? Humans have the understanding to make a choice, my dog, does not. My dog is a soulless creature? I won't see him in heaven if I go there? What about doggie heaven? Seriously, there are those who believe their pets will be in the afterlife. For such to occur, isn't a soul a prerequisite? But should everyone be forced to conform to what you believe in? The same could be said for a certain group who tried to force the entire population of Europe to conform to their system of beliefs. I respect your conviction, all I ask is that you also respect mine. So, it's okay to make them into drug addicts, but not to allow them to die with dignity?

Funny you should mention. I thought of calling them Fire Truck Drivers and Police Car Drivers about 15 years ago. Obviously, from this picture, I wasn't original as I'd thought. I walked into a combined Fire/EMS training academy, my friend was the head of the EMS training unit and he introduced me to his Fire counterpart during the tour. I commented, "So this is where all the Fire Truck Drivers get trained." After a dirty look from the Fire Truck Driver Trainer and a few exchanged pleasantries, we left. Out of Earshot my buddy mentions, "You sure do make an interesting first impression." I think he was a little irked that I insulted his business partner, but I figured that if he can't take a joke, then Fuggim.

Our P25 Motorola XTS2500 radios aren't any better AK and I've been told they're top of the line, though I disagree. A repeater added to your building would likely be your only option.

Is a helicopter actually better than a ground unit for patient outcomes? http://www.jems.com/article/patient-care/helicopters-don-t-affect-survival-trauma?utm_source=bm23&utm_medium=email&utm_term=Image+-+http%3A%2F%2Fwww.jems.com%2Farticle%2Fpatient-care%2Fhelicopters-don-t-affect-survival-trauma&utm_content=lowe%40sasktel.net&utm_campaign=Jems+eNews+06-19-12 The Science This study is a retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data from the Resuscitation Outcomes Consortium on the survival of patients with hypovolemic shock and/or a traumatic brain injury (TBI), comparing their mode of transport: ground vs. helicopter. More than 2,000 patients qualified for the study, with approximately 700 patients being transported by helicopter. The investigators found the patients that were transported by helicopter tended to be more seriously injured and many suffered from blunt force trauma. Survival was analyzed at 28 days and 6 months in both groups; however, six-month follow up was reserved for patients with TBI. The analysis of the data showed no statistical difference in survival between the modes of transport in either the hypovolemic shock group or the TBI group. The only conclusion was that helicopter mode of transport was associated with longer prehospital times, more advanced life support procedures and more severely injured patients.

The terminally ill B.C. woman who was granted the right to a physician-assisted suicide by a B.C. judge last Friday says she was overwhelmed by the "momentous" decision, but she has no immediate plans to end her life. http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/story/2012/06/18/bc-gloria-taylor-assisted-suicide.html I did a paper on this in university. I approve of this decision.

Yes, that's all well and good, but does it have an anti-theft switch and remote door locks so you can remove the key from the ignition, lock all the doors with the push of a button, and have the ambulance stay running? All that other stuff you mentioned has been around for decades. It's nice to see someone who is proud of his work environment. I can appreciate how eager you are to share your new purchases with us. I like to see what new innovations are being incorporated into ambulances by various manufacturers. What are your other three cameras? You only mentioned the rear view. What purpose is served by the 45° cab seats? Are your cabinet pads individually controlled by a thermostat so that one cabinet does not get hotter than the other? Have you used liquid oxygen before? I've considered it, but the pressurised tanks are safer in the event of a potential breach. It's interesting that the fleet is keyed identically. Now if someone gets their hands on a key they can pick and choose which ambulance to steal instead of searching for the right one. How do you safely restrain 7 patients in the ambulance, and how do you provide them with appropriate treatments? Or at this point are you just a taxi/bus ride to the hospital.

That has gotta be the one time that I would absoloutely want to bring the equipment to the patient. I'm all for getting my patient into my office as quickly as possible so that I have my entire bag of tricks close at hand, but that statement just goes against everything. I hope you're at least doing CPR during the move. Now...where was that code save thread and has Mikey posted his success rate in there...off to look. :/

Please tell me that price is for all brand new equipment as well because if that's just the unequipped ambulance, your purchasing department needs a slap upside the head. Our E450 Diesel comes with a 170" box, Rear view, blind spot, dash cams and thermal imaging. Safety harnesses on the attendant seats which are adjustable to manouver the length of the cot. The 110 power inverter also comes in handy for charging IV pumps and Defib batteries. Heated external access cabinets aren't anything new here, but our units are built in Canada, not Florida, I suppose that makes a difference. I do like your console, ours is just a switch panel on the modified dash. Hopefully the slurpee doesn't spill out of the cup holders though. All for 40k less than your guys paid for theirs. Edit; Don't get me wrong, your ambulance looks pretty and everything, I just think you got ripped off.

Dragon Age and SOCOM rock.