HERBIE1

Just wow.

LMAO I LOVE this. Haven't seen it in a long time.

I'm looking at the bigger picture here. It's not the numbers, it's the percentage. 1.8% of ANYTHING is statistically insignificant. (Not saying gays are insignificant, I am talking about enacting policies and laws specifically directed at such small groups.) That would be akin to having medical SOP's for a group that has a very rare disease, that most folks will never see in their careers, much less need to treat. As for listing each group with similar numbers- sorry- not the point here. What "rights" are you referring to here? Marriage? Nope. Last time I checked that is a societal convention, which happens to have legal rights attached to it. Now apparently we are supposed to redefine that convention to appease 1.8% of the population, but that's another story.

Hardly a random stat, Ak. Define significant. I'm sure there are plenty of groups that make up 1.8% of the population, yet there are no laws, regulations, or protections specifically directed at them or protect them, are there? The point as I see it is that we are talking about a group that we are being led to believe is far more prevalent in our society than they really are. Do you really think that making an overarching, far reaching policy for such a small group is a sound idea?

LMAO Me too. Time to file a lawsuit! It's lotto time, Ruff!

Don't BS a BS'er. This is a forum about EMS issues. If you were not looking for conflict, then why target your questions to a specific group? This is an open forum, and last time I checked, ANYONE can comment on any issue. There are no restrictions, you do not need to be an EMTB to comment on paramedic issues, nor do you need to be gay to comment on gay issues. If you want a response that agrees with your preconceived ideas, target your questions to a gay EMS site- if one exists. If you are as quick to toss up your sexual orientation as a defense or defining characteristic at work as you are here, I'm thinking your performance reviews reflect that attitude. Being militant about something does not win you any friends when your "cause" has nothing to do with your job. Here's a little friendly advice. I have been in a position to deal with discipline cases and in probably at least 75% of the cases where gender, sexual orientation, or racial discrimination claims have been made, the reality is far different. The person making the claims often had their own agendas and were simply looking for a vehicle to advance those agendas. In other cases, they were subpar employees, and lacking a legitimate defense for their actions or inactions, they claimed discrimination. In the past, the claim alone was enough to send the department into spasms because it nearly always meant a hefty settlement for someone. Eventually each claim was investigated by an independent group, and it was determined that many claims were unfounded. Are there problem?. Of course, but most of the time, there is more than meets the eye to these claims. If you are truly being discriminated against at work, then you have a lawsuit. Go ahead and file, but you had better be certain you have all your ducks in a row and be able to document and offer verifiable evidence of how you do not deserve lower performance review ratings than your coworkers.

This is over loyalties to a sports team?? A completely senseless crime. Absolutely incredible. One of the articles notes that in recent years, LA Dodgers games have been infested with gang bangers, and probably not coincidentally, attendance has been down for the team. What's up with the gang activity at a ball game? Is the area on gang turf? Godpseed to this guy and his family.

I'm here too. Fine with me- I wouldn't know anyone who would be "chosen" anyway... LOL From a friend- He was planning on making piles of clothes and laying them out all over the neighborhood just for fun, to see some folks get really nervous. I love that guy...

I think HOW we approach education has changed over the years- especially recently. Technology has become such an integral part of our life, and kids know nothing else. Technology is more than just a tool, we also need to understand how all the bells and whistles apply to what we do. In the case of medicine, technology and knowledge are inseparable. You need to understand the technology so you can appropriately apply it to our job. Think EKG's. What we see displayed on the screen is a visual representation of what is happening with someone's heart and it's conduction system. We understand those electronic lines and bumps represent specific activities of a heart's function. In other areas, technology may or may not impact what you do- it may make your job easier, but is not necessarily bound to what you do. If you are a philosophy teacher, technology may help you access the material easier than grabbing a book, but other than that it's low tech. That said, there is still a basic level of didactic knowledge we must have- A&P, biology, physiology, pharmacology, etc. Technology may assist in amassing/consolidating the knowledge for you to learn, but committing it to memory is generally still old school. In the end, I think we need to appreciate the fact that kids are tech savy at a very early age, and we need to acknowledge that when we teach. Technology is a tool, and we use it as an alternate/adjunct method for imparting the information to the students. It's still us to educators to integrate the tech with old school instructional methods.

I think the notion of race in a narrative is more pertinent to police reports. Should it be documented somewhere in the report? Sure, generally in of of the demographic fields for the reasons listed- data collection. Number crunchers and policy makers need data to justify funding, programs, and initiatives. Is it needed in the narrative? No. I honestly think it comes from law enforcement- "an unknown Hispanic male, wearing a white t shirt...", but I'm not sure how it become relevant to EMS. I do hear many people deliver telemetry reports using race or ethnicity, or see it in reports, but I honestly never do- I see no reason. Is race pertinent to our treatment? No, but as several have said, it IS pertinent when dealing with disease processes, predisposition to illnesses, possible underlying problems etc.

Why not? For decades cardiologists have used home monitors to capture transient arrythmias, but the data was downloaded or electronically sent off site. Now we have real time output to show us and ER docs exactly what happened with a patient. I think it's a great thing. More evidence for their doctor to pinpoint an elusive problem. I recall a person who was dealing with some type of transient problem that their doctors had not yet been able to capture. They would have episodes of near syncope, palpitations, but were never able to document or reproduce the problems, even after multiple episodes. The person called us for the same symptoms, we hooked them up, and we actually captured a 10 second episode of V-tach. The patient actually had their cardiologist on speed dial, called him after the episode resolved on it;s own, and I spoke with the doctor. He was elated that the problem was finally documented and jokingly offered to pay for a copy of the EKG strip. We made a couple copies, delivered the patient to the ER along with the evidence of their problem.

I'm with the doc here. You need to decide what your ultimate goal is. If you want to be a nurse, go to nursing school and bypass EMS. If you want to be a paramedic, do that. You say you just started EMTB, so clearly you are interested in prehospital care. It is quite different from nursing- a different mindset, a different philosophy, and a different perspective. Yes, they are both health care, but vastly different in terms of pay, job opportunities, and working conditions. EMS folks are a unique breed, and unless you really love the work, you will quickly become frustrated. Many providers go to nursing school on the side after they have been in EMS for awhile- for increased pay, better benefits, better job opportunities, but simply cannot get EMS out of their blood. Some give up the EMS portion and move on, or change gears to another allied health profession. Time to set your priorities and see where you stand- especially if you are just starting out in school. Education is expensive, and unfortunately that is a very real consideration that needs to be factored in here. Good luck.

Most of my experience working with gays was when I was a tech at an ER. In one place, depending on the shift, I as a hetero male- was the minority. Lesbians, gay men, bisexual doctors, nurses, staff- we had them all. We had great relationships with these folks- some were more flamboyant and open, others were not. One area I worked was heavily gay, as were many of our patients. The gays actually HATED dealing with the princesses, and drama queens more than I did- they said they made them look foolish. One guy-a nurse from India- was one of the funniest people I have ever met. Quick wit, brutal, and often ended his sharp tongued comments and barbs with- "Well, you know how us fags are", or- well, you're hetero- you don't get it. All in good fun, as no offense was intended or taken from it. As brash as he was, he was painfully shy when it came to his own interests. A new young male resident doc would arrive, and I would make a comment to the nurse- "hey- check out that guy"- without even knowing if the person was gay or not. He would become flustered, and if you want to see something funny, watch an Indian blush. One nurse- who simply could not decide if she was gay, straight, or bisexual- she was married to a man, partnered with a female, and played around with both sexes- and I hit it off. We'd go out for drinks after work(we had a great group of folks who were very tight), and we'd have these incredibly deep conversations on straight/gay issues for hours on end. She had a unique perspective on lifestyles. I don't think it's discriminatory to say that context is all important in this. If some heavily tatooed, multiple piercing, rainbow haired, or very flamboyant gay provider shows up in a rural area- or in the middle of a staunchly conservative area- it WILL raise some eyebrows. Is it right? Maybe not, but as an employer, I think you should have the right to set standards for appearance, comportment, and dress. They may be the best provider in the world, but perception is a huge part of this. Right or wrong, many people make judgements based on appearance, and if we are supposed to be serving the public, we should not be adding to the stress of the patient or their families, nor should we be a distraction. If that same provider showed up in a trendy/hip part of LA, Miami, NYC, or Chicago, their appearance may not even generate a second glance. Obviously as an employer you cannot hire providers to staff only areas comfortable with a strange looking provider, so a balance must be struck. Mandate certain hair standards(fire departments have done it forever, as do most businesses), maybe cover up tats, remove obvious piercings, etc. We are projecting an image, and are supposed to instill confidence and an air of professionalism. I see nothing wrong with limiting self expression in such cases. You have a job to do, and while you are working, it does not include expressing your personal habits and preferences, whatever they may be, or taking a stand on some issue. It's supposed to be about caring for patients and their families. Period. When was the last time you saw a doctor or other professional running around with gems in their earlobes, multiple facial piercings, multi colored hair, or flaunting their sexuality-whether it be straight or gay? Time and place.

If you are on an 8, 10, or 12 hour shift, I honestly do not see the need to sleep. Ask a nurse who works a double shift- 16 hrs- if they can sleep. In busy places, they barely have enough time for bathroom breaks, much less rest or food. Do I think it's a problem if a crew is allowed to catch a nap? Nope. As for 24's, depending on your call volume, many days, sleep may be impossible. Staying up, focused, and on top of your game for 24 hours is not an easy task. Many places mandate that no beds until after 1800 hrs or 2200 hours, but to me, if I am tired, I will try to nap whenever I can. Even a 15 minute cat nap can do wonders for you. I don't care who you are, 24 hours is a long time to go without sleep. Does it happen? In many areas, nearly every single day.

Obviously the role of the chaplain is different for each agency, but in most cases I know of, they are for the members, NOT the public. Do they show up at incidents? Yes, but for US, not the patients or their families. Do they occasionally help out when asked? Yes.

I think you are going at this the wrong way. Are you only interested in someone's opinions if they are gay? Not a very valid sample to make a reasoned and balanced article if you are only looking at one point of view. Present some pertinent questions and I'm sure folks would be more than happy to respond.

Highest yield in terms of what? My original post was questioning the value of any education, vs one focused on EMS or the public safety field.

I think it's a great idea. However, just to be fair and balanced, I want someone to develop a Mammogram Barbie, a Prostate Perry doll, a Condom Carl, and a Gyne exam Gertrude. It;'s never too early to start teaching these things.

Rather than derail the "Studying at work" thread, I decided to start a new one. Related, but different focus.... As most of us agree about the value of education, I won't belabor that point. I do wonder what folks think here about whether or not the area of study is important. In other words, do folks see the most value in getting more education in their chosen field, or is ANY education a good thing? My personal opinion is it depends on your goals, ambition, future plans within the profession or it's periphery, or is it preparation for an entirely new career when this one is over. Speaking with my students(FF's, medics, and EMT's), most feel that getting degrees is- or at least SHOULD BE- important to their future in the profession- although many realize the "pay off" may be years away, if at all. If you work in an area progressive enough to award points on entrance and promotional exams, pay incentives for various levels of education,- great. Problem is, often those who earn these degrees and the insight that often goes with that knowledge, become very frustrated with the state of their own area/agency/department/system, that they end up walking away completely. I've taught everyone from street level providers to chiefs, to administrators. Some will see an immediate benefit from their efforts, while many do not. What most have in common is an eventual realization that with education comes a broader perspective on the field, on issues, and ultimately solutions to our problems. They better understand the obstacles involved in effecting change, and unless they are in a position to even propose those changes, AND have the political/organizational capital or position power to get them done, much less see the results, it can be very frustrating. They know what's wrong, they may have some good ideas to help address the problems, yet are not in a position to make those changes, or often times, even get someone to listen to their ideas. Couple these issues with the very real problem of the cost of an education, I take my hat off to those who DO advance their knowledge base- regardless of the area they choose, or educational level they attain. When I went back for my Masters, I toyed with the idea of getting it in a field completely unrelated to my undergrad degree and current profession. I decided that a broader curriculum- public safety administration was the path I wanted to choose. Turns out I was fascinated by the management/leadership issues more than anything. I really enjoyed learning about WHY the problems we have persist, and are so difficult to change. I also found that many of the root causes of our problems are not unique to EMS or even health care. Organizational stagnation, organizational culture, conflicting management styles, poor leadership, a lack of focus on goals, a lack of vision- all of these things are just as prevalent in the private sector as they are in public safety, and specifically EMS. In other words, while WHAT we do may be unique, the core problems associated with our field certainly are not. I see good things in our future IF we continue to turn out providers who are willing to look beyond the present and are also willing to accept the challenge of furthering their knowledge base. It not only takes guts to go out on a limb and "criticize" your organization(even with the best of intentions and offering possible solutions), but it takes motivation and perseverance. Many people- especially those who do not have the background, education, or experience- feel threatened if the status quo is not maintained. Not an easy task to buck the system.

Do I see the "need" for such a place? Absolutely not. None. If- and only if- someone MUST push for the ridiculous notion that there is nothing wrong with someone exercising their "right" to surf porn in a public library, surrounded by children- fine. To me, it would represent yet another low in the deterioration of our society. Defending something like this- for ANY reason- is simply beyond my comprehension. You cannot tell me that someone who WANTS to surf porn in a public place inhabited primarily by kids- is not a threat to those kids or to anyone else. Fine- make it a locked room, have the person show an ID to gain access to that terminal, keep a list of the users, and then check every person on that list against the registered sex offender database. At least we could then turn a disgusting situation into a potential positive.

No, this is not a training mannequin for soon to be moms, it's clearly marketed towards young girls- just look at the picture in the link. Discuss. Breastfeeding Doll Lets Kids Practice Nursing http://www.fox8.com/...0,6865744.story

We can go back and forth and cite USSC cases, and even claim that someone does not have the right to impose their values on anyone else. I actually agree with that statement. BUT-As I have said before, YOUR (not you personally) rights end at the point when they infringe on mine or those of my family's. Besides the ultra left, few would ever disagree with the notion that exposing kids to porn is a bad idea. That would include having my kids in a public library and seeing some pervert surfing porn sites. If you want to look at pron, look at it private. Nobody is denying you that right. This is not a free speech issue. Also said here- just because something is "legal", it does not make it "right"- at least in terms of the opinions of the vast majority of the country. I fail to see how restricting porn from a public library computer will cause the downfall of our society or erosion of our rights.

This is a very diverse state- in terms of climate as well as politics. Where jclutts lives is totally different than northern Illinois- much more temperate, a fraction of the snow. The vast majority of the state is actually pretty rural. As for politics- Chicago itself is Democratic, while the rest of the state is generally very Conservative/GOP.

Extending a warm welcome to the city to our new members...

I cannot speak for Kiwi here, but to many of his supporters, race is the reason most often cited as why someone is opposed to Obama's policies. THAT is a step backwards to me. We are supposed to be post racial thanks to the election of a black president, yet many of those who constantly play the race card are the ones who claim race should not be a factor. By the numbers, most of who voted for Obama were white since only 12% of the country is black, so playing the race card is a disingenuous dodge. Why is it so unfathomable to Obama-ites that folks simply disagree with his policies, his agenda, and his political/social ideology?