HERBIE1

Well, if you refuse to allow that service dog in your rig, you would be in violation of our department policy. Obviously that would depend on your particular service.

Catastrophic and life altering? I agree with you- No way. Worthy of a lawsuit and damages or a loss of employment? Certainly not. Cause for reeducation of the crew and a review and/or establishment of pertinent laws and rules regarding service animals for the entire department? Absolutely.

Fascinating stuff. Stem cells appear to be the cutting edge of medicine, and their uses almost limitless.

I seem to recall Dwayne expressing his opinion on this before, and to be honest, it surprised me a bit. Yes, the dog certainly will not be participating in his master's care in the ambulance or at the ER, but at some point the man will be discharged- presumably he will be treated and released in this case- and will need to get home. A person goes out to eat in a restaurant, and no, the dog won't be serving the food, but this animal is not only someone's life line, but also their companion. We take family members and friends of patients with us all the time, to help comfort and ease the anxiety of someone. Many times they know little or no useful information about the patient, so it's not like their presence is vital either. Why not take an animal companion for the very same reason? I honestly see no difference. I've seen some extraordinary bonds between these service animals and those they assist. Even if the animal will simply lay at the foot of the cot or ER bed, if it puts the patient- and their dog- at ease, I have no problem with it.

http://www.firehouse.com/news/top-headlines/baltimore-medics-take-blind-man-not-dog Beyond stupid. Department policy or not, this is a federal law. If someone cannot understand that a service dog is vital to a disabled person, they are in serious need of retraining. I love it when we have service animals- they are well trained, never a problem, and behave(and smell) better than most of our patients.

Nah. We have WiFi at work, and many folks bring their laptops. Some play video games, some check sports scores, some check their email or do work, some study, and occasionally someone gets a dirty email/joke and shares it with those who are interested, and I see absolutely nothing wrong with that at all. Now if everyone is sitting in the day room watching the community TV, there is no way anything porn related(and I'm not talking about a quick show of T&A in an R rated movie here) should be on for everyone to see.

If there are women in the firehouse or station and someone puts on porn- softcore, hardcore, sex toys, or whatever- they are asking for trouble. THAT certainly can and will be construed as harassment and creating a hostile work environment. Besides-I'm certainly no prude, but why would you watch something that might get you all worked up and not be able to do anything about it- not to mention the fact you are surrounded by a bunch of guys? That's just creepy if you ask me. And yes, I know you are female- just making a point.

As you point out, there can also be a price to pay for someone reporting something like this- especially if you aren't looking for some pay off because of your actions and simply doing the right thing. I have no problem with unPC/dirty/ etc jokes, but it must be the proper time and place.

The problem Ruff, is that the laws we now have not only encourage, but dictate that "run to mommy mentality". I agree there needs to be a line in the sand in terms of acceptable behavior, but obviously "acceptable" is a relative term, In some cultures, a person can be hugely offended if these see a picture of a women without her head covered. Others see no problem with topless women at the beach. The OP mentioned the person was ultra religious, and to me, an extreme opinion about anything is a recipe for problems. They will generally be intolerant of anyone's opinion or actions that differs from their own. Could this person have handled this differently? Sure, but apparently she felt so offended she simply could not let it go without escalating the situation. Her choice- nothing I can do about that. In cases like this, I just wonder what the person's ultimate goal happens to be? If she wanted it to be known she is highly offended by porn, there are other ways to express that opinion. Maybe it's my cynical nature, but too often the issue isn't about being offended, it's about having another agenda- as in pay back to someone for a perceived slight, or to collect a lotto settlement. I liken the issue to charges of racism. All the spurious/malicious claims detract from the legitimate and horrible things that do happen.

I see no reason to "stage" or delay a response to any of these scenarios. Like I said before, in many areas around here, if we waited on calls such as this, our call volume would be cut in half- and we'd have a bunch of very angry citizens, all screaming for our jobs to their local community activists, city councilmen, the media, and anyone else who would listen.

I should also add that this person could easily file a complaint with the EEOC and as paramedicmike mentioned, this means a BIG MONEY fine for the company, as well as damages for the person "harmed". Full disclosure- I think that in this case the crew that used the company laptop for porn should be severely disciplined, and if your firm does not have a standing policy on harassment and violence in the workplace, they really should. I also think that in far too many cases, people use EEOC complaints almost as a second income. I know several folks who have sued multiple times and received cash settlements for "questionable" incidences of harassment.

Depends on your policies. For us- and most places- the answer is yes. These days, a good working definition for harassment is essentially anything that makes someone feel uncomfortable. Which means someone who overhears a lewd/sexist/inappropriate joke- told to a 3rd person and the offended person happens to hear it qualified. Someone sees an offensive picture inside someone's personal locker- qualifies. If you look at the actual laws regarding this, they are very loose, very general, and can you would be surprised at the behavior/language/actions that could technically qualify as harassment. So technically I agree with you this wasn't harassment, but it could be thought of as creating a hostile work environment- a related concept. Obviously this conduct probably violated a bunch of company rules, and may also involve federal statutes. If you receive your calls electronically over the computer, the FCC may have language on this as well. Should the person be terminated? Seems extreme to me, but I also don't know what- if any- their disciplinary record with the company may be- meaning progressive discipline may easily justify the company's actions. In today's world, you need to be ULTRA careful of what you say and do as nearly anything can be construed as an actionable offense. (Missed a couple words...)

But how does a person who OD's a danger to you, or justify a delay in your response? Will they be upset and angry? Maybe, maybe not, but anyone who's been doing this job for more than a day knows what it's like to deal with someone who is under the influence. The point is, SOMEONE called for EMS- and most often it's the patient, after they had a change of heart. Obviously if a person has a weapon that is NOT a safe scene and until that person is disarmed- or dead- you have no business being anywhere near them. I think a little paranoia is a good thing, but it also should not paralyze you and prevent you from doing your job. I've had thousands of suicide gestures/attempts and not once did anyone want to take me with them. They may be angry that you are there, angry that their attempt was not successful, angry that someone called to foil their plan, but nobody has ever tried to harm me because I was their to foil their plans. I've had plenty of people beg me to let them die, but never have I been threatened by such a patient. As for trust- I don't trust ANYONE-sober, sane, drunk, young or old. Just like driving with lights and siren, you assume that your rig has a bulls eye on it and everyone is aiming for you. You assume that the person in front of you will do the exact opposite of what they should do. When carrying a little old lady out the door or down the stairs in a stair chair, you assume she will ignore your instructions and reach out and grab the doorframe or railings potentially injuring you.(I have a friend who's career was ended in exactly that manner- the elderly patient grabbed a doorframe as they were going through it, his neck was torqued, and he blew out 2 cervical vertebrae.) It's not intentional or malicious, it's just you cannot trust anyone to do what you instruct them to do. You take whatever information you can from dispatch, any prior knowledge you may have of the area, and take that into consideration when you arrive on the scene. You constantly assess the situation, monitor the potential hazards, and then if you see a credible threat to your safety, you back off and wait for help.

I know that scene safety is drilled into our heads since day one of EMT school. I will somewhat part company with folks here. When I was in the ghetto, if we waited for the police on every OD or call with the potential for violence, we would have rarely gotten out of the rig. Bottom line- you need to know your area, you need to know your capabilities, and maintain a situational awareness of your surroundings. If you are pulling up to a scene and notice dozens of angry people running around, then yes, it makes sense to wait until the scene is secure. It depends on how much prearrival information you receive, your knowledge of the area, and what the call is dispatched as. Maybe you are familiar with the address and know it's a drug house or gang hangout- then yes, wait for back up. Maybe you know a certain area is "hot"- meaning gang warfare is going on. Wait for back up. This is when experience comes in handy. If you decide to wait before making patient contact, you damn well had better be able to JUSTIFY your rationale because a lawyer will certainly want some proof later: active shooting, threatening bystanders, warnings from dispatch that the scene is not safe, etc. Simply saying that you did not feel safe is not good enough. In some areas, the whole neighborhood is "unsafe" by the standard definition of the word, but if that's your area, that's part of the deal. Prehospital care is by definition unpredictable, and that is exactly why most of us got into this business. If you want somewhat safe, secure, serene surroundings, a hospital is probably where you need to be. I'm no cowboy, I am never reckless, nor would I knowingly put myself or my partner in danger. I simply think folks sometimes overstate the dangers we face. The vast majority of times when I felt my safety in jeopardy was in cases that had nothing to do with a violent injury like a GSW or beating- they were from medical or cardiac calls when bystanders and/or family started acting up, or when a domestic dispute broke out while we were on scene. In my experience, in 99% of our calls, even the goofiest, most angry, violent folks do not direct their anger or ire towards us. As long as you make it clear you are there to do the job someone called you to do, generally they leave you alone. Remember- someone called YOU for help, and you are supposed to be the professional that is there to mitigate a problem.

Siren queer? Never heard that one before. Anyone who has a belt full of toys is called "Inspector Gadget" around here.

Happiness- I gotta tell ya- you certainly come up with some good ones! LMAO

Anyone who has worked- or is currently working- in the ghetto could tell stories all day long of things that nobody would ever believe. How about illegal gas, electric, water, and cable hookups? Ever see someone with PVC pipe- "sealed" with duct tape, of course) extending from someone's gas meter to supply several houses? How about extension cords snaking down hallways, and across yards to supply multiple vacant/illegal apartments with electricity? Ever see someone who sleeps with cotton balls in their ears so roaches don't crawl in while they sleep? Ever shop in a store where the clerk picks out your purchases and gives them to you via a bullet proof turntable? THAT'S ghetto. To most people these things sound too ridiculous to be true. To someone in the ghetto, that's normal.

Richard- Exactly. There are around 10 books in this series and places like South America, Africa, Atlantis, Antarctica, and even Mars all play pivotal roles in the story. That is the whole point of the series-artifacts and ships were left all over the plant- as well as powerful computers that are linked up and form sort of a defense/control system. It's quite a story and a premise that if you have an open mind about the universe is actually quite plausible.

I was just thinking- if this is all BS, I wonder if the friend requests I occasionally get on Facebook from women who look like Victoria Secret Models might just be a scam. Thanks for ruining my night, guys...

LOL I guess I'm just too cynical..

We used to do SL injections for Narcan- worked well. Now they want us to use IN. Sorry, but I have not had good luck with the IN route. Too many factors that impede the absorption of the drug.

I got a similar email, but it was from a guy who said he was marketing an Obama Chia head plant. I thought it would never work so I didn't send any money. Blew that one, I guess...LOL

If this person was legit she would know that you need to sell this idea to the bosses in a company FIRST. You could find a group of people all hopped up and ready to go, would be perfect for the gig, and then realize the company/department/municipality's lawyers say no way. I'm with Ruff- let's see some proof.

Welcome to the city! Jump in.

I was never a big fan of biographies, first person accounts, or autobiographies until recently. Just finished a book about Herman Cain(I Am Herman Cain), one about current events- (Confidence Men), and another about John Wayne Gacy (Defending A Monster)- written by his lawyer) How about reading for pleasure, a bit of history, and mind expansion? There is a series about Area 51 written by Bob Mayer that I became hooked on. It starts with the premise that there is a huge- as in about a mile long- alien ship that was discovered under Groom Lake years ago. Not something that crashed here, but was intentionally left after a galaxy crossing battle between different alien races. That ship was buried there thousands of years ago, and THAT was why Area 51 became a top secret facility. To make a long story short, alien species were here thousands of years ago- and have influenced world events to suit their needs and desires. King Arthur's sword- Excalibur- has an alien origin, as do the pyramids in Egypt- even the Great Wall of China and The Great Plague. Sounds hokey, but is actually very well written and fairly plausible. The story line is that many historical figures are actually not of this world, or are essentially hybrids of aliens and humans and flashes from present day back to the days when these events allegedly took place. The story is essentially a quest to defeat the bad aliens, with plenty of plot twists and turns. How about a subject you have always liked but never really followed up with? Maybe a prior consideration for a career choice? Did you always want to be an accountant but never followed up on it? Did you always have an interest in space exploration? What about old classics that you haven't read since high school but can see with a fresh set of eyes now?