Biker911

Any idea of a place to sell an EMS Second Chance Bullet proof vest? What the value is? Big Star of Life on back

I have been involved in Calgary EMS/Ambulance for 40 years and have quite a bit of info. e-mail me risdahl@shaw.ca and we can talk

Worked in BC with a an Advanced first-aider/safety officer whose sub-contracted company did drugs tests. When I refused to test any employee's, she took over the responsibility. I treated a pt with severe back pain with endocet (Medical directors orders). Hid personal Physician had previously prescribed endocet but he did not have his script with him. When I kept him off the balance of his day, she went to his room and drug tested. Of course, he was positive and she put in her report and he was fired immediately for drug abuse. A phone call from his lawyer got the facts straitened out, he got his job back and because she lost face, hounded him. and me. I quit as soon as they could find a replacement as I am a medical professional not a drug cop. Unfortunately in Canada, safety people are considered much more important than the medical staff and try to demand medical records from us.

Hey, I guess I should get the motorcycle one to save me from cancer. And I thought it was just tired bum from a long day ion the saddle!

I have to go back, way back. In our city, you could be 18 y/o to attend but had to be 21 y/o to drive the ambulance. I was 19 y/o had my standard St. John's first aid ticket and starting my first night shift with an older partner in a 10 yeer old 1955 yes 1955 Cadillac ambulance. We were called to a strippers bar where the stripper had fallen off the stage and fractured her ankle. Fortunately it was at the end of her shift so we did not have to worry about removing any clothing as there was none. It was when we put her in the back of the ambulance that I learned that it is always best to be the senior person as I became the driver at that moment.

Well said EYDAWN!I agree that would be best. However, under "Sharia Law" when another man, other than her husband, sees the beauty of a woman, he has the right to beat her and/or divorce her. A reporter friend of mine wore a burqua for one day and said "It was the most oppressive feeling that she had ever experienced in her life" It really is a repressive act against a human being.

My best one is "God made Paramedics so even firemen could have hero's" Caught alot of s##t from the FF's for that one. Still like wearing it!

Although it is a silly assed minor problem for a trained health care professional, it seems like an emergency to some of the lesser educated population. Our city gave us taxi chits to give to people to go to the hospital so as not to tie up ambulances. It did not take long for the populace to figure out that the taxi company would take the chit and drop them at the bar or where ever. Good plan gone bad. We now have the option of treating them on scene or making them wait untill we are not busy. When we explain that or "not busy time" is between 0200 and 0500, they usually decline. Yes, I am Canadian, and no, we do not get sued even though we have lawyers!

I was NOT at the scene and 2nd guessing other medical professional's actions is not my right. The article writer states "It wasn't immediately clear if Paramedics checked vital signs on arrival" Maybe they did and maybe she was pulseless at that point. Surely not unheard of. Massive head trauma can mask a great many things. How accessible were other pulse points? Did the pt's visual clues help confirm NO pulse? "They covered her with a yellow tarp" said the daughter "then a few minutes later ""THEY"" found a pulse".. Who are THEY? The same crew that first checked and did a second assessment or another more highly trained crew? Remember. to the media, everybody is a Paramedic! Although, if they failed to do the basics they should be held accountable. Job loss and kicked out of the medical profession may not always be the best solution. If I was fired for the first error I made, I would not have lasted 40 years and I never made that mistake again.