Dustdevil

Wow... St. Lucie County firemonkeys just can't seem to stay out of the bad news articles. I am so glad to be out of that county. I wonder if the fire department stole the guy's leg? http://www.wptv.com/content/news/stlucie/fortpierce/story/chris-doyle-emt-ambulance-crash-all-county-ft-pie/-C7uDN9VT0qhNxfMTGlNJw.cspx EMT released from hospital after crash Reported by: Carolyn Scofield Email: cscofield@wptv.com Photographer: Cody Jackson Last Update: 9:29 am FT. PIERCE, FL - It must feel pretty strange to be rolled off an ambulance and into a crowd of cheering people. It's probably even stranger for Chris Doyle. After all, he's used to rolling the stretchers, not being on one. Doyle, 22, was released from Lawnwood Regional Medical Center minutes before arriving at Big Apple Pizza for a fundraiser in his honor. He's been in the hospital for more than three weeks, since a crash that almost killed him. An emergency medical technician with All County Ambulance, Doyle was in the passenger seat of an ambulance. As driver, St. Lucie County Firefighter/Paramedic Rusty Hines turned the corner of Virginia Avenue and 25th Street, an SUV plowed into Doyle's side of the ambulance. The crash killed the SUV's driver, 63-year old Germaine Lindor. Police are still waiting on autopsy and toxicology reports to learn more about what led up to the crash. The impact turned the ambulance on its side and sent it skidding more than 50 feet. "I remember getting hit and just the shock of it," says Hines. "I guess what I've described to everybody is very violent. And just waiting for everything to stop and after that, just trying to help Chris out and see if he was alright." Witnesses say Hines, trapped sideways in his seat beneath Doyle, reached up to hold his partner still. This was their first day together on the job. Doctors had to amputate Doyle's left leg from the knee down. His right leg is still in a cast. He has another surgery scheduled for Friday and more therapy in the weeks and months to come. Doyle eventually wants to be fitted with prosthesis. After that, Doyle hopes to become a paramedic. It was a dream he shared with Hines in the hours before the crash. "I told him I would be his personal tutor if he wants for as long as he wants me," says Hines. "Whether he wants me there or not, I'll be there for him, no matter what."

Scrotum, or scrotal contents? Specific localisation? Exacerbation? Onset? The whole PQRST thing. How was the temperature taken? It may or may not be particularly significant, depending on route. But if you got that off someone's TM or forehead, that's a doozie. And it may or may not be related to the pain. There's no law against having pneumonia and Testicular Torsion both on the same day. The dirty lungs may be indicative of the origin of the fever, irrespective of the source of the pain. Regardless, I'm pretty surprised to see an assessment in the field that includes a temp, but not a BP. Tachyness can be related to the fever, the lungs, or the Ventolin, so while significant, it's not particularly contributory to ruling anything out. Top three, off the top of my head, in order of suspicion at this point: 1. Epididymitis - Fever puts this at the top. 2. Testicular Torsion - Always a concern with 10/10 pain, and a true emergency. 3. Inguinal Hernia - Often exacerbated by coughing, which he most likely is doing with the Asthma and junky smoker's lungs. All three rate a trip to the hospital right now for proper work-up.

This is absolutely NO different from pulling up on an MVA and finding the patient trapped in the wreckage. You cannot -- I repeat, CANNOT -- just say "fuck it, I can't get to them" and drive off. You have to stay there and exhaust all possible avenues of reaching them, as well as calling for the proper resources to do so. If a doctor or dispatcher signed off on this, big deal. Three wrongs don't make a right. If a doctor gave you a dangerously inaccurate drug dosage, would you do it? Of course not. This shit is from day-1 of paramedic school. It's not rocket surgery. And I really can't believe how complicated some people are trying to make it.

I dunno, man... I think you give them too much credit for trying to do the right thing. I believe they know darn good and well that they're only making things worse. But they also know that, the worse they make it, the more we depend on them. Consequently, everything they do is just to buy votes, not to actually fix anything.

If it were unsafe, they could not have expected the patient to walk it either. If it were unsafe, they'd have never made it to work that morning.

Sorry, but that was the most pointless and erroneous rant I've seen here in a long time. Too many calls for service for the number of units on the street? Yeah, someone's gonna have to wait. But when you send a unit to the call, and they literally say "fuck it, it's not worth the trouble", there is no way of justifying that. It's abandonment, plain and simple. Both civil and criminal penalties should apply here. Patches should be pulled, not just jobs. And heads should roll at the top too. This is WORSE than what DCFD bit the big one over. DCFD was just plain incompetent. These guys and gals are worse than incompetent. They're apathetic.

ROFL! Congressmen who voted for the healthcare scam are getting death threats now! Maybe it's time to remind them what the Second Amendment was written for.

Brought to you by St. Lucie County, the same department that gave us the two pot grower/distributors, the leg thief, and a child molester in the last year. Makes me feel really safe there. Dude, the chick is a battalion chief. How hott could she possibly be? Not hott enough to risk your job and freedom for.

It's the American way.

Now I agree with SPENAC...

It's a bummer. They were doing nothing but being goofy. But this is the 21st century, where the Nazis rule. You just can't be human anymore. Not on the clock or off. It's a shame, but it's the new reality. Probably a good guy with potential. But if his sacking sends a message about professionalism that changes one person's perception of what is and is not appropriate, then his job shall not have been lost in vain.

Check this out. The only Jew left on Earth who didn't get the memo that life isn't fair. http://www.ems1.com/communications-dispatch/articles/773706-4-Pa-paramedics-suspended-over-snowstorm-death/ 4 Pa. paramedics suspended over snowstorm death Responders at Tuesday's meeting said the focus should be on the city's emergency response system, not on the paramedics WTAE PITTSBURGH — Four Pittsburgh paramedics will be suspended without pay for at least three days and some for longer, even though an investigation found that they did not violate any state emergency laws in the hours leading up to the death of a Hazelwood man after the 20-inch snowfall on Feb. 5 and 6. The situation became heated when more than 20 paramedics went to Pittsburgh City Council on Tuesday to speak on behalf of colleagues who are facing disciplinary action by the city. Channel 4 Action News' Shannon Perrine reported that at one point during the morning meeting, police had to separate a paramedic and the head of the city's firefighter's union. The exact nature of the argument is not clear. Tony Weinmann, president of the Fraternal Association of Professional Paramedics, said Monday that the city notified two paramedics of pending discipline in connection with Curtis Mitchell's death. "We don't believe our people should be disciplined. This was a system failure and just to blame the paramedics is totally unfair," said Weinmann. Paramedics at the meeting said the focus should be on the city's emergency response system and not on the paramedics themselves. "Two studies exonerated the paramedics. The wife of Curtis Mitchell herself thinks the paramedics are being scapegoated," said paramedic Megan Hart. The city announced what action they would take against the paramedics at a news conference on Tuesday afternoon. The Pennsylvania Department of Health exonerated the paramedics of any wrongdoing, but that ruling seems to carry little weight with city officials. “The bottom line is, we do think the paramedics should have gotten out of their vehicle and assisted Curtis Mitchell in a more effective way and help prevent him from passing away,” Mayor Luke Ravenstahl said last week. Mitchell died on the morning of Sunday, Feb. 7, after a near-record snow total was dumped on the city by a storm that began on the evening of Feb. 5 and continued into the afternoon of Feb. 6. His longtime partner, Sharon Edge, said that they called 911 when Mitchell started having abdominal pains and was unable to walk. Records show 10 calls were placed to 911 since 2 a.m. on Feb. 6, and ambulances were unable to access the snow-covered street where Mitchell lived until after 8 a.m. on Feb. 7, when he was already dead. "That was my best friend. We did everything together, and without him being around, it's hard for me to pay bills and things like that because he's not here to help," said Edge. The paramedics' union criticized city leaders on Saturday, saying, "It is quite obvious prior to this incident that the city was ill-prepared for this snow disaster. The administrators in charge of the public's safety did not put the employees of the city of Pittsburgh in a position to carry out their responsibilities in an effective manner." "Each time the call backs were made, the call was canceled and those units returned back service," said Weinmann. Edge, told WTAE Channel 4 Action News that she didn't think the two paramedics should lose their jobs. "I think they used them as a scapegoat. I don't want them to get fired because that wouldn't be right, and Curtis wouldn't have wanted that," said Edge. The state Department of Health said paramedics responding to Mitchell’s calls acted according to a list of protocols detailed in Act 45 of the EMS code and did not violate state law. On Friday, Ravenstahl reiterated that the city has its own rules. “When you look at the state's requirements that nothing was done wrong, we feel differently,” said Ravenstahl. “But one thing that's important to understand is that we have higher standards -- in terms of what we expect from our paramedics here in Pittsburgh -- than what the state requires.” Ravenstahl has not said what those higher standards are. “We'll disclose that at the time when we make an announcement. It's not [public disclosure] at this time. We will make it available,” Huss said on Friday.

LOL! He does look like a metrosexual actor, and not a real EMT. That looks like a promo poster for Turd Watch. Anyhow, this is what happens when you flood the market with a billion 3-week wonder EMT whackers, the vast majority of whom would give their left gnad for a chance to play with the siren. Any EMT in NY who thinks he's valuable to his employer is fooling himself. They're all expendable and replaceable. This guy should have known better.

Two reasons right off the top of my head, among a plethora of others: 1. There already exists a workforce of persons educated to do the job, so why reinvent the wheel? 2. The fire service keeps fighting educational standards, tooth and nail, so they cannot be trusted to maintain adequate education to do the job.

Word. Dallas-Fort Worth -- who only gets snow about once every 5 years, and always less than 4 inches, got 12 inches overnight in February. 12 inches overnight in a city that has ZERO snow plows. Interestingly, not one ambulance crew said, "fuck it" and abandoned their patient.

Well, I certainly agree with those who are concerned about the crew being a scapegoat for a larger failure. However, we cannot ignore the larger failure altogether. All who failed must be retrained and disciplined, where appropriate. A snow storm is not a disaster. It's an inconvenience, just like a patient stuck in a canyon is not a disaster. You adapt and overcome, not just say "fuck it" and walk away.

I lol'd Anyone who thinks snow is a "disaster situation" really ought to get out more.

What information do you have that the rest of us do not?

Seriously, this is the most blatantly brazen anti-EMS move that I've seen the firemonkeys ever make. I have to say that I am genuinely flabbergasted. They have truly soared to a new low.

Hell, I long ago admitted that I find it entertaining, but then so are train wrecks.

Bingo! That's something I mention in every episode review. They're all constantly freaking out over every run. Even the blonde bimbo, who is supposedly an MD and never struggles with diagnosing a zebra, always acts like she is on the verge of losing her wits, and control of the scene and patient, each time she makes a run. Seriously folks, how hard is that to fix? The actors on Hill Street Blues didn't freak out on every domestic disturbance they went on. They handled it like professionals who had seen and done it all before. If that bimbo is a senior medic, then she should have seen and done all this before, and ought to be acting like it. I'd fire any medic who didn't.

Last night, I sat around with my best friend -- a 20 year Dallas Police officer -- and watched a DVD marathon of "Hill Street Blues" episodes from 1981. We both (I am an ex-cop) commented on how absolutely realistic that show was. Neither of us could remember a single episode ever where we shook our heads and said, "oh, that's bullshit!" Best I can remember, nothing was ever in an episode that pushed the bounds of reality. That was thirty years ago. Why can't "Trauma" (or "Turd Watch") at least meet that one standard? Same thing with character development. You actually cared about the people in Hill Street Blues because you got to know them, beyond their professional life and who they were sleeping with. How hard is that to do? Hill Street Blues characters weren't all angels. Sooner or later, seems like almost all of them pulled a shady deal that pushed legal boundaries. But then they went on being professionals that you still cared about. They made mistakes. Sometimes they made mistakes that cost people their lives. But they went on with their life and career, rising above it, and going on being a professional. I don't see that happening in "Trauma" And, of course, nothing ever blew up on Hill Street Blues, yet it remained interesting enough for people to keep tuning in season after season. It CAN be done. I can't speak for all the criticisers here, but I personally am not asking for perfection by EMS technical standards. Like many here, I'm simply asking for an interesting and stimulating show that stays relatively within the boundaries of reality. Again, it CAN be done. We're not asking for miracles. Hell, I'm not even asking as a medic. I'm simply asking as a viewer. I WANT to like this show. I think all of us do. But for fuck's sake, give me something to work with!

Yeah, and we owe OJ an apology too.

Ever notice it's always fire departments where this happens? For A YEAR AND A HALF this guy worked without the FD knowing that he had no cert! It says nothing about him submitting a bogus cert card, so I must assume that the FD simply never checked. FAIL! Fire cheif FIRED! After all, what else is he neglecting to give due diligence to? People's lives and property are at stake here, and he's just flying by the seat of his pants.

Horribly written article, but I think you'll get the gist. http://www.wdsu.com/health/22894237/detail.html Firefighters Could Gain New Role Under Proposed Bill La. Health Official Opposes Bill, Says Firefighters Can’t Practice Medicine POSTED: 8:53 pm CDT March 19, 2010 UPDATED: 10:57 am CDT March 20, 2010 BATON ROUGE, La. -- Every day across Louisiana, firefighters are busy battling blazes and, in some cases, saving lives. Soon, firefighters may take on a new role if lawmakers in Baton Rouge approve a new proposed bill. “It would be firefighters practicing medicine without oversight … no oversight by the gubernatorial-approved EMS commission,” said Dr. Jullette M. Saussy. Saussy heads up all emergency medical services in Orleans Parish. She said proposed House Bill 1030 , written by state Rep. Karen St. Germain from the Baton Rouge area, makes all firefighters exempt from any medical or emergency oversight when they're at a scene. What that means, she said, is that firefighters could give medical care and there wouldn't be anyone looking over their shoulder. “I don't think a single person in Louisiana wants an unregulated person coming in their home and responding to a medical emergency,” Saussy said. “I think people expect us to oversee the quality of care they receive.” The Louisiana State Firemen’s Association said Saussy is using scare tactics. Nick Felton, who represents the association in New Orleans, said that what the doctor is saying is “boogie man stuff, not fact.” Felton went on to say that “the intent of the legislation is that we don't need the EMS board in on our discipline. A lot of the firefighters think they treat us like criminals, like we’re always wrong." Felton said the bill has the utmost of every major Firemen’s Association in the state. Saussy hopes lawmakers vote it down. “We're not really sure what they are thinking,” Saussy said. “They can't practice medicine in the state of Louisiana without answering to someone.” The legislative sessions starts March 29.