Capman

This is where we will get conflicting stories on the term change. We were told in a PHTLS class not long ago that the term change was due to the lesser significance of the word "accident". In other words; spilling a glass of milk is an "accident" or stubbing your toe is an "accident", however; the destruction of a multi-ton vehicle as it collides with another object and the subsequent kinematics, prompted them to change the term from Motor Vehicle "accident" to Motor Vehicle "Collision/Crash" in order amplify the significance of the term. Any other feedback on the term change. I'd love to hear it.

Let's not split hairs here. While New York City may have more of them, a homicidal psyche patient is no more dangerous in New York City than in Northern Maine. In the case where you have to have this person placed in protective custody, the police officer accompanying is the only one authorized to carry a sidearm. No paramedic or EMT (even if your other job is a police officer) is allowed to carry or conceal a sidearm on the ambulance if they are on duty as an EMS provider. Nor does our company allow them to be carried or concealed while in the station. As for the bad neighborhoods... You want to pack??? What are you going to do, get in a gang war with the local thugs and gangbangers? Flash your piece so they wont mess with you? Maybe stuff a triangular bandage in your back pocket and flash your colors??? I don't get it. Leave scene safety to the police.

The State of Maine does not have a must transport law. However, the hospital based service I work for "encourages" that all patients are transported. Now keep in mind that when I refer to a patient, I refer to some one with a medical ailment; no matter how minor. I am not refering to the caller who wants a ride to the corner for a pack of Camel's. To tell the truth, I have never been called for anything like that anyway. I have however, been called for medical ailments as minor as sore throats, dry coughs, out of medication, tooth aches and such. The common denominator among most of these "nuisances" is the lack of transportation. The other would obviously be the notion that an ambulance ride is the backstage pass to an ER room. What most are learning though, is that this is not the case. I have to tell you that the ones that really burn my ass though, are not the ones without transportation, but rather the ones with it. One specific stands out in my mind. A healthy middle aged man who lives at home with mom has a tooth ache. We are dispatched to this home and notice a car warming up in the driveway. As we take the "patient" out of the home to the ambulance, what do you think mom said??? That's right, you guessed it... "I'll follow the ambulance up to the hospital." What do you think the middle aged man with a tooth ache asked in the rig right after asking what we have for pain??? That's right... "I don't have to sit in the waiting room, do I?" So these are the ones that burn my ass. As I said, the State of Maine has no law that we transport all who call the ambulance; but our service requires that we transport all who have a medical ailment no matter how minor. Just my input since I didn't see a Maine yet.

An absolute classic!

Any Seinfeld buff will appreciate this one... All I can think of here is George Costanza in this case. "Was that wrong? Should I not have done that? I tell you, I gotta plead ignorance here because if anyone had said anything to me at all when I first started here that that sort of thing is frowned upon..." LMFAO!

Bingo! What ever happened to a union conference hall or a conference room at some hotel paid for by your union dues? Instead, the union pockets your money after getting a freebie (compliments of the corporation they intend on crapping on) then get PO'd after looking like a pile of jackasses. If I were an employee of this so called union, I'd be asking what the hell dues pay for these days!

http://www.bostonherald.com/news/regional/...g_over_EMT_bag/ This one is actually true. Well, I guess there is a legitimate case here. In this day and age we can't be too careful. Watch where you dump those EMS bags. This peaks my curiosity however. If she had tripped over a chair (or a toilet in this case) would she have sued the restaurant??? More than likely!

I searched the heck out of this and could not produce anything. I believe this may be another dose of EMS folklore. Additionally, OP makes no mention of cardiac leads. There is also no mention of combo pads in which exposing would be necessary. Mshow, cardiac leads may not require exposing, but for a code, I would be using combo/defib pads first. Even if you placed cardiac leads first and identified a shock able rhythm you still need to expose for the defib pads. I'm sticking with Mshow on this one... "Urban Legend".

A source would be nice. There may be more to the story. I'll try searching it.

Having done research, I have found that while many states will use NR for reciprocity, Many states will only use NR for an educational equivalent that will entitle you to sit for their state exam. For example, looking into reciprocity in the state of Florida, they will only recognize the NR cert as an educational equivalent. This comes directly from the Florida Department of Health. This educational equivalent will entitle you to challenge their state exam. Ultimately you will still have to challenge the state exam. So in short, when it comes to Florida (for example) you can show up with multiple forms of educational equivalent. An NR Cert, A license IN GOOD STANDING in another state, or an approved national curriculum EMS course having been completed within the last two years (I believe). Bottom line is to contact the states EMS office or Department of Health to find out exactly what is needed for that particular state in which you are seeking reciprocity. At this time, there seems to be no organization between states on what the process is. This will require you to do some homework. As I said, this starts with contacting that states EMS office or Department of Health. Hope this helps. List of EMS offices for each state. State EMS offices

Sorry, never hit a sign. but, my windshield has claimed a raven or two with me behind the wheel. Only actual reportable incident I had was when a 1972 POS turned into my lane causing a reportable dent in his rear quarterpanel. No damage to the rig.

Very smart Cookie, any other way would be leaving yourself wide open for a shark bite! :wink:

True to some extent, but not every service falls into such extreme lack of stability. As for me, it's about 50/50 of what is described above. The problem with this is that you can never make plans that follow a shift, and it's a definite strain on marriage and family life. If your wife has a firm understanding of what's involved in working in an EMS system, then it may not be so bad. My wife is an RN that works for the hospital that owns our ambulance service. She is no stranger to what it is like to be married to an EMT. Our marriage is fine, I do miss the time with her and my children though. Especially when plans are walked on by a long distance transfer of 8 + hours leaving 2 hours before my shift ends and other similar reasons for keeping me beyond my shift. Not trying to scare you off, but be aware of how easy it is to fall into this typical work pattern that is very common among EMS services. Good luck, and start with your local fire department to guide you in the right direction for schooling or to a local EMS service. They are the ones who will know what's local for EMS education. You will not find anything online that will give you everything you need to be an EMT. Matt

LMAO! Have Regulator - Will Travel Seriously, my service requires that I bring this... Galls should be carrying them soon.

Totally not the same situation fallout! I quote sevenball "Upon your assessment...". Since when do we assess "non Patients"??? What you are describing fallout, is showing up and instantaneously deeming everyone a patient. That is not what Sevenball is asking. He is asking after an "assessment" can you deem someone a "non patient". I'm sorry if I sound like a jerk here, but... If any EMT wants to put their ass on the line by assessing a person that wishes to refuse treatment or transport (whether EMT's feel it's warranted or not) without having a patient sign the form that releases them and their service from any liabilities that may arise from not treating or transporting that person/patient, then go right ahead. When your ass gets taken to court by a patient who now wants to sue or make waves because they collapsed an hour later after you assessed them and deemed them "not a patient" following an MVA, their signature on the document that releases you and your service from liability, which you failed to have signed, could be the only thing that proves they refused your services! Remember that classic phrase... If it isn't documented, it never happened. If I sound rude, I apologize; but I can not believe that some EMT's would put themselves out there like that!