Nate

If you could put your foot in your mouth any further I would tell you to go Ripley's Believe It or Not. How about you just stop before that hole in your ass gets ripped any further. This kid is bumping his gums and he can't even vote yet.

Well I'll be damned, I spoke of telling someone their loved one was dead and I just ran a DOA. :shock:

First off, threads like this are what drive me away from this place. Have people forgot something called respect, there is no way in hell a cadet, student, or whatever you want to call them would buck up to a certified medic in the manner this kid has. If he was on my rig, I'd tell him to stop bumping his gums. Second, this whole EMT vs. Paramedic thing is another reason I've stoped reading as much as I have. It gets old seeing a lot of threads turned into a stupid battle. It is funny that other sites don't seem to have this problem on the scale as EMTCity...many of you are on other sites and know what I'm talking about. Here is some advice. IT'S THE F*CKING INTERNET! Learn to let things go, you aren't going to change the thoughts of someone by trying to validate yourself over the internet on some message board. In the end, does it really matter? Do you really lose sleep because someone thinks your not worthy or something? If you do, then you need to find a new career fast...because your ego is of no use to ANY patient. There are a few of us who got our start at a young age, some are first generation...others grew up around fire trucks and the formation of EMS and their ambulances. Those of us who started off young had to deal with proving ourself over and over. So when those of us were once there went on and made something of ourselves, we became even more critical of those young cadets/students...because we didn't want to see them muck up the programs for others. I became a paramedic before I could legally buy beer, I was dealing with stress that I had never had before. There is something to be said about age, and I've calmed down a lot over the past few years. However; I can't stand to see a "young" medic of any level talk sh*t to an older medic. I don't care if that older medic is a freaking moron...you respect them because they have been there and done things you haven't...they might not be the best, have as much education as you, or even be able to keep up with you...but they have something that is priceless...they have that time under their belt. One of the problems with EMS is that a huge majority of people here (including some on this site) have issues with who they are. They think they are hot sh*t because their a freaking medic. You are no better then anyone else, and if you think you are then you are wrong. You are here to serve the public, and that includes the poor, the damned, the criminal element, and every other kind of person our culture likes to write off. They aren't some kid of freak show that you can come and see and run back to your friends and talk about how you "saved" a life because you helped move a drunk from the side of the road to the cot so he could "sleep it off" at the ER. No glory in that is there? So many people run around like a chicken with it's head cut off talking abut how they "saved a life" and they did this or that. Funny, no one says last night I walked into a house and saw four dead people with their brains all over the walls, they don't talk about sitting in the room of a dead infant trying to get the strength to go back into the next room and tell some young mother her child is dead. There is no glory in that. No glory in getting shot at, beat up, cussed at, spit on, and there damn well isn't any glory and seeing your friends in police, fire, and EMS die. Don't feed me that "I do this because I care" bullsh*t, if you cared then you wouldn't be seeking attention, you wouldn't think you were the best, you would realize that you need to shut the f*ck up and go read up on some new breakthrough or your old text books and keep yourself up to date, ready to go. You would come here to post questions about how to be a better person, a better medic, a better co-worker...not to show off and gloat. Respect is earned, it isn't given, and respect isn't someone telling you how awesome you are. Being a good provider means taking the time to listen and do what is best for your patient. It is sitting there in a nasty house trying to get Grandma to go the ER instead of letting her go with a refusal because it stinks and your hot. So stop with this EMT vs. Paramedic, this young vs. old, and this 911 vs. transfer. There is a place for each and everyone of us, and we all aid in some way or another. If you aren't doing this because you feel that your calling is to help someone, to bring hope, to make a difference, then get out before you kill someone, or you kill another person. This isn't a game, it is real life, and those are real people, and your actions have a real effect. Nate

Oh yeah, I know what you mean. I know when I went through, Ben Taub (Level I) wouldn't let you do anything other then start IV's and observe in the ER. Granted you saw lots of good trauma, you were left standing there trying to peak over the medical students and residents from Baylor. The OR, now that was a different story. It was like a virtual paramedic playground if you made the effort to talk to the staff. While on a rotation at Ben Taub in the ER, a medical student asked one of the paramedic students I was with if she knew how to do a procedure. She was correct, we had been taught a lot more then a normal paramedic because half of the students there go onto off shore stuff, occupational, or other non-typical paramedic jobs. So instead of saying "yes I know how to do that, but no I cannot do that," she went a head and decided to do a little stitching on this guy's face. Lets just say that the next few shifts at Ben Taub were a little interesting. :shock: Memorial Hermann is the other Level 1 facility in Houston that we do rotations at. They have become very restrictive on who can do rotations there (as far as what schools). Since the school's medical director worked there, we were able to do a lot more then a normal paramedic student could do in most hospitals. I did notice that on our rotations in the ER that were precepted by the college, we were treated and allowed to do more depending on which preceptor was there. If the guy/girl was friendly and did his/her job right...we were allowed to see/do more. If the preceptor thought their sh*t didn't stink...well....there was not a whole lot to do. The biggest thing I learned as a student in a teaching hospital was that just because someone might be going for a higher certification/license then you, doesn't mean that you can't teach them a thing or two. On more the one occasion I've helped medical students start lines, and seen my own preceptor helping them understand basic facts about various medications. Case in point, a clinical coordinator and preceptors that care will get the students more (should they be willing as students) then no action on behalf of the college. You can't just expect the hospital to hand over the "keys" and let you take it for a test drive. The original poster saw that, and looks like he will benefit as a result.

Maybe it is just me, but intubating a patient who is knocked down with the help of medications, with awesome lighting, and great conditions...that isn't what we do on a daily basis. OR intubations are great, we could always use a few more practice, but I think that we should make programs with a rotation in the ER as well. It is important that we tube trauma patients, we tube patients with blood in the airway, or that we show them different ways of getting the job done with other situations arise. How many had to use the forceps in the OR? Now how many of you have had to fish objects out of an airway on the streets? I have seen paramedics and EMT-I's hit tubes all day in the OR, then they struggle to tube on the ambulance. It isn't the same world, and we aren't going to get that close unless your doing student time with a high call volume service that gets a lot of codes and respiratory failures. The other option is the ER. When I was a student I was able to tube in the ER, in the field, in the OR, and on the floors and ICU's when I did my time with RT. Intubation is not a hard skill, dealing with difficult airways is what makes it complicated...but if you are able to control yourself, relax, and manage the airway you'll be fine. This is something that time will teach, and getting more tubes under your belt will help you. However, only intubating in the OR with nothing but appendix removal is not the best source for your only intubation time. The reason why I was able to get more tubes then some of my peers was because I made sure to inform the preceptor of what I have done, what I would like to do, what I had trouble with, and most importantly....what where their tips, tricks, and methods. Respect, it is something most people in EMS seem to lack.

samson722, It sounds like your department should require those responding to have some kind of department issued ID, as well at least require you guys to have a department t-shirt on. The few volunteer departments around where I work require department issued ID and t-shirt minimal. It just doesn't make sense to respond with out it (from your stand point) because you might not ever get close enough to show your card if you were on my land (I'd shoot you if I wasn't aware someone had called for an ambulance on my property). I did what you did, I laminated my state card. In Texas you are required to carry it, but the state could careless as long as they have your ID number to look you up on the computer. We are also required to have a permit to work in the city that we are in (it is how the city covers their butts). So on my uniform I have my company ID and my city permit behind it. There are a few guys who where their ACLS, PALS, ITLS, BTLS, PHTLS, and every other card (some their DL) and I think it looks like really bad. For the State of Texas to start putting pictures on our cards, it would mean more money, as well as you'd have to actually go to the office and take a picture (TDSHS is always under staffed like any government office). Not to mention it would make it hard for those out of state to renew and keep up their certification (such as Dustdevil).

I did not have any problems with getting my tubes in the OR. I was also at a teaching hospital, but we were scheduled on days opposite of those that the medical students would be there to sink their own tubes.

I think another issue we have with tolerance among co-workers is the fact that we have such a vast gap at times between providers. You can take your redneck bubba and put him on the truck with a college degreed paramedic and those two are going to be so far apart in lifestyle it is bound to cause problems. I've ran into that problem a few times...sometimes I get frustrated trying to break down a concept that I feel is pretty simple as it is. Education is going to be a problem for a very long time. You can't expect half of your personal to work one day at the 8th grade level and then the next day at a higher level. It is just going to frustrate them and will cause further problems because the educated guy will think the other guy is a dipsh*t and the dipsh*t will think that the educated guy is cocky. By the way, this has nothing to do with provider certification level.

That makes for a bad day.

I just think that we are to "fake" in this industry. There are to many people (on here too) that get all wound up over nothing. They are ready to lead a mob to hang the person who they believe has done wrong....even if they are not directly related. This ignorance is what bothers me, it makes me wonder if they apply this same ignorance to other things in their life. God forbid you go against popular belief in EMS...they just might burn you at the stake. Salem EMT Trials...

The pacing itself can cause stress, which will cause the BP to rise as well. :wink: We have valium and versed.

How close where those tickets together and how long ago where they...those are two questions that their insurance company is going to look at. It is easier to get hired on as a non-driving paramedic then an EMT-B. You pose a problem for the scheduling person if they can't just put anyone with you.

I don't really hang out with to many people in this industry outside of work. A few of my close friends are in fire departments and other EMS services; but for the most part I think that most of the people in this industry need to grow up. If I'm not your friend, then I really don't care who you date, who you took home from the bar, or that you can't make your light bill payment because you spent all of your money at Walmart on useless sh*t. If you think that George Bush sucks, then good for you...I didn't go to work to listen to you try to get me to see your ways. I can tolerate other races, beliefs, and sexual preferences. However, if one of those things causes an issue with my patient care, response times, or the way we act at the station, then I have a problem with you. I will not let you sit there and talk politics when it is clear that a problem is going to arise. I will not let you read the Holy Bible aloud if someone in the station does not believe that and is offended. Yes I know that we have our rights, but when your at work you need to realize that your sharing a work space with others. If they are willing to meet you half way, then why shouldn't you? I don't ask that any of my crews accept things, I just ask them to be kind and respectful of how that person feels.

I'm going to say something that is probably going to upset a lot of people on here. So before you jump all over me, remember three things: [*]You can't change my point of view, so it does no good to try to argue with me. [*]It is just my point of view, no one forced you to read this. [*]Do not pick my post apart, yes you could cut it up to spin it, but if you do not read the entire thing, then you will not understand my point. First off, I'm sick and tired of people wearing FDNY shirts like they are the only department that has lost people. We all seem to have forgotten the little fires that kill firefighters, or the junkies that shot cops, and the medics who were killed trying to save a life as well. There was more then just the twin towers, there was the Pentagon and other airplanes. So many people are focused on the towers that they fail to see the attack against the Pentagon was by far worse then what happened in New York. Your right, they didn't see 3,000 people die...but they saw the head quarters for the American Military attacked. In the United States and most of the free nations around the world we feed off of the shock value. We count bodies like we do runs in a baseball game. The higher the count, the better the game. Truth be told, we are nothing but a nation full of sick and twisted individuals that are so insecure with our own sins that we feel as if we have to attack those worse off then us. We jump all over a suspect as soon as the police name them, then fail to apologize when he is cleared and the real killer is caught. We jump into war and kill our own men and women...but then go on a blood hunt when our short term investment yields long term costs. No one pays attention to the small things, they only want to see the horror. Shock value is what has made cable news networks profitable, it is what has made news reporters famous, and it is why so many individuals cannot form a single thought on their own anymore. Katrina and Rita are prime examples. When Katrina hit those just outside of the areas hit rushed to back up the agencies that were in over their head (no pun intended). We focused mostly on New Orleans...why? The body count was high, and the possibility of it getting bigger was high as well. We watched as people clung to the little island formed by the Superdome complex...but we didn't watch the last man, woman, and child escape from there. The media was so quick in getting down there...often getting in the way. They bought their way onto rescue boats, trucks, and other modes of transportation. Their helicopters danced around the rescue helicopters, trying to stay out of the way. Then the glory seekers came, and came they did. Hundreds of them, just like they did to 9/11. Granted, we had our own glory seekers there already from our own departments, but more came. The true SAR teams, DMAT, and other agencies that have done this before did not try to get on TV...they wanted to get the job done...they wanted to help us remember what normal was sooner. I consider myself lucky, my tour down there was not long, and Rita cleared out the Reliant Park area...but sitting there in an empty city waiting...made me think...where were the glory seekers, where was the national media? They were gone, they were not going to risk it. They wanted to stay safe...you know who was there though? The real men and women...the ones who don't care about glory. There is no glory in moving dead bodies, and there is no glory in telling someone not to give up when they have lost everything. There is no glory in presenting a patient to the over whelmed ER, and knowing that what you left him with is all he has. I stood in the Red Cross meetings and watched as the glory seekers checked their digital cameras...they wanted to sale pictures to the media...they wanted to take pictures of people who had nothing. Glory seekers are firefighters, medics, cops, and every other profession...they are the ones who make me sick. Glory seekers get people killed, they are the ones that when your trying to do something freeze up because the realize how bad it is. They don't freeze because they are rookies, they freeze because they just realized how freaking sick and twisted they are...they wanted to see death and destruction. They go into fires and get others killed that try to save them when they go to far. We all have a glory seeker or two around us, everyone of you on here can name at least one (please don't). Those who died on 9/11 died because they wanted to help, they most likely knew they were going to die...but they went in. They didn't go for glory, they went because they needed to get as many people out as they could. More then just firefighters, medics, and cops died that day. One group tried to retake the plane, and another group fought to regain control of the country in the very same building that would kill them. So on September 11, 2006, bow your heads in honor of those who died....all of them. And when you report to work on September 12 or August 22, or any other day...remember those who died around you doing what they did best...giving their all. No one of us is better than each other....so lets not remember someone in a way greater then that of anyone else we have lost. America might forget them, but we can't. Nate

Did you notify your supervisor, generally you should do that before you speak with the hospital. Your service might have a contact (ours does) with in the hospital that handles issues that might be sensitive (such as this one) between the staff and EMS.

There are very few calls that I will not do anything more then just transport to the ER with nothing other then a phsyical assessment. My monitor is a tool, and most seem to think it is a treatment (which it isn't). It doesn't take buy a minute to put someone on the monitor and check things out. I have found problems there that I wouldn't have if I hadn't have done that. Granted they might not have needed to be treated right then or there, at least I knew about the problem (or was able to eliminate a cause). The other thing I usually do is secure an IV, even if the patient doesn't need fluids and all I put in is a lock. The ER is most likely going to draw blood, give pain meds if there is pain involved, or possible a medication for something else. Around here it is generally expected that if your a paramedic with a patient, they should have an IV in when you arrive at the ER.

In Texas we have conditions that one would consider flying the patient if they are in that group. However, I have to agree with Dustdevil; there are other things to look at besides the MOI. I don't know what was going on, so I can't say if he should have flown them out or not. I also don't know how far the trauma center is or anything else. What I do know is that Maryland sounds like some place I probably shouldn't have an accident in.

Road rage is about as gay as Jessie Jackson. There is no point to either, and all that happens is someone gets killed. It isn't worth it, but I've seen people killed for stupid stuff like the person behind them couldn't pass or they felt like they were cut off. My Xtreme has really bright head lights, and I get people that will try to brake check me because they think I have my high beams on. My head lights are 100% legal, they are the same ones that you'd find in higher end european cars.

It is amazing how many people don't actually read. We went to 0600 shift change.

Buy dinner for the station, you owe it to them. If you are just there with your partner, consider yourself lucky to get off cheap. Also, relax and speak up if you aren't comfortable with a situation, you aren't going to be expected to know everything if your a new medic who is new to the company as well (guessed by your age). Make sure you get a good nights rest, you might be up all night. Also, don't sleep during the day if you aren't allowed too. Be prompt about getting to the truck, and don't ask to run a million errands if your partner would rather chill all day.

I've just noticed that since the ads started popping up all over the place the site has started to get slower and slower when it comes to loading.

If long ETA's are a problem, then it shows one of two things (maybe both). [*]There is a high demand for private ambulances. [*]There is a low return on the investment, thus keeping the number of private ambulances low. Either way, I think the health department or government regulation agency in charge needs to get involved. Lets face it, often nursing homes don't have the most intelligent staff. I know that I've had several "non-emergency" calls to a nursing home that were in fact an emergency. In the defense of flight-lp, I think he was suggesting that if they were up walking around after the accident, then mostly likely they probably did not meet flight criteria. If I am not mistaken, you admitted in previous posts that you were employed by private services, just as you have in the quoted text above. So who is to say that you are not any better then those you bash...or that any of us are any better then them? I would caution you to watch what you say in regards to a generalization. You are right, most private services are a joke in the eyes of many professional EMS personal, that includes those who work for reputable private services. I consider myself lucky to work for a city service that does 911, as well as a private service that does transfers and 911. Furthermore, my education through paramedic included preparation to function as not only a transfer paramedic, but a 911 paramedic. For years paid and volunteer's have fought, and transfer and 911 have fought. Truth be told, they are two different worlds with one common thing; they use an ambulance to get from point a to point b. When I do a transfer often my IV route is there, my airway is secured (if they are on a vent), and I know everything about this patient because they were at one hospital for the past three days. However, I have to take into consideration several factors you don't often find on the scene of a 911 call as you know. The same goes for 911 scenes, I'm there with someone who I know nothing about, might not be able to find out anything about, and might not even know what is truly the cause of what is wrong with them and why they appear the way they are. Either way, with out a well equipped paramedic or EMT (both mentally and physically) the patients chance of survival is greatly lowered. There is just as much bullsh*t in 911 as there is in transfers. I do not see myself as better then the paramedics I work with who only do transfers, or somewhat less then those who only do 911 because I do both. It is pointless to try to belittle the people who carry the same patch as you. What those of us reading your comments see is someone who comes off as cocky, arrogant, and might not know when to ask for help or his limits. Now, I'll give you the benefit of the doubt, after all I don't know you from any other paramedic or EMT on this board (so just consider it a personal observation that you could appear this way). Usually around here, EMT's and rookie paramedics don't stand a chance doing 911 (outside of volunteer) until they have a few years under their belts. Simply put, a test score isn't going to get you a job. So instead of bashing private services, you a former employee of one (at least from what we have been told) should try to work with them to raise the standard of care. You are just as much at fault for the reason why your state's system is the way it is as those you bash. Speak up, work for change, its the only way things are going to get done and the patients of your state will have a better life.

Come on Admin, the ads in the middle of a thread are just a bit to much. Yes I know it is your site, but this place has more ads then a porn site.

First off, it doesn't matter if your an EMT, a Paramedic, a nurse, or a Firefighter; you can't do anything more then the general public legally. Also, I do not see how an EMT, Firefighter, or Paramedic is trained to defend an airplane. Quick on your feet means getting out of a fire or getting to the ambulance...it doesn't mean subduing a suspect. Why don't we leave the Rambo tactics to the tow-truck driving industry? Second, would I get a discount for this deal...because otherwise I'm going to keep my mouth shut and my butt in my seat.