Nate

So what was the real purpose of this study...other then to state the obvious.

I think...."it took them this long?"

If it is funny, then I'll go see it one night after hitting up the bar first...makes corny movies even better.

I've heard stuff with a "cheap-o" that I haven't picked up with a more expensive scope. Blood and other body fluids can be a real PITA to clean on a scope, which is why I'm not to found of the more expensive ones. I would get a box of alki pre-pads and take your co-workers (ask first) scopes for a test run. You might just find one that works great for you and doesn't have a cool name or a really high price tag. :wink: Here is the thing that gets me, I've noticed more EMT-B's carrying these cardiac scopes then paramedics. :?

I would say 99.9% of the private ambulance services in the Houston area don't need to be open and for business. I can actually only name maybe four or five who are actually good companies. Everyone that I know who works for them said they were decent, I have no first hand information to share. I'm not saying every service that is private is owned, just that there are an overwhelming majority who leave a bad taste in people's mouth. Yes I can, and to be honest...most of us down here were truly shocked.

Your not joking, I see more plus size lifeguards then I do hot looking ones.

You mean it wasn't wrecked from the start?

We just got 20 of them to put on all of our rigs. They are awesome, and we haven't had a single back injury in the two months we have had them. The battery life is great, it is suppose to last through 20 patients. We are getting through 24 hour shifts with no problems. Plus, if the battery does go dead, you can always use it like a manual cot. The back slides in as opposed to dropping down. This makes moving it in lower positions nicer because you don't "drag" the back. The back has a hook for the LP12, and works great (although we have a strap to secure it). We have found that the battery pack helps "balance" the cot out a little better. It does weigh 38 pounds more then a regular cot, but we don't carry our cot up or down but maybe three or four steps. It also should be noted that the cot's frame is a bit "beefier" in the fact that it's thicker then a regular cot. The NUMBER ONE reason why I love this cot is because when you work an MVA it is perfect. You can get the cot at the level you want (because there are no set locking locations). Then with your patient in a KED, your able to transfer them from the car to the backboard on the cot and not have the drop off from the seat of the car to the cot. Less pain, less risk, and easier on your crew. We broke the prototype, but the final design seems to be working great for us. They fixed the hydraulic leaks we were having when we put a lot of weight on it.

Usually a county is more accountable for it's EMS then a private company. Also, the management team of a county/city EMS also usually lives in the area, so they have a level of respect they would like to keep. Yes, we do hear of county/city services going under from the strain of a lack of funding and other reasons. However, we have seen just how horrible corporate EMS can be to a city/county when they pull out. For instance, Gold Star left Galveston County and many others in Texas with out EMS in a matter of hours when they were busted by the FBI. It took over a year (and it isn't done) before "normal" was used in the same sentence as EMS down in Galveston County.

I would to add a few comments from my point of view. One should remember that there is a fine line between pain control and drug seeking. You have to be careful that your not withholding medications from someone who is REALLY in pain or giving them to someone who IS NOT in pain. This is where drugs such as Toradol can come into play (although it has a lot of negatives), it can take care of a lot of "minor" pain, but will also have a way of drawing out those who are truly drug seeking. An example would be where you ask if they are allergic to Toradol or ever had the medication and you get the "I can only take ___________."

We don't see FD that often, and when we do they usually stay outside of the house until they are asked to come in and help. If they arrive first, then who ever was in charge will stay while the ambulance crew takes care of the patient and the FD incharage gives report. If we do have cops, they usually just move out of the way, but stay close by if the patient is a threat. Typically I prefer to have as little people in there as they distract the patient. If you feel that there are two many people on scene, maybe you should talk to a supervisor or some higher rank about limiting the number of people that are there.

Check PM box ACE. :wink:

[New Orleans Language]Na' fo, wes bes koo[/New Orleans Language] I get annoyed for most of the same reasons you do. :wink:

=D> Very well said, I to have noticed the "pussification" of America.

Now I remember why I avoid this place when I'm not onduty...

Yeah, I was wondering....right handed.....hmmm Anyways, the video was cool!

I have been in this situation, and I usually thank the person kindly and let them know they are no longer needed. The only person in Texas who can remain in control of a patient once I'm there as a paramedic is a doctor (and he must show proof). Truth is, there are very few doctors who are going to assume treatment of a patient and risk their butts outside of their clinics, office, hospital, or ER. I think the author of the first post was 100% wrong. Just because you have a badge or t-shirt doesn't mean you are entitled to anything. I don't care if you were an EMT, there isn't anything more you could do for that patient off duty then what a decent lifeguard can do. I worked as a lifeguard back in high school and wouldn't you imagine it, but basic lifeguard skills and the EMT-Basic course are very similar. Both are thaught basic first aid, CPR, rescue breathing, how to use an AED, c-spine, splinting, oxygen, etc. The only thing a lifeguard can't do is give Nitro, ASA, breathing treatments, and help a patient with an Epi pen. So tell me how you being an EMT or a Firefighter is going to make any difference?

Yeah...as a pimp your not suppose to use your own product.

It is common with most colleges here in Texas that should you not finish your clinical time you are allowed to complete it in the next semester. All that matters is that EVERYTHING is done before you get your CC and take your exit exam to get the CC. If you feel that the program isn't going to teach you, then by all means look for another one. Nate

So today I had the pleasure of having lunch with Dustdevil. Took him to Willies Ice House for lunch, and then we ran some last minute errands for him. I have to say that he is just like he is on the message board. So enjoy the sand box, if you need anything I can get it for you, and don't forget....hookers + military base = good side business :wink:

I wanted to change the rules. :wink:

Okay, why would you really want to sit around and listen to radio traffic? Don't you hear enough at work? I know I do.

Um, I drive around in my own squad...the ambulance is staffed by two EMT's.

It isn't the government's right to say what you can or can't do with someone's organs....so the donation thing is out of the picture. Second, in the State of Texas you have to carry a $10,000 personal insurance policy incase you have an accident and don't have one on. Yeah it sucks when they do because it is a drain on the tax payers or other payers of that insurance company (becuase they will just pass it onto other customers).

Because the ER is so close, I would just take her myself and put her on the monitor and get a BGL. I'd rather be safe then sorry. For all I know she could have been huffing paint and doesn't want to share that with me. Then I let her go by BLS and she has an allergic reaction and they can't maintain an airway because they get stuck waiting on a train that delays them to the ER. Yeah I know it is bit much, but you never know. They pay me to be a paramedic, so unless it is a minor problem that can be solved in the Fast Track of the ER, I ride it.