Arizonaffcep

You can...but with the hypotension and dehydration, he's young and "healthy" until now...you could probably infuse several liters before you would need to worry much. Based on the vitals, I would say he could be in stage 4 shock (ALMOST brady with hypotension). But it feels wrong. I'm thinking possible opioid OD when you couple all the vitals together. I'd give 2mg narcan (post D50 with a second or even third d-stick). Go from there. Of course skills wise, IV, O2, Monitor .

Hey, I am designing a website for my business and need some good pics of ambulances/EMS stuff. Anyone got any to share? I didn't see any in the file forum here. Please, let me know!

That's dumb. I hate lawyers (until I need one:) ). Although I'm surprised you are backing a Wikipedia article. Not that it's necessarily bad, but any/all colleges (that I've gone to) and now almost all levels of schools say its a bad source because it can be altered from the original content very easily, therefore...unreliable.

Is it? Here is the wording on the 5th amendment: No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offence to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation. (taken from http://www.constitution.org/billofr_.htm) He's not being held to answer for a crime...so no need for a Grand Jury. It's not dealing with the military at all...so that part's gone. No double jeopardy...Alex would be sad...he's not being asked to give evidence against himself in a criminal case...no deprivation of life, liberty or property (if he says yes...he goes on his way WITHOUT having to SHOW PROOF!), and no private property was taken...so where was he infringed upon? That he had to stop and say "Yes?" Come on guys. Seriously. Do you get angry when you have to stop for a train? It's infringing upon your free movement and takes a HELL of a lot more time than saying "yes."

While I have no experience with K9s (other than as pets), I would imagine that it should have things to treat open wounds...4x4's, trauma pads, kling, etc. Unless ALS...stay away from IV's, etc.

Well, look at it this way: You'll be a master plumber of a different sort!

Wow. I thought the entrance exam requirement for FF's was low! :twisted:

My wife asked a new EMT to hand her a 20g. He asked "which one?" She says "any 20g will do" (they have several different brands, depending on what hospital they restock at). So...he hands her a 20g needle (a fill needle). She says "no, I need a 20g IV cath." So, in a flash of brilliance, he pulls out a 20g cath, takes the catheter from the needle and hands it to her. Needless to say, she says that he is now "up north" (code for at a SLOW station).

I agree! However (I think you would know better than I, as I haven't ever been in the military), doesn't the ponce cometatus (pardon the spelling), say that the federal military can't take action against U.S. citizens, it has to be the militia or NG? Therefore, it really can't happen because of the use of U.S. citizens acting as coyotes?

The "Right to remain silent" is part of a person's Miranda rights...those that they still possess when they are arrested. As this person was not arrested, I'm not sure it applies. I would say, that the "Sir, please answer the question" was an order (and a reasonable one, I might add, as it required a one word answer), and I'm not sure how it would violate anyone's rights to anything. Seriously, I've gone through a check point today (not the one in the video, but one by Sierra Vista), and they were very friendly, asked what nationality I was, I said "American and Proud!", thanked him and we were on our way. The WHOLE interaction took less time than it did to type this reply.

Ya...I've got friends who have access to the med lab at the UofA...thought it'd be cool to have a leach as a pet...then I realized...I have a 19 month old.

The 10-12 no sleep thing is fine with me...I'm a fan of the "Food Coma" (post lunch) sleep!

Leaching IS making a comeback!

In Southern AZ, if they aren't A&O x 4, then they can't refuse. If they are, then ultimately, it comes down to a judgment call by the medic o/s. We don't have any kind of breathalizer thing, so we won't know a level until the hospital draws one. For me personally, if they can carry on a coherent conversation over several minutes, then I'm ok (depending on WHEN they stopped drinking) if they go home, if someone will be there and keep an eye on them. I also have them sign my first care form stating as such. I doubt it reduces my liability, but hopefully it off sets it a little, if the worst happens.

Only problem is, they CAN'T refuse, if they are ETOH + AND underage. They have lost that ability, because the ability lies only with people who are competent to refuse (ie, not under the influence of drugs or ETOH). Now, to an extent, you can remove the ETOH once the person is 21 yo, because at that point, it is a LEGAL substance to engage in the use. It's similar to what happens to a patient if they have an illegal substance, outside of ETOH (meth, pot, coke, etc.). That's the one thing that people seem to forget, if you have been judged by DR's as medically incompetent to make a decision...then you have less rights than if you were in jail. A LOT less. Of course, it doesn't help that UMC is actually on the PROPERTY of the UofA, so PD CAN come in and bust someone without having been "called" by anyone. On the flip side...the cops don't usually bust a "lone drinker." What I mean by that is...the guy who has had some ETOH, is underage, and does their own thing. Where PD usually gets them is, driving + MVC, driving + ETOH (usually doesn't come into the hospital), or so drunk they have made themselves WAY TOO OBVIOUS. And of course, the PD that cares most for underage ETOH is UofA PD, not Tucson PD.

Maybe respiratory arrest & not yet cardiac arrest?

Its true. A tension pneumo can be treated very well with a needle decompression. For a hemo, we can't transfuse and can't fix the bleed. So, it's rather irrelevant anyway. If they had one, we wouldn't be able to adequately treat it anyway. Although it would be nice if we could do chest tubes and use them for autotransfusion.

But...as a "regular medic" the only one of those I can't do is a chest tube. DHS says we can't touch those.

Actually, from what I have been told (haven't done any research on the issue, minor issue and I'm just too damned busy these days) there are several studies that have been done in the last decade or so that shows that constant "fight/flight" type "lifestyle," along with the "startle" that comes with obnoxious "tones" for dispatch can actually damage the heart over time. Potentially one of the reasons why MI's might be so common in FD. This was one of the reasons that Phoenix Fire (and those they dispatch for) have the "Heart Saver" Tones. The ones that go from soft to loud.

The local private ambulance company (whom I started my EMS career with), and the company I work P/T for in Phx (not the same company), really don't care if you sleep on duty. As long as when you are out in public you are in uniform (polo shirt with EMS/Station pants and black polished boots), and do your daily duties (usually fairly simple) and don't miss a call. Other than that, they don't care. The FD I worked for, as long as our daily duties (including required daily training) was done, the Chief didn't care what we did, as long as when in public we were professional looking and responded in a timely manner to calls.

Maybe not though. I'm not sure how it works on a federal level, but on a State/local level, if PD asks/gives an order (must be considered reasonable, please use common sense when reading that statement) to a civilian, they are lawfully bound to follow it. Going along those lines, a simple "yes" answer to "Are you a United States Citizen" question would be considered reasonable, no? So, might he then not be breaking the law (however menially) by not answering/refusing to follow a lawful command to answer the question?

Unfortunately, this is a huge problem here in Southern AZ (UDAs, not Boarder Patrol). I know this does sound hard to believe, but I have asked several that come into the ED and earlier this year, in the first quarter, they had over 300,000 UDA detainees from around Tucson. One of the most porus areas along the boarder is on the Tohono O'Odham Nation (used to be known as the Papagos). Their reservation extends into Mexico itself, and as a sovereign nation, Boarder Patrol CAN'T setup at that location (because it would hinder tribal member's movement on THEIR land). The checkpoint on the video is just east of the reservations boarder on Ajo Highway (Highway 86). Also, for those that don't know, UDA=Undocumented Alien (the most politically correct slang for boarder crossers).

In the ED, we just had an inservice regarding this stuff (specifically Dermabond). Once it fully dries (after the second application) which is about 15 minutes or so, it has a burst strength of a 4.0 suture. Plus, it has antimicrobial properties.

Actually, in cases where they do "refuse" the test, PD gets a search and seizure warrant from a judge to draw blood. Now...there is a point to where they will walk away if it starts to be too much of a hassle, but also in AZ, in the ED, if we have a medical order to draw blood, the cops are ENTITLED to a sample, if they need. Otherwise, they need a warrant.