Medic One

We have GPS in all vehicles but we do have a policy that Town maps will be provided by the Town for our service area and mutual aid areas and we must verify the address on paper. We also the units pulled every three months to have updates installed by the Town IT department. Updates must be reguarly done to ensure the most accurate mapping but don't rely on the unit. We have never really had a problem with inaccuracies.

Where can I sign-up for the lifetime membership? I went to the renew button and there is no option for Lifetime member. I assume the same rules apply to Lifetime members but we should get some recognition etc… Can you also send a tee shirt / hat with the lifetime membership; upgrade our profile with Lifetime Member status, allow Lifetime members to post trade/swap/sale items (idk something special for us)etc... What is the outcome of the site shutting down for various reasons such as (court ordered, server crash and you don't have funds to continue the site, you get out of EMS, etc) basically do you have a backup plan in place for someone or some entity to take over the site for you. I will pay the Lifetime member fee but would expect to have unlimited use of EMTCity for the next 15 years because that is basically the $9.99 fee x 15. I agree with you standing up to fight this lawsuit but just want to be assured that you have a plan should the court decide to fine you and/or shut down the site…do you have an LLC / Business License / Personal protection service for yourself and EMTCity because some YAHOO posted something they should not have posted. By the way I checked and the word “YAHOO” has no copyright

My rig is missing a krups coffee machine. It would be great to have it readily accessable for those late night calls.

You and your family will be in my prayers

Unfortunate situation for all; patient, family and responders I see a lot of discussion about GPS...I think they are good to have but they can not always be relied upon. They have to be updated like all technology. We have a policy of NO personal GPS unit in vehicles. GPS units provided from the service are only ones to be used to ensure they are updated (IT dept handles). Maps are updated at least once a year. I carry my own hagstrum that I know is new but as with everything roads get added. This is the problem everyone has when things change or get added. We mandate the local building, zoning and highway departments to contact us when roads are added & addresses are changed by phone, email and ceritfied mail. It is then the IT departments job to update all computers and mapping programs.

The good test is a modified CPAT. In this order pass/fail from start to end. Wearing a 40lb weight vest on stair stepper 50 steps per minute for 30 seconds increasing to 60 steps per min for 2 minutes. Remove vest then 2 minutes of one person CPR 20 seconds of sitting on floor holding toes (sit reach) for 20 seconds) 15 push-ups in one minute 15 sit-ups in one minute Lift 100lb bardell walk 50 paces forward then 50 paces backwards Add 50 lbs now 150lbs dead lift to navel Then swim one lap down and back in pool and tread water for 2 minutes (no time on swim must have forward motion during entire swim) Then with a second employee We also work with a 165lb dummy on cot for lifting, moving (using slipp device), fitzy lift (manual carry), canvass and poles carry with dummy Then dummy in stair chair going down stairs using the "tracks" rugged or ferno stair chair Then carry dummy up the stairs with manual carry. It works well to weed out some people. I know the swimming issue doesn't really relate to EMS as well as not all of the tests but if you live or respond to shore lines and have an EMS response boat etc... it is usefull to know that atleast an employee can swim the basics and tread water to hopefully save themselves.

The Seven I keep are/and reasons why: 16 year old blind pregnant girl Keep provide care and use for rebuilding population Farmer - keep to work on planting crops or ideas on getting food when we get out / live off the land Police officer Good to train others in defense and provide security History professor Knows history and how civilizations rebuild / Can log all happenings for future history 70yr old Doctor - Keep the doctor to train the medical student and provide care Army Captain Keep for self defense and security / good knowledge of tactics Medical Student - Keep for future medical needs after training rcvd from the doctor OUTCASTS Prostitute OUTCAST for bait to see if others outside will attack her but dont trust her with our location plus she is probably tainted with disease so not very good to eat Lawyer - OUTCAST He can pimp the prostitute, try to survive out there with his lawyer tongue after begging the priest for repentance for lying in court all these years Priest OUTCAST with the prostitute maybe he can get lucky before the radiation kills him

Welcome to the City...like others have said you will find a lot of answers to your questions here. My advise is work as an EMT for atleast a year or two before going on to either advanced ent or paramedic. Any questions contact me 20years busy experience here.

I agre with you there...I have tried to get the "99" 86'ed (dropped). We use NIMS complient standard for no radio codes and I think a reagular word would be fine to use. We do have PAR checks when crew on scene more than 15 minutes set up through our CAD Alerts but 15 mins can be a long time. For example if the crew is in trouble and dispatch calls they may be able to tell the armed person, etc.. that if I don't call back they WILL send the police and tell them that I just have to respond with "alls well" or "10-4 all set"...if I don't they will know there is a problem. The other issues is when We have called "99's" we have actually had dispatchers say "CLEAR THE AIR WE HAVE A 99" and then say "Battalion you copy the 99". It happened to one of my crews one night..we have since instructed dispatch to use cellular and the tac channel for further communications until the 99 is cleared. Its a start but not much of one.

Uhg..Emergency Buttons!!! We have been trying to get our emergency buttons activated in both the cars and portables...it is a tough battle and thats coming from me a road boss for the past umpteen years. The people that make those decisions for my service are over my head and one has not worked on the road since they had the Motorola Handy Talkie with the collapsable car antenna. We have been fighting this for years and we finally gave up. We have even tried to get a second portable radio for each car so both crew members have one..another NO. It is frustrating that we have the technology in our mobile and on our hip but they feel there would be too many accidental activations. Well if there are accidentals because of excessive abuse there can be policies or write-ups for that...still NO. We do have a radio code "99" if you need help but once again we can't get the dress blue everyday brass to put radio identifiers on the portable radio's so the dispatcher repaets "Last unit calling" thus possibly blowing your "cover" I feel your frustration...any others have a solution to this before someone gets hurt?

Depends on the state and service, municiple vs commercial/private (union/non-union). On average in our state EMT's start around $15 max out at about $21 Paramedics start around $18 and max out at about $28 (non-supervisor) Most municiple medics start at about $25.13 based on the State workers pay tier. Most start on tier 13 max out on tier 20 Dispatchers start about $17 and max out about $23 Then you need to see if you get s stipend for CME's / Conferences / Do they offor a 401K, what are the costs for your health insurance. Plus depending on the service you get an increase if your an FTO or have your EMS-Instructor, PALS and ACLS-Instructor. EMS is not gonna make your wallet fat but if you manage yourself correctly you can get a nice house, car etc... On average in RN's in our area make $40 to $55/hr and as a traveling nurse we have seen close to $80. Research the area you go to before you decide if you want this as a career, I did 20yrs ago and have done just fine, yet I have seen others struggle. Good Luck

"Paramedic to the Prince" by Patrick Tom Notestine It is about an American Paramedic's account of inside the mysterious world of the King of Suadi Arabia. Good reading

Wow, that is harsh. We have a policy where you get driver suspension right away and then have to meet with the training department to re-train as a driver which entales reviewing the CEVO programs (DVD programs) and go through an actual in-house driving class (short cones course) then admin review for the term of time as a non-driver. I understand the immediate driver suspension but the thought of being let go totally is a bit harsh. We the millions of miles per year EMS drive safety is priority 1 but to know that if you have a minor you can get fired it rough. I don't know how they even have drivers if they throw down such harsh policy. As far a check sheets we do log any damage daily on our check sheets, they are reviewed every shift by supervisors and every month a supervisor does a detailed car check for damage, cracked welds(door jams etc) and log all new scratched etc for a monthly report. Sorry dude....Good luck!!

The question is how TOUGH was it? I am curious to hear of it powerd up.

My thoughts as a manager but not the one that signs the checks. Mandatory downtime lunch breaks....NO (we do tell crews to make pick-ups but they all know at anytime they are in service) BUT I think there should be some other perks included. Face it folks an average call takes less than 1 hr in most systems...there is downtime between calls most of the time I know this because your in the bus facebooking, EMTCitying, IMing, and goofing off filliing your partners boots with shaving cream. When it is busy you never think about food let alone having to go to the bathroom. I think what IS needed if you don't get a 30min downtime lunch is some type of NON-TAXABLE CASH stipend daily for food. So you can stop on the services time to grab taco bell, subway or a hospital caf lunch. This is a win win situation...your crews can eat if they get time to stop and if not they have a few bucks in there pocket. If you decide to brown bag it thats good also. During times when we have major incidents, standby's or extra long shifts we have as managers picked up box lunches from a local deli and a supervisor deliver them to the crews on the road. This is a sticky subject but I think passing calls to other services or units father away because "Mr or MRS I need to fill my face" is on lunch it makes EMS in a whole look bad and uncaring. We all took an oath to help the sick..so suck it up people or find a job somewhere else. So I googled "Food taster Jobs" for you "FACE FILLERS" there are plenty out there start looking. My thoughts whether you like it or not.

Unfortunetly depending on the town or city that statement is close to true....the justification for the "20Year" plan or what ever to replace equipment always seems to pass on a "10Year plan". Most FD's do get what they want but having a collection agency go after people after 7 years can happen but after 10years you don't have to pay if there is no contact from the original billing agency. The other thing is you can still get harrassed for the money but if I remember Medical Bills will not show up on your credit report. I think the town just needs to raise taxes then to cover the costs and not charge at all. There are ways around the funding issues...threaten to cut school costs or raise fees to play sports and see what an uproar they can create. Its too bad that the service is loosing money but once again it is a medical service and you can NOT refuse to transport someone because they can't pay. One other issue is are these medical calls only or MVA calls. 90% of all MVA calls the drivers have car insurance...spend the 3 minutes to get the car insurance info and it will be paid in full if they have medical coverage on the auto policy. Standard practice for us is get auto info our billing submits it and we get paid in full 90% of the time.

Our policy for employees is clearely ststed in our employee manual and new hires must pass a gruiling testing period. Each employee must be able to lift a 150lbs using proper lifting technique. We usually have several tests that we use. We have a dummy that and weight can be added or removed to simulate a patient. We verify the weight on a stretcher to total 300lbs and use an FTO and the student/new employee to lift in several situations. This is repeated with canvass and poles, stair chair, dummy drag, manual lifting...etc... I think there is probably not too many state lifting requirments but more department based. As far as what we do for LBS patients, we have two fully equipt bariatric cars with power beds. We required a a minimum of 4 employees for any lifting of LBS patients weighing more than 400lbs. An on duty supervisor must be present (if not on a current call) for all bariatric calls raising the crew to 5. Problem is that this ties up two ambulances plus a supervisor or FD Engine company. But it can save us from a large court case and member of service injury claim should be have a drop of the patient. We all know that the average employee back injury settlement can average in the hundreds of thousand dollar range. Any patient over 350lbs requires a third attendant during the lifting and loading of the cot into/out of the ambulance and loading/unloading of the patient from the cot. This is usually done by the on-duty supervisor. Our Power LBS cot is rated for 700lbs anything over we have a preplan with local heavy lifting company that specializes lifting mechanical equipment. In the past we have used a sheet rock flat bed truck that had one of the lifts on it to remove a patient from the home transporting in a U-Haul van on a custom platform that the FD trench rescue team built while we worked on extricating the pt.

Terrible charges placed on this member of service....as he said we work together and as he said at the end the intersection ahead was full at rush hour. As long as he had no patient on board I don't see a real problem with it. Obviously the Troopers forget he has big needles in the bus and oh sorry the bumps in the road make it hard to get IV's done. Sometimes cops have the my way or the highway attitude and I know this first hand as many of you all do. So now if they were smart they need to really have the citizens look into and report how wreckless many cops drive in that area...I don't think 75-80mpg is appropriate on the highway when on patrol not on a call....let see use of cell phones when driving (some states allow it for responders); oh and remember by federal law the fire chief is the ICS on any call if they are called. So I would call the FD to close the roadways cause more traffic problems oh and hey every MVA with leaking fluids is a hazmat...those could take HOURS to clean-up. Maybe then the cops will remember we all need to work together.

Once again in the past week this is the second EMS vehicle stolen with the outcome of death. Come on guys be sure to pull your keys.

I have a few slapper type of songs but I like them. TB Sheets by Van Morrison Ambulances by Institute

We require daily checks on every in-service unit at the beginning of shift. We also do a load/test dump on the LP12. Each car also has all essential equipment tagged with a number (suction units/O2 regulators/etc...) these numbers must be placed on the check sheets turned into the duty supervisor. We also have a very detailed mechanical check. A few years ago we ran into a problem and our crews check sheet saved us from a potential lawsuit. We retain the check sheets for 30days. We as supervisors also have some tricks up our sleeve by randomly placing luggage tags on the oil dip stick or in a compartment/bag advising the crew to turn it into the supervisor. It seems to work well knowing the oil is checked daily, the suction unit is actually opened to see if it is charged, or the IO Gun case has been open to see if all items are in it. We tried "Tagging" the bags closed but thats where we ran into a satelite division not checking bags and on a spot check the bag was found to have about 15 meds out of date by about 15 days. We tracked back all crews working those 15 days and they received a write-up for not checking there gear. SO as far as expired meds in a bus..it can happen...and thats poor practices on the medics and services shoulders.

Its standard usage here...we have had several types in the past. We have the pill bottle type with the form kept inside and advise all patients to place the vial in the freezer or on the door of the fridge. We also have a sticker that is placed on the fridge. The other type (less expensive) is a magnetic sleeve that sticks to the fridge. Problem is they are issued and 50% of them are filled out. I think it would be best to have your PIO go door to door and assist them being filled out...yeah it would be time consuming but it is good pr.

So basically the higher powers to be gave this guys death a Muligan on the 18th hole.

Tragic ending with the death but I would assume some disciple is coming down the line for the crew and some ambulance chasing lawyer will probably make a case about it...the ambulance was running or the keys were in it so the crew contributed to her death, then go after the hospital if they discharged her for some dumb reason or if she walked out to "Have a smoke" ya know what I mean... We have a policy in place that keys must be removed and the ambulance locked when parked (non-emergency) but it only works 80% of the time with crew complience. Then you have the problems of on an emergency run..parked... red flashy things on.... A/C Heat...yada yada yada We are looking into the systems right now to remove the key leave car running and if brake is stepped on it shuts down (similar to a car starter).....Anyone use these systems?

LOL....good topic but I wouldn't do it unless I had fingers like John Holmes!!