paramedicmike

Read again. "Ambulance officers" were mentioned once. That was only in passing with "prison officials". How about, if you're sent to prison, don't try to escape? That seems to be a good lesson to take away from this. -be safe

This has what to do with EMS?

This is not a problem specific to EMS. People across the country, regardless of industry, job or placement within a company, are losing not only jobs but legal action against them for items posted in blogs. No matter the steps taken to ensure anonymity, if it can be traced back to you you're potentially in a precarious position of losing your job. Pay your money, take your chances. You're not prohibited from doing it. You're just putting your job and livelihood in jeopardy. -be safe

There seems to be an awful lot in my area. Fortunately, however, it's because there's a prison nearby and they're all incarcerated. It does need to go both ways, though. If you're going to trap the men going after the girls, you gotta show the women going after the boys. -be safe

Alright, we have ourselves a situation here. We've got someone who claims to be a firefighter who can't answer a question correctly no matter which answer he chooses. What's more is that he refuses to answer questions regarding his education and certification level. That alone means ANYTHING he says should be immediately discarded and disregarded. Then we have everyone else who, for some reason, insist on antagonizing this...person. We know a few more things here... 1) You know you're right and the FF dude is wrong. 2) You know that the more you antagonize him the more stupid and insulting he'll become. 3) You know the more stupid and insulting he becomes the more you'll get fired up. We know he's wrong. We know he's just going to continue to be stupid. We know that after all this time no amount of right answer and research presented for review will penetrate his small mind. Unless this particular FF decides to come clean on his education, experience and can provide research to back up his positions (all of them since he can't pick one side and stick with it), can't we please just let it die? Just something to ponder. -be safe

Ok...Knowing that transport units belonged to a different organization altogether would be good knowledge to have with regards to this type set up. The way the article was presented gave me the idea Fire and EMS were combined. But then there's the concern with overtime versus serving the tax base. If you eliminate medical responses from the FD will this help reduce OT costs? In theory I suppose it could. Is there pressure on the company providing ALS transport services to increase the number of vehicles on the road? I realize the focus of the article is on this new practice of the FD. But there are larger issues at play. Just thinking out loud. -be safe

I saw this article referenced in another forum and thought I'd share it here. Mesa FD response article I'm not sure where they came up with the dollar amounts they cite. But why not use the savings to buy additional ambulances? *****DISCLAIMER***** Despite how this may appear, I am NOT attempting to start yet another us versus them argument. I merely found it interesting that a FD was finding it too expensive to send an engine out on medical calls so they opted to send out a non-transporting response unit with a paramedic and EMT. If your intent is to fan the flames of discontent and turn this into an interservice bash fest, exit this thread now. If you have insight as to costs and why the FD would move this way, then by all means, join in. Thank you for your cooperation. -be safe

27

Hello? It's an idiot-box commercial! You were looking for intelligence in a 30 second ad spot? Please! -be safe anyway

Great! Now that that's settled, can we get a lock on this thread?

You're not flushing from the drill. Once you place the IO, you remove the drill and connect your tubing the hub. The flush is done the same way as with the manually placed IOs. It's a slow, hand push of the fluid with a syringe. I would imagine the discomfort is the same as the manually placed IOs. However, it used to be that IOs were used in kids as a last resort to IV access. Chances are, if you were going the IO route the kid was all but pronounced so patient discomfort wasn't really a major concern. With these devices (i.e. EZIO), in line with the new ACLS guidelines, IOs can be placed on just about anyone regardless of age. And the patient doesn't always have to be in a cardiac arrest situation to have one placed, either. As such, the concern for patient comfort or discomfort is much more important that in the past. Does this help? -be safe

Most paramedics carry laptops? Where is that? I'm with JP on this. A decent pen drive can be purchased for much less than U$40. And quite honestly, I'm not going to take time away from my assessment to plug in a pen drive to find out what's wrong with you. It might prove to be beneficial to the docs at the ER once we get the patient there. But that's only if the ER computers allow peripheral plug ins. What a great way to spread a virus and shut down a hospital's computer network! For some reason, this reminds me of that cell phone ICE thing...looks good on paper...not so much in practical use. -be safe

They must work in tractor trailers.

Agreed. I worked at one place until recently that didn't trust us with 12 lead capabilities. Certainly they wouldn't trust us with something like RSI capabilities. If you can't get the tube after paralysis, I'd hope you place your backup airway, combitube or LMA, and continue with your guidelines for sedation and continued paralysis (if included and allowed). While not the ideal way to secure an airway, at least there's *something* there. I like etomidate as the initial induction agent, too. Then, for follow up sedation versed or a combination of versent and fentanyl. -be safe

Because it would mean change. People are inherently afraid of change. They are afraid that if things start changing, their position and role will change. They are afraid that if their role changes they will be left behind. So, rather than exert a little effort and work to adapt with the change, the whine, complain and moan about how hard it is and "woe is me"...and drag everyone else down with the them. [sarcasm}After all, isn't that modern day American EMS? It's all about me? Screw everyone else? Especially the patient? :shock: :shock: :shock: [/sarcasm] If you want it badly enough, you'll find a way to do it. There are ways to get it done so that you and/or your family won't suffer. The mere fact that one would throw out such an excuse says nothing other than it's not wanted badly enough. And that's enough to indicate that maybe one should find another line of work. -be safe

Yes. Two year diploma at a minimum. The expectation is that we're educated. A nine month paramedic program does not an educated provider make. That's not to say that there are graduates of nine month programs who aren't educated. But when it comes down to it, having the degree/diploma holds more weight. Like it or not, having a degree counts. It's the way things work in the world. And I know of no other profession so adamantly opposed to what will prove to be a benefit to all of us in the long run. -be safe

Paramedicmike = satan mike = tree surgeon I'm slightly nervous about the first one. -be safe

DC is not a county. It's a Federal District. Just thought you should know that if you really want to work there. And I don't think you really want to work there. DCFD is one of those Fire/EMS agencies who's EMS side is ignored and falling apart. Look to one of the county agencies in suburban VA or MD. You'll be better off there. No, they're not single role. But there's enough people who only want to ride the engine that it probably wouldn't be too difficult to ensure you're on the ambulance. Good luck. -be safe

What's more, you don't give any indication you're in medic school. You say you're a basic. You're talking in the BLS forums on a BLS topic. Further still, you present yourself in such a manner that implies basics in your area complete IV/IO access on patients and push meds through them. You offered no such qualifying statement that you were a medic student until called on it. It may be wise for you to indicate at which level you're commenting. If you're talking as a BLS provider, say so. If you're talking from an ALS provider standpoint, say so (but qualify yourself as still being a student). Otherwise, you'll be called on it. And people here can be a bit, shall we say, merciless. -be safe

AK's tag line comes into play here. "Training teaches you many ways to skin a cat. Education teaches you it might not have needed to be skinned in the first place." Anyone can be trained to place a tube in a certain place. The educated provider knows and recognizes when it may be difficult to place the ETT. And there are times when it can be very difficult, for a variety of reasons, to place an ETT. Furthermore, the educated provider knows when to stop screwing around and go to the backup airway. Which is exactly, as Redcell astutely noted, why we carry them. -be safe

Perhaps you should clarify this a bit. Doesn't Texas have two "types" of paramedics? A "Certified Paramedic" for a non-degree paramedic and a "Licensed Paramedic" if you hold a degree, right? -be safe

Now this is bothers me. The request for a plane that had coast to coast non-stop capabilities came from the House Sargent at Arms who plays an important role in providing security for members of congress. It was his suggestion and his request that a larger plane, with a longer range, be made available to the Speaker. This is important for several reasons. The Speaker of the House is second in line to the Presidency (behind the Vice President). There are security measures that need to be maintained to help ensure the Constitutional line of succession should the President and/or Vice President become incapacitated or killed. Stopping for fuel on a cross country leg increases the security risk. Apparently, it presents enough of a threat that those responsible for the Speaker's security felt it necessary to make the request. Despite the House Sgt at Arms going public and saying "This was my idea, not hers!" the GOP has persisted in trying to discredit the Speaker. He further stated that he regrets that a security issue has become politicized. What's more, a plane is something that has been provided to the Speaker in the past. It's nothing the past Speakers haven't had. O'Neill, Gingrich, Hastert all had planes available to them. But they all lived in the eastern half of the country. It's not the fault of the current Speaker that she lives on the west coast. If you want to blame anyone for the request that the Speaker be afforded a plane to take it up with those who provide security for the Speaker. It's their request. It's their job to ensure the Speaker's safety. The current Speaker had nothing to do with it. What's more, she even said she'd fly commercial if it came down to it. In the meantime, if you feel it necessary to find fault with the current Speaker, find something of substance. You'll be taken more seriously that way. (This last comment is not directed directly to SSG G-man. It's a general reference to any and all who feel it necessary to take petty pot shots at any and all politicians.) -be safe

Did he really have prior conduct issues? It's the plaintiff in this case who's alleging he had prior misconduct issues. That hasn't been confirmed. If she loses this case I hope the medic sues her for slander. -be safe

Hmmm....interesting. I wonder how this is gonna turn out. A couple thoughts, though. This is a one sided version of events. It's going to turn into "he said, she said". Why isn't the medic in question with the EMS organization any more? What are their protocols for pain control? Did she really verbally object? Why kind of crappy communications skills did this medic have? So many questions I don't know where to start. She makes no accusation the medic touched her inappropriately. So what did she think he was doing? Taking in the sights? One thing this can do for the rest of us is let it serve as a reminder that patients have rights. If a patient says, "No, don't do that" then we don't do that. If a patient says, "Stop!" then we stop. It will, indeed, be interesting to see how this turns out. -be safe

That's ok. With all the GOP members of congress awaiting trial, going to jail or already in jail, a condom is a better symbol than prison bars. -be safe