AnthonyM83

Now, did you know that 3 is the "critical mass" number for number of people who need to be facing backwards for other people to come on to do the same? Social psychology, got to love it.

I would make sure the trainees are proficient at patient assessments outside of the script. In other words, they can be fluid in gathering the pieces to the puzzle. Also, knowing how to act on that (O2, rapid transport, etc). As Mobey said, it's also a great lesson to not do things half-way or "good enough". Why do just good enough? Be thorough.

What does the husband say the main problem is? Onset? Is she able to follow commands? Can you establish if she's oriented through the husband? Pulse? Rate/Quality? BP? O2 Sat? Medical hx? Meds?

Except, I don't think anyone was misrepresenting level of care. It seemed like he was talking about off-duty introductions, not on-scene. If it's work-related of course you're not going to misrepresent b/c work related people know the differences.

Uh...well how can they save a paramedic who in turn saves a life if there's no paramedic there..... If you're following the logic, EMTs save paramedics, not lives

I knew you were a nut!

I can see where it matters somewhat. Not so much with new people I meet. I'll actually say I'm an ambulance driver when they ask. But among your peers, family, previous colleagues, it'd be nice to be portrayed as someone who's doing something more with their life than ONLY driving an ambulance. Likewise, it'd be nice if other medical professionals viewed us as more than that and similarly EXPECTED more from us.

That's more amongst themselves though...

Using the term "EMT" during introductions can be a real pain. I don't blame him. When I call myself an ambulance driver, because it's a familiar term, I get "Oh, so you're not actually in the back?" Argh. So, when the look of confusion tells me they don't know what EMT is, I'll say "Emergency Medical Technician, I work in ambulance" (which still sounds weird to say as your job). If they're still not getting it, I'll just say "Like a paramedic?" That way I'm not actually calling myself a "paramedic", but describing what I do. If I'm doing rushed introductions like at a party with people I don't care about, I'll just say "paramedic" because it saves me the hassle and I'm just describing the work. I've tried so many different things "ambulance workers". Or I'll say EMT, then quickly add "It's a level below paramedic. You have to put in your time as an EMT, before being admitted to paramedic schools" so at least you show you're going somewhere.

They have those. Sunnyvale, California is one example. I've heard of others here and there.

Except there aren't any schools around here that provide you with two years of paramedic education. Most seem to be under a year and during labs you'll get minimal practice with BLS skills, unless maybe you have some patient partners who don't mind practicing that instead of the ALS skill during the alotted practiced time. Then, you'll have time during internship, but your preceptors aren't going to be wanting to guide you through that also. It'd be great if the programs were setup for teaching you BLS skills and on-scene stuff a bit more...

What EXACTLY did you get written up for? Allowing him to use the urinal or for taking his post? What EXACTLY did the FF get in trouble for? What exactly did your partner have a problem with? I don't see anything wrong with him using a urinal...that's kind of what they're there for...only difference is he wasn't a patient...but he still came to you with a problem and request and you helped out another agency.

AMR - San Francisco Bay Area has a better system than LA. So does WestMed in Monterey, but I think they're fully staffed right now. I heard a Susanville FD in the middle of nowhere in north north NorCal really needs FFs...pay umm not that great. My friend in Sacramento keeps saying their FD is dying for medics...

I'm down. The idea of learning each unit (cardiology, respiratory, etc) from different perspectives and different styles seems more inclusive. My only concern is actually getting to read all of them, but makes sense and I'll probably try to do that when I go to school.

Try again...and make sure your server doesn't have blocks.

Richard, that's a very disturbing thing to have happened. It shakes you when you realize you weren't as secure as you thought you were.

Asys, chill out. No one said anyone was freaking out about anything. I was just posting what I said I was posting. Examples of BLS skills being missed/overlooked...and not ones where a more critical task was being performed or they expected EMT to take care of it (EMT was assigned another task). "Being a moron" happens a lot, just does. Like we said with ALS and BLS. Ah...I see what this is about. K, see ya. Different topic: So, how do you get your BLS skills down, then? Like you said they're not teaching them. They're expecting you to know them already, so they can incorporate it with ALS they're teaching you. There's a risk of falling behind, especially since it can take different personalities different amounts of time to become comfortable on scene and internship is short.

I was taught they were because of airway and breathing issues...not true?

No actually...that's what lead me to post this :-/ Unless they have LE experience, I doubt most recognize a distressed radio transmission when they hear one and if they do they might tend to think the crew screwed up something rather than needs immediate help now.

There are constant efforts from the police departments out there. I've been told by PD that there were task forces out with over 30 unmarked and undercover cars in one night for one city of 9 sq. mi. plus regular patrol. LAPD has been cracking down on gangs a lot. Their main system seems to be saturating neighborhoods with pedestrian and vehicle stops and filling out Field Interview cards to get pictures and info of people and also find out what's the latest "movements" are from the locals. Seems to be working since crime rat'es been steadily going down. In general no, but certain hot spots, you just keep your wits about you more, you don't screw around at all, you lock everything. Some might wear their blue brush jackets just to be identified as EMS, while others don't want them so they don't stand out with the reflectors. No special considerations. If anything, I see FD being a bit tougher and curter with them. In a way, FD/EMS ends up acting as it's own protective gang and a lot of FFs who work those areas also grew up in similar environments. Here's a taste a scene right out of gangland...one of the projects in LA: Click on Video 1 for taste of how some of our GSW calls often go: http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-11180...9&cset=true

That's what I was always taught the main reason was. Brevity. AND so in emergency situations where it's hitting the fan, you don't have to think of a way to say it. You throw out pre-rehearsed codes in almost whatever order and everyone will get the message. If you have codes drilled into you, it's almost like falling back onto your training during stress. Think of all the variations you've heard of "I need help" on law enforcement radios. AND even in non-metropolitan departments, air time is precious in emergency situations. (BTW, secrecy reason still works. You can scan for a year and still not know the true meaning of codes....though you could just go to the electronics store and buy a Radio Shack code book.....but even then still helps most of the time)

Here's some BLS skills I've seen missed: -Trying to start a line on a trauma instead of loading the patient & going (BLS skill) -Not getting updated vitals...once again because trying to start a line -Not doing pulse checks because caught up in watching heart rhythm (until EMT sitting around watching checks a pulse b/c it's one of the few things he can do...whoops PEA) -Not monitoring dressings to see if bleeding has continued/restarted -Trying to get aspirin and intro aboard so fast, they forget O2 Realistically, BLS skills ARE forgotten. But like Dust said, they're forgotten by both EMTs and Paramedics. And they're not necessarily things that should get you thrown of the ambulance. It does make sense though that the larger number of things you have to consider and do, the more likely you'll miss one of them especially if equal emphasis was not spent on it in school. ONE reason I can think of for getting SOME BLS experience in first is that most medic programs aren't designed to guide you through BLS skills as well as ALS, both in didactic and internship.

Gotta know which way the bullets are gonna fly...

Yeah, I don't think I could get those words out in an emergency....little tricky on the tongue...

Pretty much...