kuo34

I've got a set of the shears but haven't had the opportunity to use them yet. They're huge and heavy, which is the major drawback. Our service rarely deals with heavy duty materials, but I keep a set in my personal jump bag so if I need them they'll be in the box. I agree with dust that there needs to be another holster alternative for them. They do fit in Dickies EMT slacks, but not so well in the holster on pro-tuff slacks (for those of you that like to keep shears/instruments in a cargo pocket). The stethoscope has great sound quality in the back of the truck. Some blue locktite keeps those ear pieces on. You need to be aware of the rubber liners on both sides of the bell. Otherwise it's a great set.

I wear comfortable boots. Try a few out. If the ones on the rack at Wal-Mart are comfortable, wear them. Spend more time reviewing a&p and less time checking out stuff at galls

Perhaps college level classes should be taught at a college level as well. Undergrad courses (especially core) had to be dumbed down to a rediculously low level for the majority of the students to grasp the material.

I do my best to drive safely in my POV and buckle up in there as well. I don't take unnecessary risks (yes, I'm a boring driver) but I clearly recall that the wreck I was in was due to the other driver's failure to yield. Not buckling up just because your vehicle is being operated safely puts you at risk of being injured more seriously by the rest of the unsafe drivers out there.

I belt in anytime it's possible. It's saved my butt a few times, especially in the older boxes with all those shiny stainless steel corners.

I recieved a set as a Christmas present. They cut through everything. Yeah, they're heavy, but it's the bulk that bugs me. It tends to snag or bang against things if you've got them on you. If it's in a jump bag, no big deal. If you're going to carry them on you, take into account the bulkiness of the things. I've yet to use them on a call though.

Though this may be completely legal, I feel that it is quite unethical. This is like moving combat troops in red cross/crescent marked vehicles. It makes people question EMS everytime such a tactic is used.

All studies are skewed. It's all interpretation of the available data. Again, there's no way to make anything 100% safe. There is no way to prevent injuries in every situation. The helmet is a reasonable step in the direction of safety. A c-collar wouldn't be practical for us to use, but perhaps you're onto something. How about those big ol' neck pad things racers and stunt drivers wear? While we're at it, kevlar vests have saved the lives of many vehicle crewmen in accidents because they took a hit from a sharp edge during a tank rollover or a helicopter crash. Of course you've got seatbelts too, but we've beaten that horse to death. If anything the helmet is still less than adequate protection when in the patient compartment, but it's a step towards safety. As for the seated or supine patient, they're supposed to be strapped in according to our local protocols. That's feasible with the included straps and belts in most situations. Remodeling compartments has been occurring. Look at the older rigs in service (y'know, the steel box with the wood paneling) and this year's models. More rails, more padding, less protruding objects. I do agree that more data has should be taken into account to study common injuries that occur in the back of the ambulance. The one study approach primarily benefits the politician much more than it benefits the end user.

I'll have to admit I'm not as concerned about wearing a brainpan in the newer ambulances at EMS. They've got more padded railling and less sharp corners in the back. Still, a hard hit to a well padded interior is enough to jostle my concentration. A helmet has saved my noggin when I've been concentrating on someone in an M113 and just stood up after I got done with whatever I was working on and thunked into the roof. Older ambulances seem to have a lot more of those hard surfaces to thunk against. Enough blah blah. I don't care how safety gets improved, as long as there's improvement. I'm still sticking with my brainpan vote though.

Not all helmets will keep you from utilizing a stethescope. Yes, it'd be fantastic to make the whole rig a lot safer. Will it look stylish? Probably not. I recall that foreign troops referred to us as ninja turtles because of all the armor we had to wear as well as bitching about having to wear kevlars in military vehicles on post. Is it uncomfortable and hot? For the most part. Boo hoo. Will it make things 100% safe? Not even close. It'll keep those minor brainpan dings from becoming major distractions. Then again it'll be a miracle to get everyone that drives an automobile to buckle their seatbelts. Maybe we need to start there.

I've always been a proponent of safety over comfort. We've seen what happens to unrestrained passengers during low speed collisions. A helmet (with or without integrated com) is a good idea.

Our B course requires 24hrs ambulance ride time w/at least 10 calls and 8 hours in the ED. We're allowed to schedule all we want as their schedule allows though.