MedicNorth

I don't know if I should be disappointed, intrigued, or simply amazed - It looks like this thread could turn into a "Chiropractor vs Real Doctor" debate which as far as I can tell has never been done on CITY before! I am ashamed to admit, I voted for the Double Whopper too. I know that Hooters has LOTS of Double Whoppers, but they do not (as far as I know), contain a lot of cholesterol! Saline solution, yes, but not cholesterol.

You know, I'm sure that someone could post asking about your favourite cholesterol meal at MacDonalds, or the hottest waitress at the local Hooter's, and someone would manage to turn it in to a "Fire vs EMS" argument. This is a valid question, for those of us who work rural areas - there are times when Fire is not available, and extrication is up to EMS. We DO have units equipped with jaws and the rest of the toys. I much prefer the double metal ends with the spring in the middle - have used them on a number of occasions, and have never had to try twice. Placed in the lower corner of the window, it takes very little extension or effort to gain access. Forget about the fancy trigger-operated units, simple is always better. (and the axe will NOT do it, BTW, unless your patient is already a metre away from the window and preferably already dead)

Sounds like you have a personal involvement in this one! I'm looking for a new outfit to work for, but I guess I'll stay clear. Thanks for the heads up!

Pack Heat? Geez - I miss the days you could pack aftershave!

This is definitely interesting and may have some effects on what we do down the road. I am curious as to why the subjects were all children <16. If they are making blanket statements such as those in the study, it would be better to include data with subjects in the young adult, middle aged, and geriatric categories as well. There may be no difference, but if they are touting this study as one that may change standards, a broader base should be involved.

Wow - it would appear that BC is making a move to at least not make it impossible to come in for qualified people. That is a step in the right direction, for sure. What you will probably find is that your EMT-B status in the USA might equal either an OFA3 or EMR. These will allow you to make good money on the industrial side, but you will find the jobs extremely boring, especially if you have been working active EMS. Chances are good that you will have to upgrade to work on an ambulance, but at least there is a possibility to get your foot in the door. I wish Alberta would follow suit to an extent - ACoP makes it almost impossible to come in from another province, let alone a different country. I have come across some incredibly well-qualified peple who wanted to come here, but were discouraged in the worst way. We have a good system, but it could get better with the right people being imported. I hope you find what you want - I think you'll loveit up here if you come.

Hey - This is a tragedy! Lets show the respect it deserves from professionals. Graphic pictures can be overwhelming for some, and these are definitely crossing the line I hate it when the members on this site look for gallows humour in the most horrible of situations. Some things are too awful to contemplate, and this is one of them. (hic)

Nice - now if only life would allow you to press the <replay> or <back> buttons!

*Bites tongue*

There are three ways for criminals to get guns - you have mentioned them all. Lying on permit applications - What - you just have to fill in a permit and they believe you? Doesn't one have to prove the accuracy of the information on the application? Don't they actually check on the information written on the paper? It takes a substantial amount of time to get a Firearm Acquisition Certificate in this country - the forms are checked over and information is verified before you can buy a gun of any type, or even ammunition! Stealing guns - who are they stealing them from? Why, from dealers and from registered legitimate owners. The more legal guns out there, the more choice criminals are going to have. Need a gun - go shopping in suburbia! If you keep your handgun in your bedside table, any ordinary burglar is going to find it, and even if he doesn't want it, it goes to the next area of the marketplace. The black market - Here it is. This is the place where most of these felons get their weapons. The black market depends upon the legitimate owners and dealers to supply the inventory. With the additional security measures in place in the US since 9-11 it is increasingly difficult to contemplate importing them. The question would be "Why bother, when there are so many available here already, and more are being produced and sold in this atmosphere of fear?" Eliminating the handguns in the United States looks like an impossible task. Controlling and restricting them is a long term, difficult, and unpopular solution. You have two choices - continue with the spiralling cycle of handgun proliferation, or slowly begin to reduce the use and availability of these tools. No magic solution - only a long and painful bunch of small steps towards an improvement to a situation that everyone, on both sides, says is intolerable at the present.

A number of points to consider from the night's postings here. 1. Wendy, I'm sure that the death of anyone under the age of 16 is included in the statistics quoted. I don't think it makes any difference, in that the statistics are simply showing how many die in gun-related incidents. Kids in gangs are still kids, regardless of how sick or violent they are - the point is that they are killed with guns. 2. Also to Wendy - Yes, I am sure that you could get the statistics on traffic, poison, bike, and any other causes of death in the United States and other countries, but what difference would it make? You might find that there are serious problems with those issues as well, but we need to compare apples with apples. Bike safety, traffic safety, and chemical storage can be debated on their own. The bottom line is that too many kids are killed by firearms every year. 3. Canadians are allowed to own guns, under stricter controls. Hunting is, and always has been, a popular pastime, but hunting is done with rifles and shotguns, not with concealed handguns. Handguns are strictly controlled in their purchase, possession, storage, transportation, and use. Canadians historically did not have the same access to guns as our neighbours to the south, mostly BECAUSE of the problems that were seen in the American West. Canada is a much younger country, and learned lessons by watching the growing pains as the west was developed. Right to Bear Arms was never entrenched in our constitution, and the handgun culture never really got started. I too wonder if it is too late to turn things back in the USA. I really hope it isn't, because there are way to many tragedies happening every day as a result of firearms, and we have learned from bitter experience that the Canadian problems of today are American problems of yesterday - we just take a while to catch up. This is one case where I really want it to stay south of the border.

Scatrat - no, I can't honestly say that I have been in the postions you, or many of the other people here have been in. What I am really saying is that the fact that your country has built this situation by writing in stone their rights to own, carry, and use firearms. If I lived there I might own one too, and that scares the hell out of me.

Michael - you have the most amazing talent for throwing things into a perspective that is realistic. Is that practiced, or just a God given talent?

Timmy's - who the hell has time to wait in line for 15 minutes to get a coffee? Starbucks - who the hell wants to support a Seatle bid to take over the entire world? I love coffee, but there are corner stores that have brilliant, fair-trade, wonderful coffee for less, with no waiting. Roll up the Rim is a ripoff, too

I think the thing that will control the government is the concept that the people need to really WANT to control firearms and let them know about it. That way it is the people who are in control - it is not a bleeding heart politician making the move, it is people who are fed up and not willing to take it any more. Government policy changes that are forced on you lead to additional government interference and erosion of rights. Changes that are forced by the populace are different, and the government would not dare to infringe further. People are often willing to give up freedoms in exchange for security - just look at what has happened in the States and other countries after 9-11. It doesn't mean rolling over and giving them all up. We have a very strong and comprehensive charter of rights in Canada, but we don't have the right to bear arms, especially concealed or sidearms. There haven't been, to my perception, any further erosions! It isn't a simple solution, and there is no magic pill that will solve everything. Like everything else, all you can do is hope to improve things a bit at a time

I don't think that you can put automobiles and guns into the same category. An automobile has a specific purpose - that is to transport people and goods from one place to another. A gun, too, has a specific purpose - it is designed to kill things and people. Stepping beyond semantics, don't people see that the culture that put so many firearms into the hands of its people is suffering as a result of it? The United States, with its "Right to Bear Arms" amendment, has an incredibly high violent crime rate, a disturbing level of gun-related crime, and a massive number of gun-related deaths - many more so than any other similar country with more stringent limits and controls. These levels are so high, in fact, that more and more people are buying guns to protect themselves from the guys with guns, and the vicious circle continues. I'm not sure if it is to the point that it can't be changed. Perhaps there are too many weapons out there, both legal and illegal, to put back the clock, even if there was a will to do so. Perhaps there is nothing wrong in the US that is related to guns. I think the statistics, regardless of how you use them, show differently. I wish you the best in solving the problems, because I can honestly say that I truly don't understand them, except as an outside foreign observer who has never owned, or even wanted to own, a gun.

Some interesting info: The rate of firearm deaths among kids under age 15 is almost 12 times higher in the United States than in 25 other industrialized countries combined. (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) American children are more at risk from firearms than the children of any other industrialized nation. In one year, firearms killed no children in Japan, 19 in Great Britain, 57 in Germany, 109 in France, 153 in Canada, and 5,285 in the United States. (Centers for Disease Control) I would conclude that there is either a very strong correlation between the number of guns and the number of children killed with guns, or the United States has a much higher percentage of criminals in its population, in order to achieve these statistics. Guns do not kill people, it is true - People with guns kill people. I am still at a loss to understand how getting more guns to more people is going to help this.

Also agreed - I have a rather strong opinion on this matter, and would love to debate it rationally. It would be inappropriate to do so at a time when the major issue is the grief and losses suffered in Virginia. When the time comes, I'll be here.

Oh boy - it IS accurate! I am an Office Gopher! My secretary tells me that all the time, so it must be right.

I laughed - something I needed today! Thanks, Scatrat - I won't even argue about any of them - you win! Take care,

It seems to me that Afghanistan is a few hours ahead of us - and that it is already April 1st there.....

Happy BD, RN - hope it is a wonderful one. I'm sure it will be, with the gift that Terri gave you, although I'm not sure where she got that picture of me!

I do get tired of intelligent forum topics being turned into personal vendettas. We all have our opinions, and should be allowed to speak those opinions, but there is a level beyond which the value of a thread disappears. I think this one is at that level now. The issue that was raised is one that is important to what we do, as well as who we are. It is TOO important to become another excuse for brawling. Can we get back to the real issue here please?

I can't add anything much to that - great post, Shayne. Now if we only take it to heart and DO something.....

EMS49393 My point was primarily the trend towards increased numbers of obese patients. I understand that there are going to be patients who are unable to control their weight due to medical conditions. I also understand that all people deserve compassion while being treated. My complaint is that there are more and more people who quite simply have made the decision that they will sit around and be inactive, while consuming copious amounts of fattening foods. That it is having an effect on what we do is undenyable. You yourself said that the majority of the patients you transport are overweight. This was not always so, and by the look of it, is only going to get worse. I don't buy the argument that they have no choice or do not know the effects of the Big Macs and the Tater Tots. I don't buy the "Poor me, I'm depressed!" excuse either. There is a huge amount of information made available to everyone in all media, and one would have to live in a cave not to have been exposed to it. It is time for people to take responsibility for their own health and wellness as it relates to their lifestyles. We as health care providers will continue to do the best we can in the most compassionate ways we can, but our ability to do the job well is being reduced because of the sheer number of overweight people we have to deal with.