DwayneEMTP

Manda, let me ask you something, in support of my previous post... Do any of these statements ring a bell with you? "Paramedics save lives, basics save paramedics." "BLS before ALS!" "Paramedics spend too much time screwing around on scene when what a patient really needs is a hospital!" And your sentiment, "Hell, just because a medic has memorized a few drugs doesn't mean they're better than me! They have to call a basic if they need to put on a bandaid!" "I know how to save lives, I don't need a bunch of college crap to teach me how to put on a non rebreather!" All of these are common statements heard here weekly, and sometimes daily, from basics trying to figure out a way to make themselves equal in stature to a paramedic. I'm hoping that you can see the ignorance of these statements, though your previous posts have me wondering if many of them can be far from showing up in your future posts. You've said we can't chase you off. I hope you are strong enough to prove that to be true. You've said that you won't back down from your statements. That's where you and I are different. I don't need to back down from mine. I'll simply admit that they're wrong, and thank you for showing me where I was in error, if you should happen to do so. The forums aren't about winning and losing (with few exceptions) they are about learning. If you should show me I'm wrong, thus making me smarter and stronger today than I was yesterday, that is a gift. Not an insult. I look forward to your responses as I believe you have a lot to offer here. Thanks for posting. Dwayne

Shoot, I have no desire to chase you off. In fact I often take time to try and help new folks learn the ropes. And you didn't simply express you're views, you stated facts, for example, "You'll never be a good medic without being a good basic first", without making any attempt to validate them. The word of a young lady, especially when putting forth the view of almost every petty, insecure, angry basic that walks through these doors, so to speak, isn't acceptable as 'evidence' that your point is valid. The reason I question you clraim to be 'almost a medic' is simply that once you've had some college biology combined with paramedic theory, you come to understand that basic assessment, for 98% of the basics is an oxymoron. You simply don't have the education to truly assess anything beyond the few simple things you're taught in class. When you've actually taken the steps needed to become a paramedic you will see the foolishness of those statements. Many of us had like ideas when we were new to this site, and EMS. You want a good laugh, look back at some of my first posts....they make me cringe now. The problem, for me, with your posts is that you didn't present them to be discussed. You marched in explaining why all of us limp weenie medics had our ideas because "we are afraid". You chose to take the line that we are all a bunch of ignorant hose draggers that have nothing more to offer than our knee jerk reaction to your obviously brilliant, perfect ideas. You chose to insult those here that are currently working in war zones. You insulted those that have made EMS their passion and career for their whole lives. And you did it all while putting forth ideas that you have no intelligent opinion on, or at least have shown, so far. You are simply parroting the same old crap that the tired, burned out, career basics have been spewing into your ears since you became a basic. They need reasons for failing and are making an attempt to give you all the reasons you need to fail as well. I'm sure I speak for many here when I say that I'd like you to stay. I like your spirit, it's your closed minded, superior, arrogant attitude that is bringing you some negative responses at the moment. Dwayne

Manda, I hope you'll have the gnads to stay around here for a while, because this place would be good for you. Unfortuanately know it all 23 year olds rarely if ever have the backbone to back-up the ridiculous statements that they sometimes make. You say that you're one test away from your medic. I'm calling you a liar. There is nothing in your post that shows any intelligence or education beyond a brand new basic. To claim that you became "strong" in assessments in basic class (Are you kidding me!!) and then became weaker after medic school is simply idiotic. Your statements make it clear that you know next to nothing about EMS, absolutely nothing about being a paramedic, and tend to believe everything you see in action films where military medicine is concerned. I would like to offer you some sincere, friendly advice, though there is almost know chance that you'll take it that way, as history teaches us. If you'd like some chance of being accepted here, or taken even slightly seriously anywhere that you may have spouted this nonsense, then simply retract it. Say something like "Oh my gosh. I was nervous about being new to the board, and new to EMS, so I just made up a bunch of crap to try and be impressive. I apologize for that, and would like to start over." Anything else is simply going to further illuminate your obvious position as a poser. Good luck to you. Dwayne

Exactly why LS no longer argues with me...he's finally realized his limitations.... (Note: for the uninitiated, LS and I both know I'm full of ka ka...)(Ok, not really, but don't tell him I said so...Shhhhhh) Dwayne

VCmedic, what I hear when you're talking is that you seem to feel that you 'should' go back to paramedicine. Many consider it a calling. Not the case for me. If I go back to work in an ambulance, then so be it. If I find a job that allows me to spend more money, and more time on my family, then I'm gone. There is no hero issue for me. I wanted a job that would allow me to move to help my son. Paramedicine was pitched to me as that job. If tomorrow I'm told that I can make double the money selling men's cologne at Macey's? I'm history. While I'm here, I have a near rabid drive to figure out how to do it to the best of my ability. But when it proves to be bad for my family....hero be damned. I have emotional and financial obligations at home. Don't get your head screwed up over the hero thing. Decide what fulfills you. For when you're fulfilled you'll be better for your wife and family, not before. Many will think that because you've learned how to save lives, (the few outcomes that you actually change) that that obligates you to continue in the field. Nonsense. If that's they're opinion then let them make the sacrifices you've made and take your place. You want to fulfill my idea of a hero? Support your family, find a job that allows you to go home whistling at the end of the day and love your kids and lady, and help you prepare to send your kids to college. Run some fluid into a trauma vic, pump meds into an arrest....lots of folks can do that and call themselves heros...but there are very few that will make a good, solid, happy, passionate family. Do that....and you'll be my hero...for what it's worth. Dwayne

Holy crap. That is the best post by a new member...possibly ever. An if it turns out to be right that is really going to tick me off! :wink: Great post. It makes perfect, simple sense to me. Dwayne

Thanks for the explanation. I understand the concept, but I'm still unclear on exhalation. Assuming that the ball created a complete obstruction, to exhalation as well as inhalation, then I have a hard time seeing enough exhalation to created adequate ventilation. I'm not at all doubting your accuracy, as the needle cric is taught, and seems to be in most protocols. It's just, as we have the ability to ventilate with higher pressure into the needle, creating enough pressure to overcome the size of the lumen, but I'm having a hard time imagining enough passive pressure through that size lumen to adequately exhast the CO2 rich lung contents. See what I mean? No problem getting O2 in, because we can pressurize that, but lots of trouble getting it out it would seem. Just a thought... Dwayne

Perhaps it's not for you. Shoot, no shame in that. But many here I believe will tell you that you began your career in the shittiest possible scenario. It sounds like you certainly got your trial by fire! Whether you return to the field or not, there is no shame in not wanting to whore yourself out for no money in a system that has proven to need serious help. We have some good providers here from L.A., yet they'll be the first to tell you that the system is even more broken than the rest of EMS. Take a breath, regroup, decide on your future, then refocus and move forward. You're young yet, you've got time. But know that your EMS career may not be worth fighting for...Know what I mean? It's a big world out there, full of jobs and careers that make EMS look silly by comparison. Dwayne

This has always confused me. You say he'd get plenty of air from a needle, but with the larynx blocked, thus no expiration, how is he going to get ANY ventilation? I've never been clear on why we were even taught this. I can see where protocols might indicate it, I just can't envision the situation where it would be indicated, yet allow positive ventilation. As spenac mentioned. At the very least it would seem you would need two needles if you wanted any chance of avoiding the creation of a pneumo in this situation, yet I'm having a difficult time seeing where even a 10g would do much good. Perhaps I just don't understand the physics involved... Dwayne

Prayers for him, and those that loved him from the Womacks in CO... Dwayne

No shame in bringing race, sex or religion into it as long as you've thought it through and it proves to be relevant. Like the "hit a woman" and "rape" threads...there are many biases, prejudices, stereotypes, misunderstanding, and a truck load of ignorance on these subjects. (EDIT: My purpose with the above sentence was to imply that I thought those were also good, though risky, dialogs, not that I thought that those that posted in them fell into the above categories.) If we avoid the dialog then hate and ignorance win the day. Open communication is currently being smothered by unspoken rules, and we should all find that unacceptable. Good for you for having the gnads to open that politically incorrect, and somewhat Pandora(ish) looking, door. My apologies for jumping in when I really have nothing contextually relevant to add to the thread... Dwayne

:oops: Well, hell, I've never claimed to be the brightest bulb on the tree... :wink:

When you hurt yourself peeping in someone's window, it's best if you just keep that to yourself.... Just sayin'.... Dwayne

I certainly see your point here. I don't see why taking two patients was an issue either, though I don't have the experience to know that it is in fact NOT and issue in other places. And I haven't seen your picture to tell the truth. I assume that most new folks posting without revealing their sex is a male, though I never really look at the pics of anyone until I get to know them a bit anyway. Thanks for the clarifications, I look forward to your future posts. Dwayne

I swear to God...I have an almost perfect record for posting something like, "I like you're posts, thanks for sharing!" with a n00bie and then changing threads to find them make a complete ass of themselves. Rogue, you sound to me like a very smart medic, how then can you not be smart enough to see that Vent made her points very clearly, yet you insist on changing them, and then arguing against the point you claim she made, but didn't? It's not uncommon that n00bs want to get into a penis measuring contest with vent. What's sad, is that she always wins, despite the fact that she doesn't have one! Her points were pretty clear to me. The fact that you're attempting to claim that she advocates cord visualization as the only necessary means of tube verification is ignorant and laughable. I can only guess that you are hoping the rest of us here are too stupid to understand this conversation and therefore not see it for what it is. If you choose that logic strategy here you will often, if not always be found lacking and exposed as a logically and intellectually weak. I really like your attitude about prehospital medicine. I believe that I have much to learn from you, and look forward to doing so in the future. It's just simply hard to respect your intelligence when you spin ideas in a way that allows you to be offended and agressive. On a different note. I notice that it's often a habit to simply used the quotes without adding the posters name. Can we change that? It's kind of a pain to see a quote and then have to research where it came from before being able to decide on it's contextual validity and responding. Have a great day all. Dwayne

Rogue medic, I've liked your posts so far, but you're looking for trouble when you suggest that it makes no difference who called the ambulance originally, or when. This topic has been thoroughly discussed here, and I think you'll find that in most places, picking and choosing your patients after you've been dispatched to a call can be catastrophic for your career. Plus, when saying something like, "...You guys are probably whining more than both of the patients did. If you can't deal with this there are exciting jobs in the fast food industry." It's a good idea to define "You guys." Do you mean those of us here at the City? Those in the article? Health care providers from Florida? There are some terribly smart and confident people here, and some of the smartest of that group are from Florida. I'm just trying to be neighborly and help you avoid misunderstandings in the future. You're posts so far have been very good for someone new to the community, so I hope you take this in the spirit of, even if rather clumbsy, an attempt to be helpful and not an attempt to snipe at you. Great to have you here! Dwayne

I'm guessing you're referring to me. I didn't mean to imply that we couldn't transport because of HIPAA, only that I hadn't, and still haven't I guess, thought of it from that direction. It wasn't my intention to suggest to those more or less educated than myself that I was stating a fact, only a "Hmmmmmm?" about the question. See what I mean? Dwayne

Edit. Parts redundant as JPINFV were posting at the same time. And it should not have because this really isn't an impaled object, unless I'm missing something substantial here. We don't remove an impaled object if possible because not only does it normally clearly define that path that the object took, (a visual aid for further treatment) but it can also allow internal bleeding that can't be controlled outside of surgery. Unless you felt that the boot was going to bleed to death, the fact that it was "impaled" really should not have been a consideration for leaving or removing that part in contact with the bones. Not trying to snipe at you FD5, buy again this is an absolute statement that shouldn't be absolute. If you've got good pulses distally, then protecting against infection and additional damage by not allowing the bone ends to retract is a good idea. If you lack pulses distally then it may in fact be necessary to reduce this fracture until you get them back...all else be damned. Just sayin'.... Dwayne

What reasons would they be? You've lost me here. Spenac isn't opposed to a little extra attention, all seem to be having a good time... I don't get your point. Dwayne

The one time I had to do this during clinicals we used the KED, but the medic rolled the sides backwards until there was a channel that they baby lay in. It was used more like a backboard, but it supported the sides of the child as well and the arms were left free. Baby was padded and taped into the KED, the KED was taped to the backboard, and then the backboard secured normally with straps to the cot. It appeared very secure to me... Dwayne

I didn't think of that. Though I as well have taken several unrelated patients that were all going to the same hospital. I'm not sure of the HIPAA issues here....(Edit: I meant unrelated to each other, but from the same MVC) And there weren't even any sick people there...he was just looking for snacks for the 90 mile drive! Dwayne

Gotcha FSB...I don't have any experience in B/B systems so I have a hard time getting there in my brain....Though I'm not sure that that would change this equation much. This from the guy that shredded 96 people (at least) for calling a ped seizure stable? :shock: In my little brain the ped head injury trumps. Should his folks have taken him to the ER on their own? Probably, but it depends on the injury. Heads bleed and freak folks out, but that doesn't mean it wasn't more than that. And we never really got the info about if the ambulance was even called, or if it just happened on the accident. Again, from the guy that promotes no immobilization without intelligent assessment? He needs assessment, you bet, but the odds are that he doesn't need anything more than that. Is he going to get more than that? Likely, because he needs his documentation for court. Perhaps your experience is showing the numbers work another way though. Am I saying that he has less right to care than the bleeding kid? It depends on assessments should this be/become a triage situation, as it would be if the ambulance wasn't in fact called, right? I've only had perhaps a dozen veh/ped calls. Three of them somewhat serious. In those three the drivers of the vehicles were pretty traumatized to have hit a pedestrian. They made no attempt to belittle the accident. (As the driver is doing here) In the others it was clear that we were simply transporting to create the docs the victims wanted to have available when they went to court. Unless you're making the argument that they should have ignored the kid because they were called to the accident, I don't really get where you're coming from.... Dwayne

This is a perfect example. I too have noticed the trend he mentions, and during my clinicals fire treated me like gold, so I've no ax to grind. How about if we validate this thread by beating Dust up with logic, based on this statement, instead of emotion? If you've found this not to be true, simply back your opinion up with well thought out facts...and as we don't have the advantage, at least I don't, of statistical analysis, then solid anecdotal evidence. See what I mean? "You make me feel yucky" is not acceptable. Show the flaw, and then do the best you can to show the solution.... Shoot...this is like they cryer in the dunk tank at the carnival!! He's purposely set himself up as a target!! He can talk smack, but if you hit the target he can't help but get wet. See what I mean? That's how we roll... Dwayne

Also, as I believe I've covered the subject sufficiently, and can't imagine that anyone could have anything more intelligent to add, commenting must obviously simply taking shots at me...So stop it! Dwayne Note: As often happens, we're having a little fun here. No offense intended to OP...this is just a natural part of most threads. Now back to our more productive postings.

Hell, obviously we're ONLY talking about you....get a clue. :wink: I for one know I've never offended anyone.....sheesh. Dwayne