DwayneEMTP

Yeah, it makes me livid that the headline is "paramedic accused" yet the first line of the story is, "A paramedic raped a woman..." Fucking asshats... I once fired a female employee who then, having stolen my Rolodex, called nearly everyone I knew and claimed that I'd raped her and her 14 year old daughter. My family, the owner of the buildings that I leased, friends, customers...it was a most exquisite nightmare. Babs prevented me from going to see the city attorney, as I wanted. At this time I worked 16-18 hrs per day and every hour was spent with either my half dozen employees or on private appts, so I was convinced that if I could get the city attorney to force her to name a time for the attacks that I could verify that I was somewhere else. Instead I followed Babs advice and went to an attorney. I said, "What do I do about this?" She said, "If she goes to the police, you do 15 years." I said, "No, what the fuck do I do??" She said, "15 years if she and her daughter are willing to swear to these stories. And there's nothing anyone can do about that." I said, "Lets go to the city attorney! I can prove that I couldn't have been anywhere near her/them if you'll just force her to pick a time!" She said, "When was that last time that you saw a city attorney get elected by proving someone innocent? Put yourself on his radar with this story and you're history." Anyway, the issues resolved it's self in an unusual, unexpected manner, but it was easily the most horrifying 6 months or so of my life. Accusations are not convictions, but as seen by the first several comments, too often they are considered one and the same. Unfortunately it makes no difference what the truth is now, as this medic is ruined in this town and any town nearby simply because a newspaper was willing to trade his life for the privilege of selling an extra 100 papers... As well, I'm not sure what constitutes rape any more. I don't believe that any type of vaginal penetration or violence is necessary. And when was the last time you've heard of a $25,000 bond for rape? The court felt him such a danger that they tasked him with $2,500 bucks to be released? They didn't want to keep him very badly it sounds like. Yeah....The cops are motivated for this to be big news, the paper is motivated for it to be big news, the girl has obvious legal motivations for this to be a big story....this story stinks If he's proved guilty? I'm guessing that most here don't need to hear my opinion of that. But until then...man...the horror for he and his family based on an unverified accusation is unthinkable to me... Dwayne

Hey, Ignite! Welcome to the City Brother... I too am impressed with your knowledge of the path you'd like to explore so early in life. And your first post certainly makes a great impression. Remember though, there's much more to be gained by participating than by watching. Use this venue to practice airing your opinions in front of those that will criticize and judge them, sometimes harshly, as that will be your daily life as a medic. Good to have you! I look forward to your thoughts.... Dwayne

Welcome to the City Seth... We have a whole stable to posters that start salivating every time a professed tv show, or professed movie, or professed author comes to visit...you'll have no lack of people filling your mailbox with offers.... Good luck man...I'd be interested to hear what what motivates your project. Dwayne

Just wishing you all the best my friend... :-) Dwayne

Holy shit, you seem to think that you should choose a career based on your interests and abilities instead of trying to bullshit people with your perceived heroism!! Ridiculous...you have no place in EMS. And you want to grow...stop now! You're embarrassing yourself!! :-) I saw a woman get hit by a taxi. I saw her go cartwheeling through the air. I ran to help, as I'd seen accidents before and no one seemed to want to step up to the plate. Both arms and legs had multiple breaks, her face we nearly unrecognizable. I had no idea what to do. So I did the only thing that I could think of. She was wearing a short skirt with no panties....so I pulled her skirt down for modesty. I took a basic course so that I wouldn't have to feel so helpless again. I remember so clear, my first week of basic, thinking, "Oh my God!! It never occurred to me to wonder if she was alive!! I did nothing because I didn't know what to do about all of the broken bones, but her LIFE didn't even occur to me!!" The anger, not at my ignorance, as that was to be expected, but at my complete lack of common sense when my heart was thumping, set the stage for everything else I've done that followed. During the course we had many medic instructors and for about half of them I thought, "Jesus Christ, what a dipshit! If he can do it, I know that I can do it." The other half I thought, "Holy shit...how cool is he? I would be willing to work really hard to be able to spend my days with competent, professional people like that.." And so, later, continued on to medic school. And now, thanks to the City, I get to spend my time with kind, intelligent professionals, but never have to get close enough to them so that they can see that I ended up being one of the dipshits...It's the best of both worlds.... :-) Dwayne

Thoughts for peace and healing for those that loved these victims both alive and dead. Unfortunately we've got another dead 21 year old driving an ambulance on the wrong side of the road... Lets mourn for our Lost brother, but lets also allow lessons to be learned. We need to accept that EMS is a game to be played by those mature enough to consider the consequences of every action. And before you all get angry because I'm bagging on a deceased child, who would like to bet that the investigation will show that this was a newer basic near the end of a really long transport, or a really long shift? Here's hoping that we can learn the lessons that are too common, but usually ignored, before we have to lose many more of our EMS family... Dwayne

Is that nerves I detect? There is not a snowballs chance in hell that you didn't pass...but it is kinda fun to see you worried. I, we, all know the feeling...good on both of you.. How did you find the test? Was it what you expected? Dwayne

Yeah...like Herbie said... It's to early, at a time when you're not in a good place yet, but you know what? Here we are, right? Be good Brother...work, think, read, get advice, and fuck all of the negative stuff. One foot in front of the other, one day at a time....sometimes you'll need to remember that that truly can solve nearly all of your problems... Good luck man... Dwayne

You will argue and agnonize over spanking/no spanking throughout his entire young life... I'm not telling you what to choose, only asking that you believe that each time that you hit your child that you understand that it comes from a failure of the parents... Despite what many believe, anger and violence is not necessary to raise kind, peaceful people... Step up now Brother...you're still a baby yourself..it's time that you look at the big picture..every minute, of every day... Dwayne

Good on you Eric...Your posts make it clear that EMS is going to be lucky to have you, much more so than you it.... I'd have bet a month's wages that you'd have no trouble...I'm really excited for you! I'd say 'welcome to the family' but your intelligence and attitude made you part of the family long before the NR validated it. Good on you Brother... Dwayne

Yeah man, you know her...But it's for her to tell you or not who she is... Sometimes chat is great depending on who's in there, other times just to friggin' dramatic. A couple of things to consider... First, leave when things get dramatic. Second, leave chat in the chatroom and don't bring it to the forums unless you can do so in a constructive manner. If you're regularly having issues in there then let it go man...do you really need more drama in your life? Dwayne

Ahhhh....now that I know you were involved it all comes clear! Was Toni there too?? Dwayne

Not being a bitch, just a little off int the ditch Brother...it happens to all of us. Just look back at my early posts and you'll see that I've done the same... You got a little sideways...well...welcome to EMS. It's not what you've done that's important, or where you've been, but where you want to be... Good on you for coming back..I truly look forward to your thoughts... Dwayne

Great post, but a big red flag here Babe.... You really really need to prepare your patient for the fact that an IV will hurt, but then you need to completely dehumanize them for a few seconds. If you hear them complain, or cry while you're starting an IV it will retard your ability to start it competently, or at least it will for most of us. Explain it to them, be honest, and then turn them off. You have enough to do without pretending that they're human in those few seconds... Explain the need, pic your site, then completely tune them out for a few seconds...it's truly you trying to stick a small tube into a large tube and occupying part of your mind with their comments won't help....Just a thought... Dwayne

Yeah, it's way past time...what a wiener.... And could you do us a favor and post a better pic? I hardly recognize you from that one! Of course I'm used to looking at you through one eye. Maybe you're wife thinks it's hot, cause she's used to looking up your nose.., but the rest of us? Not so much.... :-) If you want to really succeed here at the City you need to post a pic that shows that you're obviously virile, and hung, and macho...like....say...mine? Just some helpful advice.... Good to have you here Brother.... Dwayne

Yeah, man, chat is chat, forums are forums, with few exceptions. I'm not sure what's got you panties in a bunch, but a word to the wise? Rarely does anyone cry in the forums when they really plan to leave.... suck it up big guy...if you can't handle online stuff, then you need to rethink your motivators. Hang out. You've had some harsh opinions, but you want to see really harsh? Look at the idiotic shit I posted when I first got here.... Hang in there Brother...you'll do fine. This is where we practice to get thicker skin... Dwayne...

He came looking for tricks, not education. That's a bad thing. The test is simple, but despite that he's had a gazillion people telling him how horrible it is and what a massive fail rate there is. Both are bullshit. Though it's not wrapped in velvet I believe that going into the test without believing that it's a hundred times harder than it actually is is a good thing. He's got issues with spelling, grammar, punctuation, etc, etc...That is a bad thing. I suggested that he check his attitude as he was pissed that the test wasn't easier, not wishing that he was better. That is also a bad thing. A bunch of people, and yeah, some of us assholes, came to give him advice...gave him our time, yet as soon as he didn't get a bunch of rah rah bullshit answers then he couldn't be bothered any more. That's unprofessional, childish, and a bad thing. Any one of those things seriously retards his ability to excel in EMS. He's got them all in spades, right? Can you tell me how the kind thing is to hold his hand instead of adjusting his focus so that he can succeed? There are a million confident, intelligent basics vying for jobs every day. Can you tell me how convincing him that, though he's so timid that he can't stand to be criticized in a forum, that he really has a chance to compete and succeed in EMS is a good thing? Can you explain to me how his new mentor coming into the forums and calling those willing to tell him the truth instead of blow smoke up his ass "Assholes" is helping him to succeed? Good on you and CM for shedding some tears for him. I can't shed tears for everyone that's going to want to be in this field without working, and then fail. But I will bust my ass for anyone that wants to step up to the plate and try, whether the advice leading to success comes wrapped in kisses, or sandpaper. Dust, ak, Asys, and many others sent me from these forums with my ass dripping blood. But I never considered not coming back. Not because I felt that a noob deserved it, because I don't, but because after considering their advice it was obvious that they were right. My attitude sucked, my plan was bullshit, I cared not one whit about EMS, but about getting a job instead. Everything changed because I came back, and I promise you that not one single person that spent their time on me has any doubt how grateful that I am that they've done so. Do you have doubts about that Mike? The life blood of EMS is honest criticism...I want nothing more than for him to succeed. But that is NEVER going to happen in any respectable manner as long as he has mom and dad in the forums saying, "Pay no heed to those big meanies! They know not of what they speak! Here...have some coco...." Reread my post and do me a favor and quote here every dishonest or unkind thing that I said. The firetruck comment wasn't even a stretch. Two attempts and the only unit he even came close to is Operations? Who the hell does that sound like to you? Normally in a post like this I'll say something like, "Sorry if the tone sounds pissed, it's getting lost in the text." But not here...do I sound pissed off? Yeah man, I really am. To convince this kid that hiding, and whining, and having his hand held is a good, respectable, entry into EMS is bad. To try and convince all of the noobs in the forums that it's good, and acceptable, is, well, fucking unacceptable. Don't tell me he's not read this thread. Don't tell me he hides out of respect. If he's got the complete lack of balls to sit back and watch you to speak for him then I'm more than comfortable saying that he's no business in EMS. If he can't step up in a forum, then yeah, I want him nowhere near my family no matter how long you tutor him. There are some setting him up for failure here, but it's not those that told him he needs a gut check, and you know that's the truth Capt Kickass... Dwayne

Step away from the C'pn Morgan before posting! :-) Great thought, spelling and grammar? Well, you know.... Dwayne

Good on you man. Sorry to hear about your leg, the accident sounds like it was a real mess...Keep your chin up. Dwayne

Good on you Mike, but your post pretty much confirms my previous thoughts. Many people showed up to give him advice, but as expected from his looking for testing 'tricks', he couldn't be bothered to participate in the thread when the advice got more real world than 'tricky.' I'm not sure your motivation for running a private EMT course for a guy that can't be bothered with the NRCBT, or even worse, with simple professional courtesies....but, good luck man.... You wanna really help him? Then before you pay for his testing add 30 productive posts on the City to the curriculum. After all, professional conduct and intelligent communication are the cornerstones of good EMS, right? He's shown no ability nor interest in either so far. If you say he's a good guy, then I certainly believe you, but he really, really needs to step up to the plate here. You've got a big heart, but he needs to make some effort to stand on his own as well. You seem to be doing what you claim to hate in EMS schools, which is prepping him for the test while allowing him to continue to be just another poser. While I'm not sure how big of a favor that is for him, I know that it is a disservice to EMS. All comments, though maybe a bit harsh, meant with respect to both of you. Dwayne

This is so important. I used to make me batshit crazy in Afg, and I've also seen it on the street. But the only people that I've ever seen that truly believed this in themselves allowed themselves to do so because they failed to verify their treatments. It looks like X, this is the protocol for X, protocol delivered, so this patient is getting better and I'm a fucking rockstar!! But that's the hell with verifying your treatments...sometimes you find that it looks like X, you have a protocol for X, you deliver the elements of the protocol, and things go to shit because in all of your wisdom you "Knew' it was X so forgot to rule out Y, which is truly the issue, and contraindicated on nearly every point in the X protocol. I know...seems obvious right? But you know what I love about these threads is that a gazillion times I hear people say, "You should do this about that..." and I think, "Well, of course, that's obvious." But then I wonder, if I'd been asked first would I have gotten the answer so quickly and easily? Thanks for participating everyone...And thanks for not assuming that I may know, or remember what often seems to be common knowledge. Dwayne

But, back on topic.... I think it's ironic that this thread kind of makes the point that I was aiming for in my previous post. That the world is populated by a majority of kind, generous, loving people, with the occasional shithead thrown in for flavor. If you believe the media or religion you'll certainly believe that the world is evil, populated with mostly evil. If that's true them my experience is extraordinary as I've found the 95/5 percentage of good to bad people to seem to hold pretty steady no matter what country I've been in. So to answer the question, "What is wrong with people?" For the majority, very little outside of the battles that they fight with their personal demons. What is wrong with some people? Fuck knows which is why our mental institutions and prisons are overflowing. I'll choose to look for the good people as that's where the positive energy exists for me... Dwayne

Deleted posts can sometimes make the context of following posts confusing, like unexplained edits. That is why I, and I notice most, explain their edits, which I think is cool as hell. Anyone remember a member here, I can't remember who, that used to post something silly or inflammatory, would get a bunch of contrary responses, and then go back and edit their original posts to make it appear that they had the superior opinion and that those that followed were just idiots? Anyway, I have no idea who deleted the above mentioned posts but Bernhard's comments were, in my opinion, appropriate and well considered in their original context. Perhaps our malcontents will notice that my comments were deleted as well? My permission was not asked, nor necessary. How will you now make the argument that it's censorship targeted at you specifically? And for the record, as it evidently needs to be said more regularly, there is no right to free speech here. The City belongs to Admin and we enjoy it with his permission. He can leave it here or remove it on a whim should he choose. Please review such rights before making comments regarding censorship, free speech, and oppression. We enjoy a freedom of thought and speech here that I've not found on any other professional forum regardless of subject matter. Dwayne

Hey, when you have a personality like mine that naturally equates to medium aggressive anesthesia it seems a sin to waste it...least invasive to most invasive and all that.. Dwayne

Man, I thought that that was a really good post on things that too often get overlooked in EMS, particularly the points made on relating emotionally and intellectually to the patients. I think way to often we've all seen crews talk 'around' patients while doing the things that need to be done while allowing them to remain unnecessarily terrified. And I absolutely get the reason for the conversation with the Mongolian doctor as emotional care seems to play little if any part in their medical education. I've come to use patter like, "Let me tell you what I know right now, ok? You've got X injury or condition that I can see. There is nothing about that that scares me and I'm really comfortable taking care of you. I know that you're in pain, and I'm going to take care of that in the next few minutes, but before I do I have to make sure how, and what I can give you and make sure not to hurt you with it. But I promise you that I see it, and I don't like it, and I'm going to do all that I can to make it go away. Your vitals are in a good place, your color is good, you're thinking clearly, so your vital systems are all pretty happy, but I'll let you know if I think that that is changing in any way, ok? If you're thinking scary, evil thoughts about life and death I need you to stop that now...it makes both of our jobs harder and there's just not any good reason to believe that they belong in your head at this point..yadda, yadda, yadda" I seem to see a huge change in nearly every hinky patient when it seems that we are a team caring for them instead of them simply being a victim of a bunch of, "This is going to hurt but I need to do it." comments that cover the textbook necessity of 'informing the patient of treatments' but not the spirit of giving them the information if a form and tone that is emotionally nurturing for them. It's good to see you here MM! I'm not sure if I do you any favors by admitting that I know you as I'm not the best, nor most popular of those here, but I know that you have much to bring to the City if we can keep you interested. You've changed me as a medic for the better, (with the exception of trying to queer my vision with a candy bar), and I am truly excited to be able to share your thoughts here. Working as we do it is so difficult to stay even half way current, to exercise the mental muscles that are so rarely called into action when working remotely, but these forums, if you can ignore the occasional bullshit, are filled with smart, kind, dedicated professionals that will seldom, if ever let you be less today than you were yesterday if they can help it. That process is not always perfect, nor delicate, but it always has an amazing energy, and for me, that is worth it's weight in gold. Have a great day my friend..and thanks for taking the time to participate! Dwayne