DwayneEMTP

Excellent question. But instead of answering it straight away, let me ask you a couple of questions, ok? And researching them is fine if you need to. When we talk about the possible solutions to this question, which I believe contains the answer, as you do, what two systems are we talking about? If it is a AAA, what vessel are we talking about? Where does that vessel run? How is it attached in the body? Why would I believe that 'my partner 'may' have felt a pulse in it' may be the answer to your question? In no way am I trying to make you feel foolish with these questions, in fact, I love your question and believe it's really smart. But these are answers that you can find pretty easily (I checked) with Google, and I believe that you will look at future issues like this much differently if you choose to answer them. I look forward to your thoughts man..... Dwayne

8 years old? Holy shit...I've got bad news brother, that's a desktop that someone mistakenly sold you as a laptop. First sign...you shouldn't need a wheelbarrow to move your laptop... :-) How ever often you can post man, you're always worth the wait. Is it just me? Or is anyone else disappointed that EMT-22 wussed out so easily? That's not the Army that I know and love... Dwayne

Nah, no worries. Normally it's just ignorant nonsense, but when he starts to try increase the ignorance surrounding the issues of our children it's a little harder to take... He never goes far enough to get banned, and on rare occasions he actually has a valid opinion, but it appears that those times are likely accidental. Also, I got a different flavor from out Pharm Techs post (No offense brother, don't remember your screen name at the moment). I don't think that he's saying that the parents of autistic kids use it for an excuse to allow their kids to behave in any manner. It seemed to me that he was saying that people that choose to allow their kids to behave in any manner seek, and are often given, an ASD diagnosis for lack of a better option. I too believe this to be true, and also believe that it hurts the cause of autism research by muddying the waters. It's frustrating to me, and I'm willing to bet to you as well (as the way you present yourself and your ideas makes me believe that you are an awesome mom), that some of the worst parents I've been around are those of autistic yet, like firemen, we're supposed to pretend that they are all heros. It's such a cloudy subject that is just now beginning to see some organization, but unfortunately, as most often happens, where there is a popular disorder there is money for people and/or their kids with that disorder, so the great unwashed will do what they have to to get some of that money...and damn the kids in the process. I'm guessing, though of course can not speak for him, that those are the people he was referencing. Dwayne

I don't think that there is even any scientific evidence necessary to show that you're either and idiot, or a troll. Maybe both, but I doubt it. You can't have it both ways man... According to your theory...well, lets have a pop quiz Einstein...what is 0x1000%? Uhm...yeah, and we have more autistics than that, right? Just let it go Babe. Not sure if you've been here long enough to know about him. He's just here to get people's panties in a bunch. He'll make his silly arguments, refuse to answer any questions that requires logic and/or intelligent defense and stay just long enough to try and prove that Autism is a plaque created by 'whitey' to try and wipe out the black man, as 'he's' failed so miserably to do with AIDS. He's a racist and an idiot and it makes him hard to see folks get stirred up over his nonsense...just for fun lets try and cheat him out of this erection.. Dwayne

Hey Sarah, Welcome to the City. What is your BA going to be in? It's good to have you here! We have a lot of really smart, really strong lady providers here...the City would be much more shallow and hollow without them. I look forward to your thoughts... Dwayne

That is exactly what keep me here sometimes and keeps me posting. It just seems that if you're going to take then you ought to give too...I like that a lot man. Where at overseas? I look forward to your thoughts.. Dwayne

Hey Steph, Welcome. What is a paramedic intern? Are you in medic school now? If so, what kind of a program? And please don't break my heart already and tell me you just want to be a fireperson... My best advice here? Participate. Everyone here has something to learn, and we all have something to teach. Sometimes the most valuable thing to come out of a thread is additional practice in debate. But that's a good thing too in my opinion. Spend time in the scenario forums. Take your best shot trying to answer questions or asking for assessment information, but never google your questions/answers first. This is about developing your brain and you confidence, and both can be practiced well here. We've got about the average number of perv's here I'm guessing that will have more interest in flirting than learning, but I have a feeling that you can handle them fine. It's good to have you here. Often folks feel intimidated for not being as advanced as some, but I'll tell you what. Brave new folks are my favorite as they ask the questions, and have ideas that many haven't even considered for a really long time. Many are fresh out of college level A&P and man, my brain leaks that like Harley leaks oil..I always love a review. With a very few exceptions I've come here nearly every day for..hell, I can't see my joined date thingy..but a few days now, and it's truly the best resource ever. Some times it's complete and utter bullshit, but just consider those times the dues you pay for the times when it is absolutely magic. Good to have you girl... Dwayne

I'm up for the emt student of the quarter, or semester? To many strong folks showing up these days to pick one a year. As well, I think that there are many different ways to be strong, all could be rewarded.. Dwayne

Yeah, chicks can be bad that way... I doubt you'll have much trouble with it...Your ASA in Paramedic, that could be a little tougher though.. Dwayne

Herbie and Beiber back, finally, on the same day in the same thread? I smell something fishy here.... Welcome back guys..you've been missed! Dwayne

Ahhh...I forgot, they raised the age limit...they took it away from you again? Bastards...Another two years and you'll qualify again brother...stiff upper lip! Dwayne

I received my AAS in Emergency Medicine, and you know what? I don't think it's made a bit of difference. I've gotten way more work because of the people I've come to know here than I ever did because of my degree, and in some places the degree might hinder you, as it tends to show that you may be to smart to run 100 miles an hour, 100 hrs/wk and burn yourself out before someone may have to pay retirement on you. Those that do value a degree would love one in English, math, or anything science related I'm guessing as so much of the job is critical thinking and report writing. But without a doubt your thinking of getting a degree not tied to EMS is good...Most every paramedic that you'll talk to that has been doing this for a few days is looking for something to change to that will make them some money and allow them to be home like a normal person.. Dwayne

Great first post. When I took Basic it was for general knowledge as well, and now look at the shit I've gotten myself into. With an advanced degree and some life experience you may be bored in EMT class, but man, it sure is cool to think of someone like you entering EMS. Many of us entered later in life and I think that the vast majority of us have found that bringing life experience to the job instead of getting it enroute is a good thing. Welcome man..I hope you stay and participate.. Dwayne

Yeah, not a big fan of that advice in general as it tends to limit participation. You can only go so far by observing, as there are normally very few context hooks involved in your learning until you actively participate. I think a better plan is 'See one, do one, teach one.' The idea that being still, and being quiet is a good learning tool is pathologic all on it's own. We need to take a lesson from children, the most prolific learners in the world, at least until we train it out of them... If you don't choose to try and teach here, as well as learn, you experience will be truly 'shallow'...but I can see from the threads that you've posted in that despite your comment, it's not your nature to be a wall flower. Good to have you here man... Nice! Thanks for doing that... Dwayne

It's all about coping brother, and you CAN cope, if that is your fundamental worry. You mention it being difficult to dehumanize people. I can't speak for the others here, but on really shitty calls I have no issue with it at all. As I went further in medicine and got a little bit smarter, and slightly more sophisticated in my thinking I found that on really bad calls I often don't see people at all..At first, I just see a broken machine. I need X information to see what's going on, based on that information I believe that X, Y and Z systems are involved in whatever it is that is trying to steal my patients life, and my victory, from me. My little pea brain kinds of builds a picture of the systems and how they work together...a lot, and as was said by ENEMTP above you may not be able to get this now, like a video game. Very little if any emotion, no fear, only priorities so that I get to win. I guess that's how my brain copes, others likely do it differently. One of the best nurses I knew at the last place I worked would find a little cubby hole and cry for 10 minutes or so after every patient that died. She was rock solid when there was work to be done, but then she would take this little bit of time and deal with things the way she dealt with them. For all outward appearances she was mentally sound and appeared very well adjusted. Bottom line? You CAN do it. Will it be easy? Probably, yeah. If it's not? It's because you don't know what to do with it because your brain doesn't have those experiences to draw from. But after just a few calls it will..and you will do fine. You'll see. Dwayne

The problem I think, with this question, is that there isn't a clear correlation to my knowledge, my experiences to yours. Or my reactions to yours. We all had different mental and emotional toolboxes when were were first exposed to death. Some grew up like Snoop Dog, others like peewee Herman. Even then, I don't know that you can predict that Snoop is going to react more solidly or appropriately to early exposure to the many kinds of death that you will see. I just don't think it's really that intuitive. I've seen men, women and children shot/stabbed/burned/abused to death, some I found that way, others died after I left them, some in my care, and it's possible others even because of my care. Each one made me introspective, but I can't remember ever losing sleep over the dead. A few of my patients that lived have broken my heart and taken a few minutes to process... You will catch a little hell for using EMS to become a fireman, and if you really want to help people, you'll bail on that and become a medic/RN/doc...The movies look awesome in regards to burning buildings and crying babies, but the reality is different. But either way, if you can't hang from getting a little shit for wanting to be a hosemonkey, you won't likely have the backbone for EMS anyway... but I've got a feeling you can hang... Stick it out brother, participate here, and you'll be shocked at the difference between you and your classmates as you go through school... Dwayne

60s and 10s for the last several years. Not sure who makes them though and don't have access to them at the moment. I don't think that there is really a standard set. At the last place I worked I started locks on everyone that I started an IV on if I had the time as out drip sets didn't match the hospitals, but our locks did. Good luck.. Dwayne

Hey man, welcome. I think it's cool as hell to have pharm tech..maybe you'll bring a different perspective? Of course, we might not know that if you'd not been kind enough to mention it and put it in your profile... :-) Yeah, ok...I give up on that..but it sounded funny in my head... Dwayne

Yeah, job status is employed, or not, fire private, volly. There is just so much time spent arguing over silly shit when a little context would seem to go a long way. When a Basic asks why sugar levels change in an arrest then I have a decent idea what kind of information s/he may be looking for. A medic is likely to be looking in a different direction. You seem to feel that I'm looking for a dick measuring contest, and nothing could be further from the truth. It's meant to allow newer members, or any members I guess, to be able to identify with the experience and knowledge of others, or those without to be more easily identified and helped by those that do. I'm thinking that you didn't Google very hard, as it's not difficult to see that an AAS is Associated of Applied Science degree. It's nothing huge, but perhaps it will draw the interest of those that are considering going to a medic mill..it's what happened to me. I guess this is much more complicated than I expected. In my head it seemed pretty simple. A few words to describe to those that don't know us what our perspective is... Of course, you Squint with your super secret macho shit, I can see why you need anonymity. Me personally, I'm just an ol' medic and have no desire to hide from the opinions that I post here or elsewhere... Dwayne

Hey Hutsy, can you paraphrase the vid? I'm out in the Gulf and it would take me 4-5 hrs, if the internet is working, to download the vid before I could watch it..sounds interesting though.. Dwayne

No way babe, that you get left out! Just something in your tag line or whatever that description is on the left under out pictures so that people have an idea what context to take your post in. Nothing elaborate. I know how to take your posts because I've been reading them forever, though I don't remember what your relationship is to EMS..though I wish I did... Even just like Dfib, where it says EMT...that would be great.. Hey, and how do you not have a cert level? You're one of the smarter posters at the City! Dwayne

I splinted my first dislocated shoulder I think, just because I thought I was supposed to. Since then I've always allowed them to self splint, which seems to make them happiest. They'll move it to a place where it's most comfortable, then you can help support it with pillows if necessary, but usually that's all that's necessary.... The exception being if I need to snow them for pain, and I can't trust them to hold it a place where it won't be compromised in some way, but having to knock them down that far has been rare in my limited experience.. Of course I mean 'usually' in it's truest sense..nothing is for sure each time... Dwayne

I hear ya man, but you see what I mean, right? We waste a lot of time trying to figure out what someone knows when we could really know that with a glance... And you can put your occupation in there...just no pictures...no one wants to see a grown man naked... Dwayne

Unless your company is buying their own cheap razors, all of the razors I've seen with the defib equipment, even if they looked ordinary were pretty aggressive. You certainly can rip the hair off, and it may be the better way, but it's guaranteed to generate complaints from that patients family...'specially if it's their mom you're working on... :-) Dwayne

Hey all, Any chance that those of you that post regular, or plan to post regularly, or at all...That you can add your cert level and job status to your description? It would save a lot of "It sounds like you're a basic, so maybe this is what you're looking for..." or "If you're looking for paramedic level info, then this might be what you're saying.." Now, I know under the description that it's much more fun to put Tooth Fairy, or Gynecologist. But when there is already so much misunderstanding and loss of tone when presenting ideas in text it seems that there would be much less so if we had additional context to comments. Also, pasting from by tag line as I don't think that it can be said often enough... "I fully realize that you are just parroting this from other providers out there so don't take this personal. This "EMS is young" mantra is absolute rubbish. EMS WAS young in the 80's! Now EMS is a full grown adult that must be accountable for itself just like any other profession. Blaming corruption, ignorance, greed, and misdirection on the fact that the profession is "Only" 30yrs+ old is a crutch used by providers and management to continue a cycle of unaccountability and laziness." ~ Mobey" Dwayne