Lone Star

Since the U.S. Supreme Court has already ruled on these issues that he's complaining about, I highly doubt that the U.S. Senate, House of Representatives are going to even ATTEMPT to change them. The point still remains that if he dislikes the freedoms guaranteed by the U.S. constitution and the subsequent Bill of Rights, then he is free to leave this country which obviously has offended his sensibilities...

Last time I looked, I didn't see anything requiring a mental health check in order to attend college. This means that even stupid people can attend college.... You have rallied against at least the first and second amendments ....want to move on to the third and fourth? Are you going to do this with each and every one of them? If so, how about just cut to the chase and do them all at once? Since you seem to have such a huge problem with the U.S. constitution and it's Bill of Rights, may I suggest that you locate your nearest national borders and then use your freedom of choice to step across one of them?

The best way to help force that 'paradigm shift' is by taking all of the educational opportunities aavailable and still clamor for more...maybe by showing the initiative to become even better educated than they require will serve as a impetus for them to 'raise the bar' and stop catering to the 'lowest common denominator'....

Let us not forget the 'sin taxes' that target anyone who smokes, drinks or drives...maybe they should enact an 'Entertainment Tax' and target those hoity-toity folks that put on tuxedos and formal gowns to go to the theatre.....

Since the OP has an interest in attending an EMT-B class (a health care field! ), one would logically conclude that a 'health care specific course' like Anatomy & Physiology would be an obvious requirement. Since EMT-B is the very 'foundation' that your EMS education is built upon, again, the need for A&P at this level is a 'no brainer'... Additionally, how many people have started their careers in EMS, and then moved on to working in the hospitals and such as nurses, PA's and even Doctors? I find it ironic that there are many people who bristle about being referred to as 'ambulance drivers', yet do not advocate higher educational requirements. How can we expect to become recognized as true health care professionals if we do not stand united about increasing our educational requirements for EMS beyond the bare minimum standards that are in place today? Almost every RESPECTED healthcare provider profession requires an Associates Degree as the minimum requirements for employment, yet EMS still wants to hold their patient's lives in their hands with minimal education and a mere certification.... Don't you find it 'odd' that the following information is true? NAIL TECHNICIAN The Nail Technician program is a sequence of courses that prepares students for careers as Nail Technicians. The program emphasizes specialized training in safety, sanitation, state laws, rules and regulations, nail diseases and disorders, skin and nail care, and work ethics. The curriculum meets state licensing requirements of the State Board of Cosmetology. Program graduates receive a Technical Certificate of Credit in Nail Technology. 114 Admissions Requirements: Must be at least 16 years of age. No high school diploma or GED is required. Minimum test scores for regular admission: COMPASS: Reading – 49; Writing – 15; Pre-Algebra – 21 ASSET: Reading – 33; Writing – 31; Pre-Algebra – 32 NUMBER COURSE NAME CREDIT HOURS COS 100 Introduction to Cosmetology Theory (5) COS 112 Manicuring and Pedicuring (3) COS 117 Salon Management (4) COS 118 Nail Care I (7) COS 119 Nail Care II (9) TOTAL CREDIT HOURS (28) EMERGENCY MEDICAL TECHNICIAN Our mission is to provide quality training and education to our students. The field of EMS is one of excitement and constant change. As a graduate of our program, the student will be highly skilled and ready to meet the challenges presented in the pre-hospital environment. Admissions Requirements: Must be at least 18 years of age. A high school diploma or GED is required. Minimum test scores for regular admission: COMPASS: Reading – 70; Writing – 23; Pre-Algebra – 26 ASSET: Reading – 38; Writing – 35; Pre-Algebra – 35 Must be current on immunizations before clinical rotation begins EMT Basic Level The Basic EMT certification level has been reintroduced by the State Office of EMS to address primarily the needs of fire departments to meet NFPS requirements for the training of firefighters. Students who successfully complete the course will be eligible to take the National Registry Basic EMT Examination and receive certification at the basic level. NUMBER COURSE NAME CREDIT HOURS EMS 1101 Introduction to EMT Profession (4) EMS 1103 Patient Assessment for the EMT (2) EMS 1105 Airway Management for the EMT (2) EMS 1107 Medical & Behavioral Emergencies for the EMT (3) EMS 1109 Assessment & Management across the Lifespan for the EMT (2) EMS 1111 Trauma Emergencies & WMD Response (4) EMS 1113 Clinical Applications for the EMT (1) EMS 1115 Practical Applications for the EMT (2) TOTAL CREDIT HOURS (20) How can you expect to be considered a COMPETENT healthcare provider and QUALIFIED to treat life threatening injuries and conditions when your education is LESS than that required to take care of someone's nails? How can you be taken seriously as a 'health care professional' and assist with medications with such a MINIMAL education? * http://www.savannahtech.edu/assets/Catalog.pdf Pages 106/113 (Both courses listed above are for the 'Certificate Level)

Since you're able to explain the rationale behind the treatments, the pharmocodynamics of the drugs you administer, patient assessment and the pathophysiology of the MOI/NOI; maybe you could use that format for your essay. Start your paper off by describing the patient assessment process from start to finish, move into the pathophysiology of the mechanism of injury (MOI)/nature of illness (NOI). From there progress into the treatments given and the pharmocodynamics of the medications given.... Use the tone of the preceptor talking to the student, (kind of a "How To" narrative type essay).... Just a suggestion... As far as the writing class, does the academics of writing change between the first year and the last? I'm going to go out on a limb and think that the mechanics of academic writing is going to remain pretty much a constant thing....

You remember correctly, we HAVE gone more than a 'few rounds'. I'll go this far, and try to be more judicious when hitting the "-" button...

I’ve watched you and others come down on the hapless poster who has advocated against higher educational requirements with both feet and wearing cleats, (I've still got those marks on the back of my skull!). Just like anyone else who encourages the ‘EMS hobbyist’ gets whacked when they make similar statements because of the inanity of rallying against higher educational requirements, I see no reason to afford flaming a free pass for the same behavior. Additionally, weren’t you one of the first to mention that his posting style mimicked that of a present/past member? Obviously you’re not the only one who has come to the same conclusion. That being said, if it IS a previous/past member just looking for trouble, then they have been exposed to the lengthy debates on the benefits of increasing educational requirements. That aside, just because it espouses the ‘popular general opinion’ doesn’t mean it gets a pass on taking a hit when it is CLEARLY giving poor advice to a prospective student.

Based on the observation that there are few places (at least around here) that even offer an Associates Degree in Paramedicine, let alone a Bachelors or higher; one must be pragmatic about what the minimum educational requirements should be. Should there be greater educational requirements for entry level EMS? Without a doubt! Not only will it make the student more 'marketable', but it will also benefit the patients that the student will encounter and treat.

That poster ALSO said that a hetero couple engaged in the same behavior in front of his child would also recieve the same treatment. If you're going to reference a post, then it's a good idea to reference the entire statement, not just pick and choose parts of it that you can twist into being offensive. You have been treated no different than anyone else on this forum. Similar actions result in similar response. It appears that you're trying to twist what people say to justify everybody being against gays; unfortunately, you're doing a very poor job of it and are looking for trouble where none exists (at least on the forum). It's not that we've decided that gays and blacks are looking for racism, it's been PROVEN by posts such as yours with the whole theme of "nobody likes us, everybody hates us just because we're _________________ (insert group here)". Many of the people that are active in this particular thread accept people based on their character, and do not discriminate based on race, color, creed or sexual orientation. Those are NOT what makes a person a good or bad person. No one here has even HINTED that discrimination and racism doesn't exist for certain groups of people; but don't try to twist a person's response into something it was never intended to be!

Charles Manson, (who incidentally applied for a credit card while in jail under the name of Jesus Christ, and listed his profession as: Savior) Reverand Jim Jones Reverand Marshall Applewhite Reverand Harold Camping

You weren't given a 'negative' for being 'different'. You were given that rating because you EARNED it with your topics that are only meant to inflame, and your poor advice. It has absolutely NOTHING to do with your sexual orientation! As far as your JEMS article, you're not looking for a true cross-sectional sample group that represents the community at large, only those that are willing to support your premise (however flawed it may be). Those 'negatives' were given on the content and veracity of your posts, and nothing more!

You KNOW there's going to be a whole boat load of people who are extremely pissed off (not to mention broke as hell) today! And where is this 'Reverand' anyway? It's probably a good thing that it didn't happen; this was my first Rapture, and I had no idea what to wear!!

Denial is the first symptom. Just as the cardiac patient denies their symptoms by dismissing them as 'gas' or 'heartburn', the addict will deny their symptoms with statements like: 1) I don't have a problem with ____________, I only use it to 'unwind' or 'relax'... 2) I can quit any time I want to! 3) It's not like I NEED _________________ (insert substance here) Most, (if not all) rehabilitation/recovery programs will state that the first step to recovery is to admit that you DO have a 'problem'.

How do you propose we 'master what is already in our scope' if you can't even advocate taking Anatomy & Physiology classes at the EMT-B level? In order to be able to master the skills at the Paramedic level, one MUST have a solid foundation at the EMT-B level which SHOULD include (among other classes), Anatomy & Physiology! You're either FOR increased education, (which should include A&P), or you're AGAINST it... you cannot advocate higher educational requirements for 'some' but not 'all'...

I vehemently disagree with your statemtent! EMT-B is the basic foundation of EMS. It teaches the most basic life support techniques and practices. Not understanding HOW and WHY the body works like it does is akin to putting someone to work installing electrical outlets in new houses without any understanding of how electricty works, and the difference between AC and DC currents! Granted, as an EMT-B, there isn't a great deal that the EMT can actually do, but it WILL have an impact on WHY we do what we do in the field. Not all EMS systems relegate the EMT-B to being a driver who humps the gear for the Paramedic. Some systems will actually dispatch an EMT-B crew for 9-1-1 calls. Since this happens, it's imperative that the EMT-B be given all the tools possible to be able to be in a better position to keep their patient from dying enroute to the hospital. Additionally, being educated in Anatomy & Physiology will help the EMT-B better recognize when the patient's needs exceed the EMT-B's ability to manage the patient's illness/injuries; and therefore activate an ALS response sooner. Mimi, if I had my way about it, I would require EVERY EMT-B, EMT-I and EMT-P to have an Associates Degree AT MINIMUM, before being able to enter the field of EMS. My suggestion to you is to enroll at a reputable college and obtain at least an Associates Degree prior to trying to break into the EMS field. With the explosion of these 'patch mill schools', having an associates degree as an EMT-B will set you apart from the hordes of mediocre providers that these schools traditionally flood the market with! Additionally, having already obtained your Associates Degree will be of invaluable benefit as you move up the 'food chain' to Paramedic. I further reccommend that you not enter the field as an EMT-B in the first place, but hold out until you obtain your Associates Degree in Paramedicine. In no way am I bashing EMT-B's, (I was one for 12 years myself), but I also know first hand how limited they truly are! Yes, putting dreams and plans on hold while you get your degree is disappointing and frustrating to say the least, but by doing so; you will be able to provide better care for your patients that call you, which is what we should be doing in the first place!

When my cerebral aneurysm presented, one of the symptoms I had was vertigo. I don't know of any way to really 'quantify' how dizzy I was because I've never known anything other than 'dizzy'. To me, it would be similar to being married or pregnant; either you are or you're not...can't be 'a little bit married' or 'a little bit pregnant'. Even simplly lying on the cot, I was afraid that if I let go of it, it would sling me off and send me flying into the nearest solid object. In the back of my mind, I knew that was an impossibility, but it didn't change the fact that it felt like my entire world was spinning way too fast, and way out of control! I've been drunk enough to have had several bouts of 'bed spins', but this could be 'fixed' by simply dropping one foot to the floor (it gives a sense of reference, and works wonders to get the bed to quit spinning!)... In my case, there was nothing that helped mitigate what I was feeling, and I can tell you from personal experience that it's a terrifying feeling! If anyone had been able to even lessen the effects, I would have nominated them to be promoted to demi-god on the spot!

From what I've read, those of us that are 'left behind' are the ones that are condemned to Hell.....looks like I'm going to have LOTS of company!

If your statement were true, don't you think that making the test harder is a good thing? Medicine has made great strides even in the time that elapsed between my first EMT-B class and the last one. The proliferation of the 'patch mill schools' and 'teach to pass the NREMT only' concept came from nothing more than the idea to churn out as many mediocre providers as possible. These so called 'schools' charge just as much as the colleges do, but can churn out twice to three times as many 'students'. Most are neither educated, nor given any tools/skills other than to follow the cookbook methodology. Orientation IS the responsibility of the employer but its the STUDENT who has the responsibility to seek out the best education possible, and the SCHOOL has the responsibility to EDUCATE their students so that they can be 'oriented' into the field of EMS. Orientation is not education! Since I have taken the EMT-B course twice, I'm in a better position than you to know what went on in 'the old days', and therefore better qualified to compare and evaluate the curricula from 'back then' as compared to 'now days'; and believe it or not, there are some on this forum that are even more qualified to speak on this phenomenon than I am.... Remember, a quality education yields a quality clinical provider; and a 'patch mill school' that turns out warm bodies with a 'pass the NREMT only' training to fill uniforms is NOT 'quality education'! *Edited to correct spelling error, no contextual changes were made*

We can only hope that these 'patch mills' are denied accreditation and be driven from the field of EMS education. They seem to only focus on enough information to pass the test, as opposed to truly EDUCATING their students. Unfortunately, this is a very touchy subject. Those of us that have actually expended the effort to become truly educated have a hard time convincing those that only want to become 'trained' that there IS a difference between the two. Yes, a 'new tool IS great to have', but not only is it as good as the person operating it, it has it's inherent limitations. This is why we must become more proficient in evidence based medicine as opposed to treating what we see on the monitor. There are too many 'grey areas' in medicine, and just because your pulseoxymeter says that the patient has a SPO2 of 98% on room air, DOESN'T mean that they're in good shape. CO poisoning will also show a great SPO2 reading as well. Too bad for the patient that the oxygen attached to the hemoglobin can't be released at the cellular level where it is so desperately needed..... We're indoctrinated from EMT-B school on through Paramedic that the "You call, we haul" mentality is the ONLY way to do business, but yet we bitch about that 'stubbed toe last week' call at 0345. Not everyone however, wants to take the time or give the effort to be able to'treat and realease'...

Having personally taken the EMT-B course twice (fourteen years apart), I can honestly say that I've seen a decline in the information being presented to the students. There is far less emphasis placed on the medical knowledge of WHY we do the treatments and interventions that we do, as opposed to an emphasis on 'the book says'. In my opinion, this only produces 'cookbook providers' as opposed to CLINICIANS. Teaching 'pass the exam only' is how we got to this state in the first place... I've advocated higher educational standards for a while now, and I'm more convinced than ever that the students that are being turned out now are far less educated than us 'old dogs' were back in our days of EMT school. There's been amazing advances in medicine, but yet EMS still sticks to the old anecdotal 'Golden Hour/Platinum 10' rules that have been disproven time and time again. If EMS in general wants to be taken seriously as a 'profession', then those in positions of being able to change the educational policies and requirements NEED to realize that by hanging onto the 'old ways' is not only cheating the students out of beneficial knowledge and opportunities to practice evidence based medical techniques, but it's doing our patients a MAJOR disservice because we're still practicing 'medievil medicine'. (High blood pressure? You've got too much blood in your body, so lets let some out!)... It's been pointed out many times that EMS education caters to the 'lowest common denominator'; it's time that we start raising the 'educational bar' to establish a new 'higher level of lowest common denominator'! You won't see nursing programs accepting any 'low achiever' into their programs, you must meet certain academic standards to even apply...let alone be considered for admission. I'm presuming that medical school does that as well, so they don't turn out substandard doctors... Since other professions are able to prevent just any 'knuckle dragger' with a pulse from entering their programs, why should EMS continue this practice? Not only does EMS continue this deplorable practice, but gears its education toward them! In no way am I implying that ALL of the students successfully negotiating their way through the EMT courses are 'substandard', ther ARE some very stellar exceptions to the rule. Unfortunately, there are too many substandard providers that are being turned loose on the general public as well!

Don't punch the messenger just because it's not the response you expected. I have to agree here, it seems that since the response is basically reiterating what you've already done, you would be more encouraged rather than be offended by the response. There's nothing I can say about this that wouldn't sound like an echo. Although I have most of these classes already, some just aren't offered by the college I'm attending. This doesn't mean that I'm done learning (even if it IS 'on my own'). The NREMT approved curricula focuses too much on 'minimum hours required', and the 'patch mill schools' focus even less on it, (how else can you explain them being able to offer the same course in half the time of a college education? I'm talking Paramedic courses only...)

Either eay you go, don't settle for the diploma/certificate program...get your degree! I've noticed that the certificate/diploma courses have a primary focus on getting you to pass the NREMT/certifying board exams. Give yourself and your patients the best that you can by earning your degree. Granted, this inhibits the 'zero to hero' mentality that a lot of these 'patch mill' schools are pushing, but in the end; you and your patients will be better off for the extra work it takes to get your degree....

"My kind"? You realize that with those two little words, you have just proven yourself to be as much of a narrow minded BIGOT as you claim to be rallying against? It seems that not only have you turned your own brush on yourself, you've helped yourself to a THICK coat of the same paint you're slinging onto every heterosexual you're claiming is discriminating against you. You have also removed ANY 'credibility' that your story MIGHT have had....good job! Far be it to speak for 'My Kind'....but as far as I am concerned, you've got NOTHING left to say of any significance!

In 1995-97, Oakland, Wayne, Macomb and Genesee Counties required that MAST/PASG were 'required equipment'. In all my time in the field, I've never had an occasion where they were even placed on the patient; let alone inflated. The rumor at the time was that if the Docs in metro Detroit had a patient brought in with MAST/PASG inflated, they would 'deflate them' by stabbing/cutting them, thus rendering them useless. One of the joys of working in a large metro area like Detroit, we usually had several different 'destination options' depending on what we had and where we were, thereby making the <10 minute transport consideration a good reason not to even use them... Yeah, it's never a good idea to slap the dog for snoring; unless of course you're willing to go throughout life with one less hand...