Lone Star

Ahh, the things you find when you really aren't looking for them! Another story posted on the MSN website: [align=center:db9122597e]911 systems choking on non-emergency calls[/align:db9122597e] [align=center:db9122597e]Pranksters, clueless callers block lines for legitimate crises[/align:db9122597e] Which of these is an emergency? • A Subway sandwich shop in Florida leaves the mayo and mustard off a customer’s order. • A Texas man can’t get a cab. • A Tennessee man’s stepfather keeps nagging him to do the laundry. To hear callers to 911 emergency lines tell it, all are. Eddie Mitchell, a 911 dispatcher in Rancho Cordova, Calif., near Sacramento, likes to tell the story of the caller who demanded to know why the Transportation Department hadn’t mowed the grass. Another wanted to know how to use his cell phone. “We’ve had people call in asking us to bring them milk,” Mitchell said. Darrell DeBusk, a spokesman for the Knoxville, Tenn., police, can top that. “A few years ago. an individual called 911 wanting an officer to drive through McDonald’s and bring him a hamburger,” DeBusk said. Those calls may be funny, but in cities large and small, police officials and system administrators warn that 911 systems are being choked with clueless, frivolous, even prank, calls. In California, for example, as many as 45 percent of the more than 8 million cell phone calls to 911 each year are for non-emergencies, officials said; in Sacramento, it could be as high as 80 percent. Those calls block the lines for callers who really need urgent help. “You’ve got a true emergency with somebody out there — that there’s a shooting or something — then those officers are not able to respond to that emergency call, because they’re taking care” of callers who abuse 911 lines, said Jennifer Wilson, who has worked in the 911 center in Knox County, Tenn., for 16 years. We’re here for a purpose’ Officials say decades of education programs meant to emblazon the numbers 9, 1 and 1 in every American’s memory may have worked too well. Because police have to respond to almost every call in case it’s a real emergency, people have figured out that a quick call to 911 guarantees action. Like Reginald Peterson. Peterson ordered a Spicy Italian Sub at a Subway store in Jacksonville, Fla., last week. He ordered it with “the works.” To his mind, it didn’t come with the works. “He tasted his sandwich, and it didn’t have mayonnaise or mustard on it, so he became upset,” said Tammy Morris, a manager at the store. Witnesses inside the store said Peterson started screaming. Then he went outside to call 911, asking for help in having his sandwich made to his satisfaction. A short time later, he called again to complain that police still hadn’t shown up. So they did, and they arrested Peterson on charges of making false 911 calls. “It’s unbelievable what people get upset about now days,” Morris said. Or like Kevin Waits. Waits called a cab to his home in Waco, Texas. When it didn’t show up, he called 911. The dispatcher told him to call a taxi service. Waco police Officer Steve Anderson said Waits grew more and more frustrated as he couldn’t get a cab. So he called 911 again. And again. Eventually, he called 15 times. When police finally went to his apartment, they found a cab waiting for Waits — who didn’t have the $26 fare. Waits was charged with harassment and theft of service. Or like the unidentified 19-year-old man who called 911 in Knoxville because his stepfather wouldn’t stop nagging him to do the laundry or wash the dishes. According to the transcript of the call, the man told the operator: “Why can’t he be a grown man and do it hisself instead of whine about it and pick and pack and fight about it?” Wilson, the Knoxville dispatcher, said, “I hate to use the term ‘babysitter,’ but we’re here for a purpose, and that is not our purpose.” 27,000 prank calls to 911 It’s especially galling when the caller is someone who obviously should know better. Take Gabe Pacheco, a lieutenant with the fire and rescue squad in Monroe County, Fla. Pacheco was put on paid administrative leave last month after he called 911 to report a non-existent boating accident. The sheriff’s report said Pacheco wanted to cover up the fact that he was going to be late for a shift change. But the worst are the prank callers, who set out to tie up police and emergency resources for kicks. In February, police in Hayward, Calif., arrested a man and charged him with making more than 27,000 phony 911 calls to Hayward police and the California Highway Patrol. He would grunt and make other sounds described only as “bodily noises,” mutter in a disguised voice and repeatedly press beep tones from the touchpad. The caller, identified as John Triplette, 45, “completely overwhelmed our system,” said Desi Calzada, manager of the Hayward Communications Center. “He delayed the answering of other 911 calls because we were answering his.” According to police, Triplette said he made the calls “because it’s free.” Don Aaron, a spokesman for the Nashville Metro police, said it’s called “joyriding.” “It’s a joy call to 911,” Aaron said. “What they don’t understand is that the call takers at 911 take these calls very seriously. The police department takes them very seriously.” Some jurisdiction opt for penalties So seriously that authorities are moving to crack down. Last month, Ventura, Calif., began charging a per-incident fee for 911 calls. Residents can opt out of the charge by paying a recurring monthly fee, but if they don’t, every non-critical call to 911 will cost them $17.88. “We get a few kids that play on the phone,” said Patty Chase, communications supervisor for Kern County Dispatch. “We get a few people that ask us strange questions, like when it’s going to stop raining and things that we couldn’t possibly answer.” Some residents complained that the fee defeated the purpose of 911. “I can’t believe that,” said Salomon Olvera Jr. “It’s really shocking to me. 911 is supposed to be an emergency phone number.” Another opponent, James Courrangoiton, acknowledged that “they get a lot of crazy calls.” But, he said, “there’s got to be a better way of controlling that other than penalizing everybody.” Last month, California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed a law imposing a $50 fine for a second non-emergency 911 call. Penalties rise to $250 for the fourth call. “One warning is sufficient,” said Assemblyman John Benoit, R-Palm Desert, who sponsored the bill. “This is not an appropriate use of 911. Don’t do it again.” Link

Hmmmm..... No 'definative answer', but 'will support you in whatever you decide to do...' Did I call that 'sidestep' or what? ROFLMAO

Might be interesting to see how the State of New York sidesteps this issue....lol I would imagine that the only 'acceptable option' would be to have the bail bondsman ride in the cab with the driver. This way he's not really able to overhear the 'medical stuff' between provider and patient, but still able to come to your defense in case the patient gets out of line... There might be a closer look into what authority a bondsman actually has, (at least for the apprehension of the absconder), then compare that actual authority to that of a peace officer. For example, if both the peace officer and the bondsman are authorized to have what is known as 'direct arrest authority', then there should be no problems letting the bondsman accompany the patient as in the same capacity as a peace officer. If the bondsman has no more authority than, say a security officer/guard; then the closest they can get to going with the patient is to follow behind the unit as the patient is transported. Either that, or have the bondsman contact local law enforcement agency to see if the custody of the patient can be monitored by the law enforcement officer until the bondman can 'reclaim' the prisoner. I'm sure this is about as clear as mud right about now.......

I found this while cruising the MSN website: [align=center:78beef262e]Elderly men shouldn't get prostate screening[/align:78beef262e] [align=center:78beef262e]Federal panel recommends doctors stop routine procedure after age 75[/align:78beef262e] NEW YORK - Doctors should stop routine prostate cancer screening of men over age 75 because there is more evidence of harm than benefit, a federal task force advised on a hotly debated topic. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, which made the recommendation Monday, reported finding evidence that the benefits of treatment based on routine screening of this age group “are small to none.” However, treatment often causes “moderate-to-substantial harms,” including erectile dysfunction and bladder control and bowel problems, the task force said. The new guidance is the first update by the task force on prostate cancer screening since 2002. Its last report concluded there was insufficient evidence to recommend prostate screening for men of all ages. In recent years, there has been a growing debate about the value of the somewhat imprecise PSA blood test to detect cancer, as well as the value of treating most prostate cancers. A positive result from the test must be confirmed by a biopsy. And even then, there is no foolproof method of identifying aggressive tumors from slow-growing ones. A number of experts contend patients are being overtreated. Most major U.S. medical groups recommend doctors discuss the potential benefits and known harms of prostate screening with their patients and make individual decisions. And most agree such testing shouldn’t occur before age 50. The federal task force, which sets the nation’s primary care standards, reviewed past research in reaching its conclusion and “could not find adequate proof that early detection leads to fewer men dying of the disease,” task force chairman Dr. Ned Calonge of Denver said in a statement. Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in American men — about 220,000 cases will be diagnosed this year. It is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in men. But most tumors grow so slowly they never threaten lives. Earlier this year, a study found that older men who already had early-stage prostate cancer were not taking a big risk by not treating it right away. The vast majority were alive 10 years later without significantly worrying symptoms or had died of other causes. Prostate cancer treatments are tough, especially on older men. Some doctors instead recommend “watchful waiting” to monitor signs of the disease and treat only if they worsen, but smaller studies give conflicting views of the safety of that approach. The new guidelines from the Preventive Services Task Force were published in this month’s Annals of Internal Medicine. Link

Leave it to Richard to ask the 'cool questions'! Please keep us advised of their response? LS

If it weren't for EMT-B's doing all the 'shit work', the company you work for couldn't afford to pay you paragods like they do!

First off, I woud think that makes the Fire Service a DIFFERENT FIELD! We weren't discussing the Fire Service, we were discussing EMS ... I know, according to you, no one but a 'degreed medic' belongs in EMS.....maybe you should remember the fact that you started out as an EMT-B just like the rest of us 'low lifes', and no matter how much you pound your chest, you still put your boots on one at a time, just like anyone else! Just like I stated in an earlier post; CHECK THE ATTITUDE AT THE DOOR!

I would be true to myself, that way everyone that knew me would know that I stood for what was right and just. If I'm reading this correctly, if I give up my most valued relationship, we both have perfect health....? If this is the case, I would sacrifice my own happiness so that the one I loved would be able to live a long healthy life. Your question is: You possess a 'secret' that will surely hurt someone very close to you. You were sworn to secrecy by someone equally important to you. What do you do, and why?

NO ONE in here would do something like that......would they?

I didn't have to list it,...I didn't list any of the 'other initials' behind my name either!

You forgot the most important title: King Taxi Driver!

I hate to say it, but there are times that one of those 'send everyone in the room scrambling for cover, disintigrate the wall from under the paint job' fats can be SOOO 'satisfying'.....so it would really be a tough call.... I think I would have to choose the 'melt the paint' option.....nothing quite like 'ripping one off' at 35,000 feet and watching the oxygen masks fall from the ceiling!!! If you had to choose, would it be: a) Be a 'shallow, narrow minded person' with many friends that are just like you... OR Be an 'open minded person that is more accepting/forgiving' with a select few friends just like you?

Well said Ruffles! I've never been one to feel the need to put a ton of letters after my name, and 'impress' anyone. I know what I've been educated to do, I try to work within the protocols of that given field, and am always looking to further educate myself, so that I can be the best that I can be. At the risk of pissing off a few people on here, it is my contention that if one is 'patch motivated' or needs the 'flashy things' to impress people; may I suggest that you get involved in the Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts or some 'Happy Sam' organization that collects these 'brag vest patches'! How many times have we seen the 'old school' bikers...bebopping around on their choppers with the 'ape hanger' handle bars...and their vests with patches and pins covering every square centimeter of material, and simply rolled our eyes? (This patch is from a poker run in Albuquerque , this pin is from one in East Pigeon Asshole, TN [My appologies to the citizens of East Pigeon Asshole, TN]) Why, as a profession, should we subscribe to that same mentality? Have we not progressed past the "Ooh! Shiny/flashy thinggies!!" mentality? I like any one else am guilty of wanting that medical chopper pin....I've got pins from the AHA, I've got the Fire/Rescue tie tac pins, and at least one caduceus. But unlike alot of my peers, I don't have them pinned to every square inch of the copy of my license clipped to my uniform somewhere. While some medical control boards require that I clip not only my license to my uniform, but a special card that allows me to practice my skills in that county/township/or area...I only have on my uniforms the things that the company REQUIRES I have. What I think is funny is watching these paragods we find on sites like this get so stressed out that their heads nearly explode when you 'remind them' that they ARE an EMT-P! The bottom line remains the same: We are SUPPOSED to be here for the well-being of the patient, not to stroke our own ego in public! There are different levels of licensure/certification within the EMS system for a reason, and all levels should (in my opinion) stop bashing those levels that are less educated, and all work together for the patient! LEAVE THE EGO AT THE DOOR!

Is Michigan the only state that has discontinued using the Venturi mask?

One consideration that we have to factor in, especially out in the field is this: Are we actually using 100% oxygen in our portables, or are we actually delivering nothing more than compressed atmosphere? In Michigan, the color coding for the receptacles for 'pure oxygen' is yellow, and the receptacles for 'compressed atmosphere' is green. Since our portable tanks are color coded in green, wouldn't the same color coding apply as well? I know that the service I worked for in Detroit would fill their own portable tanks from a 'cascade system' (which we also used for the fire department), and the 'supply tanks' were refilled from a local welding supply..... I know that in MI, to give 'pure oxygen' (which I'm presuming is what they're referring to when they reference 100% oxygen), required a doctor's order, but the green tanks (which as I've stated before contained nothing more than 21% compressed atmosphere), we could administer PRN.

Happy birthday, Mike! Have a 'tasty adult beverage' on Me!

I just read that story on the MSN website. My thoughts are this: Whoever removed Obama's note from the wall.....shame on you! The news services that printed the story.....shame on you too! I don't care that Mr. Obama left a prayer in the wall in Jerusalem, that is between him and whatever 'higher power' he believes in. For the news services to blast it around the world for everybody and their brother to see was, in MY opinion, irresponsible and unnecessary. We as a society have become so 'hungry' for the actions of 'celebrities', (both public and private), that we've turned into a society of gossips; and I for one think it's a poor reflection on ourselves.

CH, Keep your head down, and your knees bent....it makes for a smaller target! Be safe, and come home in one piece! AK, I take my hat off to you with that somedic shot! It was a good 'shot' and I'm jealous as hell, because I didn't think of it first! To all the people in the worlds 'sand box'.....Be safe and have fun....and keep in touch!

Either that, or you're going to end up changing your name to 'nun'....aint gonna get nun, aint gonna see 'nun' cant touch 'nun'.....you get the idea.....

If patient care isn't enough, then they should get the hell out of the medical field!

Chalk one up for the guys!!

Having had at least 'some training' in martial arts, I would have to say that this MMA style of fighting, whether it's called a 'sport' or not, flies in the face of the teachings I have recieved. Granted, there are many 'fighting styles' throughout the world, the martial arts contan a very large element of honor and respect. This reminds me more of the savate style of fighting, than the disciplined defense style of martial arts.

I once saw a first aid book that listed one of the treatments for snake bite was to "rape the victom for shock"..... yeah, I'm thinkin that would just about do it.......

I guess that takes 'educational television' to a new level!

I found this today, as I was surfing MSN's website to catch up on current events: [align=center:02aea14150]Burned remains ID’d as man in police standoff [/align:02aea14150] [align=center:02aea14150]Mark Knobbe committed suicide by shooting himself in the head [/align:02aea14150] MAPLEWOOD, Mo. - The medical examiner in Missouri's St. Louis County has identified charred remains found at a burned house where a firefighter was killed as the body of the homeowner. Dr. Mary Case said 52-year-old Mark Knobbe committed suicide by shooting himself in the head at his home in the St. Louis suburb of Maplewood. A Maplewood firefighter was killed by gunfire Monday outside Knobbe's house when fire crews went to extinguish a burning pickup truck. Two police officers were wounded. Knobbe's body was identified Wednesday with the help of dental records.