Lone Star

Where I live in Michigan, there is a Paramedics division of the Sheriff's Department. They respond to all 'Tier 1' calls. (Cardiac, pulmonary, and are around if an ALS intercept is needed and a medic unit from your company isn't close enough). Unlike some of the people that regularly post here, I really don't have a problem with combining EMS with other professional positions (ie: Fire/medic or Deputy/medic) I think the cross training and overlapping of services provide better service to the general public, which is what we're here for! Good luck in your quest!

I only did it because they said it couldn't be done!

You know guys, we're always hearing about how women have to endure their periods, bloating....cramps....labor ...delivery.....and how us men have no idea what REAL PAIN is all about! In order to dispel this 'myth', let me inform you ladies that us men (for the most part) are exposed to severe and excrutiating genital pain at a very tender age....like 3! (I'll bet you were thinking I was going to mention even sooner!) When we're just tall enough to just clear the cold porcelain rim of the commode.....and invariably, the seat will fall down....(them little 'footy' things on the bottom of the seat, if they make direct contact, will dent our most prized possession for life!) While sitting at my mothers house for a family gathering, My 3 year old nephew went trucking down the hallway to the privy, and he was so pleased that he was goin to the 'big peoples potty' all by him self...... Moments later, I hear a blood curdling scream...... Being the closest adult, I went busting ass down the hallway, and kick the door to the bathroom open, only to find my nephew standing there holding himself with great big tears rolling down his face......(I felt so bad for him that I had flashbacks to that very same event) Before I could say a word, he looked at me and said the most frightening thing I'm sure he'll ever be able to say to me...... 'Kiss it!', he whimpered. Boy...I think there's some things you REALLY need to discuss with your mother!

What I said was, is that the National Registry is a set of standards that all participating states agree on must be met in order to license in their state. I realize that EMT standards are set by DOT, and then by each individual state. It was not until 1965 that the direction of EMS throughout the United States had the potential to improve. A publication of the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) titled “Accidental Death and Disability: the Neglected Diseases of Modern Society.” was released and began to receive attention. That paper reported that in 1965, 52 million accidental injuries killed 107,000 Americans, temporarily disabled more than 10 million and permanently impaired 400,000 more at a cost of approximately $18 billion. Accidental injury is “the neglected epidemic of modern society” and “the nation’s most important environmental health problem,” the paper concluded. The NAS recommended several solutions, including the establishment of standards for ambulance design and construction, emergency medical equipment and supplies, and training and supervision of ambulance personnel. Congress responded to the NAS paper by enacting the National Highway Safety Act of 1966, which mandated the newly formed Department of Transportation (DOT) to establish minimum standards for the provision of care for accident victims. It also empowered DOT to penalize states up to 10% of their federal highway funds if they did not comply with the standards. http://www.wisconsinems.com/history.htm As I said in an earlier post, while there are differences in things like time spent on topic, atmosphere, etc.....the end results are the same....they must pass the state exams, or they cannot go forth and practice. Just because someone sits their behind in a classroom on a college campus, doesn't insure that they are getting more of an education than the non collegiate medic who is in a classroom on a hospital campus. In both environments you'll get your good students, you'll have your class clowns and you'll get those that should just walk away and never return. If one were to actually sit down and start trimming down a college degree of all its 'extras' and unnecessary classes.....just how different would the class structure REALLY be? And as far as the 'well rounded medic' comes from colleges......consider this: If it takes a college education to make a person 'well rounded' or 'well read' or any of the other 'wells' that are considered in good breeding; then maybe that person needs to GET A LIFE! Being 'well rounded' means that you have experienced alot of different things that life is about. Look back to your school chums, and you'll see what I mean. - The 'eggheads' only were into text books.....they didn't ride bikes, play sports etc..... - The 'stoners' were just that..too stoned to do ANYTHING - The 'jocks' lived, breathed, and ate sports; hoping for that sports scolarship and a ticket to the pro's. (none of which happened, so he's now sellling used cars because he didnt pay attention in class) Well, these are some of MY thoughts, but I'd better shut up now, before someone accuses me of trying to turn this into a blog entry!

What I said was that neither the patient, nor the situation that the collegiate medic finds themselves in really cares whether you end a sentence on your PCR with a preposition, nor does a minor in Liberal Arts apply to the field of paramedicine. The doctors, nor the patients family really care whether you've studied political science or have read the entire collection of Longfellow, and can discuss them in depth. I'm saying that the cirriculum of paramedicine is the same; (not including all the 'prerequisite classes and extraneous bullshit classes that people take for the 'easy credits') . Those that apply directly to the field of paramedicine, will be the same in both educational environments. They're not teaching the collegiate medic any 'secret stuff' only available through a college classroom. That being said, the same requirements set forth by the state must be met in both classrooms. The national Registry only sets uniform standards between the states that recognize the NR training standards. These standards are set down, so that licensing reciprosity is easier, and the states that require the NR standards testing more readily recognize the credentials of those EMS personnel that have been educated in other states. I realize that the NR standards are not the 'end all' of training, nor are they the 'golden rules', these are set forth by the individual states.

I didn't realize that there were these 'medic mills' out there. Yeah, I can see where that much information crammed into your skull in 90 days would make a 'cook book medic'. I've been looking into a hospital based course that would take between 14-18 months to complete. Unlike the AAS medic, I wouldn't have all the 'extra' courses (prerequisites) to get in the way of concentrating on the sole reason I was in that class. To become a COMPETENT medic.

I'm not one to knock education, in fact, I'm a big fan of it. I guess you could say Im a big fan of RELEVANT education. Here's my question: Just what does the 'degreed' medic know that the hospital trained medic doesn't? Both had to pass the same testing for the state and National Registry..... Which means that they both have to have the same knowledge base to draw from..... Could it be that the collegiate medic has nothing better to do with their time? Could it be that the non-collegiate medic got the same 'relevant' education as the collegiate without having to waste time taking courses that have NOTHING to do with paramedicine? Could it be that the non collegiate medic actually understands that the minor in 'music appreciation' or 'liberal arts' (both taken at college for that 'easy credit' needed to 'round out the curriculum'), is not going to affect the outcome of of the scene they're on at 3 a.m.; How is a 47 page dissertation on the shared foot fetishes of William Shakespeare and Geoffrey Chaucer (done for 'Human Sexuality 101) going to give me a 'competetive edge' when marketing my skills to the company that can pay the most? Dust, you keep making reference to these '90 day medics', but I've yet to see one that could actually pull off a medic class in 90 days. (Would that be possible even at 8 hours a day, Monday through Friday?) In Michigan, the standard hospital based medic program is anywhere between 15 and 18 months.

When I only make $8.00/hr to fight a fire ( and only get paid when I get toned out), tell Me again about the 'ridiculous amount of money' I'm making! The best year I've had fighting fire (paywise) was $8,000.00. Thats including 19+ hour fires in there as well.

Now don't you feel better, since you got that off your chest? ROFLMAO Maybe we could get the Readers Digest Condensed Version, ... but I don't think I'd start looking for the Cliffs Notes on that any time soon! Now you've gone and done it! It's all over but the cryin' now! That may be true Peg, but those kinds of 'confessions' are probably what fantasies are made of! :twisted:

somedic, How can you sit in judgement of others when you have committed the 'crime' yourself? Are you always this hypocritical? Since you seemed to have had so much to say about that firefighter's motives for leading others to believe he was military Special Ops, please explain to the class what YOUR motives for doing the same thing are! I'm sure the whole class here would love to hear your 'explanation'! Having had the balls to serve my country, I feel that you owe not only ME an explanation and apology, but EVERY service member (past and present) that is on this forum! Hell, EVERY service member, past and present deserves an apology, whether they read this forum or not! There is no dishonor in not having served in a combat unit, it happens every day. There IS however, dishonor in leading people to believe that you HAVE served in a combat unit, and even further dishonor in hypocracy! Speaking only for myself, I'm eagerly awaiting your response to these posts!

I've heard that statement worded slightly different: The better it feels to say it, is directly proportional to the probability that it was the wrong thing to say.

I will personally admit, that when it comes to a patient needing ALS, I don't have the skills to perform that service. BUT...I'm competent enough to know when a patients condition warrants more than I am able to give them, and react accordingly. While poor education IS a factor in this equation, let's not rule out the individual behaviors as well. First, you have the EMT-B thinking they're the next thing smoking in the medical field (can't tell me what to do, I'm an EMT and I know it all!)....then you have the CONSTANT bashing of the EMT, where they feel the NEED to have to PROVE that they are a competent health care provider for their scope of practice. Secondly, let's not forget about those that are only in the class to get a 'title'. These are the people who's favorite expression is " Well, the book says....." There's alot of 'generalizations' being thrown around on these forums, while those that are actually DEDICATED to patient care are knocked around with those just hunting for a new way to be 'glorified' by the general public.

Q. What does EMT stand for? A. Excecutes Meddling Twits!

In my county, a medic (whether private carrier or one from the Sheriff’s Department) is automatically dispatched to ALL 'Tier 1) calls. These include cardiac, dificulty breathing, GSW, etc. Working urban EMS, there's a better chance of getting ALS (either on scene or intercept) should the need arise. In all the cardio calls I've worked with the Sheriff's Department medics, usually, I've only gotten the assessment done when they arrive. (they don't waste much time getting on scene). After this point, the medic usually takes over, and the attending EMT usually gets relegated to drive the LALS unit to the hospital behind the rig.

I'm actually in a similar type situation.... When I worked EMS in Detroit, the company that I worked for put me in a position to have to choose whether: A.) I followed company policy and risk my license for abandonment (to keep the 'client' happy.... B.) I followed state protocol, offending the client (a run down ECF) (ECF = Extended Care Facility), and get fired. I made the only obvious choice that I could see, and got fired. When I filed a protest, the company supported the firing (looking back, what did I really expect to happen?) Now that I've filed the protest and lost, that company will not ever hire me again. Didn't matter that I was working out of stations that no one wanted (constantly had problems staffing certain stations because of the locations). Didn't matter that I was putting in on average anywhere from 20-40+ hours in overtime a week) (The last check I had when I went down with my aneurysm, was for 80 hours 'regular time' and 120 hours overtime in a two week period) Since the company mentioned above will not re-hire me, I cannot seem to get a break in any other company that I've applied to. I don't bash the other company in interviews, I don't go into alot of detail over the situation...I simply state that there was a disagreement over which was more important....company policy or state protocol. I'm good at what I do, and think that I'm a huge addition to any company, but I have to find a way to get past the stigma of getting terminated by this other company. Until I do, I can pretty much hang up my license and go back to working the temp companies till the economy in my area dries up completely.

A rescuer is of no use if they themselves need to be rescued!

12. Even though we're getting a divorce, I want to be completely fair, you can keep the house, the car and anything else you want. I only want what I came into the marriage with.

Even as an EMT-B, I have to know what effect the drugs I can assist in administering will do. I have to know what desirable results I can hope to achieve by allowing the administration of these medications. Furthermore, I need to be able to react to the situation if the desired results are not achieved. The difference between education and trained regurgitation of fact has been clearly defined. Any half wit monkey with the IQ of a broken brick can regurgitate fact, and pass a state administered test. It is the truly EDUCATED individual that can state the objectives of any treatment given, and be able to justify that treatment with logical progression of thought. Just because 'the book says' is NOT a justification of treatment, and can ultimately lead to the loss of licensure as well as possible criminal and civil penalties. The EDUCATED EMT, regardless of licensure level, will take the time to know the effects and desired results of treatments, any and all protocols that they must abide by (including state and local protocols). If in the event that the aforementioned EMT (again, regardless of licensure level) cannot be 'bothered' to learn these things, the first thing they should do in a logical progression, is get out of the field, surrender their license and NEVER attempt to treat another patient. State and local protocols were put in place for a reason! They not only define the scope of practice for each license level, they're there to provide the 'rules' in which we must adhere to, in order to provide a comprehensive level of medical intervention in the pre-hospital setting. I can't think of a single instance that some Medical Control (Medical Command) doctor just made up some protocol off the cuff, just to interfere with the field crews, or just to give them 'something else to read, that contains useless information'. It is your RESPONSIBILITY as a licensed health care provider (regardless of licensure level) to KNOW these protocols inside and out! You'll notice I didn't use the word 'professional' in this statement. The dedicated professional wouldn't dream of persuing such an inane process of thought! If, in the event you're called into court, you have to be able to JUSTIFY your actions, or suffer very dire penalties!

Heres a prime example of teen drinking and how 'responsible' they are: [align=center:8bfc498e4a] http://www.break.com/index/breaking_bottle_over_head.html[/align:8bfc498e4a] I'm thinking that's a GOOD reason to leave the drinking age right where it is!

Heres a prime example of teen drinking and how 'responsible' they are: [align=center:917db61fe4] www.break.com/index/breaking_bottle_over_head.html[/align:917db61fe4] I'm thinking that's a GOOD reason to leave the drinking age right where it is!

If men wrote advice columns..... Q: My husband wants a threesome with my best friend and me. A: Obviously your husband cannot get enough of you! Knowing that there is only one of you he can only settle for the next best thing, your best friend. Far from being an issue, this can only bring you closer together. Why not get some of your old college roommates involved, too? If you are still apprehensive, maybe you should let him be with your best friend without you. If you're still not sure then just perform oral sex on him and cook him a nice meal while you think about it. Q: My husband continually asks me to perform oral sex on him. A: Do it. Semen can help you lose weight and gives a great glow to your skin. Interestingly, men know this. His offer to allow you to perform oral sex on him is totally selfless. This shows he loves you. The best thing to do is thank him be performing it at least twice a day, and then cook him a nice meal. Q: My husband has too many nights out with the boys. A: This is perfectly natural behavior and it should be encouraged. The man is a hunter and he needs to prove his prowess with other men. A night out chasing young single girls is a great stress reliever and can foster a more peaceful and relaxing home. Remember, nothing can rekindle your relationship better than the man being away for a day or two (it is a great time to clean the house, too!). Just look at how emotional and happy he is when he returns to his stable home. The best thing to do when he returns home is for you and your best friend to perform oral sex on him. Then cook him a nice meal. Q: My husband doesn't know where my clitoris is. A: Your clitoris is of no concern to your husband. If you must mess with it, do it in your own time or ask your best friend to help. You may wish to videotape yourself while doing this, and present it to your husband as a birthday gift. To ease your selfish guilt, perform oral sex on him and cook him a delicious meal. Q: My husband is uninterested in foreplay. A: You are a bad person for bringing it up and should seek sensitivity training. Foreplay to man is very stressful and time consuming. Sex should be available to your husband on demand with no pesky requests for foreplay. What this means is that you do not love your man as much as you should. He should never have to work to get you in the mood. Stop being so selfish! Perhaps you can make it up to him by performing oral sex on him and cooking him a nice meal. Q: My husband always has an orgasm then rolls over and goes to sleep without giving me one. A: I'm not sure that I understand the problem. Perhaps you've forgotten to cook him a nice meal.

You should see some of the roads in Michigan! Now there's another real good place for them!

http://www.asfar.org/zine/5th/cover.html As you've said yourself on many times, 'google is your friend'....-10 for not practicing what you preach!

This is what happens when so many bleeding heart liberals have legislated us into a 'hands off' approach to dealing with kids these days! I say we turn back the clock 20 years and bring these wild children back in line! Give the power back to the parents to raise productive entrants into society!

Gee, according to MY screen it says GENERAL NEWS.... -10 for petty ante bitching!