Ridryder 911

The old debate of what one does off duty affects their performance or is a representation of their professional decision, image, and how they perform continues. Sorry, what one does and how they act does portray of their thinking pattern, values. Remember, when one is in a position of the public, they are not just representing themselves but the city, citizens and the image they want to present. That is why many cities have "moral and ethics clauses" in their contract be it paid or volunteer. As others have described just because a person is a minor, may not constitute anything illegal. I know in my state, the age of 16 is consensual albeit they are still a minor. I agree, one that is in power and represent the city as an official should be mindful that they will be under more scrutiny. R/r 911

Kinda like a plumbers or utility truck that increases from $50k to $150+k w/lights and sirens and a cheap cabinets. Never seen Code Blue, but used many of Plano 727 then 747. A lot better than the Rescue Rangers packs I see now used. Of course, we realized then one does not have to carry 6 rolls of bandaging, 20 4x4's, ring cutters, window punches, 4 liters of fluid, etc.. to treat someone initially. Fortunately, we just changed our "packs" this last week and reduced to about half of what we used to carry. Just give me enough to start the treatment and secure the airway, until I get them to the EMS unit. R/r 911

I am taking more serious note on MRSA than other scares. We have a outbreak of MRSA that has hit most nursing homes (non scientific prediction is about 50% of the NH population), more scarier is we have an increased VRSA that has tripled in the past two years. A couple of years ago we would see a few patients with it, now it is on a daily basis. This is a community of only about 50,000. As well, I am seeing younger people with MRSA. It is not unusual to see recurrent wound infections with MRSA in people ages from 20-35 now. In fact most wounds that I do see do have MRSA, hence the reason they finally seeked treatment. Unfortunately, medicine is responsible for this. Over prescribing every sniffle with an antibiotic, and not promoting good hygiene and hand washing, yes primary from the medical staff. What does scare me, is the increased numbers that are no longer contained inside as a nosocomial infection, rather up to 70% now. More scarier is to culture EMS personal and equipment! Should we be predicting the doom.. who knows? We should be promoting ways in preventing it. Sorry, I personally rather not have or MRSA/ VRSA around.

How does it suck? You take the test, pass it, take the required continuing education and re-register, pretty damn simple. I've now done this 15 times, never had a problem. Obviously, you never have to deal with another medical license and medical speciality board certifications. Where it is much easier to have to study and take the whole test over than to attempt to get every category of CEU's, CEU is based upon credits (not length of education) and the categories are so diverse, it nearly makes it impossible to obtain. As well, the costs of the NREMT is a joke in comparison to any other healthcare test and registry. Compare <$100 to those of any other health care profession. Yes, my RN is simple. Click the mouse to re-license, and make sure my Visa or MasterCard is current and I can immediately print a voucher until my card arrives. Now, with that how well do I know that those other nurses are current in there profession? When was the last time they had any current training or education, especially if they were not employed... You can't. See my concern, being too simple? So does NREMT have problems, you bet. Yet, in reality, how much simpler can it be? R/r 911

Actually, Oklahoma is windy for a reaon. Kansas blows and Texas sucks!...

If you took the Basic exam in OK (NREMT), and paid for the appropriate fee as well proper paperwork then you will receive your NREMT & OK license card in about 2-4 weeks. Call the OSDH EMS division @ 271-4027, if you have any questions Good luck, R/r 911

Waste of time and money. Before any hospital administers a specific type, they will have to type and cross match. The old ARC blood cards, etc.. is for PR purposes only. Legally, they have to perform this, of course O- can be administered until a specific match is made. R/r 911

Well, that is the consequences of showing off and not knowing what he was doing and not taking precautions. For as treatment, like others described in additional possible pelvis, he rotated that leg back hard. Now, the wonderful news is he probably has no health insurance, and will be laid up for a while after his orthopedic surgery. Then comes rehab.. so we can make him better to do this all over again. R/r 911

EMT instructor does not mean squat to me. There is definitely a difference between an EMT instructor and an EMS Educator. Most states just require the national standard EMS instructor course (40 hrs) in length, and some experience time (dependent upon the state) to become an instructor, some do not even require that for adjuncts or assistants. My best advice in starting out is to assist in lab's such as skills. Basic EMT and first responder courses. This will give you some experience interacting with adult students. Later on you might fill in for some special occasions or topics. If possible attend other instructor workshops and obtain levels of instructor, since most require some form of instructor training. If you really want to become legitimate as an educator, I suggest taking some adult education courses. Good luck, R/r 911

Okay another myth that just won't die .. Why do we in EMS prefer to ignore studies after studies, because this was something that was performed over decades without any proof? We have discussed this and many others, that we have attempted to end. Bledsoe has written multiple articles, describing the scientific and anecdotal reports on how it is not effective and possibly even harmful... yet, some continue. Maybe stretcher makers should be required to totally remove the ability to have the trendelenburg position, then possibly we could remove the "myth"...

To just to think EMS could not get any worse? For every one step we go forward, we take ten giant leaps backward. R/r 911

http://www.emtcity.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.ph...p;highlight=bob

Actually, we have already had attempted to have testing in regards to different areas and specialities, here on this site. I believe there was multiple problems on the server grading them and up keeping them. R/r 911

Agreed! There is a reason that residents have to perform "years" before they are technically turned loose. It is to help them develop methods to place that knowledge in application as well as to develop that " gut" or more technically known as "gestalt". As I was describing to newer anxious Paramedics yesterday, knowing when to "listen" to that little voice is important. Obviously, experience and knowledge sometimes hide itself well. Most find out by the aftermath, .."could have, would have, should had".. In addition to all the wise and valuable previous comments, remember the 'personable" aspect. Even though this maybe the 6'th fractured hip of the day, it is the patient's first. Even all the clinical symptoms maybe the same, the traumatic event is not for the patient.

I have to admit that I am not a big fan of any of the trade magazines, however;JEMS appears that they did try to present some articles better than others. IMHO EMS is not even worth taking to the bathroom stall, it is the old replacement for Emergency trade magazine. I do not how you get your EMS magazine free? When doing a lit research, they only trade magazine is JEMS that has been recognized as legitimate. Unfortunately, EMS has not made it to maturity level where it has an authority of having a Journal, with well written articles and citations. Yes there is the Prehospital care and some other few small ones, that are published every quarter and very difficult to obtain, as well costly in comparison to even true professional journals that even makes it out of hand for most. I would hope NAEMT with their reconstruction and new policies would develop a true EMS magazine, like they had in the late 70's with scientific type articles. Then again, if there is not enough pictures or whacker advertisements, most EMT's would not even open the rag... R/r 911

I am glad to hear the good news, we just purchased the system (>$100k) and I was leery. We have not purchased the lap tops yet.. R/r 911

It is these type of situation, I believe that Scope of Practice should be ended with the "..as Medical Director deems necessary".... There may be areas, that was described were more detailed assessment would be necessary, where as in other areas should never be considered. Of course it goes with saying additional education and clinical exposure would be needed. That is the great thing about medicine, it is an science mixed with art, to practice. There are areas dependent upon so many variables that it should never be cooked book. R/r 911

I've performed perineal massage or "stretching" to help prevent tearing, especially on brow presentations. The mother could care less at the time if I had my fingers or my foot, as long as she was not being ripped apart. The same on breech deliveries as well. This is one of those issues, if to reoccur again, I make a call to the Doc, get a verbal order (if there is time) and do what you need to do. R/r 911

JEMS just did a survey and revealed about 60% of EMS would not allow a visible tattoo. Like you described, be smart and have it where it would be covered. R/r 911

There are only two accepted times a (U.S. NHTSA) is allowed to insert the fingers into the vagina, as noted prolapsed cord and yes, to reinsert a prolapsed uterus. Now, as a RN I am legally able to check for dilation. Now, with that said.. I don't.. why? I see O.B. nurses with years experience get it about 80% of the time, it is all subjective. The worst ones are non OB/Gyn physicians ... they are guess-a-mating. Although, I find it ironic to be able to deliver and crich, intubate.. the old male stereotype role.. has bit us. Even though, I do doubt that most medics would be able to correctly determine dilation accurately due to low occurrence and experience. R/r 911

Naww.. it was just the medics scared the piss out of her.. R/r 911

Surely not... where we place all those multiple levels of EMT's? Seriously, I do not see the need of multiple duplication of services. Unfortunately, this is where we start splitting hairs. If it is a deemed as a federal disaster or local disaster... this makes the difference in responding teams... Personally, such organizations like ARC purpose is different.. each organization has a different role. R/r 911

Has the child been treated for a previous UTI? i.e. sulfa derivative ?

Wow ! That was one long sentence and paragraph! The reason for teaming you up is to learn to deal with different type of people, even in the working environment you will get a mixture of different types of behavior. I do understand your frustrations, however; it is ironic that you described her as being dramatic and not being able to cope with situations, when it is you that is here in a forum discussing it... R/r 911