akflightmedic

Pssstt, I know you don't know everyone's background here but Kaisu is 50 years young. Just FYI, She is however a relatively new COLLEGE DEGREED Paramedic!!!

I would not expect much longevity at that pace. Regardless of how young you feel, your body is going to let you know soon if it has not already. You can not go for very long having sleep cycles continuously screwed, eating at irregular times, eating poorly while on the road, stress on stress off, no time for your own personal outside life. I did the kind of things you talk about but I was 18 when I started working EMS full time. I lasted several years and had a blast as it is all very exciting and new. It took me a long time to realize no matter what, the calls will always be there and there will always be someone else to fill your slot. You need to find a balance and this job is NOT giving it to you. Most employers know the mentality of us EMS folk and they know they can push and push us and we will usually take it. When we stop taking it, they simply replace us...it is simple for them. Having said all that, I will never go back to a system with a high call volume and 24 hour shifts. Once I took a break from that type of schedule and started enjoying life a little, I realized how much I had given up over the years. I wish all newbies would read this and take it to heart, it is invaluable information. But unfortunately a lot of us do have that hero or martyr mentality and we sacrifice everything in our lives, including ourselves for a job that will never thank you. If you have been running tons of calls since you started, you now have enough experience to realize you know what you are doing and are fairly competent in most situations you will encounter. There is not much benefit to running one after another, especially when the transport times are short. The real education and experience now will be seeing how long you can manage a critical or complex medical patient. When your transports last 30 minutes to hours, there is where you will start gaining more experience. As for now, and if I am wrong please say so, most of your calls are probably starting to seem similar to one another, You have those few unusual ones such as you listed...those are your highlights, but tell me about all the calls in between those; was there anything special about them which contributed to your overall "experience" factor? You run yourself ragged and you will make a mistake. I have made many mistakes in my career, we all have. Some were do to lack of knowledge/experience and some were due to lack of sleep. I have written of them on here before, but trust me, if you continue at this pace you will make an error. Let's hope it is not a fatal one. I have never accepted a job and not had an exit strategy...LOL. I know it sounds paranoid or alarmist but it has saved my butt several times over the years. I always have something lined up, I stay networked and can be employed just about anywhere within a couple weeks of my choosing so. If you mean exit strategy for getting out of EMS, under it's current state I encourage everyone to have a plan. Either get yourself educated and move up the chain or move out of the business into something entirely different . The job is great. It can be a lot of fun amongst many other things. I do not regret the years I have spent performing it, but if I could do it over, I would certainly do it differently. I am glad you refer to it as a job. Again, as I have said before....EMS is what we do, it is not who we are. Do not let the job define you, do not let it consume you. There are tons of other things to do as a paramedic which I have found as equally rewarding outside of the ambulance. I have worked in the ER, Level I Trauma centers, PCU and ICU, flight, amusement parks, water parks, hyperbaric chambers, wound care centers, mobile insurance tech (collect samples and do physicals), instructor at various schools/colleges, and disaster response. These are all jobs I have held on the side (so I could turn down overtime), or jobs that I have worked full time when needing a break from EMS. Each time, the transitions were not an issue...when I was ready to return to the streets, I was very easily hired and after a shift or two it was like riding a bike. Do not think there is nothing else out there for you. I barely scraped the list of all the places a paramedic can work outside of EMS. Now if you wish to leave EMS altogether, decide if you are going to stay in the medical field. Obviously you know if you choose to do so, then again the choices are various and plenty. Nursing seems like a sensible route. One of my previous partners decided to go to nursing school at the age of 53. He had enough of the ambulance, his sleep being interrupted and missing out on his grand kids. He didn't think he would succeed but now here it is 4 years later and he is a very good RN. He had many doubts and fears of leaving EMS as it was all he knew, but once he got away from the crazy shifts and the physical demands and constant stressors, he is so much happier. He also works as a travel nurse in the city he lives in which is very convenient and he no longer needs to work OT. Anyways, I hope some of that rambling helped you, if not, it is all I got.

How can you forget Carter's brother?? http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/carter/people.../p_bcarter.html Can not believe you want to fault him for his dad's actions. This should not even be news. http://maryachor.wordpress.com/2008/10/29/...f-barack-obama/

I am thinking (hoping) there is way more to this story than what was allowed to be printed. I have no issue with same sex couples or them adopting, but to say the grandparents are too old??? They are 46 and 59. They may be a wee bit slower, might not make it to their HS graduation, but damn...they aren't that old. There has to be more to this. If the grands are in poor health and Gdads prognosis is very poor, meaning he has <30% EJF amongst several other complications and the Gmom is a huge diabetic cow who can barely get around under her own weight, then maybe, just maybe they are doing the right thing by placing them with a loving family now, while they are young. But without knowing these factors, I can not leap to any major conclusions at this time. I definitely could go either way on this one depending on more pertinent information.

You mean you don't???? Wow, hope I don't need EMS up your way...sheesh!

Well your mission is accomplished, the message did finally make it's way to the intended recipient. Now I shall display this "shocking" drama session. Actually it is quite funny and I can not await to see the outcome. To give a short brief so all may enjoy, hey I figure everyone needs some comic relief every now and again, here you go. If someone were to alter a news story to where they were the victim and create this huge dramatic story (not that this would ever happen here), the same individuals think it is illegal to call the original source (the newspaper) and fact check. So I called a newspaper and was informed that the story was indeed bogus. Seems like all public record to me, no laws violated. I even gave my real name and email address which the newspaper surprisingly supplied to the fecal matter artist, whomever that person may be. I then printed my results. Case closed..or is it? It seems certain individuals now think they can sue me (for what I do not know) along with this website for "damages". I find it very amusing because there is/was nothing done wrong. A phone call was made with no false pretenses and no aliases. I am sorry that you were caught in a major lie and are very embarrassed now, but that is not my problem. I am sorry you thought I was Afghani and not an American, but my name and history on this website should of been your first clue; but I should not be surprised because most of the chat room trouble makers never venture into the forums as it can be a bit too cerebral. Anyways, my ISP and IP address are all American, ask any mod, that can be verified because we are routed through an AMERICAN server. I am easy to find, just ask me and I will tell you where and how you can reach me. Actually a quick Google search will reveal me in several places (pictures too) and any government agency search will most certainly produce results. Having said that, I implore you to continue with your "lawsuit". No reputable attorney will touch you without money up front as there is no masive claim to be made off of this one. Any attorney you do acquire will be shredded to bits and laughed out of the practice. The day you can sue someone for calling a public newspaper and confirming the facts is the day I will leave this country. Good Luck! Get a Life! Get some help!! Get some Help!! No really, you need some help. AK out...

Are you capable of doing more than laughing at it? I have opened the door for the supporters to justify it and none have risen to the challenge. Tell me where you go when you hit your child? Tell me what you are thinking? Tell me how you are able to hit the child for misbehavior? It is simply unfathomable to me, I have opened myself for all to see and for all to shred if they so desire. Answer those questions, tell me how reacting with violence, and yes, "a swat" is violence, solves anything. We teach our kids not to hit but hen we hit them when they are wrong. We teach them to respect other people's boundaries yet we invade theirs. Show me where there is any illogical thought processes with the above statements and I will refrain from the sensationalistic comments. Otherwise, until you disprove that striking someone is not one step above (or below) caveman status, my words stand true.

Only one. Jimmy Buffett "Songs You Know by Heart"

Or all year, since in either half they are surround by hard phallic objects filled with sea men.

Ok, my 6 hours of sleep are over. I do have a few more comments/questions/observations (who would've thunk eh?) I want to preface this by saying my sister-in-law who has 4 kids uses the same method as I do for discnipline. So, I am able to appreciate the effectiveness of what I do by observing her kids and seeing near identical results between the two families. I know it isn't scientific but the same procedures work the same for two very different families as my unit is very different from hers (education, socio economic, views/beliefs on life,etc). What is amazing, is none of us have any qualms about watching the other's kids. She has taken all 7 kids grocery shopping by herself. We have taken her kids out to eat, out to the hardware store, etc and had no worries or fears. For some parents, taking one child is one child too many. Why do you suppose this is? Anyways here is one of my MAIN points about the method of discnipline I use. I can correct my child anywhere at any time in any place and no one around us would be the wiser. I do not have to yell or hit my child to immediately correct their behavior. If you lay down the proper groundwork when they are young and stick to it, all it takes is a whisper in the ear to fix a "situation". If it has always taken a swat, meaning you allow behaviors to continue to the point where a swat is the only thing that stops it, the child knows this and will push and push until they reach swatting level. This is also the "end" for the child. For me, as a child who was "swatted" often, I knew everything was done once I got hit. Was not a big deal after a while, cause physically we can block that, anyone can. Mentally I had to put myself somewhere else. This also holds true for the parents. In order to hit or swat a child, you have to put yourself somewhere else. You can not strike repetetively withut mentally making yourself something you are not. I never could understand why my parents were angry or why their faces looked the way they did, but now I realize they were probably just as shamed cause they realized they had no other tools to work with and disgusted they were resorting to such barbarianism. But they did it anyways... So I guess my ramblings are this... If you lay a nonviolent consistent framework in the early years, you will have the ability to immeditaely rectify any unfavorable situtation by a few simple words in the ear and never have the need to be something else and resort to hitting.

I hear what you are saying and I was sincere in my lack of understanding how anyone thinks a hit, swat or whatever is justifiable. I truly do not grasp the concept. I can stop a "fit" which seems to be the only undesirable thing we are discussing here since it is the most visible to others around us, using several other tactics, none of which involve a swat. Stopping the fit seems to be of major concern and I will say the only reason it is, is because no one wants to be viewed as a bad parent. Allowing your child to throw a fit draws attention to you and your parenting skills and oh no, we can not have that now can we? Other ways make take a bit longer and "exhaust" the parent, but there are indeed other ways. Like I said, it inconveniences the parent and other family members immensely, but it is consistent and the others learn from it as well. It positively reinforces their future behaviors.

I think you misunderstood, that was not what was said at all. Reread and try again. Not much difference between a spanking and a beating. If it is a controlled "swat", how effective is that? A spanking is to inflict pain, a beating is to inflict pain. With all these swattings, how many times have you found yourself having to repeat them? Hmm, guess they may not be all that effective after all. Leaving the store immediately, stopping whatever activity you are doing at that moment, removing from the current environment...ALL of those are immediate and reinforce what it is you are trying to say. There is NO confusion because it is immediate. You should see the shock on their faces when I have turned around and went home after pulling in the parking lot of Chuck E Cheese or the movies. They assumed since we made it that far, that they were golden. The behavior continued, home we went. Cost was my gas and time, results were priceless. Even if they do not "remember" what the infraction is when you get home, is it too much effort to remind them? Sounds like parenting issues more than kid behavior issues. In actuality, they will remember because we will have discussed it on the way home. When we get home and they lose the privilege, then they know I meant business. It really makes them think and has been most effective as removal of something from them is more concrete than a "swat". And although you say they do not live in fear of you, I have no reason to doubt that, think of yourself. How awesome would it be to know you never needed to physically hit your children. If you knew you could reason with them, modify their behaviors through positive means as opposed to negative physical ones. That kind of life leaves a lot of extra time for us to enjoy each other, to bond and to be happy. Why waste your precious time hitting? I know the answer for some, hitting is quick. It is much easier to hit a kid and "be done with the situation" than take the time to behave like an adult, inconvenience yourself and talk to the kids and reinforce their behavior in a positive way.

No different than one produces bodily harm and mental fear and the other is an external loss which will not affect them physically. Yep, sound the same to me. Absolutely no difference in getting a beating versus losing a game console for x amount of time.

So are you saying we should just threaten with a spanking then and never do it? I mean you just compared it to being a "fear tactic" so that must be what you are saying right? That is the only way these two could be similar. The loss of job and health benefits, while it may have physical ramifications later on possibly, it has no immediate physical contact coming from a "superior", therefore it is no comparison. As for the abortion comparison, while some may not "convert", there are others who are/were undecided and this thread has helped them immensely. All my "flighties" have pm'd me and asked for further information, so something must be going on, something positive and valuable. And then pride prevents the others who have converted (either way) from admitting so...

I did see that and meant to acknowledge you, my apologies. This is not an attempt to further the debate, but I am truly baffled at how anyone thinks hitting is ok. I truly do not understand the line of reasoning, the logic behind such an action. I am at a loss as to what purpose it serves and I am at a loss as to how one may justify it. I spanked my oldest 2 kids only once in their life. My youngest has never been spanked. I do not think the older two remember it thankfully. They are now ages "almost 11" , 9 and 8. They do not require spankings, all is accomplished with communication and revocation of privileges. Maybe I am just oh so lucky to not have needed this barbaric method of child control. I felt such shame and remorse after hitting my kids, I vowed I could never bring myself to repeat such action. I have had much success without it anyways. Thankfully, I am one of the lucky ones you mentioned because strangers and friends alike compliment us on our children's behavior frequently. My children even problem solve amongst themselves. I am proud of this because it means I gave them the tools to deal with difficult interpersonal relationships. When they have arguments or fights amongst themselves, they are able to usually work it out without parental input. No we are not Little House on the Prairie, but spanking does not exist in my house nor does the threat of such. I hope when my kids become parents, they will not resort to spanking either. I do not think they will however, because it is such a foreign concept to them. I did not give them that tool or that fear.

Does a child not deserve the same? Oral warning of what is to come, reminder of what is to come, suspension of a privilege, loss of privileges (whatever is age appropriate)? And no, it is not still a spanking. No one lays a hand on you my friend. There is no sudden attacks. You are informed of expected behavior, reminded of it, punished non physically for not complying, etc. Imagine how humiliated, disrespected you would feel if such were to occur. How much trust would you have in the future? Would your future behaviors be done out of fear of a sudden beating or because you have been taught the proper way and had it explained to you?

Non hands talks in normal tone to child to see if child stops. Non hands informs the child despite the inconvenience to themselves, that they will leave the store immediately and will result in a lost privilege. Non hands follows through, leaves the store, and carries out said punishment. Non hands explains to the child after he has regained control that his behavior was unacceptable and now must bare the consequences. This is one of several favorable yet time consuming outcomes to this situation which do not involve hitting the child. Hitting accomplishes absolutely nothing other than instilling a sense of fear and mistrust from the one person on the planet who he relies on for everything. Hitting may silence the situation or it may aggravate it. Hitting may also make you look cool to all the other "hands on" parents, so I guess there is something for the parent to gain. When you lose control to the child, and yes resorting to hitting him is losing control, I do not care how stonefaced you are, he has ultimately played you. He has pushed the limits and you have lost, lost a lot. Again I will ask, since many of the supporters ignored my post or missed the question. What do you resort to when spanking no longer works? DO you think that is the timeto try reason and logic? No, you have already missed that boat. I compare this to the EMS education debate. Lay down the solid foundation first, then build upon it. You can not build a loving, respectful relationship when it is filled with violence.

We home schooled ours for a few years before transitioning to public school. A close friend of mine home schooled her son from 4th grade though 10th grade before sending him to high school to finish. Anyways, we both used the same program. I absolutely loved this curriculum, it had everything we needed and gave plenty of ideas for varying the lessons. The grade you purchase comes in a nice prepackaged kit and their online support/resources and parent network is excellent. http://www.calvertschool.org/home-school/ For additional supply needs, look here. http://www.lakeshorelearning.com/home/home.jsp

2 pages and 3 days ago..... http://www.emtcity.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.ph...&highlight=

No

Yes I do.

Has been an interesting read for sure, losing a ball game has turned into spank or no spank parenting. We have had numerous threads on this topic and a lot of good points have been raised, discussed and ended with people walking their own way, some more enlightened and educated, others stuck in a rut, indifferent or indignant. As I have posted before on this topic, my views are well known, have not changed and will not change. There are very few topics where I can say with absolute certainty that I can not be convinced otherwise and hitting a child for behavior is one of them. How can I as an educated, caring man strike a child who is learning his way in the world. A child who admires everything I do, follows my lead, LOVES me and respects me and then beat them into submission or terror to acquire behavior I deem desirable/acceptable? Desirable behavior is very subjective as we all have seen, heard of or experienced child abuse and some of the things they are beat over has nothing at all to do with acceptable behavior by societies standards, but everything to do with whatever warped concept the abuser is experiencing that day in that moment. I have been on the beaten side, I have been damaged. I am still damaged in some areas of my life. Somehow, I was smart enough to not continue down the same ignorant path. I was able to realize it was wrong and make every effort to do it differently, to break the cycle. My brother, not so lucky, he has had a lot of misfortune in his life (prison, failed relationships, inability to hold jobs, anger issues, it goes on and on). My sister, good kid but emotionally damaged. She will follow in my steps with her kids physically, emotionally I am not sure of yet. My brother, his kids...well my brother went down the tried and true path and it didn't work out so much. He has three kids with anger issues, a young teen son who is doing everything he did. His punishments are reminiscent of the ones we grew up with....the cycle continues on that branch. I do ask this question? If spanking is so effective, why do we stop doing it? If I am late to work, shouldn't I just get a few smacks and all will be well? If I fail on a project or neglect to secure a new contract, a few swats and everyone moves on? Why can we not do this? It seems we would have a much more productive and happy workforce. Everyone would know their place and when we get out of line, a quick reminder and all is good. We do not do this because we KNOW it is ineffective. Same reason we do not spank teenagers. We quickly realize we have to use new tools as spanking is not an option. It is ludicrous. If it is so ludicrous to imagine spanking adults for misbehavior, then please tell me why it is not just as crazy for striking a child? For teens and adults, we take away privileges. Screw up at work, you get a note in your file, you get bad references, consequences which can have very long term ramifications. You can lose your job, which then affects every other aspect of your life. Teenagers lose their cars, their outings, freedom. All of these things are very effective at controlling the majority of the population. It seems to me that the most obvious tried and true method through centuries of observation is the fact that communicating and granting or removing rights/privileges is more effective than beating someone to illicit desirable behavior. Does anyone disagree with that statement?

http://www.emtcity.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.ph...=billy+leukemia

You are correct Mateo. A little factoid for you, in several other countries, Phenergan is used as a histamine blocker primarily. Some of my Aussie coworkers had never heard of it being used for Nausea/Vomiting (they were shocked really), they thought I was joking when I told them most services stateside only use it for that reason and most medics would have no clue it could be used for allergic reactions...LOL.

LOL!!! I almost fell out of my chair on that one...LOL. Classic!!