Asysin2leads

A couple of things. First, your boss is wrong. Federal EEO law extends its jurisdiction to not only the formal workplace, but anyplace co-workers congregate. Its kind of odd, but it is true. For instance, say me and Dustdevil and Rid and everyone all work together at XYZ Ambulance service. Afterwards we go out and have a few beers, and I call Dustdevil a "low down, good for nothing, <insert appropriate racial slur here>". He can then go complain to the Federal EEO commission and have charges filed. I'm not sure how EEO looks on out and out sexual assault, but I'm sure its not very highly. As for the fire guy, again, I'm a bit puzzled, as I know what happens to any of our civil service members if even the mere allegations of sexual misconduct are levied against them, and believe me, its not going through probie school again. I think the real problem is that you are protecting your attackers by not following these events up to the fullest. I understand your work is important to you but by letting this go and trying to maintain the buddy buddyness of the station, you are doing not only doing yourself a disservice by downplaying the seriousness of these events, but also to the members of your community by letting these two operate in a position of trust. If you really want to help your patients, get these guys off of the street. Sexual assault is not a drunken fistfight with your colleagues, its not keying your car or stuffing someone in a locker, or shredding their uniforms. Heck, its not even running over someone's dog on purpose, its just about the worse thing a human being can do, and it needs to be recognized and treated as such.

Kat, with all due respect and sensitivity to your situation, I'm just a little puzzled. Let me get this straight, you were sexually assaulted, then again at your workplace and now, you're still working there? I'm kinda scratching my head here. My recommendation would be to stop working there, first off, then, take a big long break from doing EMS period. EMS takes a mental toll on even the strongest of psyches. Don't worry about other people and worry about yourself right now.

At least when the Yankee says it, its sped up a little bit. "Nooooowwwww lissssssten herrrrrrrreeeee, boyyyyyyy...... <30 second pause for dramatic effect> BEEEEEEE ELLLLLL ESSSSS BEEEEEFFFFOOOOOORRRRRREEE AYYYY ELLLLLLLL ESSSSSSSS...." Okay, okay, while I'm young, huh? (Its funnier when I do the voice)

Some points here seem to be being missed. First off, I'm not sure if the debate is for BLS to give ANYBODY off the truck epi or to only give it to people who are prescribed an epipen but don't seem to have it on them. These are two completely different cases. When someone is prescribed an epipen, it is after a qualified physician has evaluated them, consdidered their medical history, and written a prescription. People who have epi-pens prescribed don't need to do 12 leads on themselves because when their prescription was written, a physican either had done one already or did not deem it necessary. When ALS gives off the truck epi to someone who has no previous diagnosis of anaphylaxis, it is because they are acting in lieu of the physician, a major difference between ALS and BLS. This is where doing a 12 lead comes in, to form the proper diagnosis. Bottom line is if people dying from anaphylaxis is that big a problem in New Jersey they can feel free to stop screwing up their EMS system so badly. Either pay for timely provision of ALS services, or risk people croaking. Simple choices.

http://www.newsday.com/news/specials/nyf-i...0,5526907.story

Yeah, just what I need, some fat guy from Hog's Holler, Arkansas, standing over me saying "BLS before ALS!!!" Screw JEMS.

Angel, maybe people in NJ go into anaphylaxis differently then they do here, but in a case where someone is going do croak from anaphylaxis, is 0.3 of epinephrine really going to be the difference between life and death? Acccording to Wikipedia, apparently so, but think about it, if your throat is going to get to the point of having airway compromise secondary to angioedema, you need more than an epi-auto injector. This is Hollywood medicine at its worst. Yeah, I know on TV and in films, the plot device is the magic injector that saves the hero or heroine's life, but in reality, 0.3 of epi has profound effects, but if you're going to die from anaphylaxis, you're going to die if you don't have ALS. Its the same crap with the albuterol inhaler, yeah, its very uncomfortable and distressing if you don't have it, but if you're in status asthmaticus, a true medical emergency, you're f---ed if you only have an inhaler.

Spenac, no, its okay, look, we all get frustrated sometimes. We all get hurt. Now come on, don't do anything rash, step back inside, come off of the ledge...

Well, the Lifepak 12 is upwards of $32 large. We have only forgotten it once or twice.

$50 in training and $10.75/hr for someone to do CPR.

Sorry, I have to disagree. Its not so much the fact that getting paid makes you a professional, but a professional, in my definition, is one who makes their living and pays their bills doing x skill and knowledge sets. Believe me, it makes a major difference in attitude when you are doing EMS because its a neato calling thing that you want to give back to your community, and when its what you do because you need to pay your rent. And landline. And cellphone. AND ELECTRIC MY GOD CON ED IS A BUNCH OF CROOKS! I'M NOT EVEN HERE MOST OF THE DAY! GOD!!! Sorry. Got side tracked.

Which of these two pictures is more believable as the female detective who is going to kick down the door of the projects, drag that POS to the station house, and get him to sign the confession? A. B. This isn't to say women can't do the job. It is to say, if they can, they probably aren't curling up on anybody's lap.

Well, jeez, then she just have the most efficient musculature known to modern anatomy. I guess all those guys in the fire service who are built like linebackers are just wasting their time then. Maybe I'm mistaken and you can put on 100 lbs of gear, carry 50 pounds of tools up a ladder, then force entry, do a grab, and get back down, and still be petite enough to curl up in your co-workers laps. Its possible. Its also possible that hard nosed homicide detectives look like Angie Harmon, too.

Basic, while I acknowledge the fact that hazing is illegal and vandalism of property not appropriate, answer me this, if you really are so sensitive that you can't take a joke being played on you, is EMS really the place for you to be working? You know what kind of situations we run into doing this job, right? This is why these practical jokes and hazing came about. They are tests to see if someons is right for the position. I'm sure your female firefighter must have had a lot of friends after the smoke cleared on that stunt. But then again, if you're a rosy cheeked girl who is physically able to curl up on your co-workers lap, an involved structure with over 100 pounds of gear on is not the place for you anyway.

Yep. :roll:

The only point I have contention with is the "self regulating, admitting others" part. I understnad the overall concept, but in its wording, I feel it smacks of the good ol' boy "We let our buds play" mindset that sets back EMS at all levels. Were not the firemen. The station is not our club house. We should hire people who are qualified for the job, not the ones who have that all to intangible "street smarts" or whatever the hell thing it is that keeps your buddies playing with you. Government regulation may not be the answer, but I'd rather have better oversight on staffing then squad politics.

Make some small talk. I mean, keep it appropriate and such, but if the person having their head held believes that the rescuer is calm enough to engage in meaningless conversation, generally they get the sense that everything is okay. Either that or they get the sense you have no idea what you're doing, but generally not. I usually ask people about what kind of jobs (employment) they do. Usually you can find some back and forth points to banter about and you get to learn about new things. Its one of the perks of the job, I find. Do you know what investment bankers do? Well, find out then.

The usually only good thing I can say about my Department is that they give us good ambulances, as in they can take a hit from a taxi and not even scratch the bumper. If there is one problem with modern ambulances its that they are over designed. Airshocks, all the nifty little bells and whistles, these are all things that can break and put a unit out of service. Give me a MASH 4077 Jeep that can take a mortar round and still keep driving and I'll be happy.

Well, in the great State of Vermont, where I hail from orginally, there definitely a "P" sound at the end. You could argue it was "Ay-yep", but never "ayuh", not unless its Jud Crandall in Pet Sematary, that is.

SIGH. Hey, look over there, its my point, yep, there it goes... To reiterate, once you get all kumbayah and hand holdey at the station, scoreless softball games aren't far behind. As for Senator Clinton, I didn't vote for her, she's not even from here.

Great, then we can all play a softball game without the score, so long as everybody had fun! NO WONDER HILLARY CLINTON IS TAKING OVER!

GI Joe with Feng Shui grip?

As they say in Maine, YEP.

Just so you know, two of the 'Bravest' here are in the pokey for recently lighting one of the firehouses doors on fire, and were videotaped laughing and giggling while commiting arson. If the shoe fits, and all. Actually, I think incidents like this serve to illustrate my point. The biggest problem the FDNY faced after 9/11 was the massive retirement of senior personnel. When there are no senior people to provide guidance, or the senior people are unable or unwilling to provide guidance, the result is an overall breakdown in discipline, and I don't think having an episode of Dr. Phil with the newbies is the answer.

Okay, Jake, then what are you supposed to do when you get some 21 know it all a-hole who is ready to lay down the law when they first arrive at the station? Have a meaningful sit down and discussion about their behavior? Perhaps call in a counselor so everyones feelings on the subject can be heard? Screw that,