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I think suspension until satisfactory completion of a rehab course would be the best. Until they are drug free, they shouldn't be around medications, but I know people can be rehabilitated.

Paramedic response vehicles have fallen out of favor ever since Medicare changed the rules so that only the unit that transports gets to bill. Usually response vehicles fall into the SUV, Crown Victoria, or Pickup/Panel Truck Category. The third option is my personal favorite.

Write in Jerry Springer.

No, it is about looking cool. Give you some sunglasses, .40 cals and tac vests and you'll be happy. Guns are not what EMS is about. Firearms training is not what EMS is about. Wolves and sheep, huh? So... if we don't all have guns... then we'll get eaten by... wolves... I guess you're saying? What is this, Jamestown, circa 1659? So, you're saying EMS's role should be to come in and "secure the situation" when law enforcement is unable to do so? You know what we call that? THE SWAT TEAM!!! Not EMS! Jeez! Look, here's 5 GI Joe Action points, go get yourself something nice, put the gun down, slowly, and let us silly guys work on cardiology and pediatrics, ok? You really don't sound happy in your current job. I'm sure Tampa Bay is look for some law enforcement officers. Go sign up, or heck, I think the NYPD is still accepting applications for the October 2005 exam. Go! Do it! Then you can have all the firearm training and hand to hand kung fu you can get. Leave EMS to those who want to practice emergency medicine in the field setting.

Actually Rid, I wasn't referring to Christians with a my Jesus freak line. I was referring to narrow-minded, bible thumping right wing crusaders who care more about what happens to someone in the afterlife than their existence here on earth. Whether its Pat Robertson calling for assassinations of foreign figures, Jerry Falwell rallying against the teletubbies, or the lord and savior George Bush mentioning teaching "alternative theories" to evolution, these are the ones that fall into my "Jesus freak" category. I see Pat's use of religion to exhort violence as no better than a Muslim cleric doing the same to get someone to strap a bomb onto their chest. I know in the rest of the country New York is seen as a godless, immoral Babylon where churches are run by transvestite prostitutes, (didn't Falwell kinda of hint that's why we got hit on 9/11? What a guy.) but that's not true. There are a lot of Christians here too. It's funny how when it comes to "The War on Terror", the actions of the government domestically are excused by saying "they are needed to protect the country", but when it comes to getting some old ladies out of the toxic soup of New Orleans "the federal government doesn't need to protect THEM... unless Osama is behind the hurricane. Then we can help them." It's really the same deal with EMS but on a national scale... we have tons of people who want to strap sidearms and bullet proof vests on and go around and look cool, just read the posts, (they may even want to smoke cigars and call themselves "ragin Cajuns"), but find the ones that are willing to get dirty to help the poor and unfortunate, those are much more rare. But then, again, getting back to Jesus, he always did say that "violence and use of force takes precedence over helping the infirm, meek, and helpless". That sounds like him, doesn't it? So if I offend Christians everywhere by saying people who use religion as a political tool to get votes, exhort violence, and turn a blind eye and fire up the spin doctors when others need help because they are DYING, well, God will have to forgive me. Maybe I can do penance by buying a shotgun and donating to the 700 Club.

Yeah, that cigar smoking guy, he's great, huh, right from central casting. Just what we need, another far right-wing take no guff catchphrase spewing person who can pander to the hawks while even more American citizens die. But heck, they did great in picking him, huh, he looks good in front of the cameras, got a catchy kinda nickname (It rhymes! YAY!), all the administration has too do is have him putting some soundbites on TV and pretty soon we'll forget all about those people dead. The Bush administration did some great PR work on that one. But for me, who puts human lives at more of a value than camera time, I say he can say whatever he wants, pictures say a 1,000 words, he may say the complaints are BS, but he can say that because the people who are floating face down in the waters of Lake Ponchatrain can't really respond, can they? The Bush administration, either through gross incompetence or calculated negligence did not respond appropriately and because of their actions, PEOPLE ARE DEAD. But don't worry, I'm sure the Republican media blitz can go into high steam, throw some American flags around, and Bush will come out smelling like a rose again. I mean, what are a few dead minority elderly and children when it comes to OUR COMMANDER IN CHIEF, right? It'll pass, they'll bury the bodies, and we'll be back to arguing about gay marriage and the other REALLY PRESSING matters in the country. The 9/11 Commission reports gross negligence in the FBI and CIA. Doesn't matter, no ones fired, Bush is a hero. Bush uses evidence of yellowcake uranium, later proved to be bogus, to go to war, doesn't matter, he can do no wrong. American soldiers get slaughtered everyday in Iraq with insufficient armor or resources, doesn't matter, we have to "stay the course", Karl Rove rats out a CIA agent, doesn't matter, he's still a patriot, and now, untold numbers of people, perhaps going up into the thousands are DEAD or DYING because of the federal government's incompetence, but STILL IT DOESN'T MATTER, it wasn't his fault. I'm not a Democrat, I'm not a Republican, I'm an American. My question is, how many people have to lose their lives, how many times does this great nation have to be embarrassed in front of the world BEFORE IT MATTERS??? Just curious, does your "Ragin' Cajun" GI Joe action figure have a response to this 'BS'? Thirty bodies in nursing home Southeast of New Orleans, crews Wednesday began recovering dozens of bodies from a nursing home that was flooded after the hurricane. And as floodwater is being pumped out of New Orleans, experts worry the soupy mess of chemicals and bacteria will sicken anyone who tries to stay in the city.

So, you're saying the administration is in no way responsible for failing to heed the warning signs of 9/11 and reacted swiftly and appropriately to the situation with Hurricane Katrina, huh? Tell me, what color is the sky in your world? Bush is a moron. His actions and inactions allow Americans to die.

Hey can we get another semi literate spoiled redneck Jesus freak in office? I think there's still part of the country left in one piece. I just hope the Republicans run someone competent and not a puppet of the right wing nut jobs like Bush, because if the Democrats plan on running Hillary, the Democrats will lose, and its not because Hillary's a woman, its because Hillary is a gimmick. As a politician, she really doesn't stand out. As a former first lady, she does, certainly, but the whole "I am woman hear me roar" thing will be cute at first but take a serious nose dive around about the first caucus. Just look at Howard Dean if you don't believe me. Republicans, Democrats, I don't care who's in office so long as I don't have to see most of lower Manhattan on fire, or infants in the United States of America dying of dehydration while the administration is busy sending its "thoughts and prayers."

I AM FRIGGIN OLD!!!

Quite frankly, its hard to have the understanding of physiology and pathophysiology needed to be a good medic if you don't have university level chemistry I&II and biology I&II under your belt. Plus you sound smart too.

Yeah, its not really the same watching auto racing until you get tobacco juice dribbled down the back of your neck.

I agree. Good for them. Hope you still go for the gold, though. Good luck.

Just get your damn medic.

Some guy making a lot of left turns. I don't watch NASCAR.

Since I'm the kill joy of the group... yeah, the Lasix in the coffee and the nitro on the doorknob aren't so much pranks as really dangerous things to do. Just remember the EMT who was killed with the defibrillator in the back of the ambulance. I'm sure they were just "having fun" too. I mean, the worst I've ever done is hose someone down with D50 and watch them attract flies, and there is the perennial supersoaker vs. captain's uniform at the 4th of july barbecue. I've also heard of the "jiggling the cables and yelling 'he's in v-fib!' to a nervous partner", but that isn't something I've seen.

Yeah, but the green pants with the old style "roller" lights going could have provided some SERIOUS disco action...

In old NYC*EMS, EMT's and Paramedics were issued police style EMS badges that they wore on a holder off of their left lapel. Some memebrs, FDNY or voluntary, still have their old NYC EMS shields, a couple of whom wear it on a belt clip. These are really the only people I can tolerate wearing a badge while on duty in EMS. It's a mark of pride and history, they have every right to wear it, I think. Other than that, anybody who wears a police style or detective style badge on a belt clip while on duty is being a buff moron and should be banished to Ho-Ho-Kus, New Jersey. If you are really into wearing a badge, the NYPD is hiring, next test I believe is October 2005, with the test fee waived.

The department recently reissued badges to EMS members, and their have been mixed feelings towards them. The stipulation is that they are for off duty identification only. I have a nice holder for mine and it is a good place for my city, state, ACLS, BCLS, PALS cards too, so I all and all like it. Plus I can get through security at the hospital on my way into work without having to slow down. I really frown against EMS wearing a badge on the uniform on duty, but if you are issued one, it is a nice way to identify yourself off duty. Just don't try and do traffic stops with them.

Just thought I'd be the hall monitor and mention, importing benzodiazipines into America by the Internet is something the DEA loves to use as an excuse to raid your house and take your stuff. Just a warning.

Just thought I'd add in, FDNY has an overtime cap. 2 days per week paid overtime, unless otherwise authorized, anything else is taken as comp time, or giving you hours to use at a later date for days off or vacation. A big sticking point among members is that the department won't let you make more than 2 shifts a week overtime, and the union doesn't want you working anyplace else as a 911 EMT or medic.

Yeah, that's why he was in my mind, anyway... It's sad the administration stands by him because of his right wing Christian views. You know if he was a Muslim he'd have bought himself a trip to Gitmo by now. It was bad enough when he suggested that and area of Washington, DC, needed a nuclear device detonated in it. I may not be up on the Bible, but where does it say again Jesus favors assassinations and nuclear devices? Musta missed that one.

Sorry, my cynicism level is set way to high for that one. Nice pics, though. The first question you ask God is "What surprises you the most about humankind?" What? Who wrote these questions? I have some much better ones than that. Questions like... "Why do men have nipples? What's with toes? Can't you get rid of Pat Robertson?" ahhhh... well... whaddya gonna do.

Rich, that's kind of up in the air right now. Someone said they got an observer request through, and I know that at least we have ride alongs by medic students from out of state and also, check this out, part of ER physician intership includes 3 weeks riding on the ALS and BLS ambulances! Oh my god... we might have doctors out there who have a clue what we're doing! Hee hee... The other day we had a physician ride along and did an emergency rendevouz with a Medevac at the 34 street heliport going up to Columbia-Presbyterian at 165th street. The flight crew came with us, so we ended up having a bus staffed by 3 paramedics, one ER physician and one flight nurse. Now THAT is a super EMS assault team right there.

Right back into a world of superstition and darkness.

>I've never met an atheist inside a structure fire... especially when the >floor gets spongy and the roof starts creaking and screaming..." To be fair, I've met quite a few bible thumpers who suddenly put an awful lot of stock in modern science when they're headed up to the cath lab. That, in recent memory, is one of the worst quotes I have ever read. I mean, you took "I've never met an atheist in a foxhole..." and just, wow... that is REALLY bad. Sounds like something I'd see on an airbrushed T-shirt at Wildwood. No offense.