JPINFV

Was it a PIC brand monitor? The company I used to work for used them for CCTs (from before Welch Allyn bought out Medical Research Laboratories) and we never seemed to have a problem with them. Granted, we didn't employ 12 lead monitoring and only used quick pads (carried paddles in the RN equipment bag, but the pads were connected at all times). With the design, I can see how doing 12 lead monitoring could become cumbersome due to the location of the cable ports (below and behind the med box on top) unless you're able to keep the extra cables untangled in a side pouch. In general, there wasn't any troubles getting a good signature using chest leads (to be honest, I've never attached the limb leads to the limbs for 3 or 5 lead monitoring, be it prehospital or hospital monitoring) and no problems reaching any of the buttons. As with attaching the leads, connecting it to an AC adapter and changing the batteries can also be a smidge cumbersome. Edit: I see the problem. I can see if you aren't intimately comfortable with the monitor that finding the fire button (near the cable connections) could be a problem. I don't think it should be a problem, though, if you know where it is and aren't resorting to hunting around for it.

Point taken. How about 2 quarters of algebra and a quarter of either statistics or epidemiology?

You know, that's one thing California has done right, EMT-B scope of practice and EMT-Intermediates. There are EMT-Intermediates in California (less than 200) and there is a wide range of options for expanded scope for basics (narcan included). Essentially an EMS system has to prove to the state that they can't provide paramedics to be able to use either intermediates or extended scope for basics. Paramedics available? Can't use expanded scopes.

How about calculus?

Well, there is the flesh light.

Valid DNR, stop resuscitation. Side note: My county allowed verbal requests from immediate family, so it still wouldn't have been worked in the first place.

Paramedic school should be a 4 year degree with no entry requirements taught only at a college or university. Chemistry, physics, general biology, histology, anatomy, physiology, and neurophysiology should all be core requirements before starting the applied part of the course. By making it a continuous program, the administration can better streamline courses and provide proper monitoring of the courses.

Where do drunk pilots work? [spoil:a34179443f]A AA[/spoil:a34179443f]

Well, the online training is on the clock, right?

Also remember that lane markings are pure guidelines. Guidelines that are meant to be ignored. Being from California, I thought I understood aggressive driving (speed limit=65mph, speed of traffic almost regardless of traffic density =75-80mph Highway patrol=90mph). Yea, California has nothing on stupid driving compared to Boston.

ALS as in Paramedic or ALS as in ALS care including CCTs? I've seen it used both ways (heck, I've seen it refered to EMS in general, including the EMT-Basic level of care.).

Bad. Just bad.

Not interested at this time in a PhD, otherwise it would have been tempting.

Well, it doesn't help the case that non-emergent transports should not be done in ambulances when the lowest level of transport that Medicare covers IS Basic staffed ambulances. It's too bad that gurney van and wheelchair van services aren't covered as those would be more cost effective. http://www.emsaac.com/issue_hfca.pdf (last page).

Jill or Rose?

You know, even my private company somehow managed to supply every unit with map books for the 2 counties we serviced (either 2 individual books or a combined book) that had 90+% of the pages in it. Now considering that well over 75% of transports take place starting and ending at common points (nursing homes, dialysis clinics, hospitals, etc), it isn't nearly as useful as when responding to homes. Now take into account that there were around 40-45 individual units, I think that some volunteer agency should be able to shell out 20-40 dollars for some map books.

[web:ff0eb5fd7f]http://s7d1.scene7.com/is/image/RandMcNally/0528866982?layer=comp&wid=250&hei=300&fmt=jpeg[/web:ff0eb5fd7f] $17 of pure win. Should be a required component of any emergency vehicle, GPS or not.

Giving the benefit of the doubt here, the article states that both times the two people who responded via POV did so while off duty. Given the language used in the article, it appears that there is some sort of schedule for who is responsible for the ambulance. Being ignorant of the system that they use, it could be a dual system or just scheduled watch. The problem doesn't appear to be people not bringing the ambulance, but people jumping calls when off duty.

It's an ambulance, not a clown car. It is not a bus, rescue, truck, or rig. It does not transport a lot of people, extricate people in 99% of the country, pull light loads, or pull big loads. I understand the use of "medic" since it's an important distinction between a paramedic unit and a lower unit. I do have a problem with MICU designation since it can mean multiple things (googling it brings about pages calling a MICU any sort of ambulance regardless of level, medic fly car unit, specialty care transports (neonate/peds), and medic units) and most people are not going to know what MICU stands for. Similarly, the "unit" designation is OK since it is a common radio identifier. I wouldn't use the term "unit" though if requesting another ambulance or talking to the public.

And this is where I gloat that my EMT-B class only cost $120 including books.

Nursing homes before holiday weekends. Gotta ship the residents out to send LVNs home.