JPINFV

I'll disagree with the idea that you should have to be an EMT [b or I] before paramedic school. Medical school, for example, doesn't require you to be trained in a health care field prior to starting, why should paramedicine have such a requirement?

1. Make sure that you don't run down the battery down by charging things with the battery off. I'm sure that there's a way around it by using a land line [there should be a plug in on the right outside of the unit], but I've honestly never used it. 2. There might be a battery disconnect on the door side of the driver's seat [my old company's new units had it labeled as an emergency start switch]. It's a little metal knob, turn it and you should be able to get power.

Not if: 1. My family isn't fine 2. Class hasn't been canceled. If either of those two conditions exist then I won't hit the accept button on my cell phone.

If it makes you feel any better, I've been an angels fan since the early 90's. Did the Royals ever have skanky cheerleaders at their games [damn you Disney, damn you]?

I do believe that the entire "fast cars and freedom" response was firmly planted in sarcasm.

Huh, I'm confused now. You want an intelligent discussion, but such issues as constitutionality [which, albeit constantly trampled by out legislative branch and not always backed by the judiciary [cough medical marijuana ruling cough], is written to be really constrictive for the federal government. Furthermore, legislation by constitutional amendment has been a disaster when it was tried [prohibition]. As far as the War in Iraq, my understanding is that the intelligence at the time, including intelligence from foreign sources, provided a convincing argument that Saddam was actively working towards weapons of mass destruction. In fact, there have been a few cases of chemical weapons being found in Iraq following the start of the invasion [ex, House of Representatives Select Committee on Intelligence report]. I guess we *could* start removing our forces from Eastern Europe, Korea, and the like, but I doubt that the EU would be supportive of that move. Foreign aid, both militarily, material, and financial, does make up a large part of the US budget. That said, our government does not spend as much as a percent of GDP on foreign aid as other first world governments do. The difference, of course, is that the foreign aid when totaled by government donations and private sector donations puts the USA near, if not over, the top. Finally, illegal immigration was touched on. Illegal immigration is a MAJOR issue [which, needs to be said, the USA has one of the most liberal legal immigration policies in the world, especially compared to most European countries] that comes from a broken down legal system, a neighboring government that encourages illegal immigration, and a vast differences in wealth that can be in large part attributed to the differences between how the governments are run. Illegal immigrants do put a strain on the local governments, especially since they are not counted in census reports since they do not report themselves. This makes it harder for local governments to request state and federal tax funds. That said, illegal immigration is a different thread altogether. So, I'm just wondering, which subject that was brought up, which since one of the main issues regarding government programs is the cost, turned you off to this discussion?

1. Show me where in the constitution that the federal government has the right to legislate mandatory health care? That honestly is stretching the interstate commerce clause a little too far. 2. Universal health care should only be an option when we decide that the government has a right to tell us what to do if it involves our health. Why should I pay for the health problems that someone else has due to their own fault [obesity, drinking, smoking, etc]. 3. Why would anyone trust the government with more money? Earlier this week, a report came out reporting that employees in numerous government agencies were flouting both the governments guidelines, as well as in many cases their own agency's rules, regarding first class vs coach airline seats [guess which one they were using]. Over the past year, they had wasted over 146 million dollars for first class or business class travel. Yea, these are the same people that I want to trust with more of my money. [article regarding the report: http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/10/03/tra...e.ap/index.html ]

No, that one's a promotional gig for their London tour. There used to be the actual scene on Youtube, but it was probably deleted for trademark reasons.

Where's that "Everyone's a little bit racist" Avenue Q clip when I need it?

It's the Tyra Banks/Next Top Model scene from a Family Guy episode. http://youtube.com/watch?v=HntVxGqsHdM&amp...ted&search=

I did a few jail transports when I was working as an basic. Both times the patient was transported handcuffed and both times a corrections officer rode in the back with the patient. Technically speaking, the law enforcement officer is allowed to follow the ambulance in their unit with the patient handcuffed, but that is discouraged.

Psychiatric disorders are a medical problem, and thus should warrant transport by medical providers and not law enforcement. To this end, EMS education [especially at the basic level] should consist of more then the "back away, call police" mentality. While I have no problem with law enforcement being involved with psych patients [holds, initial restraint, etc], I would prefer that they go by ambulance instead of by police car.

I'll also jump on board that my basic class used the term "positive pressure ventilation" for lecture and exams.

Using your argument, assuming that there is no problems concerning entry, is not a law enforcement problem either. I don't see anything about health care or social services in law enforcement. Using the "what part of 'Emergency' in EMS are they not understanding" argument is just about putting the work off on someone else. Ironically enough, it's the same argument people use to justify treating psych patients as criminals instead of medical patients.

Xeroderma pigmentosa [sorry, I misspelled it the first time] is a genetic disorder where cells lacks the ability to repair pyrimidine dimers. Unfortunately, this means that just about any exposure to UV radiation [ex, sun light] will cause DNA damage. Thus, the patient is at an extreme risk for developing skin cancer.

I would almost suggest moving away from the tired same old, same old, that everyone does. How about presenting something where the patient's whole life is affected like in xenodoses pigmentdoses.

Yep, because there's only two jobs [driving and providing care on an EMS call, and those are mutually exclusive. :roll: You do realize that other healthcare and medical professionals with a LOT more education than paramedics still consult and talk to each other regarding care of their patients? If a board certified emergency physician with over a decade of post secondary education and training thinks that he might need to talk to another doctor about a patient, I fail to see how a medic with less than a year of post secondary education can never use a helping hand from time to time.

/me looks back through the thread. Hmm, I thought I might have missed something when I checked in between classes, but I didn't. 1. How exactly does "denying transport" [not always a bad thing] equate to requiring EMS responders [note: EMS/911 is not the same as "drag granny to dialysis 3 times a week] to have some semblance of education? 2. Same question in terms of volunteers. 3. What exactly is wrong with expecting to be able to pay the bills on time, or do you think that doctors should work for free also to insure that they're in it for the 'right reasons'?

These are basically the same post, thus the same answer will apply. Most non-emergent patients do not need anything more then a bed to ride on. These patients, including hip precaution patients, do not need, nor really warrent an ambulance. There are services popping up that offer ambulette transports [think wheelchair van with a gurney]. Once society gets non-emergent/non-CCT patients out of ambulances [ex discharges, doctors appointment, dialysis, etc], then we can really start moving towards requiring more than an advanced first aid course to be considered a prehospital provider.

I think part of the problem is doing stuff where there is a chair reserved only for the paramedics. Is this like a charting type area of something?

^ Rent by the hour? Giggity giggity, all right.

/me starts handing out tin foil hats. Yep, large companies are evil, ergo small family run companies are the panacea for EMS/transport companies.

White Castle? 1. Drive West till you hit California [ok, fine, there's one in Las Vegas, NV also]. 2. Stop at In-N-Out. 3. Order the world's best hamburger. 4. ??? 5. Profit.

Wikiality anyone?