rocket

That's what I've heard as well. Plus the inherent reduction in risk of gastric distention/aspiration. I'll follow whatever protocol is proven* (*IOW currently touted as the best in the most recent and comprehensive studies..this is always subject to change and there are truly no absolutes) to yield the best outcomes with the highest consistencies. -Trevor

I don't do this to get dressed up. I do it to help people. All I need is enough pockets or room on my belt to hold my stuff. So they could keep my uniform(s).. ..but had better not try to narrow my protocols. -Trevor

That's a good one! I'm such a white cloud at my original agency that I will probably receive a letter of gratitude from the community one of these days. It's gotten so prevalent that I "call it" when I arrive at 1800 and sure enough at 0700 I leave shift and there have been no calls all night long. ..and this is a Saturday night in a urban environment no less. I've gone ahead and joined a second agency because I'm getting no experience with my original agency. It looks as if I am only a good-luck charm at the original agency; so far my ride-along experience with the new group has been busy busy busy! -Trevor

Are you talking call volume or patient outcome? -Trevor

I dunno about my neck o' the woods, but evidently the full moon has no effect on trauma in Iran. credit: http://www.merginet.com/index.cfm?pg=indus...amp;fn=fullmoon So Much for Full-Moon Theories By Bryan E. Bledsoe, DO, FACEP April 2005, MERGINET—One thing that old salty OB nurses, experienced ER nurses and gray-headed paramedics all agree on is that weird things happen when the moon is full. Although numerous studies have shown this not to be true, this myth is still told to rookie EMTs as a rite of passage (just like sending them to the hospital central supply for some sterile Fallopian tubes). Researchers in Iran studied ED visits for 13 months. They reviewed data from 58,000 trauma patients admitted to the three biggest trauma EDs in Tehran . They found no increase in trauma visits during full-moon days. There was no increase in the assault rate on full-moon days. There was no reduction in the Glasgow Coma Score in patients presenting on full-moon days. Finally, the severity of trauma was no worse on full-moon days. Thus, the incidence of weird events on full-moon days is a figment of our imagination. However, it is a hoot to tell rookies this and the practice should continue. Just like Santa Claus—it is best for them to find out on their own. Reference Zargar M, Khaji A, Kaviani A, Karbakhsh M et al. “The full moon and admission to emergency rooms.” Indian Journal of Medical Science. 2004;58(5):191-195. -Trevor

I think it'd be great, but I also tend to think that a less documentary approach might be more beneficial to EMS as a whole. It seems to me that many lay folk: (1) Don't have much understanding of EMS (2) Don't really want to understand it if it's anywhere near as gory as they think it might be. ..and so they often choose to assume a position of 'optimistic ignorance'; where they really don't want to know much but at the same time want to assume that the EMS folks that are there to help them deal with the unthinkable are well-paid, well-supported and generally faultless. In a way this makes great sense....after all we all want our health care providers to be almost mechanized in their skill ability (and yet compassionate as saints at the same time). I think most folks presume the well-paid/well-supported/etc folk would be more likely to perform "better" than those who are trying to make a dollar out of 15 cents (both figuratively and literally). Discovery Health's Paramedics is a good example of this phenomenon. I watch it intently, but my family leaves the room when it is on (or at least when the patients start screaming ). They simply don't want to see it if it's "too real". They also express a great deal of surprise when I tell them of the comparatively low pay, support issues, etc. A tamed-down, more dramatic offering (along the lines of Rescue Me, etc ) might be more more palatable for the majority of TV viewers.... ...and certainly the personal/financial struggles of the EMS staff themselves (nobody can say we have normal lives LOL) would make for compelling watching as well. Emergency was great in that it made people want to do this kind of thing. Wouldn't it be great if a new show would make ordinary folks appreciate and support us....insofar as to be come our advocates with the same degree of enthusiasm? -Trevor

Yeah. I trust my partners (not by default; they've earned it) and the medic we most often deal with is very good (and also in med school!). -Trevor

Volunteer. Maybe someday that'll change :wink: -Trevor

Well I'm not ubermarathoner but I can run a mile or two when the mood strikes. I think I'm in pretty good shape for my age and I suppose going to the gym pretty consistently over the past 14 yrs or so (I'm 33) had something to do with it. I'm no 2% bodyfat gym prissy but I do tend to do my weightroom math in multiples of 45 if you know what I mean. :wink: So I pretty much base my notion of fitness on strength and also the difference I see between myself and old High School friends when I run into 'em......MAN some of those folks went down the toilet fast! I swear some of them look 20 years older than they are!! All I can say is JUST DO IT. Lift, run, whatever... ...being in shape (or even somewhat in shape) helps so much in soooo many aspects of life. I swear I'd go crazy if I couldn't get to the gym at least once a week!! -Trevor

That's what the Brady book says. Actually it's "Approaching" 100%... ...but I think I'd pass on being bagged just for that "buzz" -Trevor

Exercise, particularly with free weights. As Henry Rollins says: "The Iron never lies to you." :? http://forums.menshealth.com/thread.jspa?messageID=2767142 -Trevor

You forgot to add motorcycle to the poll. 8) That's my preferred warm-weather transport. Otherwise it's the "cage" (car). -Trevor

Littman Cardiology III. I can hear the difference (and appreciate it!) -Trevor

I'm about halfway through EMT-B class. I test in June. In the meantime I 3rd-person ride with a local agency. -Trevor