somedic

Ruff: That would make more sense. EMTs, inmy oppinion could be trained to drop LMAs, combitubes, and other types of airway adjuncts without too much difficulty. Somedic

jollysuicide: Blind intubations? Why would any regulating agency in the US allow EMTs to try to intubate without going the full route and giving them the tool (larygoscope) to do it with? 12lead EKGs: Why would a EMT-B be trained to read these? They cannot do anything for the paitent except call for ALS back-up anyway. Where do you practice? What are EMTs allowed to do there? Somedic

iadybug: Keep us posted on how things go. Somedic

dreaminrabbit88: The A+P coloring book will help you exceed what is taught in EMT class. I used the coloring book along with most all the other students in a military medical class I attended in the past. Find yourself some good quality colored pencils in many colors and go at it. Medical Terminology may help you as well. Tabers medical dictionary is a good investment. Sounds like you got your priorities in the right order. Good luck to you, Somedic

iadybug: do some on line research on the department you want to work with. se if the department has an employee mailing list and e-mail some one. Also Look for meidc units around town. Try to position yourself to wher you have a achance to say heay to the crew. Avoid trying to meet them during calls they are on or if they are in the middle of a meal. Approaching a crew at a station may get mixed results, you may be disturbing their sleep, TV, or BS time. This all takes time and effort. Try to balance your attempts at meeting employees with not looking like a stalker or other disturbed person. I hope this helps some. Good Luck, Somedic

iadybug: Id try to find an employee from the service that you want to work for. I'd stay away from admin types that do not have the true picture of what is going on in their department daily. Find an ambulance crew like you would be a part of and try to get them to give you the real "ground truth" on what the department is like. As has been already stated, your work hours may vary. As for WEMT, I think its a neat course, Ive been to something similar but that really wont make a difference to an employer. Good Luck Somedic

Paramedickie and Bassmedic: Thanks for being a "Johnny come lately" here on a dead subject. If you read my post back to AK and understood it with our getting so emotional, you would have seen that I did concede that I was wrong. You prove my point in life that people love to get their punches in when its safe. I hope you feel like real heros now for coming to the aid of a brother. Have a blessed holiday season. Somedic

Phil: I'll read and comment as I please. Watching a bunch of nerds dressed in white, smacking a little ball around is as boring as watching grass grow...do you have grass there? Cheers!

To Call Criket a sport is a gross overstatement. Its a lawn game best played when there is nothing else to do. Somedic

Kount: Where you been? Thanks for your late but impacting post here. I said what I have to say and your tough guy"lets all get Somedic" attack is impotent. Go do something else with the time you have left. What I said to AK in my previous post stands and if he feel the need to strike back, I will be getting what I deserve. With every best wish, Somedic

Dust: The unit that provided MAST in Texas was the 507th Medical company. The last time I saw them on a MASTmission was some years back when a disturbed person drove their car into a cafeteria in El Paso or Laredo and started shooting people..I cant remember for sure..however UH-1 hueys were landing on the road out side. 507th crews made the news and a spot on that old silly show Rescue 911 for hoist missions during the river flood that killed some people back in the 90s. Somedic

Dust: Thats an intersting story. Does anyone remember wheter the flight crew in MAST took repsonsiblity for the patient or if a certified Paramedic from the requesting agency had to fly with the patient? I understand that MAST programs are stil operational in some areas. Anyone use them? Somedic

Cricket is a lawn game invented by the English, perfected by the Pakistanis and as much fun to see as watching paint dry. Somedic

Ak: I dont see where you had any respect and credibility for me to start with. I will say this though, if you trully feel like you say you do when you see one of us suffering or dying then I was wrong about you. Anyone with an ego as big as you think mine is would never admit that. Ive got all the ribbons I care to have. Id rather have my personal life back like it was before 9-11-2001. There is nothing in this life that will make me feel better. You suggest counseling? Good news! My unit psychologist has declared me fit for the next rotation. You are correct again, the military will use me in some form or fashion and that will probably keep me in the moutains specifically. Let me conclude by saying this to you. I think this is one of the best posts I ever read on here. Too bad I caused this. DUSTDEVIL: Ouch! man...where is an israeli dressing for my ass? Get the hextend for me! AK: I was presumptive and I now stand corrected. Good luck and stay safe Somedic

AK: You might be the final word on this forum and everybody fears/respects you and all...thats great. Let me caution you in your attempt to look like you are a part of something that you are not. If you are so high speed, why dont you enlist and earn the look and apply your apparent wisdom? The difference here in me and you is: You are where you are for personal gain (and you get to impress people here with war stories) I left for that place in 2001, came back in 2004-2005 and will be going back in 2007 all because I am serving a greater good. I know I probably hurt your feelings and you are going to end this thread and all the other little power things you get to do here. I guess a pm is inbound from ADMIN. HappyThanksgiving from Somedic

AMR is a screwed up business to begin with. You probably would not have been satisfied there any way. Somedic

iadybug: I cant speak on Florida EMS with any credibility but ridealong programs tend to vary from department to department. You may have good luck in finding a department to ride with or you may not...Keep researching the services in your area. Good Luck Somedic

Medic001918: I agree that A+P classes help but no amount of it will prepare a new EMT for the realities of the street. Somedic

Thats classy. What actual place does it have here on what I thought was a professional forum up until now. Shame on you! I'll see you soon enough when I get back over there. My beard is looking about like a locals now! Somedic

NBSP: Keep carrying that flaming torch. iadybug423: You seem to fit the spirit of what we are looking for in our department. Although I did not mean to imply that EMTs are inferior. Its capability and what the patient needs really. What I would suggest to everyone that is in EMT class or recently ceritified is to consider that just a start in this field. You seem to be trainable and pleasant in your correspondence with others (unlike myself) and that will help you as well. Good luck to you and keep us posted on how things are going. Somedic

akrosie: Are you sure thats your tongue or your anything you biting on? Whit: This post was EXCLUSIVELY about EMTs. I agree that attitude and professionalism are not determined by what patch you wear.

iadybug423: Here is my answers to your question. It all begins when someone makes the commitment to help others in need. Its all about compassion. Too many people are in this business for egotistical reasons, examples include: wanting to fly in a helicopter, wanting to shoot people as a "tactical medic", wanting run lights and siren, wanting to wear the uniform and stethoscope off duty etc. Next: Good EMTs come in ready to shut-up and learn the system. Initiative is very important. If you know the trash has to be taken out...go do it before someone has to ask. Don't be happy as just an EMT..no one likes a lifer EMT they are a drag on the system unless of course you work in a BLS only system. ( I work for an all ALS system). You should be setting your goals for further certification the day you graduate from EMT-B. We ask new EMTs if they want to go to paramedic school...if they say no..we Don't hire them...whats the point? Next is: Show up for work on time without your cellphone in your ear and make sure your uniform looks professional. Practice good hygiene...yes we had some stinkers before. Regard your EMS life style as one where you will never stop learning new stuff. Realise early on that what you may have learned in class will be different that what you see practiced in the street a lot of times. Never quit anything. I could keep going here but Its getting late. I hope this helps some. Good luck to you. Somedic

Ruff: Thanks for the support. I know Im not the most pleasant forumite on here but I have to train and work with new EMT-Bs that waltz into our department carrying themselves like they have BTDT and not knowing a dam useful thing. I do not think EMT-B courses produce EMTs that are competent and ready for the field. My posts on this thread are predicated by the daily barrage of stupid EMTs I deal with. Some may call this venting. I dont know who came up with that stupid line that goes "Paramedics save lives-EMTs save Paramedics" but this is a patent untruth! With every best wish, Somedic

Hifidaffi422: Whats your point? Whether you find my remarks "inflammatory" or not I wrote them to be just the way they are. If this offended your sensitivites then so be it. These type of people that consider learning patient assessment "crap" are the very ones we may have to work with. I am tired of the low quality EMT taking to the streets these days. To some what quote a favortie military leader here "We aint making no GD cornflakes here" is true for EMS. We deal with lives. So if you are upset go back to reading Men are from Mars and Women are from Venus and sip your Cafe Latte. And dont let your passions get inflamed on in an all male station. With every best wish, SOMEDIC

Ruff: I forgot about some people calling the radio frequency HEAR. I remember dailing 1-4-4-4-4 to brake into any hospital in the state. These radios are really neat but I cant see how they would connect with the flight crew's ICS.