JoelEMT

yeah, we have Helos here, but that being said they don't always fly (weather etc). For the whole province of Alberta (as far as I know) there are only 5 Dedicated helos - 2 in Calgary, 2 in Edmonton and (I believe) a recent addition of 1 more for the Grand Prairie area. There are several fixed wing sites and services but usually are too slow to arrange in emergent settings as described in the situation. (The second helos in both Edmonton and Calgary are usually not manned and are used as mechanical spares.) Alberta is a Very Large chunk of land - 255,285 square miles (661,190 square kilometres), of which 6,485 square miles are freshwater. It is 756 miles (1,216 kilometres) in extent from north to south and 404 miles across at the greatest width. And only 5 choppers for the whole of it and a total of 1,149 missions flown in 2005. See the STARS (Shock Trauma Air Rescue Society) website for more information. www.stars.ca

Had one the other day - a perfectly healthy woman who had been "diagnosed" with constipation (after 2 days of "no go") she was seen at hospital a day prior (that's when she received the diagnosis) She refused to "drink more water and/or take some laxtives." So she called us. OH YEAH! I forgot to mention that she literally lived ACROSS the street from the hospital. Quite capable of walking but chose to call us because "it's too far to walk." We are talking about 100yds or less people! hmm - Hefty ambulance bill or short 2 minute walk from door to door. That would be a tough one in my books.....LOL Joel

My class was invited down to the M.E. office to observe an autopsy. - Not quite the same but allowed you to put everything in perspective as to location and size. Also, One of our instructors thought it would be "neat" (and it was) to get ahold of cow lungs and trachea for an airway lab. - He then intubated it and bagged it. It was very interesting to see the lungs inflate, the amount of air required to "achieve chest rise" etc.

We have been (or were) trialing some of the Ferno power stretchers. I have to agree with Dust about the fact that you end up with a lot more "lifting" than you would expect even in urban jungle. - way to many obstacles - ie:curbs. I wrote "(or were)" because all the ones that we have have now been pulled off car due to poor battery life, injuries/strains associated with the increased weight and awkwardness of how you have to change the battery. 20-25 lbs at an odd angle while you are extended forward causes significant strain on the lower back. They are an excellent idea for transfer services where you rarely see the outdoors. They have potential if they are re-engineered with improved battery life, much improved ergonomics and lighter frame (I dunno, maybe carbon fibre or titanium) if they could get the weight down to around 80lbs and make the "handles" less awkward to use (yes they adjust, but are still incredibly awkward) I would definately use one (again) but until then.....

I currently work 96 H on and 96 H off. It has both advantages and disadvantages. work and average of 15-16 days a month. (without picking up extra days.) Usually end up picking up about 4-5 extra days a month.

very well said AK. Seems to me that while reading through the mountain of posts in this thread and others that it doesn't matter what the truth is or what the studies say, people are going to disagree. Everyone sees things differently, whether by choice or through ignorance, there are people that will disagree just to piss you off. MY take on it is: L&S generally mean higher speeds. (not to mention, the "adrenaline rush" that the newbies get causing among other things: poor/irrational thoughts/judgement, tunnel vision etc. (some would counter - increased reflexes but yeah, whatever) High speeds have been CONSISTENTLY proven to cause an increase in the number of collisions as well as an increase in the severity of the damage and injuries sustained in those collisions when compared to the collision/damage/injury rates of those that followed the speed limits ( speed limit being the maximum SAFE speed for IDEAL conditions) We have all seen the confusion and panic and resulting poor judgment of people on the road that hear/see an emergency vehicle. Do we really need to further aggravate the problem by allowing everyone (including vollies) to have L&S??? I would rather see a decrease in OVERALL vehicle related trauma by properly educating the public as well as educating/training those that currently use L&S on how and why to drive safely. Prevention, rather than allowing everyone to respond hot to deal with problems that proper education/mentality (a.k.a. Prevention) could have prevented in the first place is ideal. Of course, all too many people THINK that they are better than most people, that they already do drive safely or "don't worry I can handle it" IT'S B.S. You may be in control of your own vehicle but you don't control nature, nor the other drivers on the road. It's time that people (aka EVERYBODY) takes our heads out from our rears and starts practicing safe and curteous driving. Collisions will still happen but that's why there is EMS to begin with. We just need to get over the "oh, WOW, SHINY!!!" mentality

Rid, I was wondering if you could provide the sources for the studies that you quoted. The use of the Trendellenberg position is one of discussion here at work currently. I read you posts with great interest and just wanted to read the studies for myself. 'Ppreciate it.

Thanks Devin, but my point was more along the lines that the GLYCOGEN not GLUCAGON was what was mentioned. That's all.

Itku2er: You said 1ml of glycogen IM I assume that you had meant 1 mg Glucagon IM correct????

to quote AK " I get paid in US dollars" Now, I have spent enough time in the US to know that the cost of living and prices of common commodities are relatively equal. That being said, It really makes no difference whether you are paid in US or CDN dollars because the ONLY time you will notice a difference in your spending/earning power is if you cross the border into the opposite country. It is only when you convert/exchange your cash that you notice a SMALL fluxuation (given the current exchange rate.) That's my rant. Sorry, but it one of my pet peeves. I make just as much a year as the majority of my US counterparts.

Please define CRF. Thanks

Point taken. But at least I'm not the only one that does it.

Sorry, I missed that the topic was "Pet Peeve SAYINGS", but I still hold my ground on what I said. (Wasn't trying to hijack the thread)

There are a few that irk me. Namely: P.S. the following are all based on former partners (of ALL levels) 1.) People that don't listen. ( Whether to what the pt is saying or to thier partner who is running the call.) #-o 2.) People that can't be taught. AKA, Never been wrong a day in their life. ](*,) 3.) People that refuse to listen to the voice of experience. (Textbooks are good but......) [-( 4.) Dispatchers that NEED to know everything that you are doing and why. ( You do your job and I'll do mine.) :twisted: 5.) Inexperienced partners voicing their inexperience in front of patients in an outside voice. (Talk to me AFTER the call or pull me aside) IF the shoe fits......but you don't like the shoe.......try a different style. :wink:

Just a note of interest, it may or may not be applicable to you in your area. In Alberta, we are only allowed to interpret lead 2, the only time that we use leads 1 or 3 is when we are @ a DOA to confirm asystole in "2 or more leads". So for us, jumping to another lead to increase suspicion of MI (Inferior MI the only one that you'd be able to see in leads 1-3 not to mention the previously stated monitor vs diagnostic quality) would more than likely garner some unwelcomed comments from paramedics. Of course, it depends on who your ALS backup is.