Richard B the EMT

I just thought of something: due to "sensitivity" of each newer upgrade of scope, give yourself time to acclimate yourself to it, or all you're going to hear, is not the sound of a pulse during a BP reading, but the sound of the conversation in the next room. Got to learn not just what sounds to listen to, but what you need to tune out. It's kind of like me as a kid. Momma B could be screaming loud enough to wake the dead from a yard from me, and I wouldn't hear her, but the bells on the Good Humor truck a mile off, now THAT I'd hear.

2Rude, what type are you using now, as it says you're already an EMT-B? If it works, and if the instructors don't advise you to upgrade, stay with it. I had actually been working for a few years as an EMT before I decided to get one of the more expensive scopes. The "El-Cheep-O" you might get at any of those "Nurses Uniform" stores usually should do the trick, or buy from a catalog, or even on line. We on this site playfully malign the Galls catalog, but even their cheapest scopes are decent.

With no intent of either support or put-down, I wonder if "Lifeguard" saw this string?

I think I have gotten respect from even Hells Angels, when I tell them I work EMS. I always follow it up with telling them that too many bikers are being hit, injured, or killed, by inattentive drivers in cars, vans, and truck, with no regard for "weekend warrior", independent, club, or even "Gang" bike member status.

I haven't ridden a motor since 1972, but I agree with that last comment

Remember my previous entries on this string, on the new FDNY EMS boots? Now that this string has been resurrected, I went looking for news items on these "Big-Foot" clunkers. From the New York Daily News http://www.nydailyne...y_footwear.html After this news item appeared, the department relented, and is having a selected 100 personnel try out several different brands of boots, which will almost be custom made for each member. Other field personnel are allowed to wear the old boots, if they still have them (as I do), or any black military style boot (hold on to the sales slips, folks!) until this can be finally settled as to brand and style, and contracts drawn up. From the Public Employee Press, a publication of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) http://www.dc37.net/.../ems_boots.html

RCMP= Royal Canadian Mounted Police Ipecac is not in my protocols any more, but I have (sometimes) a long memory.

CBEMT, I am unsure if that was directed at me, but if it was, FDNY EMS would only be doing "Transfers" between ERs, and it would have to be something quite significant to require it. It also would need authorization of the EMD Duty Captain, and the OLMC doctor in charge. If it wasn't directed at me, I hope no harm done.

ASA is aspirin. What is MSIR, and what is it's intended use? What is Gabpentin, and what is it's intended use? If our patient is down to bile, and I'm guessing the "dry heaves", again as noted with no pill remnants in the emesis, the administration of either the activated charcoal, or the administration of Ipecac would be contra-indicated. (And a hopefully not needed reminder, never both at the same time as they'd only counteract each other.)

Rather not see, or be seen wearing? I'll support you either way.

I'll preface this, by stating that I am a friend of the owner of the company I'm supplying the link to, but have never used, or been in an agency that uses, his services. I'm just offering the link as a possible source of information to the original question of this string. The service is based in, and used by agencies in and near, New York City. (Ron, I hope I didn't just cause your e-mail to go into overload!) www.emsrev.com

As noted in numerous of my postings, I'm an EMT-B, providing BLS service. If I get called to an extended care facility (NOT a hospital) to bring a patient to the ER, and the patient is on a vent, I'm radioing for Paramedic backup. This is more for the additional set of hands. We end up disconnecting the facility's vent, as the last thing disconnected from the patient, and go BVM. Just before we start wheeling the stretcher to the elevator, we radio for a notification to the destination ER, asking for their respiratory therapist to have a vent ready to meet us at the ER. I admit, again, most times when I transport, I'm no more than 15 minutes from any point in the city to an appropriate ER, and usually not more than 45 to a specialty receiving ER (burn, trauma, STEMI), so it remains a short time for using the BVM. Equipment failure? The safety check is the tech in the back. The initial safety check for the tech in the back is the equipment. If both fail at the same time, something is off, big time. I am somewhat familiar with the Road Rescue brand type one ambulances, and somehow, if only one vehicle out of however many they made the year the "suspect" vehicle was made, I doubt the vehicle systems are at fault. All, however, the vehicle, the on-board and portable equipment, and the actions of both the sending facility and ambulance crews, will be reviewed by the investigators, and whatever the determination made, I hope to see it here.

Well! That's 2 minutes of my life I'm never going to recoup!

@ FM65: Truer words have rarely been spoken. @ UGLyEMT: Unless the workplace in question has a PA system to put out a general page, similar to the hospital's PA calling out a "Code 99" somewhere in the facility, There would be the question, not of if the "trained person" didn't feel like responding, but if the person would be at the desk? There's things like meal breaks, bathroom breaks, sick leave, and vacation leave, that make a person not be at their telephone to be notified for the need for their skills. I must mention that FDNY EMS, my employer, in trying to keep with the incoming DoH 5 year CME recertification program, which is supposed to be replacing the 3 year refresher class recertification program, doesn't want to accept my CME credits from outside the department. However, all of my instructors who know I have taken these outside CMEs have all told me the same thing: "As it is a new program, things are in a state of flux. Today, we're not accepting the outside credits, but hold on to the paperwork, as tomorrow, we might be accepting them."

Could it be that the OP is coming to NYC?

Establish a patent airway, with tube if tolerated or needed, and place on supplemental O2 via Non Re-breather mask @ 10-15 LPM. Already covered is securing the arms with curlex/kling bandages, if he should regain consciousness and be upset with us EMSers and the RCMP folks. Original poster said his usual domestic dispute partner is in the back of the patrol car. See if the LEOs can pump her for information as to what happened (medically related) prior to EMS and RCMP arrival. I'm BLS and cannot give injections or start IVs, but as the scenario is with first due Paramedics, start an IV to keep vein open, on normal saline, and if protocols allow, go with Narcan propholactically (knowledge is from observation of FDNY Paramedics I am assisting on my job). If the patient has been vomiting bile-like emisis, with no apparent remains of the meds from the empty bottles, he's got something going on. I cannot yet tell what. Keep it coming, dudes and dudetts!

I guess your safety guy is following a World War Two "mantra:"

While I have no clue as to where you might be using for dormitory space, for information on ride-alongs, link up to this, and call the number at the bottom of the page. http://nyc.gov/html/fdny/html/community/ems_faq_042607.shtml#info

The "Nugget of Truth" I found in "MJ&S" was when "Speed" was on his first run with "Murdock". The old man died, and Murdock commented, "I hope they don't try and pin that on US!"

Actually, as a part of tonight's "Jeopardy!" show, they had a simulation of a magazine being used as a splint. Then, in 1972 (I think) we had the biggest fixed wing air ambulances, when at least 2 Galaxy C5A "Star Lifters" were used to evacuate South Vietnam orphans from that country. Regrettably, one of those big birds crashed, killing all aboard. My reference was to the Boeing 747 airframe, that was, and probably still is, equipped, while flying somewhere over an "undisclosed location", with a crew ready to take over the command of the US Military, as I had mentioned in the earlier post, should the Cheyenne Mountain Command Complex be taken out with a direct hit, by something the size of the "Czar Bomb" (reference under that name on YouTube). I admit I may be mistaken on the name, as it is either "Christal Palace", or "Mirror Palace", as it functions the same as the Cheyenne Mountain Command Complex (My reference being a few years back in the Popular Communications magazine. The actual edition has been long ago relegated to the recycle bin) If we were to develop or find a functional Worm Hole device, like the "Star Gate", it wouldn't be kept secret: the scientists would probably be on the next newscasts, patting themselves on the back for doing so. At least we know that a C5A can carry a BUNCH of splints to a Stargate location. (Did that bring it all together, "+medic"?)

Heck, even I don a gas mask when I remove my boots after a 16 hour "double"!

Either that, or they are testing your knowledge a bit, but either way, sounds good. As you posted this in February, I think they are hungry again. Something is nibbling on my toes!

Oy! Here we go again! If this guy has a seizure disorder, he probably tries to keep it under control with "Peanut Butter Balls" (Phenobarbatol)

What about the Boeing 747 airframe designated "Christal Palace"? If memory serves, it is supposed to duplicate the functions of the Command complex at, or should I say UNDER, Cheyenne Mountain, if that base were to be destroyed by an incoming "Nuke". (The complex does actually exist, but the "Stargate Command" dug underneath is a movie/TV fabrication)

...Or, for that matter, Christopher Walkin?