Richard B the EMT

I just try to stay near bathrooms, and carry "wet ones" wipes.

If memory serves me, they had a few filmed after announcing the hiatus. #11 must have been one of them. Points of interest: 1) At the opening car crash, one of them actually said the driver was DRT, or "Dead Right There", in front of the family members also in the accident. Where I live, and probably where most of you live, too, that is a suspension without pay fer sure! 2) Ongoing complaint of allowing a patient to move their head while in a C-Collar, and not restrained to the long backboard. 3) There is debate on telling patients worst case scenarios when not trying to convince them of the need to be transported and seen at the ER. 4) If I heard them correctly, they did 10 assignments in as many hours, claim to be too tired to play Poker, yet all of them volunteer for overtime. We have ongoing debate on other strings as to how our personnel respond when overly tired, calling it akin to an alcoholic "buzz", so there is a chance the writers and producers are unaware of this. 5) I think Marisa is aware, or at least suspects, Rabbit and Nancy's romantic (?) involvement. 6) Glen and Nancy descend into the service pit without safety lines, as the Fire Fighter apparently also has done. Yield a point that the injury to the worker would not have happened in the first place if she had been wearing one. 7) It is my understanding that some Fire Fighters are generically nicknamed "Jake", but they never established if they were calling this FF "Jake" for that reason, or if the character's name actually was Jake. 8) Nancy, the refugee from the planet Kripton, due to her diagnostic X-Ray vision, met her kriptonite: She's Claustrophobic! And now, Glen knows her weakness. 9) Having the "hostage" actually being a part of the bank robbery team is kind of old formula drama, as it's been done so many times before. 10) Someone once accused me of delaying a response to set up the VCR (that person no longer seems to be a part of EMT City). Somehow, adrenaline junkie Rabbit delaying getting to the helicopter to grab a lawn chair, even for a character as nutty as he is, is out of character. 10-A) After the earlier scene where Marisa suspects the Rabbit/Nancy involvement, while she's putting her lunch into the refrigerator, did anyone note of Rabbit, while grabbing the lawn chair, did he at least bring Marisa's lunch along for her? 11) Why did Tyler want to check out the helicopter, and why in the middle of a Multiple Casualty Incident (again, where I live, a hostage situation qualifies as an MCI)? I mention that some years ago, my Lady J and I sat in the pilot seats of an NYPD helicopter, at the hanger, but before we did, I asked our guide if all power was off, in case we accidentally flipped any switches. Tyler was definitely "touching" switches, and Marisa was quite correct in ordering him out of the bird. 12) We have had a few strings on "Tactical EMT/Tactical Paramedic" training, for when incident "front line" care is needed. Does anybody know if the SFPD has any, or the FBI, to send into hostage situations, instead of "line" personnel like Rabbit? Actually, that was probably poetic licence, for purposes of advancing the drama in the show. 13) Either the FBI agent in charge knew of Rabbit's "Cowboy-ing", or got a good quick read on him. 14) Boone and Tyler were tripping over each other in the helicopter. Doesn't the SFFD have some training for when their personnel go up in a helicopter, so they'd have an idea where stuff is stored on the bird? Also, they should have been seat belted in, in some way. (Yes, as already discussed, the SFFD doesn't have helicopters.) 15) Are SFFD Fire Fighters trained as Certified First Responders? "Jake" recognized "Agonal Breathing", and called it as such. 16) Glen managed to calm Nancy down enough to use him to intubate the patient, as Fire Fighter Jake decides to take the "Sgt Shultz" path of "I didn't see anything" for Glen going out of "Scope Of Practice". 17) Shades of Ruby Ridge and Waco! Rabbit had taken the guns away from the 2 robbers, so the LEO Snipers shot 2 unarmed persons. 18) If the SFFD had the maps showing the tunnels, they should have known the tunnel they directed Glen, "Jake" and Nancy down was a dead end, instead of having them need to backtrack to a service hatch. 19) We've established that Tyler is "Gay", but when he decided to help Marisa BBP (Blood-Borne Pathogen) decontaminate the helicopter, which even Marisa claims Rabbit never does, I now have to wonder if he's "Bi", and is starting to chase Marisa. 20) The student doctor realizes Glen did the intubation, as Nancy always commits the same minor damage doing the procedure, but decides to do as "Jake" did, and not notice the descrepancy. 21) The FBI agent in charge was wrong in allowing the snipers to fire, and Rabbit was wrong in smearing the dead robbers' blood on the agent. Unfortunately, I have to agree with the reasoning behind the department's suspending Rabbit, pending an investigation. My forecast is, Rabbit will be hit with a fine. (I'm not usually a violent person, but I would have attempted to deck the FBI agent. This was a charged atmosphere to begin with, as the perps were shot mere inches from Rabbit.) 22) The FBI/Rabbit incident has some precidence within the show. Glen turned in a "decorated cop" for "tuning up" a suspect, which almost resulted in a "Battle of the Badges" bar fight between theSFFD medicos and the SFPD.

News Item: Unlicensed "Plastic Surgeon" being questioned for using the type silicon used to seal bathroom tiles, in "Butt lifts", instead of surgically approved silicon. Medical and legal authorities are trying to get to the bottom of this issue.

Take it easy on her, she's got time on her hands as she's recuperating at home from illness, and probably might resurrect numerous old strings.

Hope you're feeling better really soon. Expect some questions from me on the PMs.

4C6 posted a link to more recent information, which now shows he had a heart attack. Other links there show he suffered a head injury. Did he hit his head, falling from the heart attack, or what? I'll wait for further information, but I do extend condolences to his wife and 2 kids, and the extended family of the agencies he worked with.

Hulk Hogan could not understand how he lost the match: he'd won all the rehearsals. 1) I have been trying! 2) As a member has mentioned in their signature, these are NOT training videos! Does that mean if I run off of a cliff, I won't start falling until and unless I look down and see the valley below where I went off of the cliff?

I'm going to presume that most of you exercise early in the day, before your body figures out what you're trying to do to it? (LOL) (PS: I'm trying the "ALLI" pills. I'll keep youze guyz posted.)

I once met the guy who created college "Cliff Notes". I asked him where he got such a great idea, and he answered, "Well, to make a long story short..." +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ I'm told that the Harrah, Oklahoma, News once ran an article about the Falderal String Band, which was to entertain at an event. The story stated "These true sons of the Southwest have twanged their music all over Oklahoma and have been asked more than once to leave the state." ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Folk singer/Songwriter Oscar Brand once wrote a song (included in my guitar playing repertory) called "Remember the Horse", about the highway systems that "runs all over the United States and Canada, and it's pedestrians".

A Las Vegas firefighter got hurt in a multiple alarm, and was transported to the ER at Columbia Sunrise Hospital, where he got stitches, and a Tetanus booster injection. You can imagine the looks of those reading the accident report, on reading that he got "6 stitches and shot at Sunrise". ######################################################### The TGI Friday's restaurant I sometimes frequent offers, at slight additional cost, steak "smothered in mushrooms, green peppers and onions, in a Jack Daniels sauce." The waiter, trying to sell it to a customer who just wanted a basic steak, asked if he wanted the sirloin "smothered". "I don't care how you kill it, just as long as it's dead!"

My condolences on the great loss in your personal family. As for requesting this time off, I concur with the "Pecking order" method. However, if they still say no, see if you can get a "pro-rated" refund, letting them keep the money for classes already taken. While I feel you won't get full refunding for the school year, perhaps you can get some of the money outlay back, and use in the year following when you'd return to the school.

We like to "rubberneck" at the scene of a car crash, too.

The music teacher was telling her student saxophone players how to attach the neck strap to the instrument in prevention of it accidentally falling and breaking. A student asked the teacher if that was "practicing 'Safe Sax'". There's actually too many music students in one school, and it's causing trouble. Seems that there is too much Sax and Violins (sex and violence) in the school.

Formula: Crime discovered, detectives arrive, sometimes making bad jokes. Investigation starts, persons interviewed, Lieutenant browbeats investigating detectives as to do their jobs, or grabs the interview for herself. Suspects defined, new connection determined, and suspect arrested and being given their Miranda Rights Warning as they get escorted to the awaiting patrol car as we go into the mid show commercial break. Argument as to bail or remand, petition by defense lawyers suppressing potential evidence delivered, Assistant District Attorneys discuss or argue with the District Attorney as to how to proceed. Startling revelation discovered, sentence handed down by jury to judge, Assistant District Attorneys and the District Attorney either congratulate each other, commiserate, or discuss their differences of opinion on how the verdict will affect future cases. Formula enough for "Law and Order"?

Would you say that a motor home (RV) should never be parked on a steep hill? It will leave if it is so inclined. Would you say that Victoria's Secret always seems to be having a sale? All of the lingerie looks like it's 90 per cent off. Would you say that a shy person suffers from "Hi" anxiety? I've heard myself defined as being an "Oil Gusher": crude and unrefined.

Welcome aboard, from a New York City guy (my nephew was born in San Antonio).

On a slightly different take, in addition to the items mentioned by TCRIPP, you also have to be able to do the skills taught you AS an EMT, and know the limit of what you know (meaning when to request Paramedics for their advanced medical knowledge and skills sets).

I would, if using any search engine researched answer, give credit to either my information source, or at minimum, the search engine itself. Then, again, that might just be me. Besides, some researched material might be copyrighted, so give credit where credit is due.

...What he said!

Nope. They just got pushed back until after Christmas New Years, The big Bowl games the Superbowl The International Dog Show the Olympics with the few episodes already "in the can", so not to be a total loss. I'll be in front of the terlevision set making notes, and posting same the next day, as I did for the first 10 episodes. As for Kevin Tighe being on the show, OK, but I'd rather see "Captain Hank Stanley", or "Marco" from "LACoFD Engine 51" in the role, as the final "Emergency1" had "Johnny and Roy" reminiscing, as both had just been promoted to Captains, not doing Paramedic duties anymore, 30+ years ago! (Joe Morton, who portrayed one of the OLMC MDs at Ramparts General is now a lawyer on "The Good Wife".)

There was a small Caribbean island, where the law stated all children born there had to be officially named for the records within 24 hours of birth, and sexist as it was, had to be named by the father, or another close male family member. A man's wife went into labor, but he was 48 hours away. His brother went to the hospital with the woman, but this man was a notorious joker and punster. The father of the baby was terrified with what would happen. When the father made it to the hospital, he found his wife in tears. "What happened?" asked the father. "What of my wife and baby has happened?" Through her tears, the wife told her husband that she was all right, but it was not one baby, but twins, a girl and a boy. Both survived birth, and were actually quite well. The husband asked, "what are their names? I wasn't here, and my brother, their uncle..." "That's why I am crying. He named them." "What did he name them?" "The girl is 'Denise'." "Is that why you are crying?" "No. It is what he named the boy." "He named the boy..." "He named the boy 'DeNephew'!"

A different angle, folks: Severe depression, and the patient wants to end it all. Will you see signs that the patient wants to hurt themselves? Remember that old dramatic device of literature, TV and movies, that you have to be most cautious of the quiet ones.

In the case of the Pedestrian struck by a car (NYC EMS call-type PEDSTR), where the Mayor-Elect interfered with the crews, policy and protocols directed that, due to the method of injury, that a Trauma Center be considered the destination for the patient. Where the Mayor eventually had the patient taken to, has never had a Trauma Center, just the patient's father working there as a surgeon. I don't know if it is just tradition, or written law, but, isn't it wrong for a surgeon to operate on a family member?

It becomes somewhat a jurisdictional thing. The Homicidal/Suicidal patient I mentioned was in a Veterans Administration Hospital within the NYPD coverage, to be transported to another VA hospital, in upper Westchester County, where I have no clue if there's a local police force, or is covered by the NY State Police, or both. Also, the company I was then with, was not a 9-1-1 system responder, meaning no matter what call I may have responded to with that employer, unless I personally called 9-1-1, there would not be any PD response. I got grief from the NYPD, when I asked for an NYPD on-board patient escort for going from the Brooklyn VA hospital, to a facility (I think it was also a VA facility) across the Verrazano Bridge in Staten Island, an area covered by different precincts of the NYPD. A mention here that within NYC, at this time, the NY State Police only had an office relating to security for the Governor, and was in the World Trade Center. Apparently, the VA police are only authorized to protect VA facilities, not escort patients between them, or so it seemed back then, from 1975 to 1977. When I was working for the NYC Health and Hospitals Corporation EMS, before the FDNY merger, they had a small branch called PETS, the Psychiatric Emergency Transfer Service. They ran 3 person crews, in basically a minibus, no stretcher, with two EMTs and an HHC Police Officer. At least one of the trio was always a female, for the benefit of patient's security. Budget cutbacks eliminated this service, which was strictly inter-facility, not pickups in the street or from private offices or residences. At least on my 9-1-1 ambulances, EDP calls always have the NYPD on the scene, minimally 4 LEOs in 2 patrol cars. One half of one team will ride, on EMS crew request, in the ambulance, followed by the LEOs partner, to pick up the officer after transfer of care to the Psych ER area. In some cases, the LEOs will insist on the escort, and when they do, I graciously accept. Even with, or despite, that last, I have never had any EDPs attempt to exit the moving ambulance within NYC that I have been made aware of.

I drove a friend and his dying cat to the veterinarian. He told my buddy that it was too late, but my friend insisted he do something. The vet walked away for a moment. A Labrador Retriever walked into the room, circled the examining table, and walked out. Then a Siamese cat did the same. The vet then came back into the room, and gave my friend a bill for $400. "You're charging me $400 for declaring my cat dead?" fumed my friend. The vet replied, "Yes, and for the 'Lab' test and the 'cat' scan".