Richard B the EMT

My canine, like myself, is disappointed nobody else seems to be playing this string. She walked away from the computer, Dog-gone it.

It happens, unfortunately. It is, at least where I am looking from, infrequent. 1) Working an Inter-Facility Transfer ambulance, I once transported a patient from the Manhattan (NY) Veterans Administration Hospital to the Montrose (NY) VA facility. Montrose specialized in substance abuse "dry outs", and had an extensive psych lock down area. The ambulance I was on was an open design type 2, no interior walls between the cab and cabin. This call was different than most that I had previously transported on this run. First off, most of the patients the VA had me pick up for this run were already in the ER area. Most are walking. Not so this time. We had to go upstairs to the MnVA's lock ward, where the staff took our stretcher from us, took it inside the "lock-ward", and put an apparently partially sedated man in a straitjacket onto the stretcher, and put a locking restraint onto his ancle and a bar on the stretcher. They then brought the device back out to us, handed me a large manila envelope, and the key to the locks, and bade my partner and me a safe journey. The envelope was sealed shut, and I made no attempt to open it. I rode the front passenger seat in a side saddle position, that I could watch the patient, and talk with my partner during the roughly 90 minute run. Abouy 10 minutes from our destination, my partner and I suddenly smelled cigarette smoke. Neither of us smoked, so I turned to see the patient, with one arm free, calmly smoking a cigarette! After an uneventful (except for the cigarette) trip, while processing the patient in with the admissions officer, he asked me if I had read the paperwork, which I had not, and told him so. "Brother, next time, better look at the papers!" he said, almost evilly. It turned out that this patient was a suicidal/homicidal patient! We got the patient to his ward, let the staff release him with the key in our possession, got handed back the restraints, and started back down to NYC. I can assure you, after that, any paperwork going with a patient will at minimum, be visually scanned by me, and anything like that standing out, will be heavily scrutinized by me, and advised to my partner. 2) There seems to be an "Urban Legend" within most IFT ambulance services in existance for more than 25 years. The story is the crew is transporting a seemingly cooperative psych patient going to a somewhat distant facility. The EMT riding "Shotgun" is a bit sleepy, and allows the patient to sit on the crew bench while the EMT takes a short nap, on the stretcher. While the tech sleeps, the patient releases the stretcher from the moorings, opens the ambulance door, and, while the ambulance is still travelling at 60 MPH, pushes the stretcher and tech out, and jumps out, himself! What is left of the 2 is taken off the highway roadway with a spatula.

I have not taken the time to determine if this particular Orca was "captured", or born in captivity, but either way, some instincts are of some critter's natural ways. I opine that "trained wild animals" might be trained against their normal ways.

To anyone going: If you meet up with a guy from the FDNY EMS Command, going by the nickname of "Shaggy"(like Scooby Doo's owner), tell him you're an on line buddy of mine!

Is the museum dedicated to canines called the Collie-See-um (Coliseum)? Lassie's favorite flower is the cauliflower (collie flower). Our favorite fool was told that comets were "Stars with a tale". When asked to name some, he said "Lassie, and Rin-tin-tin." Then, the fool tried to name shooting stars, and ended up with John Wayne, Roy Rogers, and Clint Eastwood.

As mentioned, don't trash someone due to what they say. It is better to say to anyone else, even me (the admitted legend in his own mind), that something stated is incorrect, but back it with facts. Do not say "You're wrong because you are a dunderhead", but instead, say, "You are wrong for the following reason(s)", and explain your reasoning. A personal peeve of mine is, never presume that everyone else will understand something indicated locally by wherever you're certified or licensed as an emergency medical practitioner by initials. I was once confused by some folks' usage of "Con-Ed". By me, that's the electric company, Consolidated Edison, here in New York City. I returned the confusion with "C.M.E." Is that Chief Medical Examiner, or Continuing Medical Education? If you must use initials TRANSLATE the initials. NEVER USE ALL CAPS! Even in non-EMS related areas outside of EMT City, that is considered to be shouting, and impolite even at best. Remember that the search, and the spell check, functions are your friends. We really don't need a gazillion separate strings on the same topic, and either the administrator will shut a string down, or one of the moderators (which I am not!) will. Spelling is considered to be a function of good intelligence, even when I, and others start typing in dialect, as sometimes we Noo Yawkahs from Lawn Gyland might do wit youze guyz (Ya wanna make sumpin of it?). Yes, we play (some even more than I do, if you can believe it) but we keep it within the context of EMS work. Be advised that there is always going to be a battle primarily between the hospital based, and the Fire Department based, EMS systems, as well as the paid and volunteer service providers on the site. Opinions are like noses, everyone has one. No matter how well you state a position, someone will have an equally well stated opposition opinion. I may have a different opinion than you, but I'll defend you the right to have that opinion; you might even sway me to your view. (Who'da thunk it?) Newjacks and Newbies, be advised: Welcome Aboard!

@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ If the "black box" is built to withstand a plane crash, why don't they build the whole aircraft that way?

NOT! ************************************************************** We all know buttercups are mostly yellow, but are Hiccups burple? ))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))) The fool saw the tsunami, and waved back. (((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((( Three French kittens got into a leaky rowboat, and un deux troi cat sank! __________________________________________________________________ As the condemned man was dragged away to the awaiting ax executioner, he screamed over and over again, "Mercy!" The king thought to himself, "I've never had a condemned man thank me before."

Just wake me up when the EMS vs FD wars are over...

Just for informational sake, do they usually respond from home in a "standby' status or emergency recall, or operate "on station", for example, in the station-house?

Sometimes it is NOT the patient or their family. Prior to the EMS FDNY merger, this incident happened. The EMS Lieutenant is a friend of mine. The now former mayor never was. http://www.nytimes.com/1993/12/16/nyregion/giuliani-challenges-ems-at-accident.html?pagewanted=1 </h1> The proper medical based decision was to take the youth to the nearest Trauma Center, at New York-Cornell Hospital, rather than to Columbia-Presbyterian. Please note why, in the followup article as to why the mother wanted the youth transported to, which is marked by me. http://www.nytimes.com/1993/12/27/nyregion/dinkins-faults-giuliani-in-dispute-with-ems.html?pagewanted=1 </h1>

Considering when that was probably recorded, I'm actually surprised that it made it past the sensors of the era. Still, it is funny. ########################################## The fool tried out being a soldier, but was court marshaled for telling the Drill Sargent that he couldn't stand straight. He claimed it was an "Attention Deficit Disorder". %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% The church bulletin stated "Mrs Brown, for Easter, will come forward and lay an egg on the alter".

Well, here's an unexpected use for the ipod, anyway. The person shown in this is one Heather Holliday, a professional sword swallower whom Lady J and I have seen at Coney Island USA. http://www.youtube.c...gQ&translated=1

Methinks the "robot" needs tweaking, as to not let unpaid ads in, IMHO.

From Section 375, of the New York State Vehicle and Traffic Laws: While I note that it states one bulb, I actually don't know anyone who follows that, including myself. I have seen multiples in the grille, with a Kojack on the dash, and a lightbar on top (not mentioning the alternating tail light/backup lights, and rear deck lights). One associate of mine was ticketed for having a single housing 2 bulb rotating beacon, operated off one switch, the LEO claiming he had a permit for one bulb, not the other

If memory serves me, Cyanide is supposed to have a "burnt almond" smell. Everyone keep that in mind, too.

The September 11th Attack on the World Trade Center was (hopefully) a once in a lifetime occurrence.

There are two competing podiatrists just opened practices on opposite sides of the street. They have become arch enemies. ****************************************************************************** I was unable to make an appointment with a nutritionist. Seems she is too busy: her plate is too full. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Antique: How do you avoid getting stiff in the joints? Stay out of them!

Don't call Lone Star or Richard B, we'll call you.

The nearest I can get to this, is Gene Hackman as Popeye Doyle in "The French Connection", when he rattles a suspect by asking him, over and over, "Do you pick your toes in Poughkeepsie?"

Oops, my bad. You were laughing at the string, not my description of the HHC vs FDNY uniforms. The string IS funny.

It was a low flow of donors. (We did get 19 pints, 5 deferrals, FYI) I was complaining about a restaurant that Lady J and I have not been to in almost 20 years, because they served undercooked "bloody" chicken. Momma B commented that that must be rare. Whaddya get when you cross a snake with a rabbit and an amoeba? An Adder that multiplies and divides. The museum had a display of statuary of the ancient Greek, Roman, and Norse Gods. My friend the fool pointed to one of the statues, and asked "Which one is that?" The guide asked him, "Why are you asking?" "Idle curiosity." Before Lady J, before DebbieSue, there was Yvette. She has some strong ESP ability as a clairvoyant. She preferred being called a psychic, as she is tiny, and when she's out and about the town, doesn't want to be referred to as a small medium at large.

It is always a bad thing when one gets a LODI (Line Of Duty Injury), but it will always seem worse, when it is due to the actions, or lack of them, by a colleague. That makes 4 people who it sucks to be them. However, I wish all a speedy recovery, including the driver that hit the others.

My closest connection to Texas is my nephew, born in San Antonio in 1972, but now living in "Da Bronicks" (the Bronx) New York City, NY. Welcome aboard! I just stopped by To welcome you. Hi! I gotta run now, So, bye-bye.

1) So...why are you laughing? 2) After 2 and a half years, why not let this string stay played out?