Richard B the EMT

Due to my longevity in being an EMT, I recall we had the "Pre-Cardial Thump", done at the start of CPR. It was kind of as Ridryder described, a body-generated joules shock to the heart. It was taken out of protocols, probably because too many civilians were breaking patient's ribs by doing it as "taught" by observation of it as done by our friends on LACoFD Rescue 51, Johnny and Roy. Because they saw it dramatized on "Emergency!", they believed they were doing it correctly. Give them credit, as they at least tried to do something to help.

It doesn't matter what his EMT City name is, or even if he is a member of EMT City. As Brady already posted, May any and all of us doing EMS work remain healthy, and if not, at least a speedy recovery!

Debatable!

Congrats, Wendy and new spouse, but why are you on EMT City instead of really honeymooning? Leastwise, thanks for the notification of the change of status.

The FDNY did similarly at the Pope John Paul II public mass held at the Aqueduct Race Track.

Due to the publicity on their failing health, we expected Ed (McMahon) and Farah to go "sometime soon", and they did. MJ was a total surprise, as there was no publicity of any (physical, not mental) illness on his part, just that he was about to start a "farewell tour".

When someone employs a lawyer when charged with a crime, innocent or not, the jury (or in non jury trials, the judge) decides who is the better lawyer, the defense attorneys, or the prosecuting attorneys. I really don't know the "stats" on the number of guilty people still on the streets, and the innocent ones who are incarcerated, due to that type of action.

All joking aside, and the PETA "line" not withstanding, I do concur with you on that!

I had the Raquel Welch (1 Million Years BC) poster, and I am not gay, just from an earlier time (I AM NOT FROM THAT FAR BACK!).

Elvis is "The King"! Michael Jackson was never convicted of child molestation (regrettably!) IMHO, he should have been. Weren't what evolved into HIPAA enacted when MJ was hospitalized here in NYC at least a decade ago, and patient confidentiality was violated when "they" released details of him being taken to that hospital?

We have lost Ed McMahon, and now Farah. I had love and affection for both of them. As I type this, at 1815 hours eastern daylight savings time, I am hearing news reports that Michael Jackson has been rushed to a hospital in either cardiac arrest, apnea, or in a coma. No further information at this time. (Due to the molestation charges, I don't have anywhere near as much respect for Michael as I have for Ed and Farah)

...and then there is Fred Dalton Thompson, first an actor, then a senator, then an actor again (Law and Order), then as someone introducing a presidential candidate, then HE was the presidential candidate, and I have no idea what he is currently doing, except living on residuals from his years on L&O.

PETA's line is one place, yours, in another, and I have not decided where mine is. All I can say is, let's agree to disagree. And disagree we will, all over the place. And add the old blame-shifting line...

Kal Penn? I thought he was asiatic Indian in ancestry, making him Sikk or Hindu. From what I understand, neither of those really gets along with the Muslims, either, but my information could be flawed.

I'd say a sudden onset "silent" cardiac arrest. They die without knowing they are dying, as they have no pain. If you have access to the autopsy report: BAC? Glucose level? Any other clues?

Is that a misprint typo, or a not too well hid political comment? Just askin'?

Cas-Evac, not Case-Vac. "SMACK!"

I have seen neonates intubated, just not usually in the field. Also, even though I am BLS in NY State, who do not usually intubate anyone, I have never heard of any height restriction for an intubation.

Momma B is a retired NYC school teacher, and she felt that, if actually written on a report card, the teacher would have been written up, at a minimum. As for those teachers, they all sound like they are: a few fries short of a "Happy Meal" Lights are on, but nobody is home Elevator doesn't go to the top floor Found staring at an orange juice container, as the container says "Concentrate" A sandwich short of a picnic

While I have met him, I really do not know him.

Even Elmer Fudd, noted millionaire, and owner of a mansion and a yacht, admitted to Daffy Duck and Bugs Bunny, during a "Wabbit season/Duck Season" argument, that he is a vegetarian. So wemembeh, be vewwy, vewwy quiet, weah hunting Elmers!

My apologies, everyone: I just realized I put the story of "21 Deli" into the string twice.

Currently, and locally by me, training, for both transfer and 9-1-1 ambulance crews, is exactly the same. My concern is, will you cause delay in starting care by insisting your 9-1-1 responder ambulance be the emergent responder, even with a similarly trained crew on a "transfer truck" being much closer to an emergency scene?

On earrings, the FDNY, and the FDNY EMS, has written policy of post-style earrings only, anything dangling, and especially "Door Knocker" style earrings are non regs compliant. This is for both men and women uniformed employees. On the D-TV converter boxes, mine are horrible, plus, I have spent almost $200 on antennas, and I am still not satisfied. Hell, I can see the Empire State Building, where many of the transmitters are, from my windows, but can't get the signals I am supposed to be able to get.

OK, nremtp, just to keep up with the Jones family... FDNY EMS works 8 hour tours, with a few units now in a pilot program for 12 hour tours. I will confine myself to the 8 hour tours, of which I have a better working knowledge. The tour is actually 7.5 hours, with that missing half hour supposed to be used for meal. A unit requests meal, dispatch usually grants it, but there is no protection for staying undisturbed at meal. Also, if the area activity is busy, the unit won't even get the chance to request meal break, and have back to back assignments. With that in mind, any crew that doesn't get meal break can file for the half hour as overtime, on the proper paperwork, on their return to the station, base, or firehouse. Some even bring their meal from home (so called "Brown bagging it"), eat as opportunity presents, never call in for the meal break, and still file for the missed meal overtime. However, if the crew is needed for an assignment, they get the assignment. If they get a walk-up request, they are to call in that they have a walk-up request (and where!), more commonly referred to as a flag-down, and handle it, and this is per current policy. Years prior to the merger, Bronx unit 21 David was on a meal break, when someone ran up to them and told them of a cardiac arrest call, CPR in progress, a block away. They actually could see the event. No, they didn't respond, they didn't even call it in! They told the requesting person to call 9-1-1! In the next few days, the crew was first reassigned to non patient contact areas within the department, and then fired, losing their state certifications as EMTs at the behest of the EMS. The news coverage gave the vehicle's "shop number", so, in fear that any crew in that vehicle would be assaulted, as retaliation, in the belief they were the non responding crew, that vehicle sat for a week outside headquarters, before being reassigned to another station in another borough. The crews that also worked under the 21 David radio call sign had to move to wait between calls at a different location than where they'd been before the incident. Within the service, the unit, even the non-involved crews, were held in contempt, and referred to, not as 21 David, but 21 Deli (as in delicatessen).