Richard B the EMT

When I started, back in 1973, we used that book's first edition. We also used the "Brady" book, "Emergency Care", also then in first edition. We differentiated as, respectfully, the "Orange" book, and the "Yellow" Book. There are also other book cover colors that get used, from different publishers and agencies. Just remember, here in EMT City, we're from all over the world. Standard operating procedures and protocols in one area would be considered "outside of scope of practice" in the next. For example, "A-EMTs (advanced)" in Nassau County, NY are allowed to start IVs, but less than a quarter mile from one FD/EMS station near the county line, as "A-EMT" doesn't exist in Queens County, NY, they'd just be considered "EMT-B", so if an IV were started in Queens by a Nassau Countyu A-EMT, they'd be nailed by the State Department of Health. Indeed, EMT-B personnel, statewide, are not even allowed to transport a patient with an IV, per DoH protocols. If you have a question that sounds foolish, ask the instructor(s) during breaks, or after class. Just try to avoid "...but what if..." questions, as there are so many variables there, they drive instructors crazy (trust me, I've been "that" student, and not been called on for straight-up questions).

Welcome to the madness! The job, not the City" (but then, again...).

Short backboard, Kendrix Extrication Device, Iron Duck Extrication Appliance, or some other manufacturer's device, to long backboard (or in some areas protocols, a "scoop"), to streacher. No Jaws, K12, or cutting impliments, even if a patient already noted to be ambulatory, seated in another vehicle in no way involved in the initial collision, starts complaining of neck and/or back pain, is indicated. WTF, were the crews trying out new impliments of destruction ("playing" with their new toys)? The way I've been taught, and continue, is extrication means removing the patient from the vehicle,entrapment means removing the vehicle from the patient. Most here have heard the "blond joke" about the blond lady calls the locksmith because she locked herself out of her convertible car, keys in the ignition...with the roof down. Hearing of these actions just gave me a stomach ache.

I once had a patient whom was diagnosed as being a hypocondriac. He thought he was contageous. He also thought he could catch a virus from my computer.

Had a partner who used to say that "Sleep is a Communist Plot!"

Not trying it, not forbidding others to try it.

Once again, I refer to a call I was on. A woman was removed from the scene of a fire, where she had burns under heavy copper bracelets. LEO Emergency Services crew was removing the bracelets with a K12 saw, which generated a bunch of sparks (which were flying up against the main O2 compartment). A freelance videographer (this was before both cameras in phones, and cell phones both became common) was actually standing just outside the doorway of the ambulance. I tapped the videographer on the shoulder, and said to him, "You've got freedom of the press to photograph, but I want to give my patient the benefit of some privacy. Can we reach some kind of compromise?" He smiled, nodded to the affirmative, and backed off a few yards from the ambulance, while continuing to tape. This chief should have asked the press corps to back off to afford the patient some semblance of privacy, not shoved the camera, or covered the lens. Of course, all we're doing here is "Monday Morning Quarterbacking".

Thought you were spinac. Samuel Clemens, aka Mark Twain

Door to Door Salesman: "Is your mother home, young man?" Boy: "Nope, she ain't." Salesman: "That was awful. Where's your grammer?" Boy: "She's in the hospital, where me mom is visitin' her." Salesman: "Does your dog bite?" Boy: "Nah, she don't bite." Salesman: "OWWW! That dog just bit me. I thought you just said your dog doesn't bite?" Boy: "My dog don't bite! My dog ain't even here; THAT ain't me dog."

I'm unsure and uncertain about this, but if I'm correct, this is actually a private IFT service, trying to buy up NY State Bureau of EMS issued "Certificates Of Need", which is documentation needed to open, and keep open, any ambulance organization in the state. When Saint Vincent's Hospital in Manhattan went out of business, NYCCEMS purchased St. Vinnie's CON. I don't recall specifics, but it was one item discussed at the last district meeting of the NY State Volunteer Ambulance and Rescue Association that I was able to attend, prior to Super Storm Sandy. I'll get back to youze guyz after I speak to some associates in District 4, NYSVARA, with more information.

The primary reason I've NOT been watching Chicago Fire has been lack of TV access, secondary to Superstorm Sandy.

Longtimers on the City will recall I nearly died from an aneurism on my right femoral artery, secondary to a cardiac stent insertion, back in 1997. I recieved a full bolus of Morphine (first and only time I had the drug), and still felt no effects against the pain for over an hour.

The last "expired" meds I handled were at my final FDNY training session. Although we injected into training dummies, it was live Autoinjectors from expired 2-Pam from the "Disaster Kits".

Long as the clouds don't form a funnel touching the ground... I thought it was "Measure twice, cut once. Cuss, buy more lumber and measure again"? With all the rebuilding by me due to Superstorm Sandy", I hear that a lot from the contractors at Home Depot and Lowe's, not to mention from many local basements.

While this string started out as satyrical, there are incidents of PTSD as I've described. I witnessed one, actually.

Hello all! After reloction to Flushing, Forest Hills, the Montgomery NY Super 8, my girlfriend's house, the Howard Beach Surfside, and back to my girlfriend's house, the sand and water (and all the old books and furnature) removed from my basement, circuit breaker box and wires in basement replaced, furnace and hot water boiler switched out, the house extention foundation reinforced, the heat running, for the first time from October 28, 2012, I'm sleeping in my own house tonight! More after I wake up! Richard B!

Aside from being a good "language" joke, it is kind of an insult to the coast guards of all maritime nations.

Sorry, my canine's doghouse was demolished over 25 years ago.

Careful, her aim is reportedly better now.

Which reminds me, what ever happened to Paramedic "Rabbit"? (No real response requested)

I've heard stories related to retired helo pilots, while playing with kiddie walkie talkie headsets having open eye nightmares, as they suddenly find themselves reliving Viet Nam era crashes they experienced while in the military. Therefore, the drone pilot possibly did have a flashback, with a handheld "push to talk" button from the 2 way actually being the incident "trigger".

I got started in this field in 1973, and the plectrons were already on their way out then. However, due to long-timers like me, the name still stays as accepted alternate word to "pagers". It's sort of like a hospital in Brooklyn that used to be called "I Z", for Israel Zion, with the name changed to Maimonides roughly 1960. The "kids" now on the ambulances, due to references by their long-timer partners, as taught when THEY were the "kids", for years, still maintain calling "Maimo" as "I Z".

Bruice Springsteen, Barbara Streisand and Diana Ross are "The Boss". Whoa! Just posted from page 3, and this is page 21? I'm still not quite back home. Awaiting the gas being hooked up, so I can fire up the furnace and hot water boiler, as current house inside temp, on electric space heaters, is 60 degrees. I've been Superstorm Sandy displaced, to Flushing, Forest Hills, Montgomery, 2 blocks from my residence at Lady J's house, displaced again (due to her house losing heat) to Howard Beach, and back to Lady J's house. Momma B is back in the hospital. More when I can find a wifi hotspot, as this is sent from my underheated house, as written above.

I know this has been discussed here in the City before. I'd rather have a baby abandoned into a warm area, such as inside a LEO station, Fire House, EMS station, hospital, or a house of Worship, under "Safe Haven", than the exterior of the house of Worship, where they might die of exposure to the elements before being discovered. NY State law says that a newborn may be handed over to the crews at fire houses, EMS stations, and Law Enforcement offices, where the only questions allowed are if the baby has any potentially life threatening illnesses, and possibly what the baby's name is. The previous FDNY Commissioner may have endangered many babies by ordering all FDNY Fire Fighters and EMS personnel to place anyone attempting to follow "Safe Haven" policies under arrest, but that was because he had previously headed the Bureau of Child Welfare.

Plano sold unequipped medic boxes. Large was the 747, small(er) was the 727. Which was yours, island EMT?