Richard B the EMT

FOR THE RECORD, when I joined the now defunct Peninsula Volunteer Ambulance Corps (Queens County, NY), I wanted to drive, but at age 19, was told the insurance wouldn't cover us if I drove at that age. Until I turned 21, I was asked, instead, to become an EMT, which at that time, I had no idea what they were talking about. 37 years later, I feel, prior to my "retirement", that I must have done some good during those 37 years.

The Bulldog just mentioned, for getting some experience, joining a volunteer fire department. Don't forget that there are also non fire department related volunteer ambulance services, usually "community based" in nature, that can offer experience. Some are actually college and/or university based, so you'd be attending college while getting said experience.

Write the book! I'm attempting to do so, after being in "da biz" for 37 years, between a Volunteer Ambulance Service, 5 non-9-1-1 ambulance service providers, and 2 municipal EMS providers (before and after the FDNY/EMS "Merger"). Just know the civilians are probably going to say things to the effect of "What you describe, as you describe it, could not have happened. You're making that up!" Meanwhile, any Law Enforcement Officer, Fire Fighter, or EMSer with over a year's experience will be knowlingly nodding their heads in agreement with whatever you've said.

tniuqs, when that incident happened, I was not yet in municipal employment, so in truth, I had no idea what equipment was, and was not, available to the FDNY. As for not removing an impaled object, the stated objection was to the effect of something under the skin "catching" and causing further "insult" and damage when being removed, much as the Klingon knife (For the non "Star Trek" fans, that knife, on insertion, has 2 additional blades that swing out like barbs on a fish hook, from the main blade, causing immense damage on the knife's removal from the victim). Putting back in an impaled object that already came out? I think I've only seen that as a plot device in a few TV shows and movies. Has anyone actually seen such in real, not "REEL", life, aside from tniuqs?

The incident in the photos is at least 20 years ago, possibly 30, so they may not have been invented yet

NEVER remove an impaled object. Immobilize the object, and transport to the nearest Trauma Center. FYI, you might want to look at some copyrighted photos by Steve Spak, of a boy got himself impaled on a fence. FDNY Rescue Company 4 cut the fence apart, and EMS transported. (I was NOT a part of that particular call) http://stevespak.com/spak/ems/impaled.html

http://www.nyc.gov/html/fdny/html/community/employment_index.shtml for information on becoming an EMT, Paramedic, or Fire Fighter in the FDNY. They'd have better information on foreign nationals being employed in those titles, or under what circumstances.

I thought OJ was in a Las Vegas Jail for being party to an armed robbery. Is he out?

I can find enough ways to waste time without doing that.

Within my circle of friends, we seem roughly split between someone "getting to" her, and waiting for her to get into trouble again, "as a matter of time".

As she was convicted of lying to the LEOs, and is probably going to get "time served", doesn't she fall under the "Son Of Sam" laws, that prohibit the "doer" from profiting "after the fact", from a crime perpetrated?

My mention of the possible Asbestos exposure should have mentioned that we were also instructed to tell the Worker's Compensation Board to close each of our cases, "without prejudice". This means there's a record, and the case can, if anything asbestos related should turn up in my future, be reopened without problems due to the age of the original exposure.

Oops, there are now 2 posting strings on this topic from this original poster.

While reporting this "possible" exposure might just be a 'comfort measure', as Lone Star refers to it, in the FDNY EMS Command, even suspicion of exposure requires MANDATORY reporting. It may be an extreme off chance of BBP (Blood Bourne Pathogen) transfer, but you still want a "paper trail", just in case. Years before the FDNY EMS Merger, we had an asbestos exposure in the EMS Headquarters building, a decaying wrap on a steam pipe in a bathroom. Stupid TV reporter actually slapped at it to create a dust cloud for his visual! Anyway, everyone who was then working in the headquarters building was ORDERED to fill out, at minimum, NY State Workers Compensation Board paperwork, from the newest EMTs and vehicle mechanics working in the place, up to the Chief In Charge of the Department. To the best of my knowledge, nobody reported any ill effects from this possible exposure, probably made a moot point for members subsequently exposed to the World Trade Center dust, but it is on record as having happened. You should want such paper trail on your self, as at least a minimal documentation, and hope nothing happens that would require that documentation. Call it a segment of Murphy's Laws, If you don't need it, you have it. If you don't have it, THEN you'll need it.

Neil Diamond, "I Am, I Said". While I am sure there's areas around the world where Lifeguards might be crosstrained as Paramedics, Neil probably discribed the situation

Probably depends on the service you work for, or who your partner is. I worked with one partner, who I admit was the better diagnostician, always had me drive (I love driving, so no issue there). There is an issue, however. Depending on call type, either a BLS or ALS ambulance, and in quite a few cases, both, get dispatched. If both Paramedics jump into the back of one of those ambulances, one of the EMTs now becomes the Paramedic vehicle's operator. This EMT will be the one usually riding "shotgun" on the BLS ambulance, as the one driving the BLS ambulance will stay in that status on that ambulance.

While already answered to an apparent negative, as I kind of speed-read through, here, insect or snake bite is not restricted to Austrailia and/or New Zealand. While I may not see any snake bites within NYC, I have friends and associates carrying personal Epi-pens in case of bee stings.

Flaw here. Were I to tell enough people I was a Star Fleet Captain, in command of the United Star Ship Excelsior, under the jurisdiction of the United Federation of Planets, I would be "Beamed" to a room and bed at the nearest State Mental Hospital, wearing an "I Love Myself" coat. Sometimes it just isn't worth gnawing through the restraints. (Side note: As a "Star Trek" fan, I know Captain Sulu commands the Excelsior, but his second in command is someone of the same last name as mine)

We both probably commented on that old string, too.

FDNY EMS Command has a separate union, also in DC 37 AFSCME (see my previous posting) for the Uniformed Lieutenants and Captains. I am mentioning this, because I saw my former Lieutenant (I'm a retiree, ya know) escorting a newly minted Lieutenant. I asked him if he was acting as a Field Training Officer (FTO). He answered to the negative, he's just an assigned "Mentor". "FTO's" get paid for the status. I feel sure that both his and my union are working on correcting that "problem".

I keep hearing how mixed up California is supposed to be, and I must admit I don't know if it is true. If what I heard is correct, a Paramedic "certified" in Los Angeles would need to be recertified to work in San Francisco. Here in New York State, the NYS DoH "certifies" Paramedics, but local ReMACs, or Regional Medical Advisory Committees authorize the Paramedics to work in specific localities. EMT-Bs like myself don't usually fall under ReMAC review and advisement, at least as I have experienced, career-wise. NYS DoH also certifies EMT-Bs. If a service or individual EMT-B or EMT-P messes up, action against them would first be at REMSCo, or Regional Emergency Medical Service Council, level, who then passes their recomendations to SEMSCo (State EMS Council), and then to the DoH. (Edited for a clarification point.

AK, I'm forgetful. What is CLS? While appreciating that the USAF uses EMT-Bs and EMT-Ps, when someone gets hurt, is the yell for aid, "Medic!", "Corpsman!", or a different title?

There is the classic tale that a book, first translated from English into Japanese, and then back into English, quotes General Douglass McArthur as saying, instead of "I shall return", as saying, "I'll be right back"!

It can be considered a matter of pride. Steve Berry, the Colorado based Paramedeic who does the "I am NOT an Ambulance Driver" series, once had a display, where one of his characters was the Medic in Charge at, if I remember correctly, a car crash extrication, a Cardiac Arrest, and an in-the-home baby delivery. In the final panel, at the pool hall with his "friends" after work, one of these "friends" asks him, "When are you going to get a real job?" Our Medic character looked crestfallen at the question. On a call, I probably wouldn't take the time to correct a civilian as to my level of training, unless they referred to me as "ONLY" an "Ambulance Driver". I'd probably only correct them, as we've discussed on many other strings, here in the EMT City, in a social gathering, and I'd add, "I've been proudly serving since 1973". Others might edit the statement from when they started, obviously.

I have heard EMTs from B to P level called "Doc" by unknowing civilians. If directed at me, I thank them for the promotion. However, from strictly a legal standpoint, call yourself whatever level you've already achieved, not what you're in class for, to keep yourself out of a potential bind. Back in 1974, I actually was yelled at for referring to myself as an "EMT Candidate" while takinbg my initial class as an EMT.