Niftymedi911

While the whirrly lights are somewhat visible, the LED's are the brightest by far. Techincally I could see a LED light bar during the day approx 1/2 mile away. The other 2 options you would have to be almost on top of it to see them.

Believe it or not in our county it depends on what sector your working in. The North sees about 70 % trauma and 30% medical The West gets the retired folk who get pneumonia or fall down and break a hip about 90% medical and 10% trauma. The South sees a 50%-50% mixture of calls it depends on the day. I've had 4 trauma alerts and a cardiac arrest in one day in the south. The Cape sector sees about 70% percent medical and 30 % trauma And of course all the BS that comes in between, people dont have anything else better to do then call 911 down here.

During any day of the week between 1600-and 2000 hrs. And on Fri and Sat nights betwen 2200-300 AM Lately believe it or not Monday, Sat, and Sun are our busiests days. Can't Wait til season starts!!!! (For those of you who dont know, for us southern folk, when the snowbirds (northerns) decide to envade Florida, we call it season) In Season we have close to 1 million people in our county b/c of all the darn snowbirds. 34 ALS amublances and 1 million people, hmmmmm not a gooodcombination if ya know what I mean. In season we are busy from 0700 AM - 0700 AM ther is never a dull minute. We run in season close to 15 -20 calls a shift. Out of season anywhere from 5 to 12 calls a shift. Our shifts are 24 hrs.

I'd have to agree with Strippel

In Lee county, FL the county adopted national standards but customized them more. We have no set BLS or ALS response. We respond to all calls 10-18 (L&S). We respond reguardless of c/c and priority. But as of Jan 07 we will be implementing medical prioiry dispatching into the system to allow units respond to BLS calls 18X. (non-L&S). We have 8 minutes from the time the call is recieved to the time on scene. Our agency records what are called out-of-chute times which is how long it take you to go enroute. We have units placed with fire department stations throughout the county so we have no system status. Which I really dont mind system status sucks. Anyway, we have to respond to the call after our tones drop and alerts the station within 1 minute during the day and 2 minutes during the night. We cover over 1,100 miles within our county so we dont always met the guidelines though. We meet the 8 min deadline 86% of the time out of 74,000 calls last year. We meet the deadline by 96% if the response was 9 mins long.

EMT-B just a mere "driver"??? Yes, we dont have the training like medic's do but theres just no freaking reason to put us down. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I thought that the most important treatment modality you could use on a p/t was BLS skills before ALS? So BLS BEFORE ALS BABY!!!!!!!! There are some great EMT's out there in the USA, and then there are not but for you to say that EMT's in general in the USA are just mere drivers, you can kiss my ass. I am a EMT-B in Fort Myers,FL and I sometimes do better at field sticks then some of my medics I work with. We have more if not the same responsibilities as medic's We have to get you to the scene, and to the hospital safe and in one piece. Medic's just have cooler tools then we do. LOL It takes a excellent EMT to become a good Paramedic.

Oh yea by the way the 24 hr trucks are based around the county stationed within the 17 independent fire districts stations. In otherwords our stations are with the fire stations. We actually have bays for them too!! [web:eda6c48e38]http://www.lee-ems.com/ems/photogallery/2005/05/vick/images/000794_JPG.jpg[/web:eda6c48e38]

Well to be hontest with everyone I must live in and work for the closest to perfect EMS agency in the USA. Our little corner of Earth doesn't allow Fire/rescue to trasnport. We are 100% publicly and governmentally funded by the county's general fund. Our new budget for this fiscal year is 42 million dollars. Lee county EMS has 30 24 hr trucks and 3 12 hr trucks. All of our trucks are Extended Cab Freightliners built by American LaFrance. So no more Ford's or Vans !!!!!! They are very roomy! We are primary 911 response as well as handle all interfacility transfers, we are in the process of starting our own transfer divison which handle nothing but transfers so that allows the other 30 trucks we have to be primary 911 response. We have an average response time of 8 minutes anywhere in the county. We have 2 helicopters for critical care transports as well as first response to our barrier islands which have no land acess. We are a third service governement ALS transport service, the only one in Lee County. Fire/rescue responds a rescue truck with us to all of our calls. We minimally staff an amublance with 1 EMT and 1 Medic. The busiest trucks carry 2 medics and 1 emt. We work 24 hrs on and 48 off rotation with 3 shifts A,B, and C. We also have 12 hr trucks during peak times of the day to help manage transfers and primary 911. We have many programs in place that were firsts in EMS. We currently operate the first EC-145 helicopter that was built and relased in North America. We have cutting edge medical protocols which allow EMT's to start Iv's in the field as well as watch hep locks and watch lines with clear fuild hanging. this is largly based on the fact that the state of Florida does not honor EMT-I licenses so they make up for it allowing EMT-B's to do it. We also have a very progressive RSI program we call CAM (Crash Airway Management) which allows us to use Etomidate, Succ's and a diprivan drip in the field to intubate a p/t with a difficult airway. Waveform Capnography was just introduced into our system. We use Zoll M series monitors with NIBP, O2 Sat, 12 lead ECG, Waveform Capnography, Pacing, and cardioversion capabilities. We have a total electronic PCR reports system in place using what are called Hammerhead Tablet computers. We use a CAD system with GPS, we have laptops in our trucks in which our calls come through there eliminating too much radio traffic. We also have a maaping system on the laptops which plots the shortest path to an emergency call. the GPS allows dispatch to dispatch the closest unit to a call. We utilize medical priority dispatching. We are now this year unveling a dual response system between BLS and ALS units. We will have 5 12 hr BLS trucks starting to run the BLS calls here in the county. So no more ALS units responding to BLS calls. You are awarded increases for evey cert you obtain and maintain. The county will hire employees who do not have AS degrees but tend to lean towards having a degree. Any management position must have a minimum of a Bachler's degree. Our agency has the full support of the County Comissioners. The agnecy was bought from a private agency in 1972 to provide transport. We currrently have close to 400 employees staffing a total at any given time 33 ambulances 24 hrs a day 7 days a week. We also have one of the country's biggest health systems in Lee county, Lee Memorial Health System. The system is comprised of 6 hospitals throughout lee county. They hold currently a Level 2 trauma center based out of Lee Memorial Hospital which is the only trauma center between Tampa and Miami on the west coast. Our pay is in the process of being updated. We belong to a bargaining union the local 1826 IAFF union which fights for our rights and fair pay amungst the fire districts. We currently are hiring EMT's base salary is 34,425 a year and Paramedics are starting at 49,625 a year. But those numbers will be changing as of November, our union is introducing a pay plan based of years of service. Starting pay for new employees: EMT 38,475 a year Paramedic 52,843 a year. employee's top out after 13 years of service EMT's maximum base is 49,312 a year and Paramedic's maximum base is $74,890. We also have in services and we also train our own through our training department. We are currently on track to start our very own accredited Paramedic Adacemy in February. We also have great potential when it comes to OT. There is no limit on the amount of OT you work. Like for instance I'm an EMT thats been with the county for a year my base is 34,425 but because of my OT I work which is close to a 100 hrs a pay period I'm almost to 50,000 this year. We have a great benefits package which includes 100% paid medical, dental, vision, long term disability, short term disability, as well as a 250,000 life insurance policy. We have paid Vacation and Sick leave. We are also included in the Florida Retirement System which after 6 years you are vested. The county pays your retirement fund. After working for 20 years you have the option of contiuning in whats called the DROP plan which is more money paid into your account. Or retire after 20 years of service. I enjoy working for Lee County EMS, now given there are drawbacks to every agency like the shortages in medics and emts we have which brings the level of OT up but in all we have a niche which is kinda hard to find these days. If you would like more information please go to our website : www.lee-ems.com/ems/default.htm

I tell you what, I've only been in EMS for 1 year, and everyone that says not to let in get to you that everything else is more important is the God's honest truth, any newbies thinking about EMS, you should take heed to every post on this forum. I know from experience what they are talking about, I got easily consumed by EMS as a young one at the age of 18 I started. I breathed EMS, I lived EMS, well let me tell you EMS wont give you a breath back, EMS wont live in you. If you notice that this happens, you need to take a break, if your able to. Go on a vacation, tell your mind that you can live without focusing on EMS. B/c thats all your mind is thinking about is EMS. I work 24 hr shifts 24 on 48 off, and with the shortages we have we can volunteer for OT called OTSB we wear a pager and if it goes off we're given a 24 hr OT assignment. Anyway, to make a long story short. I used to work 48 on 24 off. 24 reg. 24 OT and 24 off. That was my schedule so if I work 3 24 hr shifts in a week I work 5 days out of 7. Even on top of that we also have monthy inservices for operational updates, medical guideline updates. So I used to have an extremely busy schedule, I got so tired one day I got a rude awakening by my duty officer when I was late for one shift. So lets just say I stopped being so consumed by EMS. I learned from experience. So I hope newbies would take heed..... DONT GET CONSUMED!

I carry one of those Galls BLs xTra kit. I've only had to use this once pulling up on a signal 4 in my POV. We have a full ALS system with a maximum response time of 8 minutes. So by the time I get thing situated, the rig is already on scene with fire/rescue. We are allowed to provide BLS off duty care in our county, but outside I just use my cell phone and say yeah, i gotta a p/t who suffereing from CTDRTF syndrome. Outside of the county I'm legally liable for anything I decide to do. Given I give excelent p/t care but if something goes wrong, my liability insurace i have and the county has doesn' cover me outside of the county. So, there are no volleys in our system and a response time of over 10 minutes is unheard of and would definately make heads roll. How can you guys put up with those long response times?? But one thing is our agency encourages us to carry one, but they dont issue one to us. But we use the agencies supplies to restock. I've used the bag on me more then any other times. I used to work in the resturant business and would burn myself and slice my figers etc all the time.

Oh yea by the way, Since where does someone who's 17 come off correcting someone? Anyway, Respect your elder's, I'm 20. Here's something that I don't get. Why is it that a majority of people around here have the whole I'm God medic attitude around here. Picking people apart for stupid shit, you know hundreds of people who aren't medic's or emt's continually look at this site to see if EMS is something they would like to get into. Well with people picking people apart with their posts and the whole God attitude, who would want to? It's no wonder the medic that used to be is a dying breed.

JCicco345, Please keep your LOL negative comments LOL to yourself, there is no need LOL for you to be negative LOL towards someone. They were only trying LOL to share their LOL experiences with everyone. I for one had no problem LOL reading the post. I guess some people LOL just are inconsiderate idots LOL. JCicco345, by the way: LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL Hey why dont you LOL give me some money for every LOL I put in my post. LOL Anyway, I've only been in EMS for a couple of years, but I would have to say the most weirdest place was in a full nude strip club in the downtown region. Guy started a bar fight and everyone else joined in including some of the strippers. In the end, there were 3 stirippers knocked into a coma, the guy who started it had 3 open skull fractures from broken beer bottles and a flail segment. 3 other people were treated and transported for other injuries. It was funny to read in the news papers and hear it on the radio, medic's 18, 1 and 2 respond second, third and fourth units to assault at yadda yadda yadda. LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL

Yep, we have a RSI program called Crash Airway Management. If we are on scene of a p/t who needs an airway but has a gag reflex we use the Etomidate and the succ's to put the p/t under then keep the p/t sedated using a diprivan drip to the hospital. We have 2 helicopters in our fleet if any pri 1 is outside of 15 min transport we send Medstar 1 or 2 depending on availablity. If you would like a copy of our medical protocols I will be happy to leave the website address at the end of my post. I'm also sorry about what I said earlier, flight-lp kind of made me realize what I wrote. Your exactly right many agencies make do with what they got. We are kind of spoiled here in Lee County, FL we have 33 ALS 911 response 24 hr units 4 12 hr ALS interafcility and 911 response trucks, and almost every fire/rescue district is ALS non-transport, we are not metroized, we have 22 independant fire districts in the county. We are the sole transport provider for Lee County. We also make pretty good money for what we do. Medic's start at 52,000 a year. EMT's at 38,000 a year. So I would like to retract what I said about calling an ALS unit, it wasn't very necessary for me to add my 2 cents. And your right common sense does go a long way...... I'm always on an ALS truck so I dont have the experience of being on a BLS truck so from my point of view I said was only b/c of the lack of experience on a BLS truck. Anyway, here is that copy of the address for our medical protocols: [web]www.lee-ems.com[/web]

Well, first of all if nausea / vomiting were the c/c why are EMT's running the call? Now given wether BLS or ALS we are all together, but if there is an ALS agency able to transport like stated. They should have been dispatched to the scene. Mind you it says in EMT-B textbooks if its a ALS call, call an ALS unit to transport. If I was on a BLS truck, I wouldn't of moved until ALS got there. We as EMT's dont have the medical knowledge medic's have. Why would you take a priority 2 ALS call in the first place??? Likewise first response is probably gonna be BLS to being with. Per our protocol's any nausea/vomiting with abdominal pn is a priority 2, IV with 250 bolus of NS, and Phenergan at the correct dosage PRN, ECG, any further symptomatic treatment and montior vitals enroute. We have all standing orders. We dont have to call for medical direction, just a telemetry report letting them know we are enroute. Anyway, in the case of running 10-18 (L&S) If your the driver you have absolutely no right to decide wether 18 or 18X (- L&S)is warranted. The medic attending makes the call reguardless of stability. I ALWAYS ask before I roll away from the scene. In fact per our SOG, thats the way it should be done. Now, the medic should have spoken up if he wanted different. Talking about afterwards isnt the best thing. It just lets the fact simmer and blow up worse. Now, the medic being at your throat is also dead wrong. If it was SO IMPORTANT you had to go 10-18, then why the hell did he not speak up when you started transport at 10-18X, so you could make the change to 10-18?? We rarely run 18 to facilities. Priority 1's are the pretty much the exception. Trauma Alerts, Stroke Alerts, OB p/t's in labor, Airway Alerts ( Intubation in the field requiring Etomidate, Succ's and Diprivan), Active Seizure p/t's ( status Epliticus), severe hypotension from GI Bleeds, pretty much anyone who is suffereing from CTDRTF syndrome. (Circuling the drain, ready to flush)

Our agency offers the following: Three (3) Pair Uniform Pants Three (3) Uniform Shirts One (1) Jacket One (1) Badge One (1) Name Tag/Collar Brass Set Two (2) Jump Suits One (1) Protective Rain Jacket One (1) Turnout Coat for Extrication One (1) Incident command Accountability Tag One (1) Protective Helmet One (1) Polo Shirt Appropriate flight suits and helmet for employees assigned to Air Ambulance Operations

Well, way down here in the south things get kinda crazy. Had one guy walk into our station, found us then when we asked what was wrong he said his back hurt. assessment showed 2 gsw's to the lumbar area of back. Another one, per our dispatch info on our screen "43 y/o m Y(awake) Y( Breathing) walked around apartment and stubbed toe" 0246 AM. Last week this one probably top it. "I called 911 faked a heart attack so you guys would come here quicker, i dont feel right... I want my dilatin level checked". was off med's no more then 12 hrs. Only took once daily. Had mother on scene at home, had 2 cars in drive way and was less then 1/2 mile from ER..... (transported) We had a 10-18 (lights and sirens) transfer from one of the cath labs to another one, let's just put it this way he was suffering from CTDRTF ( Circling The Drain Ready To Flush) syndrome. He was able to speak, said that he wasnt gonna make it to the hospital, less then 7 minutes later not even out of the elevator, he coded........ Last one, last duty day dispatched to personal injury. 50's y/o F Y Y hip pn from fall at ground level. No further. Comming from a local nursing home. UOA, LPN went to work drunk as a skunk tripped and fell disloacting her hip......