What happens between calls

[Dustdevil]

I'm not too sure about how things are done under the Crown; but here in America, you cannot punish a man for the thoughts in his head, only his actions!

Except for racism. That's a hanging offence, no action or trial needed.

[Lone Star]

Except for racism. That's a hanging offence, no action or trial needed.

Do we string them up to the left or the right of cattle rustlers? I can never remember....

[sirduke]

Completely. Many large systems these days don't have a "base of operations". You spend all 12 hours sitting in an ambulance on a street corner somewhere, waiting to be dispatched. And you often don't wait long, because you are busy going from one run to the next constantly, without much of a break in-between.

Other places, you may have a station to go back to, but short shifts where you can't actually sleep there. You just sit and watch TV or surf the Internet. The more conscientious medics will study or do something constructive, like care for their equipment. Others will just vegetate in a recliner. Some stations will have weights, treadmills, or other workout facilities you can use. Most all will at least have a television and a couple of recliner chairs to relax in.

You may work somewhere that there is an actual station to retire to, and be slow enough to actually enjoy it there. Most employers require that you be awake and dressed during the daytime, and may only go to sleep after a certain time. This sort of blows, since there is a good chance that you'll be too busy to sleep after those hours, which gets real old really fast. Other nights, you may get lucky and sleep all night long without interruption. Again, this is entirely dependent upon where you work. There are ambulances that make 20 runs in 24 hours. There are ambulances that don't make 20 runs a month. Consequently, there is no typical ambulance shift nationwide.

Also making a difference is if you are actually working in EMS, or if you are just a private transfer ambulance driver. Those guys tend to stay busier than many EMS medics, and doing nothing exciting the whole time, just being a horizontal taxi. That is the job that most new EMTs can get, as actual EMS jobs are pretty scarce. In private transfer companies, they will sometimes have you driving around from nursing home to nursing home, handing out candy and pens and business cards to nurses trying to drum up business all day long.

You can get creative on how to keep yourself occupied during down time. In mobile systems, where we were stuck in the truck all night long, I usually carried a glow in the dark Frisbee with me, and my partner and I would find a dark parking lot to have some fun in. The Internet and portable video games are popular. I've played many a card and chess game in the ambulance too. I've gone to bowling alleys and bowled or played video games while stuck mobile. In the very old days, we might even go to a drive-in movie in the ambulance. If you live in the service area, you can go home and take care of business, or go to your girlfriend or mistress' house and take care of her "business".

Of course, in many systems, you may be stuck in a neighbourhood where you don't want to leave the safety of the station or the ambulance unless absolutely necessary. In those cases, you often just have to find a big, open, well lit parking lot somewhere, park with your doors locked, and keep both sets of eyes open for anyone approaching, until you get your next run.

If you're talking about volunteers, that too varies greatly. There are volunteer agencies that have people assigned to specific shifts, and must be at a station or nearby during that time. There are others where it's a free-for-all, and everyone just busts ass to the station when the tones drop. In either case, what you do during down time is up to you.

And I'd be lying if I said I've never engaged in a naked pillow fight at the station.

I am in AWE !!! In all this, and all the follow on post, Dust hasn't used the term FIREMONKEY yet !!!

Dusty, are you slipping son?

[Richard B the EMT]

1) When I got paged out during that finale episode of M*A*S*H, and in the re-telecast several months later I had NO thought of delaying my departure to handle the call, I just grabbed my coat, and headed out the door. I do admit, as many have done in similar situations, and will do in the future under similar circumstance, I did curse out the "EMS Gods"! (Side note here: That was an inter facility transfer service I then was then working for.)

2) Don't start that "Colonial" male bovine excrement with us! While we might have been late to the party, YOUR military needed our help in both World Wars. I'll let Dust Devil whip your sorry butt on that, as I consider him our military expert.

3) I refer to Lone Star's reference that

within the last couple days about a Liverpool medic who completely misdiagnosed a diabetic emergency and then left after his supervisor pointed it out; (without treating the patient, I might add).

4) I also have been vocal, on the string concerning the UK Paramedic that, in order to get off work on time, drove back to his base/station/garage (one of them, anyway) WITH A CRITICAL PATIENT ON BOARD, instead of transporting to an appropriate Emergency Room. Precision, indeed!

[Just Plain Ruff]

Let's also not forget that we sort of beat the Brits to gain Independence.

We also I believe won the war of 1812

We helped with our tax money to rebuild Europe after two world wars.

So your cavalier attitude of the brits better than us, go peddle it to someone else. Not gonna fly here.

[Dustdevil]

I am in AWE !!! In all this, and all the follow on post, Dust hasn't used the term FIREMONKEY yet !!!

That's because the OP asked about EMS, not the fire service.

Firemonkeys don't have anything to do with EMS.

[sirduke]

That's because the OP asked about EMS, not the fire service.

Firemonkeys don't have anything to do with EMS.

Just poking at you Dust, but if we'd let them, the Firemonkeys would take over.

[Richard B the EMT]

Oh, and another thing...

Kevinbutnotbacon accuses me, after being notified of the assignment, delayed responding to set up taping a TV show, which he berates me for doing? I just found a posting on another string where he states that EMS in the UK ENCOURAGES the use of drugs by on duty personnel!

At least we now know he is a complete fool, on both sides of the Atlantic ocean, as he now attacks his UK brethren, making them out to be "druggies". As he has, as of this posting, only 12 posts, perhaps they (UK members of EMT City) already gave him the beating he has been asking for, and gave it to him in extremis! (We can only hope).

That, or his own drug habit(s) is causing his delusions of EMS superiority?

Hopefully, at this time, we can resume the discussion this string was originally about, with my apologies to the OP for hijacking it, as it has been?

Edited October 1, 2009 by Richard B the EMT

[kevbutnobacon]

Let's also not forget that we sort of beat the Brits to gain Independence.

We also I believe won the war of 1812

We helped with our tax money to rebuild Europe after two world wars.

So your cavalier attitude of the brits better than us, go peddle it to someone else. Not gonna fly here.

Allow me the privillage to reply to your wildly absurd rant.

1) Firstly the matter of independence, you didnt beat us. History shows that we graciously allowed you your freedom on account of your questionable loyalty and fighting ability against the French, and for your skill and panache for killing native Americans.

2) The war of 1812 is a minor triffling affair and is not even recorded as a proper war such as was fought against real opponants such as the noble brave Frenchies or Spanish.

Twas little more than a piffling border dispute with a minor nation.

3) Some people crueler than I may question the USA very late entry into both world wars.

I however do not wish to dwell on accusations of cowardice.

Suffice to say, thanks very much for the money. You saved us all from starving and freezing to death. Good on you ! Could we have a bit more ?

4) I have never once insulted or poo pooed the ability of American Paramedics. Far from it. They are the envy of the uncivilised world. I have only questioned the moral and ethical traits of the individual concerned.

[Diazepam618]

At my station we drill, drill and drill, and run calls in between drills.