I think I'm a........gasp......whacker!

[Arctickat]

So I've been doing a little self reflection and inventory and I've reached the conclusion that I think I may be a whacker.

I don't have the POV with all the flashy lights.

I refuse to wear a duty belt for fear that stuff might be attracted to it.

I would rather turn my emergency lights to their dimmest setting at night rather than blind oncoming traffic on a mostly deserted highway.

Truly the antithesis of a whacker.

However, over the last 10 years I have acquired:

1. FLIR technology, for the purpose of seeing large wildlife and searching for motionless bodies...or other uses that have come to pass.
2. My Ford E450 AM/FM radios got tossed for a JVC Navigation, Satellite Radio, with Bluetooth, USB and SD card inputs..oh, and DVD too.
3. Speaking of DVD, a patient compartment DVD player for those 2 hour stable patient transports.
4. Point of care blood tests for elevated Troponin I and Myoglobin.
5. Point of care test device for Hemoglobin
6. An electric impact wrench and a 2 X 6 board...so if we ever blow an outside dual, (has happened several times) we can change the tire in less than 5 minutes and the other tires in 15. (when the nearest ambulance is 30 to 45 min away, it makes a difference)
7. A tire pressure monitoring system...because we kept blowing so many tires due to the valve extensions failing.
8. Backup camera...yeah, I know, everyone has them now...but not when I put them in 10 years ago.
9. Blind spot cameras that come on when the signal light is activated and override the FLIR
10. Patient compartment camera so the driver can watch what is happening in the back. (must be manually selected to override the FLIR with 1 button press)
11. Dash cam...because I don't really have enough cameras already
12. Transport ventilator with CPAP/BiPaP
13. Thermal Angel for hypothermic patients
14. Stryker Power Cots
15. Video Laryngoscope
16. Veinlite
17. And, most recently discussed in another thread..a portable U/S machine.
18. Next will be an infrascanner..probably.

Now, 10 years later I am looking to upgrade the fleet. Remounting two of my three ambulances onto a Dodge Super Duty 4X4 chassis that will include an 18 inch cargo area between the cab and module for our underwater rescue/recovery equipment. (SCUBA Gear) They'll be 5 feet longer than my current ambulances, abd I went through the options list and checked off everything. Heated/Ventilated seats, heated steering wheel, 8.4 Nav/Sat/CD/BT. Liquid Suspension, Stryker Power Load, Bumper winch, and an ASAP all terrain remote rescue vehicle.

Ya know, I'm sure there is more, and I really try to justify all of this by saying it's improving our ability to provide patient care....and it really has. Some might think that all the gadgets might result in a waste of time...or looking at a herd of horses and seeing zebras, but I think they really do help.

I can be confident that no other ambulance within 1000 miles carries all that I do, some might have 1 or 2 things, but not everything. Problem is...I think they're really cool beans too, and I can't decide...have I been buying all these things to improve patient care....or just for the whacker factor so I can do things that no one else can?

[Just Plain Ruff]

The minute you drive it home and park it in your driveway then you are a whacker

[Arctickat]

Umm...does it count if my wife and I are working together and we have a transfer going out at 0600, but a call comes in at midnite that only takes an hour, so we take the ambulance home instead of take it back to the base for 4 hours?

[Just Plain Ruff]

no, you have to take it home and consider it a personal vehicle.

[Arctickat]

Whew

[paramedicmike]

I think you do the things you do for a patient care benefit. The tech on which you've spent money to enhance your fleet is a patient and crew safety based initiative designed to keep people safe. You aren't doing it for the "Hey! Look at me!" factor that most whackers seem to use as their motivation.

I wouldn't worry about it.

[Just Plain Ruff]

yeah, if I was in your area Kat, I would be wanting to work for you. So even though I bust your balls about all this stuff, you sound like the guy I would want to work for.

[island emt]

We have known each other for many years over web,

I for one would be honored to work for a small service like yours that truly cares for it's employees, it's community , & providing the very best care possible to our customers.

I consider you a legacy operator , continuing the example set by your parents.

While some of the items on your list may be "nice to have" such as the rear video players, things such as the FLIR to prevent collisions with large wildlife are cutting edge use of technology.

I remember when you started using the instant troponin test. We discussed them & you sent me some sample to trial.

I even managed to get a couple of our ER docs to take the use of them to our state level physicians control board for permission to use them on a trial basis . To me in a rural setting things like that are cutting edge use of technology that improves Pt care.

I salute you Trevor.

even if you are a little bit of a whacker

[rock_shoes]

I salute your inner whacker!

You however are a very rare form of whacker. You are the nearly extinct productive whacker who uses his powers of whackerism for the betterment of human kind.

[medicmole]

I think......gasp....your right, you are a whacker. Sorry Kat I couldn't resist.

It says a lot about your charactor that you would rather improve the service to your citizens and working conditions for employees than line your own pockets.

If I'm ever passing through your area I would like to stop by and meet you. If you are ever passing through the Rockies let me know, I"ll buy you a beer. :-)