I grew up in a volunteer agency. Our Fire Dept is combined; Fire, Rescue, EMS. When I first joined I was strictly a firefighter. I then took a First Responder class, then EMT.
From experience... I did not think that I would like EMS until I got involved. Give it some time, it grows on ya! I am...
Our Paramedics (AKA ALS) tend to be very good about asking us to do something. I have become comftorable with our medics and I just take it upon myself to check their O2 levels, offer to help w/ 'spiking' the bag, getting tape ready, apply their automated BP cuff & doing O2. I wouldnt hesitate...
Everyone I feel in this field has some type of nervousness towards certian calls. I know that for myself my heart gets beating for MVA's. On the way to the call I am running all of the possibilities through my mind of the worst case seniaro. Then from there I review in my head what i'm going to...
I agree... Definatly stock your own kits. The bag, BP cuff, & steth. are probaly the most expensive items. Usually in the kits they give you unnecessary stuff.
You can find a majority of the stuff at a local pharmacy (ie 4x4's, gauze, eye wash...)
-Angie
Dispatch will normally tone us out and tell us to 10-21 (contact dispatch via phone for more information). Other times they tell us where to stage (cross roads or at our hall). Then when it is secure they give us the a-okay!
I always make sure that PD is still on scene and is around us when we...
Depending on the size of the patient you could use a KED.. (Obviously use it around the hip instead of being used for spinal immobilization.)
Havn't done it myself but heard about it in my EMT class a few years ago.
-Angie
I guess it just depends on the type of situation. If it is a "load and go" you are going to ask more specific HELPFUL questions first.
Hope this helps.
-Angie
I do believe that they are referring to SAMPLE. Are you firmiliar? Reffer back to the first page of this post- it is explained.
(Asking them all esentially; just not at once- getting the most important information first IE SMP, Then ALE later. But still makes up SAMPLE)
-Angie
We also do BP checks at our local festival. During EMS week a cuple years ago we arranged for our local air-medical team to join us. It was a big attraction. They brought the bird down and did a tour.
Inside of our FD we put up informational boards on AED/CPR, Backboarding and such. The...
I am also a volunteer firefighter/EMT at my towns volunteer fire dept.
My full time job (just got promoted TODAY! ) I am a Senior Socio-therapist at a diagnostic home for children. I work with children from 5-14, most have mental, emotional and behavioral issues. Most have experienced neglect...
We didn't know it had any issues until that call... I was a CFR at the time so I didn't ride on the rig an awful lot. I was mostly on our rescue truck.
Fortunately, we didn't get sued... The patient was a member of our department.
But your right there was no excuse for the other...