Five people in my service had their medic practical yesterday and I volunteered to be a victim/patient. I could easily take the day off so I figured what the heck. When I got there I learned that as a basic I ended up being the partner rather than the patient. So instead of being boarded and collared all day, I got to hold c-spine instead. It was still fun though and I'm glad I went to help out.
I think there were 34 medics testing. My station did at least 10. We did upper extremity splinting and longboard. I think I had at least 3 failures and I saw at least a couple more. One guy badly slinged an ulna and didn't swath at all. One guy completely forgot to attach the pad to the longboard and didn't notice until his patient was on the board. Several people very nearly ran out of time (or the tester gave them a break). And one of my own medics failed my station because he boarded using 3 straps instead of 4 and the middle strap was too high. The tester said that the pelivs wasn't adequately secured and I'm sure he was right.
Comments were made that medics probably spend too much time studying ALS before the test and the BLS stuff catches them. I'd love to hear your stories about test day!
Gary Huntress
Swansea Ambulance Corps
Swansea MA
In other news - I just took my pulse....38???? wth??
I think there were 34 medics testing. My station did at least 10. We did upper extremity splinting and longboard. I think I had at least 3 failures and I saw at least a couple more. One guy badly slinged an ulna and didn't swath at all. One guy completely forgot to attach the pad to the longboard and didn't notice until his patient was on the board. Several people very nearly ran out of time (or the tester gave them a break). And one of my own medics failed my station because he boarded using 3 straps instead of 4 and the middle strap was too high. The tester said that the pelivs wasn't adequately secured and I'm sure he was right.
Comments were made that medics probably spend too much time studying ALS before the test and the BLS stuff catches them. I'd love to hear your stories about test day!
Gary Huntress
Swansea Ambulance Corps
Swansea MA
In other news - I just took my pulse....38???? wth??