Recent content by Apple Bill

The stuff in our fire medical bags is garbage, at least the steth and bp cuff. As far as leaving it in the truck or bag, I'm not always on the same truck. MVA we head out in E2, medical is R1, if R1 is out and we're 2nd medical it's one of the squads. Fire I could be on E1, E2, a tanker, R5...

I've seen a bunker gear fanny pack. Pretty sure I would be so many levels of awesome with that.

I'm trying to find a decent "pouch" to house my stethoscope, shears, light, etc. The idea being when I'm on fire shift I can have it together and ready to drop into my bunker pants if we get a medical or MVA, but not have my stuff in there if we respond to a fire. I saw a really nice 5.11 at...

Last shift, it was...nothing. Seriously went 12 hours with no calls. Same for the other crew at our station. Never happens. Full night's sleep, I woke up in the morning worried I'd slept through something.

Don't be like 9/10s of the class on lab day and stand back for fear of looking ignorant. Of course you're ignorant, that's why you're taking the class. Get in there and get your hands on stuff. You'll be ahead in the long run.

I became a volunteer firefighter and got my EMT cert at 37. Work PRN for a 911 agency. I've had a few jobs leading up to this, mostly office peon. Realized I needed to do more than stare at a computer all day.

Good read, thanks.

Thanks all. It was a new one for me and the other EMT on the rescue truck.

I'm glad he was already doing it, I'm not sure I'd have thought to do it since most burns are kept dry. Yeah, he's in for a rough time. I'm worried about his eye most of all.

Looks like some immersion in water or saline is ok, with solid tar removal in the ED done using polysorbates. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1863198/?page=1 http://www.lni.wa.gov/safety/research/files/tarburninjuryfacts.pdf

Ran a call while on FD shift, 35yom, industrial accident, hot (250-300F) asphalt tar blew up in pt's face. Approx 80% facial coverage including left eye and up nostrils. We're first on scene, pt is at an outdoor eye flush station running water over his face. Tar has hardened on the exterior...

I sleep in my uniform, I can only think of 1 person I've worked with who doesn't. With cat naps here & there, changing into PJs or just dropping trou to sleep a little seems silly. But, given the chance to wear a jumpsuit while working in an ambulance would be cool in a 70s sort of way.

From the fire side; CHAOS = Chief has arrived on scene