Recent content by atticrat

Rochester Hey, Yes Rural Metro does the inner city EMS. Monroe ambulance does the suburbs. Both are commercial, and have fairly high turnover. There are a few smaller agencies as well. There are alot of good people working in the system. Very progressive protocols. Metro has pretty short...

Good that you want to continue to learn. I would recommend the shift with the highest volume of pt contacts as a starting point, 1-2 years. Spend that time becoming the best provider you can. Then after you have learned how to be a paramedic, change shifts/companys to an environment with less...

Been looking into thigh rigs for carrying some of the items I use most often. As I asked the people I see with them about what they carry, I'm shocked at some of the items I hear listed. Expecting things like, IV starts, gauze pads, scope....... Hearing things like, a sandwich, pack of...

Most of the systems I'm familiar with don't really count volly experience. Your job in the Trauma center sounds like good experience, best way to find out if it counts is to call prospective employers. Many want you to have street time in a high volume system. The economy aside, sometimes...

Find out what text book you'll be using for the class and start reading through it.

Instead of trying to do them all at once, pick a couple a week and get them down, then start a couple more..... Flashcards work great. Carry them with you, when you have a minute during your day (like waiting at the ED) pull them out.

Don't even look at any kind of EMS/Medical books, opractice test's, videos or anything. At this point you know it or you don't! Take it easy, breath man, almost there!

Not trying to be a jackass, but the internet is your friend. Try job search engines, monster, careerbuilder..... City websites for job postings, demographics, cost of living... Company websites..... Cast your net far and wide, but don't ask everybody else to do your homework for ya '

Go for it! You don't know till you know, then you don't really know, ya know.

Always follow up! Usually one week later.

You adjust the angle of approach a bit so you penetrate with the bevel, think steeper angle. Then as soon as you are in drop the angle to advance. Easier to show someone than type out instructions. I've used it multiple times and it does work.

Yes on typical pt's it is always bevel up. But with elderly, peds, tiny, and easy to blow veins I've had succees with the bevel down. Pretty much what socal said, it decreases the chance of advancing the cath through the other side of the vein blowing it out. It's not a text book method as...

I have to be the black sheep here. I think the toughbooks are too small. The keyboard seems cramped to my big 'ol hands. I prefer the General Dynamics Go Books. Full size laptop keyboard, fairly rugged.

Any ancient chineese secrets for sticks into delicate veins? Here are mine, Go as High as possible, -forearm instead of hand, ac instead of forearm.... Go as big as possible, vein not cath. Bevel Down with cath. Flush very slowly.

EMT Basic cost- $750.00 without book. Length of course 100hrs. Broken into two nights a week four hours each, and a few Saturday's for eight hours.