Recent content by drl

Even as a medical student, EMCrit is often above my head, but it's an excellent podcast. EM Basic is another great podcast that's more focused on the initial ED workup of various chief complaints, but it can be great for EMTs and medics as well in figuring out what the important questions are to...

Done

If you're talking about the Care Ambulance that runs 911 in some areas of LA Co and Orange Co, they're a pretty good company to work for (and are now under Falck ownership, I believe). Now, if you're talking about Care Medical Transportation that does IFT mainly in San Diego... they're no better...

Interesting how that works in NYC. If I did that as an IFT EMT in my county, I'd be out of a job faster than I could open my mouth. Unless we're officially pulled into the 911 system, we're only allowed to control the scene and begin treatment for still alarms/MVAs that we happen on; for...

Yep, I like the Sprinters a bit more than the Ford Type II's mainly because of the extra height in the back. I can sit on the bench with my back against the side wall and not be stooped over like in the Fords. That, and they ride better than the Fords and aren't completely gutless like the...

In my IFT service, we do STEMI transfers fairly often, and they're almost always CCT with heparin running, and often nitro as well.

Yep, it's been there for quite some time and there's no news on them discontinuing it. For more details, see here and make an account. At full price, definitely not worth it. At half price, I've found it to be a reasonable price for a useful tool.

I have the LED Lenser P6.2 for general use and a cheap company-issued penlight for pupils.

Unfortunately we only have 8-hour shifts, with two 24-hour cars and one 10-hour car at my IFT job. As of now, I work 5 days in a row of 8-hour shifts, occasionally picking up a 6th day. Really wish we had 12-hour shifts...

I would keep it simple, focus on the immediate ABC stuff you can do before 911's arrival. Scratch the pulse ox, perhaps add a BVM instead of a CPR face mask.

+1 on the 5.11 ATAC Shield boots. Comfortable from day one and holding up great 4 months in, with only some minor scuffs. I believe 5.11 is currently running a 40% off sale as well with the code "511FAMILY".

SCCo is one of the most heavily regulated (ie best funded) EMS agencies in the Bay Area (partly due to the massive fines that R/M has been paying), and so they have the best integration of IFT units in the 911 system. Even then, 911 dispatch does not have GPS tracking of IFT units. Heck, in my...

There's definitely also an experience/competency difference between 911 and IFT as well: most anyone can land an IFT job, whereas 911 agencies tend to weed out the most incompetent providers through the competitive hiring process (although there are always exceptions). In CA's Santa Clara...

MI symptoms in women often vary from the "classic" presentations we look for--which are typical in men--and can include pain anywhere from the back to the abdomen and shortness of breath. From an EMT-B level, I'd consider this presentation to most likely be an MI rather than an aortic...

Are you planning on working in the field? If so, I'd suggest doing your ride-alongs on an ambulance.