Recent content by yowzer

With only 3 or 4 paramedic programs in the state, there's always more people applying than there are spots in the classes. Personally, I never bothered because I'd either have to move, or have a much longer commute for less money than I'm making now. Not worth it. Plenty of people feel...

I use a chest pack for SAR, or, if I'm driving instead of on foot, a underarm sholder holster style harness. Never hear the end of it if I tried using that at one of my normal jobs, though... radio clipped to belt is expected, even though that's a pain in the rear.

Regionals aren't copycats. They're an official, endorsed part of the Burning Man culture.

Yeah, the state doesn't charge for EMS certifications, unlike most other medical field licenses and certs, though there have been efforts to change that.

You know you're replying to a 5 year old thread, right? :unsure:

Not that different from assisting patients with their own meds (AKA opening the pill bottle for them), which is already allowed in my protocols.

Patient: Can I have some tylenol? EMT: Are you allergic? When was the last time you had any? *places a single-dose package where the patient can pick it up* Want some water to wash that down? *document patient self-administered XXXmg of whatever* This is a very common scenario when...

I've only ever worked in areas with tiered ALS and BLS setups where medics aren't dispatched to the majority of calls. Lowly EMTs can easily handle most minor issues, and we're expected to know how to recognize things that turn out to be more serious looking than they appeared to dispatch, and...

Volunteer fire departments are only slightly easier to get on than career ones, in my experience. They have people beating down the doors to try to get on, especially ones that don't require you live in district, after all. Written tests, multiple rounds of interviews, physical tests, etc. just...

Having a Washington state EMT cert, as opposed to just NR, will make your applications to ambulance companies be more appealing, as it means you'll be able to be working sooner (Takes less time to process adding a new affiliation than your initial application does.) You'll get more actual EMS...

There's not much else, especially if you're just looking for a short term summer job. If you're looking for something longer term, and have experience, there's a handful of other options; for example, you could always try testing for south King County Medic One next time they're hiring, but...

People who have graduated from other paramedic programs can work as medics in surrounding counties. In Snohomish County, to the north, you have to be on an ALS fire department. In Pierce County, to the south, private ambulance companies can employ medics. In King and Sno, ALS level...

You can get a job in Pierce County (South of Seattle) working for a private ambulance company doing a mix of interfacility transports and field transports for the first-responding fire departments. For pretty much everywhere else within a 2 hour drive of Seattle, ALS is fire only.

A lot of the LEDs used in lights are 'cool white' tint with lots of blues that tend to wash out colors. They're used because they're brighter, and flashlight marketing is almost all about total lumen output, instead of the many other factors that should go into choosing a quality light...

That's normal for those of us who live or work in places where the fire department doesn't/won't transport but does do primary EMS response.