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Weird calls really do seem to run in clusters. I had a patient last week with generalized weakness and an inability to urinate for several days. His heart rate was ~40 in an idioventricular rhythm with markedly peaked t waves and a known history of hyperkalemia. He bought himself a couple liters...

Oops, my bad. I was viewing this in Tapatalk and didn't see the poll.

This is completely area and system dependent. Some services that are staffed with Medic/EMT or Medic/AEMT still require the paramedic to attend on all calls, regardless of acuity (or lack thereof). Others routinely allow patients to be triaged to a BLS attendant. Personally, I can absolutely...

Yes. We have an agreement in place with a local hospital that allows us access to their OR and anesthesia providers. New hires undergo intubation practice along with existing employees if they don't have enough field intubations for a year or go below the required success rate. We're very...

Yes, we utilize video laryngoscopy using the KingVision for most of our intubations. We haven't replaced any of our direct laryngoscopy equipment with the KingVision, but it serves as a valuable adjunct to it and improves our first pass intubation success rate. Our agency prefers it for first...

True posturing typically happens late in the course of the injury/illness and stays that way until further deterioration. If they woke up afterwards without any further treatment, it wasn't posturing. Sounds like another seizure en route to the hospital.

I feel like this was a set up from an FTO or something. Did they tell you to go refill the blinker fluid on the ambulance too? But yes. I'm right handed, but keep my shears on my left. 5.11s work.

I use both as well. I wear contacts during day shifts and at night until I go to bed. From that point on it's glasses. No biggie either way.

We often have literal "ambulance drivers" around here. They're certified in EVO and CPR. That's it. The EMT just has to be attending in the back.

Couple annoying calls/not calls today: 1. Arrived on scene ~5 minutes after the BLS ambulance to a heroin OD on the side of the road, and they've already tossed the patient in their ambulance and are barreling towards the hospital with one EMT in the back and one driving. The patient is still...

Yikes. If we had a "dislike" button, this would be worthy. I sincerely hope they aren't still operating. It's amazing how the Internet has allowed people like that to find each other, isn't it?

So much facepalm in this thread... Please tell me the second picture is from some kind of parody.

On what topic in particular? This entire forum is pretty much advice of varying quality and words of "wisdom."

I prefer a backpack to a duffel bag. Definitely recommend a spare uniform, healthy snacks (nuts are great), some kind of reading material, and your protocol book since you're new.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/m/pubmed/14582090/ Interesting study on this very topic. Anti-inflammatory effects of corticosteroids may be more effective if administered before the inflammation and corresponding symptoms become "severe." Earlier interventions to prevent ICU admission or...

We do a fair amount of event coverage, particularly over the summer. Oddly enough, many of the volunteer BLS departments don't seem too interested in providing coverage for the frequent smaller scale events. We provide free coverage for most small non-profit events that request us, but we charge...

Perhaps meeting a friend up in DC on Sunday. Going to an escape room with some friends in Ocean City tomorrow, and oddly enough, a Bingo fundraiser tonight (presumably with 99% old people).

I thought you posted a picture of an ambulance you parked just the other day? Hope all is well.

Awesome! I went to a really cool presentation at EMS Today regarding treatment of massive PE with emergent ED ECMO and open embolectomy. The physician making the presentation actually suffered from a large PE last year and ended up being treated in the same system and resources that he put in...

We can't offer legal advice. Thread closed.