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Kinda sounds like a homework question. A coma is a type of unconsciousness, but being unconscious doesn't mean you're in a coma. Look into states of arousal and definitions on Wikipedia or google. There is lots to this and much more in depth than anyone would probably care to type out here. I...

It's always okay to search for weapons. There is no line at all between personal safety and patient rights, mine and my partner's safety always takes precedence over patient rights. It's probably wise to search every patient before they board the ambulance. You can make it discrete by pretending...

To any adult patient for that matter. That's such a trivial amount of fluid in pretty much any condition that requires fluid administration. Your septic patients may be 4-8 L fluid depleted. Serious burns can need equal amounts of fluid in a short time span. OCEMT is that a protocol just for...

More blood for the blood god?

The longer I do this job the less evil the FD seems. I think we can all agree that we'd like to see EMS evolve into something more analogous to the UK, Australia, and NZ. They have the advantage of national standards, self-governance, and are generally very centralized in that all the systems...

Secrets of physical diagnosis. It's a great book that covers physical exam stuff.

I do not have personal medical liability insurance and personally don't see the need for a paramedic to have any. If I get sued after doing everything according to my employer's protocols and policies then the fault lies with my employer. They are the ones who told me what to do and allowed me...

That's an interesting study, I wish I could read the whole thing. It definitely shows that there are normal variations in blood pressure and that it's not all that specific for aortic dissection. Although, it sort of makes me wonder how well the data was obtained. A convenience sample of...

I disagree. I think if you have time bilateral blood pressures and pulses are prudent if you suspect dissection, aneurism or other pathology that can cause unequal circulation. Using cool, dusky, or pulselessness to evaluate unequal circulation is just begging to miss something. That sort of...

I don't live in Mass nor am I familiar with it but I would always recommend taking the classes at a community college if possible. That way you get some college credits out of it and if you decide to go medic you have made it that much easier to get your AAS in paramedicine. Here is a link to...

Here in CO the general trend I have seen is that if they wish to take an ambulance to the hospital then that's generally what happens. If someone really doesn't need an ambulance ride the phrase that I've seen and used is: "Either we can take you to the hospital ER or you or a family member can...

I think EMTs have every business knowing arrhythmias. If you are working an ALS truck being able to look at the monitor and evaluate the rhythm will help you anticipate your medic's needs. If someone is in V-Tach/Fib, as an example, you won't have to wait for prompting from your medic to place...

I think I missed that you are close friends of the family. Whether or not a refusal was appropriate in your situation is beyond my guess, you know them so you know what was appropriate. As a general rule I would be hesitant to do any evaluation away from work unless it was family or close...

I don't think I would be so quick to label this gastroenteritis. We really don't know enough about his symptoms or if he has been febrile for me to attempt to put a name to his condition. Nausea, vomiting, sweating, and syncope to me doesn't come close to screaming gastroenteritis. In fact all...

I think that some people are visualizing two very different situations. The posters who were saying to not leave your stuff there were probably thinking of grandma/pa dead on the living room floor after being admitted to the eternal care unit. Your suicide/homicide/questionable death...

1)Why did you choose this job? I didn't. I actually became an EMT because I wanted it on my med school or nursing school application. I became a paramedic because I ended up working full time and doing school part time and really hated getting paid $10/hr; plus I hated having to drive while...

If you really can't get a job with AMR Boulder (Denver is a different animal), Northglenn ambulance, Poudre, Platte, Thompson Valley, Denver Health, or any hospital then Rural/Metro is pretty much the only place left to get your feet wet. I'd pick Rural/Metro over any of the smaller ambulance...

If you are administering albuterol appropriately you shouldn't see too many untoward side effects. Tachycardia and "jitteriness" are the only side effects I've seen. The patients you really need to worry about are the elderly with preexisting cardiac conditions, but even they tolerate albuterol...

Well that's quite the case. I agree with your assessment of what could have been improved such as keeping a few extra hands with you. To be honest I don't think the transport time really made much of a difference. While his blood pressure and respiratory status are pretty poopy, they aren't...

Or the EMTs are trying to move on to bigger and better things like nursing school or med school and don't see getting their medic as worth the time and money while they work towards their other goals. Plus after a certain length of time you end up with so many pay raises as an EMT that getting...