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  1. pumper12fireman

    What to Expect

    Haha, that's what my problem is..I'll have to remember that...
  2. pumper12fireman

    Lung sounds

    Thank you. We were shown this in medic but I had forgot the name of the website. In the short time I've had my license one of the big things I've learned is: 1. How important lung sounds are, even as a basic 2. How hard it is to hear them in a moving rig 3. How much of an idiot you feel like...
  3. pumper12fireman

    What to Expect

    Along the same lines of what wyoming medic said.. In the year that I've had my basic license I have- Been kicked in the junk 4x Been puked on Helped a few old ladies feel better by just holding their hand when they asked Seen death Seen a baby take it's first breath Got yelled at...
  4. pumper12fireman

    PHTLS Practical

    I took PHTLS today for the first time (I'm a medic student). I was curious to know if any others had similar/different experiences. In our final practical assessment exam, we had one "team member" to be used at your discretion.That team member could not make any pt. care suggestions or txs, etc...
  5. pumper12fireman

    C/P SOA ("our bread and butter")

    Okay, sorry for the delay. I'm a medic student and was the EMT on this call. So, I had to double check with my partner on exacts of lung sounds. Lung sounds were clear in all fields. CP/SOA started 2 hours prior to our arrival. BP was equal in both arms. Also, no complaints of "feeling sick" or...
  6. pumper12fireman

    EMS/Medical Superstitions.

    This is true of our department as well (unless we're hoping for a fire). Last week one of the guys said that he "wished for a good MVC". Two hours later, we're cutting a DOA out while putting the deceased's mother on a LSB getting ready to run her hot to a trauma center. So, we don't wish...
  7. pumper12fireman

    Anyone else get nervous before their CPR cert?

    I do, for some strange reason get nervous before CPR check-off. Even in ACLS I was nervous to do our BLS CPR check-off. It's silly to be nervous, after awhile it becomes very, very mundane and routine. So, you're not alone.
  8. pumper12fireman

    Anyone taken an accelerated EMT-P course?

    I was paging through my PHTLS book and came across a quote that caught my eye. I'll paraphrase- "Your patients did not choose you to be their care provider. YOU chose to care for THEM. They deserve your very best at all times." In short, I believe this includes your education. If you really...
  9. pumper12fireman

    C/P SOA ("our bread and butter")

    1400- cold day about 25 degrees outside. Dispatched on 72 y/o female with CP/SOA. Upon your arrival, ambulance is able to be parked 10 feet from apartment door. You have a crew of 3, 1 medic, 2 EMTs. You find a well kept floor level apartment. Pt is sitting in recliner in visible distress. Pain...
  10. pumper12fireman

    ABD Distension after Nitro???

    Did the vomit have that "coffee ground" like appearance? Any blood in vomit or stool?? I doubt you'd have this info, but maybe social hx of alcoholism, or with chronic HTN, some sort of espohageal varice ruptured?? It'd be very interesting to see if you can get any follow up info...
  11. pumper12fireman

    What is your rank or title.

    Title at work is Firefighter/EMT-B..title at clinicals/school is paramedic intern. However, the name i'm usually called is not appropriate for here..
  12. pumper12fireman

    Has anyone polled EMS about the following?

    1. I'm 20 and most guys I work with are around my age, or over their 40's. 2. Never married, so no...but with medic school, relationships have been impossible (unless I'm dating someone in EMS0 3. Caffeine all the time, and cigarettes too... 4. On my days off I usually get fully rested, but...
  13. pumper12fireman

    What's next? Fire or Medic?

    First, go to fire school. Decide if you like emergency services and being an FF/EMT. If you do enjoy it, and make it, then you can make an informed decision based off experience. I will be honest, I went to medic too soon. I did not realize how MUCH responsibility lies within a medic's hands. It...
  14. pumper12fireman

    What I Hate the most about EMS

    Having worked in systems WITH fire response and currently in a system WITHOUT fire response, I'd have to agree that we (EMS and fire) are NOT the same. A little background- started out of a combined Fire Academy/EMT class, started at a fire department that did not transport. Training was always...
  15. pumper12fireman

    What Could Have Been Done At This Scene?

    From your description of the scene, I wouldn't have "worked" this patient. It seems like signs of obvious death were present. AND, you are completely correct in that performing CPR or other interventions can upset the family/bystanders. Which in the proper situation is just part of it, BUT, in...
  16. pumper12fireman

    In need of advice...

    First off, welcome to the boards. My experiences: Father was a ff/medic. I was raised hearing stories about "the greatest job in the world". As I graduated from high school, I made the decision to become a firefighter/EMT, and am now in medic school. I was in a similar situation as you, I...
  17. pumper12fireman

    Making small talk with patients during long transfers

    I work in a system where the hospital is no more than 10 minutes away..yet, it's a 5 bed ER, with the only capability of labs and CT. No trauma, no surg, no cath lab etc. So, a lot of times pt.'s come in POV or by us for stabilization then they get transferred out ALS or BLS, emergent or...
  18. pumper12fireman

    Making small talk with patients during long transfers

    I work in a small town of about 8,000 so that really helps. The older people love talking small town gossip and politics and if I don't know them, they usually know someone on the fire dept or I know the area in which they live. I usually like to ask what they do/did. Some people have/had some...
  19. pumper12fireman

    Fun Times in Paramedic School

    Stephen, where abouts in Missouri are you?? I'm up in KC going through one of the local FD's programs..
  20. pumper12fireman

    Lidocaine

    No sir, I can't. I just specifically remember our arrhythmia instructor speaking of that. Saying, exactly that. It was something along the lines of "in a sick heart, trying to numb the ventricles can be a bad thing", in reference to amiodarone vs lidocaine discussion. And yes it does look...
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