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    Can any flight medics share anything interesting?

    This is very true. I had applied for the flight job I have now probably like 4 or 5 times over 3 years, and didn't even get a "thanks but no thanks" letter. Now, I strongly dislike nepotism and similar for friends, but for jobs like these it helps to know people. It wasn't until I had several...
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    Nasal Meds

    I've had this experience too... We had a severely combative postictal patient and were ordered to give 2mg Ativan IN because our Med Control doc stated it "wouldn't be safe" to attempt an IM injection... With any combative Patient, the first thing they are going to protect is their head, so...
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    PICC lines

    Huber needle for the port, and the winged needle for the shunt, I forget the name and size of it. The portacath is a sterile procedure, so it comes in it's own little pre-packaged kit with the drape and all.
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    PICC lines

    Our protocol says we can access it after two failed IV attempts OR at Pt's request OR an unstable Pt. If you're pushing meds, nothing smaller than a 10cc can be attached due to pressure. And prior to pushing drugs make sure you can flush 5-10mL NSS. Portacaths and AV shunts need Medical...
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    Can't sleep while posting

    Depends on a few different factors. Do they allow 24's? if so, its unsafe. You should be allowed to sleep in your down time if you're on a 24 hour shift. For 8,10,12 hour shifts it's not unreasonable. The place I work at now is Hospital-based, so we have to adhere to all of the hospital...
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    Streets

    Back before smartphones, and when GPS units were way too expensive, we used maps. The hagstrom maps were my favorite. Now I'll just use Google maps on my Galaxy. I like it better than navigation, as I can see different routes and cross streets and such
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    There is nothing like a good Hatzalah video...

    They have non-Jewish people in the Lakewood, NJ squad that drive the rig on Saturdays for them.
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    Can you sleep OTJ?

    Current job, not allowed per policy. Do people sleep? Of course. My last job, sleeping was just about a normal of a routine as the truck-check in the morning. I found it was a lot easier to sleep there, simply because our radios would alert to wake the dead. My current job all of the ALS...
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    Paramedic rideouts difficulty would like ADVICE

    First of all, don't assume any call is going to be a 'normal' call. Things happen, and patients will go south on you. You just have to learn to roll with it, and remember your training. I know asthmatics tend to get panicky once they get tired and hypoxic during a status episode, but you can't...
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    Medium-Duty Ambulances

    Having worked in Type I, II, III, and International chassis rigs, I prefer the F-450 type I rigs. I really don't see any benefit to the medium duty ambulances at all.
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    Nasal Narcan

    It's sad that I have experienced this multiple times... My last one was dispatched as an OD, about 30 seconds out we get an update from BLS on scene of CPR in progress. 20-ish y/o female with snoring respirations at about 4-6/min. I asked why they were performing CPR and I was told "well we...
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    NJ EMS is Awful, and Here's Why

    :beerchug:
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    What made you get into EMS?

    Both of my parents are medics. My mom got me into a volunteer squad when I was 16, and I started EMT school at the same time. I had initially started the prereq's for Nursing school, but ended up going to Medic school instead. I really don't regret it though.
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    how far would you drive

    I rotate between 2 stations, one is 45 miles and the other is 41 miles from my doorstep. The ride to both takes around 45 minutes. I'm moving closer this fall, and will onle be about 10 minutes from one, and 5-10 from the other. I actually like the ride home, as I can unwind with the 40...
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    Hospital bans obese job applicants

    I am not against overweight people at all, but I hate working with a partner who needs to take a break after walking up 2 floors of a 5 floor walk-up. I'm just waiting for the day one of these people have a massive MI while on the job. I do think the BMI scale is a joke. Why not just make...
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    Radios/Pagers - Looking for suggestions

    When it comes to portables for QCII calls, the HT1250 & 750 are my favorite radio hands down . When cranked up the alert tone will wake the dead, and even me from a sound sleep. I have an XTS2500, HT1000, MT2000, and an XPR6550, but for normal conventional channels that use QCII, the HT1250...
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    NJ Paramedic Program during Undergrad?

    Eh, +/- a few months... I finished Monoc's program in just about 15 months. It depends on the school you go through, as some are different. Monoc's Program through OCC was three nights a week when I went through. I did it with a full-time job 4 days a week and never really had a chance to...
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    Has anyone ever passed the NREMT-P exam with 150 questions?

    I passed at 150 too
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    Best EMS pants..?

    We're issued these: Perfection MTX I like them, as they don't fade and hold a crease pretty well. They have EMS Shear loops on the right side, but I never carry Shears. The smaller pocket on the left side is the perfect size for my iPhone too. I'm a big fan of the 5.11 Tac-Lite pants...
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    ASA in Chest Pain

    It's not. NJ ALS standing orders are a max dose of 324mg ASA and SL NTG q5 for a SBP >100mmHg. I just checked the NJ EMT-B regs, ASA isn't even mentioned. They can ASSIST with SL NTG, but can not physically give aspirin.
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