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  1. reidnez

    Employment help

    You may have to accept a long commute if that's what it takes to get hired. I'm driving about 45 minutes to work now, so are many of my co-workers. It doesn't seem very long when you work a 12-hr. shift and drive around for most of it anyway. :)
  2. reidnez

    tips tricks for getting pulse in the field

    Practice! I used to have trouble getting pulses as well, I've gotten a lot better at it. If you don't find one right away, try a couple different sites and try varying your pressure. I have no medical/scientific explanation for this, but sometimes a bit more pressure seems to work and other...
  3. reidnez

    regarding EMS and LEO documenting alcohol use

    I agree with that completely, I'm just not convinced that in an otherwise perfectly-written narrative, the difference would come down to "alcohol" vs. "alcoholic beverage." I know lawyers are capable of some pretty impressive twists in logic, but nonetheless it would be a pretty lame argument...
  4. reidnez

    regarding EMS and LEO documenting alcohol use

    "Smell of alcohol" vs. "smell of alcoholic beverage" seems like a pretty academic distinction to me. OK, you may not be strictly, scientifically correct...but what's the difference? And how many people out there are drinking 100% pure, lab-grade, odorless ethanol? I'm fairly certain everyone...
  5. reidnez

    EMT Salary

    Just as the others said, they're going to pay what they're going to pay you...if you don't want the job, 20 others will happily take it. The average EMT-B stays with a company for less than a year before moving on to bigger and better things. Agencies know this and pay accordingly.
  6. reidnez

    Diabetic EMT

    I'm not a diabetic myself but I tend to agree with you. It should be the doctor's discretion, period. As long as it's under medical surveillance and continues to stay under control, I don't see why you shouldn't be able to drive. There is no way to eliminate all medical risk; I think I'm pretty...
  7. reidnez

    I did it! Now I need a job...

    My advice is to be patient. It took me 3 months to get hired. I'm not sure how the job market is in your area, but here there are literally dozens of unemployed EMT's for every open job. There is also pretty high turnover though, as the average basic stays with a company for less than a year. So...
  8. reidnez

    Where to get a cheap physical in San Diego?

    You're not a veteran, are you? I've gotten free physicals in the past from the VA. It will probably take you a couple of weeks to get in, though (which is why I went to a walk-in for mine.) Anyway, this is the contact info for the place I went to: Mission Valley Medical Clinic 5333 Mission...
  9. reidnez

    Where to get a cheap physical in San Diego?

    Try the walk-in clinics. As MrBrown noted the exam can be done by an NP or PA; you do not have to be seen by a physician. I went to Mission Valley Medical Clinic and I believe it was $50. They saw me pretty quickly, no appointment. This is different. You need a "medical examiner's card" in...
  10. reidnez

    Recommendations for finding PT EMT jobs

    Most likely you're going to have to hit up each hospital individually. Sometimes the facilities also post ads on Craigslist and other sites, I got an interview with an MRI facility that way (but ended up getting hired at an IFT company before the interview).
  11. reidnez

    Recommendations for finding PT EMT jobs

    Just apply everywhere, there is a surplus of EMT's right now so unfortunately you are not going to have your pick of jobs. Be patient and persistent, it may take you several weeks or longer to find something. Don't forget hospitals, they hire EMT's as well.
  12. reidnez

    Weird Call

    This is way out of my pay grade, but...you mention the PT was bariatric. Maybe because of his size the standard doses of dextrose just weren't enough to maintain his BGL? I'm probably way off here but it's just a thought.
  13. reidnez

    ASA...cheweable vs pill

    Better yet, go to the German system which puts a physician on every ALS rig...it's an awesome standard of care, I'm sure, but I don't think anyone in the states is going to pony up the cash for that kind of system (unless we can convince enough doctors to work for $30k/yr.) :unsure:
  14. reidnez

    Diabetic EMT

    It's not a CDL in California either, it's an "certificate" which is added to your existing license (just like a motorcycle endorsement.) You take a written test, get fingerprinted and get a physical. But it doesn't change your class of license, you just get a little piece of paper.
  15. reidnez

    No luck finding a EMT-B job :(

    I know how annoying it is when people say "count your lucky stars," but I'm going to say it anyway. It took me three months to get hired! You've been at it a week, have some persistence. The chance that you will walk into an ambulance company at the exact moment that they're hiring, is pretty...
  16. reidnez

    Newbie, where to begin?

    Forgot to add: make sure all your certs are in order before you start. Many places won't take your application (and almost certainly won't interview you) unless you have everything in hand. You'll need your NREMT card, CPR card, DMV ambulance endorsement, DMV H6, Medical examiner card and County...
  17. reidnez

    Newbie, where to begin?

    My advice is to apply everywhere...your city's EMS service (or the fire department if they handle it), private services, hospitals, etc. There are about 8 private services in my area that I know of and I hit them all up, some twice. I'm not sure how many there are in Sacramento but there are...
  18. reidnez

    First day on the job

    Congrats on the hire! Three weeks is nothing, it took me almost three months!
  19. reidnez

    Landed a job!

    Thanks! That's the one.
  20. reidnez

    Landed a job!

    My first one (EMT-wise), with Pacific Ambulance. I did a "mass interview" there about a month ago, they didn't have anything open at the time but were just screening. So I wasn't too hopeful, but I got a call about ten minutes ago and offered a full-time position. I know there are a lot of...
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