Well, this thread has surely gotten heated over the last week. We all probably could have done without the comments from Fort Myers but I guess every one is entitled to their voice. There will always be heat and tension between paid and volunteer service. I've been a volunteer for 23 years but don't really have a choice since I'm still on active duty and haven't planned to retire yet. I'm sure most of us remember our days of being a new EMT-B. Back in 1985 when I first entered the world of EMS I too was pretty proud and eager to hit the streets. Since then I have taken many classes in many states and have rose to where I am today and will continue in the years to come with CC being my next hurdle. Try to put yourself in their shoes for just a minute. Many paid EMS providers have started from the volunteer ranks and have moved up. Some have gone to Paramedic School with never even stepping foot on an ambulance. I saw many when I was going through Paramedic School. They may have the book smarts but don't have an ounce of field experience. In my years I have seen some terrible EMS providers. Both career and volunteer. I have also seen some great ones. Who knows, maybe 20 years down the road these kids will be in our shoes sitting here laughing. EMS has the same problems any other line of work. I’ve seen some pretty lousy cops in my travels and I've come across some pretty stupid nurses as well. Let’s just remember that we all have started somewhere and maybe we can try not to "eat our young". As for EMS becoming a profession the National Standards are looking ahead. I would suggest anyone here to breeze through them.
I can play nice........ Just wanted to stir things up a bit it looked like the site hasn't had a good topic in yrs.............
I'm usually a very nice person. I love everything about EMS. You do what you can, and do what you need. I dont' really condone owning an old ambulance though that's too far. If you think volunteering is your thing....... fine that's you and your life. I just don't see it that way.
Cue the flood of apologies and retractions. Nut up, people. The admins don't want pointless flamewars, and this was headed that way, but stand by what you said.
It's unfortunate that we can't have discussions about the state of EMS without the two sides being perceived as pompous "professionals" with no regard for their patients and ignorant chest-thumping hobbyists, respectively.
Sometimes I'm happy I'm (God willing) just passing through on my way to other parts of medicine. I don't see any change on the horizon, at least not for the better. It seems as if EMS is stuck in a vicious cycle where the patchwork of state and local agencies prevents the development of professional standards, and the lack of a single identity for EMS providers prevents the systems from being standardized. Any change is likely to come from the top, and Random Acts of Reality, among others, has me worried about EMS in a single-payer/ socialized system as well.
I am in the exception that proves the rule according to Rid. I live in an extremely rural area with 200 and some calls per year. But I also see the other side with my husband's civil department. They have a volunteer squad that responds with the paid staff. This is according to the city, an augmentation of the original staff that is not paid. Okay, they are kind of paid, but not the same rate as the career staff. This raises some questions for me:
If the standard is the same, what is the justification for paying them less?
How can the skill level be the same when they run about 1/3 the number of calls as the paid guys?
When the volunteer shows up on a scene, does the family, pt, understand that this is not the paid staff and should it even matter?
I am proud of my vollie status. I do provide a service where there is nothing else but me. We can't get the local ALS provider to expand their response area in anything other than a mutual aid to us, which the agency has to pay for. We train often and well. But, I understand that the level of service I can provide is not the same that would be rec'd in a more urban area.
I would also like to point out, that this thread began, not as a vollie vs paid discussion but as a discussion about whackerism in its many forms. I have 14 volunteers in my agency. None of them has even approached the level of whackerism required to partially stock their own pseudo-ambulance and use it to respond to calls. We do not respond in Joke T-shirts and with Joe Fireman make believe light bars on our cars. Lets not fall into the trap of polarizing this into two extremes. There's a lot of middle ground which is where most of us practice.
I had a very long reply for this all typed... but I feel the discussion is heading in the direction of "Paid vs. Volunteer" arguments... and this thread isn't really about that, so in an effort to keep the thread "on topic", I'm holding off for right now.
He's probably scared ****less now after having 20 EMT-P's jump down his throat.
j/k
+1 . Might as well see the shiny toy that started this storm...
Also, Mark, that's one SEXY line of rigs. You're a lucky bunch of vols.
Though, (personally) I find the type-3 rigs to be a little sexier, I can see the appeal of the Truck-style EMS rigs instead. (especially when part of a Fire Dept.)
Origional poster most states only allow you to treat at the basic level. It seems you have really gone to the extreme. At my service we have written permission to work at our level in our coverage area. I have a good amount of equipment but I also live in a very remote location and might have to treat my family for an extended time prior to help.
I wasn't apologizing, just stating that I can play without having to get banned.
And getting back to the oringinal topic...... There are many forms of whackerism.... it just seems to pop up more with volley departments. There are bunch though that do work for paid services who are just as bad. I think we all were when we were new to the game. I'll admit I had a scanner, stickers on my POV, when I first started. 2 yrs in my scanner went on the shelf and collected dust. The stickers faded off and I peeled them off. I don't carry a jump bag anymore either. I was harshly introduced to the EMS field with an FTO that hated whackers......... Needless to say I had a rocky start with EMS bc of him. But hey I turned out right now eh??? (Note the sarcasim in the line).
USCGK9, you dont want to whip my rigs out to put your to shame now do ya???
Bring it on!!! I'm do to retire soon at maybe looking for a medic job in Florida. If I like your rigs maybee I'll apply. Who knows, maybe you'll be my FTO and we can talk about our roots in EMS....lol.
:unsure: Oh oh. Is that an ambulance with blue lights? EMTLife administrators get ready, here comes the discussion's second wind! P Just kidding -there's already another thread with a discussion about that )
No im still here, life got a bit busy. I will post pics probily this weekend. And If you Look @ Code Blue, Its a publicity stunt by Rual Metro and several other groups. IMO, Its a Little bit too far for a major service. but good use of an old rig is a tailgating unit. Our service has a retired fire truck (1960's we use just to go to games. Its kinda fun. Blue Fever hit Indy pretty hard.
