Safety Topics ..........

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crotchitymedic1986

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In an effort to promote safety in our workplace, I ask you:

What are some of your safety pet-peeves ? What types of things do we do that you think put us in danger ?

Here is my short-list:

1. Talking on a cellphone or texting while driving the ambulance, especially when you are driving L&S.

2. Drinking from one of those 44-64oz cola cups while driving. When turned upward, the cup is big enough in diameter to block your entire field of vision.

3. Driving faster than your guardian angel can fly.

4. Not paying close attention while driving. The next time you are driving for a few minutes on the interstate, ask your partner who is driving, what the last 3 signs you passed had printed on them ? Reading all signs on both sides of the road is a good way to survey the road, and note dangers ahead. Many times we just zone out while driving.

5. Placing a contaminated needle anywhere but in a sharps container.

Your thoughts.................
 
Habitual poor lifting techniques.

People who wear gloves to start an IV, but tear off a finger to palpate. You might as well not be wearing gloves.

Recapping needles.

People who wear gloves while assessing/treating a patient, but fail to discard or change out the gloves at the appropriate time... IE: writing stuff down while wearing potentially soiled gloves. What happens when you absentmindedly put that pen in your mouth later?
 
2. Drinking from one of those 44-64oz cola cups while driving. When turned upward, the cup is big enough in diameter to block your entire field of vision.
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Now if only someone would invent a drinking aid. Something flexible and cylindrical that could go inside a cup and allow the fluid inside to be sucked out without bringing the cup all the way to the lips.

3. Driving faster than your guardian angel can fly.
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Defined by whom because not all speed limits are set in the name of safety? I can guarentee you that the 75th percentile for speed (what the limit is supposed to be set at) on most freeways in So. Cal. is NOT 65 mph and a vehicle going 65 when the rest of traffic is going 75-80 is MUCH more dangerous than any danger caused by speeding. Speed doesn't cause accidents. Piss poor driving and speed differences do.
crotchitymedic1986 said:
4. Not paying close attention while driving. The next time you are driving for a few minutes on the interstate, ask your partner who is driving, what the last 3 signs you passed had printed on them ? Reading all signs on both sides of the road is a good way to survey the road, and note dangers ahead. Many times we just zone out while driving.
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That's like me asking you to name the last 3 radio transmissions heard over the radio. I'm going to bet that, unless primed for the question, you won't be able to do it because you naturally filter external stimuli. Just because I can't remember that the last sign was an exit I didn't want, a sign saying that there's a gas station, inn, and restaurant at the exit I didn't want, and that Jimbob's plumbing has adopted that stretch of freeway doesn't mean that I didn't see the sign.

Furthermore, if it's a stretch of road that I drive every day where I know which exit I need without even seeing a road sign, then unless it's orange I personally don't care what's on it. My eyes are already 3-4 cars down the road looking for slowing.
 
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crotchitymedic1986 said:
4. Not paying close attention while driving. The next time you are driving for a few minutes on the interstate, ask your partner who is driving, what the last 3 signs you passed had printed on them ? Reading all signs on both sides of the road is a good way to survey the road, and note dangers ahead. Many times we just zone out while driving.
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You must hate your partner.

He/she hates you for sure.
 
Now i ask you this you say that one would remember the last 3 signs.











What was the word in bold above.




Because you looked back up means you did't read it?

Stupid sugestion isn't it
 
Yes it is very stupid to ask the person driving the ambulance to actually pay attention to what/he or she is doing.
 
crotchitymedic1986 said:
Yes it is very stupid to ask the person driving the ambulance to actually pay attention to what/he or she is doing.
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You mean paying attention to signs along side the road, none of which are going to jump out and cause an accident, or paying attention to all 4 directions (front, back, left and right), vehicles, pedestrians, and anything else that actually can cause an accident?
 
crotchitymedic1986 said:
Yes it is very stupid to ask the person driving the ambulance to actually pay attention to what/he or she is doing.
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Is that like it being stupid to ask an EMT to monitor the radio? So, can you remember at all times what the last 3 transmissions were?
 
I have to say i next to never make sweeping statements but


Sir you are an ediot

id10t.jpg
 
One of my pet peeves is co-workers more interested in catching the rest of the crew in a petty error than in doing a good job themselves.. you know the type.. the ones who think they are so :censored: hot that they don't need to look to their own improvement but are put on earth to make sure the rest of us come up to what they believe is their higher standard.

There! We were all thinking it! I said it!
 
Not wearing vests on incidents in an active roadway.
 
Grady_emt said:
Not wearing vests on incidents in an active roadway.
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We just recently got our vests that will make us compliant with NFPA. All of my guys want to know how that vest is going to protect us from getting hit. We already have all sorts of reflective tape on our turnouts, and then there are the big red trucks with those bright, flashy things that are strategically parked to protect the scene.
 
Epi-do said:
We just recently got our vests that will make us compliant with NFPA. All of my guys want to know how that vest is going to protect us from getting hit. We already have all sorts of reflective tape on our turnouts, and then there are the big red trucks with those bright, flashy things that are strategically parked to protect the scene.
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They will help your family win a law suit after you're hit.
 
Epi-do said:
We just recently got our vests that will make us compliant with NFPA. All of my guys want to know how that vest is going to protect us from getting hit. We already have all sorts of reflective tape on our turnouts, and then there are the big red trucks with those bright, flashy things that are strategically parked to protect the scene.
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Its not NFPA that mandated it (remember, NFPA is technically just a suggestion), it was the Federal Gov't in 23 CFR part 634 on the federal register: http://www.workzonesafety.org/files/documents/laws_regulations/federal/nov_24_06.pdf
 
Not washing your hands after taking off gloves
Not cleaning, restocking the rig, the jump bag and refueling the ambulance, esp after a long LD
Showing up for your shift in a dirty uniform
What BosseyCow said, stupid petty things to snitch about
Not working together as a team.
* That is my short list.................
 
Epi-do said:
Thanks for the info, Grady!
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Remember Jon's thread from last May?
Reflective Vests on the Highway - 23 CFR 634
http://www.emtlife.com/showthread.php?t=7852&highlight=ANSI


Just remember that it not only requires reflectivity, but also 5 point tear away ability should the vest be snagged on a passing vehicle's mirror. Most vest fabricators are automatically updating their product line to be compliant. TURNOUT GEAR ALONE IS NOT COMPLAINT!!!!
 
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Actually, I do remember that thread. Heck, we have even had our training over it at work. For some reason though, I was thinking it was just an NFPA thing.
 
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