the 100% directionless thread

[fast65]

No offense, but you Oregonians are a bunch of girls. That is nothin'.

Oh, don't get me wrong, I drive in much worse than this. But I moved over to the coast, THEY'RE a bunch of girls

On a side note, trees are down blocking all of the highways out of town :/

 

[usalsfyre]

Apparently GPS's are taking away an entire generation of EMS providers critical thinking skills....

 

[Aprz]

Apparently GPS's are taking away an entire generation of EMS providers critical thinking skills....

Is that what someone told you, or is that what you think?

 

[usalsfyre]

Is that what someone told you, or is that what you think?

When you know you need to go SOUTH but the GPS points you NORTH...one would think you would stop and evaluate for a second.

This morning was the third time a partner has gone 100% the wrong way because "the GPS sent me this way"

:facepalm:

I dread to think if some of these folks were ever forced to use a mapsco

 

[Shishkabob]

The first few weeks at my agency all we're allowed to use is the MAPSCO. After that, we use the trucks gps. If we end up going the wrong way due to gps, we're off the hook

 

[STXmedic]

Had a walk-in at the station. Full blown STEMI. The kicker is, my station is in the heart of the medical center! Not that I don't enjoy a good medical, but seriously? You could drive to my station, but not to one of the 5 major hospitals within two blocks of the station?! *sigh*

 

[abckidsmom]

Apparently GPS's are taking away an entire generation of EMS providers critical thinking skills....

Map reading skills, anyway. I totally agree. Our county's map is a little bit hard to use, very zoomed in and you need to flip between multiple pages to figure out routing. Instead of doing this everybody just cries about how hard it is and uses the gps (and not quickest) routing.

 

[NomadicMedic]

We have map books... I think they're in the back seat somewhere.

Our CAD routes us to our calls. With a service area of close to 950 square mile and different stations almost every month, most of us would be lost without CAD mapping. :/

 

[DesertMedic66]

We have map books... I think they're in the back seat somewhere.

Our CAD routes us to our calls. With a service area of close to 950 square mile and different stations almost every month, most of us would be lost without CAD mapping. :/

Now imagine that with a 5,000 square mile response area (not counting when we get called in for mutual aid for other areas) :wacko:

 

[Mountain Res-Q]

When you know you need to go SOUTH but the GPS points you NORTH...one would think you would stop and evaluate for a second.

This morning was the third time a partner has gone 100% the wrong way because "the GPS sent me this way"

:facepalm:

I dread to think if some of these folks were ever forced to use a mapsco

The problem with most technology is the general lack of understanding that most people possess, believing that simple possession of a GPS is sufficient. It is like buying a gun without knowing how to load it, shoot it, or clean it. I believe that unless you understand basic concepts that affect the reliability of a GPS you shouldn't have one. People have literally died putting their faith in a box of circuit boards and wires.

Oh, and point of order:

GPS stands for Global Positioning System, a SYSTEM with three main components: 5 Monitoring Stations, 24 satellites (for the U.S. system, only 24 are active at any given time), and the RECEIVERS. That device in the rig or in the backpackers hands are not GPSs, they are GPS Receivers. Semantics, but meh...

 

[Handsome Robb]

I know my way around the city pretty well. Still use the mapbook or the GPS for the little streets though.

The GPS is awesome for getting you out of neighborhoods and into familiar territory.

Another note: Took my protocol test for my internship today. Talk about a total pain in the ***! Now the fun times of sitting and waiting to find out if I have to take it again or if I'm cleared for my field internship!

 

[Anjel]

Got a 115% on my pharmacology quiz today.

And I only need one more IV stick in class, and I will have my 15 and will be able to start clinicals in the ER.

 

[Sasha]

I use a gps. And that's it. Screw map books.

 

[Handsome Robb]

Got a 115% on my pharmacology quiz today.

And I only need one more IV stick in class, and I will have my 15 and will be able to start clinicals in the ER.

Congrats!


Program director just called me and said I passed the protocol test with flying colors! 2 1/2 weeks stand between me and the start of my field internship

 

[Handsome Robb]

I use a gps. And that's it. Screw map books.

GPS doesn't always give you the quickest routing when it comes to 911 calls.

Does it really matter? Probably not. Does it matter for compliance standards and contracting issues? Yes it does.

 

[MedicBrew]

I use a gps. And that's it. Screw map books.

That sounds great, but I can’t find one that works in BFE where I work…

Wrong road or no road available..

Turn right at the brown cow in the field isn’t in there, I’ve looked!!!!

 

[Handsome Robb]

So I found out my preceptor won a shift lottery and his shift is changing. 3 days 911 1 day ALS transfer car. I was kinda bummed at first but then I thought about it and realized it will make me a more rounded provider, expand my knowledge base and allow me to get a taste of both sides of the business.

Never really done any IFTs other than the random ER -> Psyc facility. Any ALS transfer up to now has been me lifting, pushing and driving, not much more than that.

 

[Anjel]

Alright I must say that the application Draw Something for iTunes and Android is a good way to kill time on a long shift and show off my awesome artistic skills :rofl:

Im addicted lol

 

[Mountain Res-Q]

GPS doesn't always give you the quickest routing when it comes to 911 calls.

Does it really matter? Probably not. Does it matter for compliance standards and contracting issues? Yes it does.

Putting faith in a device made by the cheapest available labor without understanding how the technology works and the problems commonly encountered by even those with PhD's in GIS is stupid. I have seen it; people die when they put their faith in Garmin, SPOT, and Motorola... I have recovered their bodies.... and I am not talking about only the hikers getting in trouble and/or dying because of GPS, I am talking about people driving from point A to B:

http://www.usatoday.com/travel/news/2008-08-05-gps-navigation_N.htm

http://kingmandailyminer.com/main.asp?Search=1&ArticleID=29333&SectionID=1&SubSectionID=1&S=1

http://jalopnik.com/gps-horror-stories/

http://ezinearticles.com/?GPS-and-Sat-Nav-Horror-Stories&id=4027236

http://thepinetree.net/index.php?module=announce&ANN_user_op=view&ANN_id=8742

http://www.uniondemocrat.com/News/Local-News/Ukiah-man-rescued-after-three-days-trapped-in-snow

I was on the last two; as part of the Hasty Team on one of them and as the IC on the other. Faith in GPS is based on ignorance, and that is coming from someone who is back in school in an effort to get his degree in GIS Technology.

 

[MedicBrew]

So I found out my preceptor won a shift lottery and his shift is changing. 3 days 911 1 day ALS transfer car. I was kinda bummed at first but then I thought about it and realized it will make me a more rounded provider, expand my knowledge base and allow me to get a taste of both sides of the business.

Never really done any IFTs other than the random ER -> Psyc facility. Any ALS transfer up to now has been me lifting, pushing and driving, not much more than that.

Some of the most interesting cases I've had were IFT's

Take the time if you have it and dig into their chart and take notes. Then go back and research their patho.

Take it for what it is, a good learning opportunity. You have the right mind set goin.