the 100% directionless thread

UnkiEMT said:
The biggest trick for people with 911 experience but relatively little IFT experience to learn is to be comfortable pinning RNs to the wall to get the information you need, and be skilled enough at it that only the worst of them complain. (The difference between a good shop and a bad shop is easily seen by whether they back you up or not when those complaints come in.)

I can, have, and almost certainly will again, straight up told nurses that I won't accept the pt until I know everything I want to know. Being on that side of that particular power play is something that almost never happens in 911, and indeed, is somewhat anathematic to the 911 mentality of taking control of the scene when you walk in, and thus automatically "accepting" the patient.
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This is very true. I have wound up talking to s house mouse because the department was very not forthcoming with information I needed
 
UnkiEMT said:
Damn you and your fancy equipment having ways.
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Haha at the end of the day I'm pretty damn spoiled where I work. Plenty of bull:censored::censored::censored::censored: we deal with, like serious bull:censored::censored::censored::censored: but we've got nice things.

I found out my shift line has a brand new ambulance on it right now...bull:censored::censored::censored::censored: bull:censored::censored::censored::censored: bull:censored::censored::censored::censored:!
 
I might be hanging up my boots. I have not been on a call or on duty since the beginning of the year.

I threw out my back early January, and have been seeing a chiropractor 2x/week since. Every time I feel I am getting better, something happens and out it goes again.
Finally, after a few doctor visits, x-rays and ultimately an MRI...I have been diagnosed with Spondylolisthesis.

I had been on Vicodin for the pain and cyclobenzaprine for the muscle spasms...but those have lost effectiveness, and I don't want to treat the symptoms anymore. I want to cure the cause.
Exercise if possible, back brace if needed and surgery if required as a last resort.

I am due to recertify in two weeks...I need to talk to my chief to see what the department feels is proper. Seeing as how I am a "paid on call" EMT-B, I am not sure they want to invest a whole lot into me at this point in time.

I just needed to get this self-pity out and get on with my life. No comments needed.
 
Just found out Acadian Ambulance has a remote medic side... Soooo tempted to look into that.
 
So we're transporting a patient Code 3 ALS. In our specific system that means the fire department paramedic rescue squad is leading our ambulance, both vehicles lights and sirens.

Anywho, we turn a corner and out the back windows I see an ambulance and rescue squad (from County Fire who has jurisdiction in the areas neighboring our city) coming down the road going the same direction also lights and sirens. They catch up and fall in behind us making a nice little parade of FD Rescue truck, ambulance, ambulance, FD rescue Squad lights and sirens.

Then as we're slowing to clear an intersection, I see the other ambulance get out of the line and start pulling up on our right side so I'm thinking "WTF, are they seriously going to try and pass us??" But nope, they turned right while we went straight.

Funny thing is that we were both going to the same hospital, we just went down a different cross street, which worked for us because as we were pulling into the ER lot we could see them still driving up a block or two away. Needless to say our fd medics were joking with theirs about taking the long way as we wheeled our pt's in lol
 
Jim37F said:
So we're transporting a patient Code 3 ALS. In our specific system that means the fire department paramedic rescue squad is leading our ambulance, both vehicles lights and sirens.

Anywho, we turn a corner and out the back windows I see an ambulance and rescue squad (from County Fire who has jurisdiction in the areas neighboring our city) coming down the road going the same direction also lights and sirens. They catch up and fall in behind us making a nice little parade of FD Rescue truck, ambulance, ambulance, FD rescue Squad lights and sirens.

Then as we're slowing to clear an intersection, I see the other ambulance get out of the line and start pulling up on our right side so I'm thinking "WTF, are they seriously going to try and pass us??" But nope, they turned right while we went straight.

Funny thing is that we were both going to the same hospital, we just went down a different cross street, which worked for us because as we were pulling into the ER lot we could see them still driving up a block or two away. Needless to say our fd medics were joking with theirs about taking the long way as we wheeled our pt's in lol
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I hate running in lines like that. Had most of my close calls being near the back of the line. People are dumb and see one go by and are like sweet I can go! False.

I will admit it is somewhat entertaining with a big parade though. Every pedi arrest I've transported got a PD escort leapfrog style. Definitely helps smooth the ride having PD blocking for us. Less stops and goes.
 
Man I sure hope I get hired up here. Hard to believe I'm still in California... the people are nice up here! I can hunt/fish, I'm 2 hours away from the Sierras its almost like my idea of redneck heaven haha
 
CALEMT said:
Man I sure hope I get hired up here. Hard to believe I'm still in California... the people are nice up here! I can hunt/fish, I'm 2 hours away from the Sierras its almost like my idea of redneck heaven haha
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I guess its true when they say Nor Cal and So Cal are practically two different states lol
 
Jim37F said:
I guess its true when they say Nor Cal and So Cal are practically two different states lol
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One would never think but its true haha
 
Both of my calls today have been DOA. Pretty sure I may actually be the Grim Reaper.
 
Would you like me to send you a cloak?
 
Robb said:
I hate running in lines like that. Had most of my close calls being near the back of the line. People are dumb and see one go by and are like sweet I can go! False.

I will admit it is somewhat entertaining with a big parade though. Every pedi arrest I've transported got a PD escort leapfrog style. Definitely helps smooth the ride having PD blocking for us. Less stops and goes.
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Had a second call go train style, except this time it was the Pt's husband trying to follow us through the lights! We pulled over, one of our FFs hopped out, told him he CANNOT do that, ....and he promptly continued to follow us through the next red light! -_- So for traffic safety and due concern we downgraded to code 2 (no lights or sirens, following all normal traffic rules - I feel I have to clarify because I found out through here that some areas have different definitions of code 2 that involve the use of the lights still lol)
 
Got trial contacts today. Getting them in is the easy part...any tricks on how to get these little buggers out though? Gotta be careful not to switch them since they're two different lenses.

They don't bug me for a while then all of the sudden it's like gahhh what's in my eye?!

Jim37F said:
Had a second call go train style, except this time it was the Pt's husband trying to follow us through the lights! We pulled over, one of our FFs hopped out, told him he CANNOT do that, ....and he promptly continued to follow us through the next red light! -_- So for traffic safety and due concern we downgraded to code 2 (no lights or sirens, following all normal traffic rules - I feel I have to clarify because I found out through here that some areas have different definitions of code 2 that involve the use of the lights still lol)
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Seems like the patient probably didn't need the emergent transport then... I hate it when people do that. That's one thing I'm not nice about. I'll tell people if they follow us ping code through lights that they will be ticketed by PD. I have had PD give a family member a ride and came code with us because dad was in the front seat and mom was too distraught, rightfully so seeing as I was working her kid, to sit in the back with us so PD offered up a ride.
 
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I've called in those drivers to PD before. They're not happy with me when they come in to the ED with a ticket, but that's their problem not mine
 
HUVr boards... Don't fall for it. Super phony.
 
Robb said:
Got trial contacts today. Getting them in is the easy part...any tricks on how to get these little buggers out though? Gotta be careful not to switch them since they're two different lenses.

They don't bug me for a while then all of the sudden it's like gahhh what's in my eye?!
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I got contacts a few months back for when I'm doing firefighting. It takes a few days/weeks for them to get comfortable. If they don't you may want to try eye drops. Mine still get to me, but I wear them most nights because I can't go blind to a night structure fire again.

I find I have to look away from the lens when I put it in and slide it onto my eye. Taking them out I do the reverse, but the hard part is just getting the hang of pinching them out. I'd say give 2-3 days, the first day it took me 15 minutes to get them out and by day 3 it took about 45 seconds.
 
Robb said:
Got trial contacts today. Getting them in is the easy part...any tricks on how to get these little buggers out though? Gotta be careful not to switch them since they're two different lenses.

They don't bug me for a while then all of the sudden it's like gahhh what's in my eye?!
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Largely what EMDispatch said.

Getting them out, more than anything else, is about getting over the fear of touching your own eye. The eye is pretty resilient, you can put a fair amount more pressure than you think you can on it without it being a problem.

Best technique as you start is probably to put your finger smack dab on the center of the contact, then look up thus dragging the contact off the lens of the eye, then pinch it off with the sides of your index finger and thumb. Always then put it directly into a case that's labeled for R vs L.

If you're having problems with them becoming uncomfortable, you're probably having problems with them drying out, it takes a while for your eye to get used to having to make the extra moisture it needs to keep up with the contacts. Carry a bottle of rewetting drops and use them often, try to put drops in before they become uncomfortable.

As much as I hate giving any money to Walmart, the equate brand contact solution is about a fifth the price of any others that I can find.
 
Robb said:
I hate running in lines like that. Had most of my close calls being near the back of the line. People are dumb and see one go by and are like sweet I can go! False.

I will admit it is somewhat entertaining with a big parade though. Every pedi arrest I've transported got a PD escort leapfrog style. Definitely helps smooth the ride having PD blocking for us. Less stops and goes.
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I've had that once and it was for a 20 something year old GSW to the head suicide.
 
I've only had one PD escort, and one more lone motorcycle cop attempt to give us one en route to an urgent care facility for a transfer.

The one escort we had was to the trauma center down an interstate for an accidental GSW to the neck, and I can't say it helped at all.

The lone motorcop playing around was a danger to us, himself, and everyone else around him. Our supervisor actually called the PD sergeant afterwards and asked nicely if his officers could avoid doing that in the future. The gesture was very much appreciated, but the concept was flawed.
 
Just passed my Chief's Interview for Ambulance Operator position! Job offer is contingent on passing a medical exam, but that shouldn't be a problem :)
 
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