I think part of this is complete lack of appreciation for the political process by EMS providers.
One of the former forum members once pointed out, and I think very insightfully and accurately, that during EMS conventions there is almost no attendance in the political action seminars.
The reason these firefighters have these shirts at all isn't to be a whacker, it is because they use it as a political tool. They cannot wear department uniforms so they have a substitute.
Doctors and nurses are very politically active, there is obvious benefit to it. They pass a doctor pay fix every year to avert automatic cuts from previous legislation. They don't do it out of kindness.
Firefighters take over EMS agencies with effective political action.
I think because of
1. the fragmented nature of EMS in the US, it has no group identity. Infact one of the reason I do not join NAEMT is because many of their local officers are also IAFF members and they will never support something good for EMS as an agency that is opposed to what is good for their firefighter member base. That is an abvious conflict of interest to belong to both of those groups.
2. EMS in the US is a behind the scenes group. I know of two agencies that actually do their best to hide their stations from public view. There is also a widespread misunderstanding about patient privacy. Look at all the posts here about privacy and HIPPA(sic on purpose) Even if they do manage to get HIPAA correct, there is really no understanding on what it regulates.
3. Most people don't even know what EMS does. How many people are shocked when EMS starts an IV or gives a medication in 2012? (soon to be 2013)
4. How much outreach does EMS really do? Effectively nothing. If it were up to me there would be a professional medic in every senior center, nursing home, Knights of Columbus, Veterens Club, FOE, and every other organization that has a large population of seniors telling them what EMS does and why they are important.
Along the same lines, look at what LE does with youth groups. What does EMS do? Visit school once a year?
5. How often have you heard an EMS provider say or write here they don't care what things cost? Where do they think that money comes from? Magic?
6. As long as EMS are not educated and are considered tradesmen or laborers by civic leaders, how do they ever expect to get a seat at the table when financial and political matters are discussed?
Yet these same people come to this very forum and claim they will not front money for education because they see no benefit for them. Then they are the first to complain when the local FD is about to take over and displace EMS workers.
I have volunteered hundreds if not thousands of hours over time to paid FDs I was with for public relations. I certainly didn't go above and beyond any of my peers doing it.
How many EMS providers not attatched to FDs do the same?
Firefighters fill the boot every year. They have charity collection on counters and collect cans for burned children. Doctors and nurses travel the globe, often at their own expense to provide charity care. Where are the EMS providers providing charity care on their time off? (granted they are probably working 3 jobs to mae ends meet)
Where is the national charity organization in the US to raise money to provide better EMS equipment or provide paid coverage to rural places?
Why has the rank and file not risen up against outdated protocols from absentee medical directors in a very public way for the betterment of their patients like every other non medical healthcare field?
Bottom line, EMS doesn't understand the value and they suffer for it.
