what is a "whacker" to you?

[Mountain Res-Q]

I get it... whacker... NOT a real EMT, on duty or responding under the authority of an EMS...

Not true. The worst whackers are the ones who have that cert in their pocket and believe that they are on duty 24-7 now and, somehow, the world was unable to cope before they got their cert, therefore they must “help” the Fire Department, EMS, and LEOs do their job… or in worse situations, the Fire Department, EMS, and LEOs are there to back them up…

But, what about the guy who is a volly, and PROUD A HELL to be a part of a team of fire fighters and EMS? Is it bad to want to wear a jacket with your departments insignia? Will I get laughed at? Should I only wear department gear when on duty?

Hopefully this does not get into a vollie bashing debate, because that has no place here and has been done to death. But, yes, vollies are some of the biggest whackers out there. Having said that, I am a volunteer. I am proud as hell to be a Team Leader for SAR. I have purchased my own jacket because the jacket provided is meant primarily for winter, and I wanted a three-season jacket. But, instead of putting patches all over it, I sewed Velcro on the shoulders and have the velcroed patches in my glove compartment. Call comes in, the patches get slapped on. That way I can use what is a really nice jacket at times other than on calls. Walking around town off duty in something that is even semi-uniformish is UNPROFESSIONAL. You are claiming to represent something at that time that you should not be representing when you are off-duty. I have known vollie FFs to go out drinking in “keep back 200 feet – XX Fire Department” t-shirts. Do I laugh at them? Yep… and shake my head. Would I laugh if you purchased your own jacket (and only used it on duty)? No, there are valid reasons to do so.

I think what I will do, is buy what I want to buy and not tell anyone online who does not know me h34r: my department is sorta poor, and could not find me a decent flashlight so I bought my own - Am I a whacker because I got it from Galls? My department issued turn-out gear had someone elses name on the back/bottom... I ordered a new patch from Galls with my name on it... am I a whacker?

I think I should say that purchasing something from Galls does not make you a whacker. However, Galls seems to attract whackers. Purchasing your own gear (within reason) is not whackerish. Flashlights, jackets, shears, stethoscopes are items that are acceptable to purchase. AEDs, Backboards, Oxygen, and giant SOL decals for your Toyota crapola’s hood are not acceptable. Many volunteer groups do not have the money to buy what we want… they purchase what they need to survive. They gave you turnouts because they are needed. They could not get you brand new stuff; so you made it your own. Nothing wrong with that. I worked paid ambo for a while and purchased several items on my own because they were not provided, but made my life easier. I have worked EMT supervisor at a snow park for 6 years and have purchased many Ski Patrol type items that make my job easier (thankfully I have some purchasing power, so I can get them for all patrollers). I have volunteered SAR for years, where our budget is pathetic and we are expected to buy 90% of our own gear. Take a look at our team and you will see that no one has the same gear. We all get what we feel we need to get the job done. A prime example would be clothing. We obviously layer clothing. We all have fleece type mid layers that we purchase on our own and then place patches on them to turn them into a “uniform” that denotes some official status. When we show up for a call, NO ONE is dressed he same. But we have a justification for this and DO NOT buy this stuff so that we can walk through WALMART with that patch on our arm thinking that we are better than others or are on a “mission from god” to protect the patrons of WALMART.

Tough crowd here. I LIKE IT!!

You ain’t seen nothing yet. Just be ready to have your view of the world of emergency services challenged by those with years and years in various avenues of the field and with far more education, experience, and ability that you. Nothing is more frustrating than newbies to EMS that think they know it all and have some profound insight into something that they have only seen from the outside lookin’ in; which is what whackers do. After 8 years in Emergency Services, I will the first say, “I know a lot and can do a lot… and I KNOW 1% of NOTHING!” The fact that EMT students somehow always believe they know more than me or the people here with more experience or knowledge is amazing… reminds me of teenagers who hit the age of 13 and are now smarter than their parents… Then they have kids (are in EMS for a while) and realize how stupid they were…

Not talking about you (I kinda like you)… just throwing that out there due to some recent newbies that are irritating as heck…

I recently went to a medical conference for EMS, and most of the people were volunteers with "EMS" and flaming stars of life all over their clothes. I dressed to be comfortable, but to each his own. I think that's a little bit whackerish.

Later on, some of these people made some terribly ignorant statements ("We always go code to the hospital on everything; it's the law.), which shows some whackerdom. Doing something stupid and dangerous and enjoying and defending it, instead of researching, being logical, and caring for the patient, is a sign of a whacker.

Some of the people actually had their pagers on, hundreds of miles from home. Those people are whackers. Some had shears belted to them. Those are whackers.

People not interested in being professional, calm, and logical may be often considered whackers. I have met EMTs who said that they had to use lights on every BLS IFT. I have met students who failed out of EMT class and still went and bought EMT stuff online from God knows where. Are those whackers?

My god...

God forbid someone collapse with chest pain at the confrence... You would have 500 EMTs rushing the scene while pulling Ambu Bags out of their back pockets...

 

[Hal9000]

Res-Q, you reminded me...

I have worked in volunteer systems and in paid, so I don't bash either, although I do call a spade a spade, and I've seen stuff that was stupid in both, albeit with a higher prevalence in the volunteer ones with which I've been associated.

In any case, funny comment about the Ambu-Bags. I was at a regional fair, and I watched a volunteer fire department fire truck pull up with its lights on.. It pulled up to the beer garden. Out hopped 6 volunteer firemen in full get-up and into the alcohol zone they dashed. Later, I witnessed them attempting to drive the fire truck off the premises while Sheriff's Deputies and Highway Patrol ran them down.

Those are whackers, and more likely to kill some innocent family than help a soul.

 

[medichopeful]

Thanks Eric!

Anytime

 

[medichopeful]

Nothing is more frustrating than newbies to EMS that think they know it all and have some profound insight into something that they have only seen from the outside lookin’ in; which is what whackers do.

Guilty of this on this forum before I was cured :sad::blush:


Come to think of it, I may still be guilty...

 

[Mountain Res-Q]

I have worked in volunteer systems and in paid, so I don't bash either, although I do call a spade a spade, and I've seen stuff that was stupid in both, albeit with a higher prevalence in the volunteer ones with which I've been associated.

In any case, funny comment about the Ambu-Bags. I was at a regional fair, and I watched a volunteer fire department fire truck pull up with its lights on.. It pulled up to the beer garden. Out hopped 6 volunteer firemen in full get-up and into the alcohol zone they dashed. Later, I witnessed them attempting to drive the fire truck off the premises while Sheriff's Deputies and Highway Patrol ran them down.

Those are whackers, and more likely to kill some innocent family than help a soul.

LOL... reminds me of a local Vollie Fire District...

The District is a joke. The population of the District is like 200 in the winter and maybe 1000 at any given point in the summer. They have two engines, a chief, and a water tender. They don't have the money to provide EMS (and don't want to) so contract out to the county vollies to do so. They only respond to stucture fire in the District (like 500 houses - mostly vacation homes), which means 2 calls a year max. They do not maintain adequate equipment and do not train their people. They still hold monthly trainings... a the bar. They go to the station, put on turnouts, grab the engines, pray they start, go to the bar, and discuse "vital" issues for the next 6 hours. They all have giant decasl in their POVs back window advertising their District and like calling themselves Firefighters but do not respond to calls, and when they do... they are not used by the legit Captains and Chiefs for surrounding agencies... they are "crowd control". They are not even whackers... they are less than whacker... they don;t even want to save the world... just look cool in WALMART with their Fire T-Shirts.... LOL

Guilty of this on this forum before I was cured :sad::blush:


Come to think of it, I may still be guilty...

No comment...

 

[medichopeful]

In any case, funny comment about the Ambu-Bags. I was at a regional fair, and I watched a volunteer fire department fire truck pull up with its lights on.. It pulled up to the beer garden. Out hopped 6 volunteer firemen in full get-up and into the alcohol zone they dashed. Later, I witnessed them attempting to drive the fire truck off the premises while Sheriff's Deputies and Highway Patrol ran them down.

Unbelievable. Any word on what happened to them? Hopefully, they were out of a job (can you call it that for volunteers?).

 

[reaper]

Let me say some of my opinions! I have seen multiple posts on whackers, equipment and clothing. I have seen students that are excited and go overboard on things. I have seen new EMT's with a year on the street, that think they know it all and try to fit in. I have been in EMS for longer then some have been alive. I have seen just about anything that you will encounter. I have the experience, knowledge and education, that has earned me the respect of being good at my job.

With that said, Do I carry equipment with me on duty? Of course I do. I carry a flashlight (I work nights), I carry sheers on my side ( anyone that does not is not prepared for the job. I see people saying they don't need them or never use them. I say these are people that are not doing their job or do not work in a busy system) I have my own scope and have for years. I wear t-shirts off duty (I have tons of shirts from different flight crews or systems, not store bought junk), I wear jackets off duty ( if it is cold, I wear what is at hand).

This is not being a whacker. I do not have lights on my POV, I do not stop at every accident and try to save everyone, I do not interfere with scenes. These are the signs of a whacker. These are the signs of a noobie that has no experience.

Carrying equipment to do your job, is not a whacker. Carrying half the ambulance on your belt, is! Wearing a company shirt is not being a whacker, shoving it in everyones face or wearing the stupid saying shirts is.

So, to all the new students and EMT's. Buy the equipment that you will need for your job. Do not buy every stupid thing you can find.

To the Less experienced, You better be prepared to do the job, or it will bite you in the butt one day!

 

[Hal9000]

Less than a whacker...very true given what was said.

Unbelievable. Any word on what happened to them? Hopefully, they were out of a job (can you call it that for volunteers?).

I believe the chief was driving. They received a warning and had to switch drivers, but I don't think anything else came from it. I know that some of the members later posted pictures of it on Facebook because they thought it was fun. I also know that the local ambulance service sent formal letters of complaint due to some of the agency's FFs showing up under the influence, not knowing how to operate their Jaws, etc. That agency now no longer gets paged out for MVCs and such, and another, adjacent FD gets them instead.

 

[medichopeful]

I believe the chief was driving. They received a warning and had to switch drivers, but I don't think anything else came from it. I know that some of the members later posted pictures of it on Facebook because they thought it was fun. I also know that the local ambulance service sent formal letters of complaint due to some of the agency's FFs showing up under the influence, not knowing how to operate their Jaws, etc. That agency now no longer gets paged out for MVCs and such, and another, adjacent FD gets them instead.

Glad to hear they don't get paged out.

Sounds like a joke of an agency.

 

[mcdonl]

That is why I am here!!

You ain’t seen nothing yet. Just be ready to have your view of the world of emergency services challenged by those with years and years in various avenues of the field and with far more education, experience, and ability that you.

That is why I come to forums like this!

Not talking about you (I kinda like you)… .

Awe shucks :blush:

 

[DaGonz]

I recently went to a medical conference for EMS, and most of the people were volunteers with "EMS" and flaming stars of life all over their clothes. I dressed to be comfortable, but to each his own. I think that's a little bit whackerish.

Later on, some of these people made some terribly ignorant statements ("We always go code to the hospital on everything; it's the law.), which shows some whackerdom. Doing something stupid and dangerous and enjoying and defending it, instead of researching, being logical, and caring for the patient, is a sign of a whacker.

Some of the people actually had their pagers on, hundreds of miles from home. Those people are whackers. Some had shears belted to them. Those are whackers.

People not interested in being professional, calm, and logical may be often considered whackers. I have met EMTs who said that they had to use lights on every BLS IFT. I have met students who failed out of EMT class and still went and bought EMT stuff online from God knows where. Are those whackers?

Yes, they are whackers.. and more than likely, the bought their stuff from Galls.

 

[SoldierMedic]

Just wondering what the Galls hate is for? I was under the impression it was a decent site for equipment. (Note: Have not bought anything medical yet.)

 

[mcdonl]

Just wondering what the Galls hate is for? I was under the impression it was a decent site for equipment. (Note: Have not bought anything medical yet.)

In the IDPA (International Defensive Pistol Association) world, 5.11 is the galls... if you show up to a meet all decked out in your 5.11 tactical pants, vest, 10 magazines on your belt, etc, etc... you are a mall ninja (http://www.geocities.com/suketh.geo/gun/mall_ninja_1.html) that is the whacker of the competitive shooting world.

But, in this line of work 5.11 seems to be respected because they make useful products. It is funny how every circle has thier own whackers.

I think when I was a kid... it was called being a "wannabe", or a "poser".

Leroy

 

[Lifeguards For Life]

I think when I was a kid... it was called being a "wannabe", or a "poser".

Leroy

that's pretty much my train of thought. seems to me. most of the service providers (or even soon to be providers) who act in this manner, and buy a ton of ultimately useless expensive gadgets, all in all know rather little about emergency medical services. just like a wanna be or a poser. compensating for lack of knowledge or skill, with an abundance of gadgets.

 

[SoldierMedic]

LMAO @ the thread about the mall cop - RTF / Ninja guy! I'm hyperventilating here from laughter!

 

[atropine]

that's pretty much my train of thought. seems to me. most of the service providers (or even soon to be providers) who act in this manner, and buy a ton of ultimately useless expensive gadgets, all in all know rather little about emergency medical services. just like a wanna be or a poser. compensating for lack of knowledge or skill, with an abundance of gadgets.

ya, we call them Care ambulance employees or McCormick.

 

[DaGonz]

Just wondering what the Galls hate is for? I was under the impression it was a decent site for equipment. (Note: Have not bought anything medical yet.)

No Galls hate... as a matter of fact, I have two of their trunk organizers; one in my Mustang and one in my Jeep (I use them to organize detailing supplies, hold my vehicle fire extinguishers and first aid kits) and have ordered other items from them.

Hal9000's post describing whackers is balls on accurate. I see them same thing at the New England Fire/Rescue/EMS expo each year... people wearing their uniform shirts from FD's that are miles and miles away, carrying their portables, pagers, scanners. They think they are making a statement.. and they are...

"Look at me... I'm a whacker!"

 

[ChicagolandIFT]

I don't fit the stereotypical whacker description, but I am called one from time to time for liking my IFT job, and taking it seriously. Many of my coworkers are "just there waiting to get on a real EMS service". It in many ways reminds me of all the servers at restaurants in LA who are "just waiting to get discovered by the right people, and become famous". Don't get me wrong, I get excited when I get a emergency overflow call too, but I don't live for them. I consider transporting Mr. Doe home from dialysis to be just as important, I know I definitely learn way more on a medical transport than a load and go to the ER. They can call me whatever they like, although they are also the ones that fit the general description of a whacker on this thread.

 

[Medic744]

Around here we classify all levels by the amount of equipment they carry on their person and in their vehicle. The more equipment = more whacker. There are just some things you do not need to carry 24/7. The only thing on me when I work is my duty radio, everthing else is in the drug bag/airway bag. I dont need to have a Batman Utility belt.

 

[medichopeful]

I don't fit the stereotypical whacker description, but I am called one from time to time for liking my IFT job, and taking it seriously.

I don't think "whacker" is the word I would use to describe you for taking your job seriously. I think "medical professional" would be a better fit.