ErinCooley
Forum Lieutenant
- 240
- 6
- 0
PS... the other category is for those "occasional" beer drinking smokers.. ![Big Grin :D :D](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7)
I'm a social smoker or I'll smoke when I'm bored. I usually go through a pack every two or three weeks, which at least five of them are handed out to people who ask for them. I personally don't find it too weird for EMS personnel to smoke (my response is "Hey! At least we're not respiratory therapists/cardiologists!"
Now when EMS personnel don't wear a seatbelt or drive drunk. . . that's when I think it's one of the stupidest things somebody can do. (Most of us don't see a direct cause of smoking [yes, we have COPD and CHF PTs however, it's not as bad as a head through a windshield.)
I'm not a smoker myself, but I disagree that we don't see the effects of smoking. I don't know what level of provider you are, but I can tell when I intubate someone if they are a smoker or not. And we do have COPD patient's and COPD patient's which in my opinion is worse. That's a long, slow and painful death or injury. At least with a head through the windshield, it's generally over rather quickly. I don't advocate drinking and driving either...especially since I don't drink at all any more myself. But to say we don't see the effects is a generally inaccurate impression in my opinion.
Shane
NREMT-P
I'll have a cigar every now and then. I like a good stogie on occasion, and no-it can't be flavored or from a gas station.![]()
I think it is absolutely outrageous [the new policy]. But I want to become a medic so no smoking for me. Third day today. I personally don't think an employer has any business telling you what you can and cannot do when you are not working (assuming you are not in uniform), but I love EMS.
Definitely hard to give it up, hanging around at the fire station with a lot of smokers makes it hard, and it is very relaxing to me to come back from a call and enjoy a cigarette.
Anyone know how long nicotine remains in urine? I need to take a drug test (which will apparently include nicotine) before starting school Jan 11 2010.