Recent content by Cleric

I really, really hate Fire/EMS mixing. Very few other modernized nations do things that way. It's really just designed to cut corners and hire the least amount of people possible, to the detriment of the people. Paramedic training in America is a joke compared to most other first-world...

Come on guys, a little bit of effort and intuition goes a long way here. First, his location is Zamboanga City,PH. That's no American nor Canadian state/province, so it's easy to assume it would be the Philippines, a quick Google confirms that. So English isn't his first language, plus the...

Washington state has some great paramedic protocols, at least in Snohomish and King counties. The cost of living can be pretty high but there are places where it's lower, and if you go out east there's a lot of good space for horses as well. Even next to Seattle, maybe 45 to 60 minutes outside...

Actually putting an AED on a conscious patient isn't as silly as it sounds. Granted you shouldn't shock him. In the absence of an actual lifepack, an AED can tell you if the person is in v tach or v fib. Plus if the person is circling the drain, you might as well get ready to shock them as soon...

You've finished the class. Try applying some places. Worst case scenario is that you ant compatible with the job. I know quite a few medics and EMTs who have various other psychological problems. With bi polar though, it's really a coin toss. It could potentially be a really bad sign or just...

This is one of the reasons I avoided getting sleeves, and instead went for the torso wrap around. Trying to deal with the s*** (literally and figuratively) we get daily, trying to nurse a giant wound on my arms would drive me crazy. I might actually consider one of the Vaseline occlusive...

You should life your life seeking either happiness or money, hopefully they coincide, but it seems like in your situation, it's providing neither of them. I'd cut back on the hours, maybe find a paying part time job. Hell, look for a cozy IFT Ambulance job, just to make ends meet. Stick around...

I'm currently an EMT-B in Washington, namely Seattle area, and I'm gunning hard towards Medic school down the line. If there's a question you have about reciprocity or protocols, I can definitely get you some of that info. If it's a question about Medic schools in WA I will be able to give you a...

Jan 14th, 2014 Just to bridge across the new year.

I just finished around 180 hours in three months for EMT-B. It all just depends how much free time you have for outside study and scenario groups. I ended up with maybe 50 hours of independent group time--granted a large part of that time was spent less-than-optimally, being with friends.

I think the most appropriate method of responding is to only do it if you can get there in seconds, before anybody else. That is, if you see the accident happen or happen to hear a call to a scene only a block away. Even then, the only appropriate actions would be to provide immediate...

I saw that series too, and it made me seriously consider moving to Australia and taking the Paramedic course. :D

I don't have a huge amount of experience, but from what I hear, basic Aussie Paramedics complete an 8 week course and can give IV lines (?) but not 12 leads. Of course this could be entirely wrong, but I think the educational priorities are just in a different order than here.

Having used Cannabis a handful (4-6) of times as a wee lad (read: 16-17 y/o), I can safely say that there are no hallucinogenic effects that result from use of marijuana (unless it has been laced). While THC is a psychoactive chemical, it is considered a mild psychedelic. I get the feeling...

I registered specifically to speak on this. I'm just entering an EMT-B class in the coming spring, and even with my basic 'civilian' knowledge I can understand the Free Radical idea, as well as the concept of only giving indicated treatment. The students and teachers that say "oxygen CAN'T be...