Recent content by esmcdowell

Not sure if I'm catching your meaning, but there are several volunteer EMS and Fire departments in and around our major cities. Most communities have at least a VFD with a few EMTs or EMRs, however in some of the smallest ones (read <5 residents/sq mi.) they don't even have that. Part of what...

The changes coming to EMS in MT are the same as everywhere else, it's just the transition to the national standard curriculum. We currently use the NREMT for licensure, but after the first of the year (2014) there will be a state test option. NREMT at all levels will still be accepted as a...

I live an hour south of Billings. Billings AMR starts their medics at 16/hr with benefits. Bozeman should be similar. the 11-12/hr is a B wage. If you have NR, licensing is as easy as mailing the application. The BOME EMS office is great to work with, we have a great EMS coordinator, Excellent...

I'm in that category. started medic school at 19, certified at 20. Know enough to know that I don't know anything, though.

Study the anatomy. Then, take your time, a few extra seconds to feel out the vein won't hurt most patients, but missing a stick from inadequate assessment will. Don't go jabbing needles into people willy nilly at the first vein you see, like some new people (myself included) do. Spend a...

I've run both, and have no real preference. when I'm with another medic, we work in tandem and switch off teching the transport. When I'm just with basics, I usually (but not always and with several exceptions) let them do the initial contact and assess the patient, and determine if they can...

By which Fire District your main station is in. We are based in Fire District 7, so our units are all A7x. We have 4 ambulances so we have A71 through A75 (We skipped 2, not sure why).

Zoll E or M series on EMS units. AED Plus on Fire units.

On belt Department pager Department radio In pockets. Cell phone keys pocket knife (2.5" flip knife with no extra "doodads") Pens Rite in the Rain EMS pad (department provides them, so why not?) extra gloves. ALS field guide and Omnimedix (for double checking math) on cell...

I can usually tell by the fact that the volunteers I work with are more passionate about EMS than many paid people. They're more compassionate, knowledgable, and usually all around better providers than many other paid people I know. They wear their department logo clothing because (a.) they are...

I have an interview/testing session with MWA in September. Any tips from the people who have been through it? Also, what constitutes a "new medic?" I've been a P for 9 months, and have 3.5 years of volunteer B/I experience.

biggest fear Peds doesn't actually scare me, what really scares me is administering a med and the patient having that one obscure contraindication that I forgot exists and makes them go into irreversible arrest.

Since I've been doing my research like a good student, does anyone know anything good/bad/indifferent about the paramedic program that TrainingDivision.com out of Texas has?

Almost every ambulance in MT has a bumber guard of some sort, the full brush guards are popular in the areas where its 20-30 miles of dirt roads to get to some pt's and 60+ to the nearest care facility. As for the emergency lights on a txfr rig, we also don't differentiate between a 911 rig...

Lock the hubs in and put all the rigs in 4x4. put extra blankets in the QRU(Jeep Wrangler). Layer up ourselves.