Recent content by MAC4NH

My bad! I forgot to put the link to Dr. Bledsoe's article. Here it is: http://www.jems.com/news_and_articles/columns/Bledsoe/bledsoe_top_10_ems_studies.html

Don't forget your "Golden Hour" of trauma. Trauma cases need to be in the trauma center stat. If there was enough energy to possibly fracture the person's neck, that's a trauma case due to (at least) mechanism of injury. Therefore(IMO), if a KED is indicated (high energy impact; spine...

LOL. I'm occasionally known as Mista Ambalance Man

20+ years and I've yet to deliver a baby in the field. I did get to deliver one last month though during my L&D rotation in medic school.

Other than that, just remember A-B-C. Do the big things right and in the right order and the little things should take care of themselves.

Emergency Medical Technician - Basic - at work Paramedic Student - in school Paramedic Intern (ie "who are you?") - in clinical rotations Training officer - volunteer squad

This morning one of our ambulances was totaled in a MVC. It was out on a detail when an 82 yo male in a Durango crossed the double yellow line. The good news is that there were no fatalities but one EMT is out of commission for a while. While this accident was unavoidable for the ambulance...

Just based on your vital signs and patient history you should probably call ALS. Add to that the chest pain and distance to hospital and it absolutely becomes an ALS call. Without a 12-lead, you have no idea what's going on with this patient. I would transport this patient BLS only if I was...

Family member who "is an RN" (translation: may be an RN. May also be someone who flunked out of medical asst. school 20 years ago and worked in a Dr's office for a week) trying to tell you what to do over the phone (and what she's telling you is against EMS standing orders). Even worse...

I took my EMT-A class back in 1987. That would have made me 25.

The First Aid Council is FINALLY (within the past 5 years or so) trying to improve the professionalism in the volunteer ranks. Some squads are fighting change. Some are embracing it and exceeding the requirements. Either way, I believe that that the days of volunteer EMS in this state are...

The NJ State First Aid Council (NJSFAC) predates EMT's and it predates the NJ Dept of Health Office of EMS (OEMS). At the time the OEMS was formed the state and the council agreed to a power sharing agreement. Contrary to popular belief, the vollies are regulated. The state regulates all paid...

Two days ago I was attempting a BP on a patient in PD custody who supposedly had a seizure. I wasn't sure about the seizure but it appeared he had incontinence so I gave him the benefit of the doubt. While taking the BP, the patient took a classic incarceritis swoon and went down from the...

I agree with most of Rid's contentions and I agree that something should be done. Here in NJ, it's starting at the Paramedic level. Two out of the 4 paramedic programs in the state only offer the curriculum as an associate degree program. They won't admit a certificate-only student unless...

Hi Wayne, Sorry I didn't reply right away but I just saw the notification that you sent a message. School is going ok for the first 2 weeks. The interesting stuff just started and the hospital rotations start in about 3 weeks. Can't wait. Wish you the best. Nabil