Recent content by MedicTom

I don't feel the complaint is necessary in the description of events the call. It was not a multi-person call. I will say if another agency (ie-fire) had run rescue I probably would have gone; but where the call was, that fire district does not run rescue. I truly would have been alone on the...

That was my service last week. We cover 150 sq miles and serve a population of about 3000 (if you don't count the 2,000 inmates we serve) Call came in for chest pains conscious and alert, crew got there as the man coded. 24 hours later a call came in reporting the same thing. Crew got there...

Linus, It's a volunteer service that employs 1 paid person from 1700-0800hrs Weds-Mon. I was alone.

What are your state's requirements for being an EMT? In my state there is a job responsibility of being able to lift 125lbs yourself. When a person takes their state exam they are required to sign a paper that says they read and understand the job description and are capable of performing all...

This isn't a medical scenario, but a call response scenario. A call came in at approx 0640hrs. I proceeded through our normal dispatch procedure. After 3 tone outs with no response from a driver I had mutual aid sent. The closest mutual aid ambulance was 21 miles away. I waited about 5...

Most recent - Police Officer responding to a burglar alarm hit a patch of black ice, went airborne, sheared a telephone pole in half which then went into his windshield, breaking the glass but not entering the car. The car continued traveling through the side of a large barn and then spun out...

Trying to lighten the mood with some patients we say, "Don't worry we won't drop you. We only drop patients on days ending in Y." I once got to a call for a DOA. The girlfriend met us at the door (where you could see he was obviously dead) and said, "I think he's dead. I took pictures...

When my son was an infant I heard our family cat get run over through the baby monitor b/c of the open window in his room. I don't know how I knew, but as soon as I heard the "ka-thunk" I knew it was Dipsh*t (Yes that was the cat's actual name.)

Mine is bright yellow and I use it for the same reason. It makes my keys a little bulkier so I can find them easily and it's easy to spot amid medical supplies that can get spread out all over.

We do have a low call volume 700-800 a year, but each call also takes approx 3 hours to complete (with PCR writing & restocking time) as we're 20+ miles away from the closest hospital. It's easily 5 hours if we have to transport to a trauma center as the closest one is over 90 minutes away...

I'm with a small, rural EMS agency that tries to provide at least 24/7 ALS coverage. (Relying on a volunteer driver to come out from 1600-0800 Mon-Fri, and on the weekends.) I'm taking a week long vacation in 3wks. The new ALS hire apparently needs his extra 24 hour shift off as well. That...

Jack - I feel for you. My first pediatric code was on an 11 day old 9 years ago now. I still remember every detail down to the colors of the blanket he was wrapped in. If you find you're becoming overwhelmed, speak with someone in your unit, or ask for some outside counseling with someone...

Favorite moment with my previous partner of 5 yrs, responding to a call lights and sirens going, speeding along (we live way out in the country and were on a straight rd) singing along to Low Rider @ the top of our lungs. One I just found a few months ago, The Angel by Sequoyah Rain.

Thank you for your reply by the way.

That's the big thing, the equipment was in the ambulance when I got out of the ambulance. When I sent my partner out to the ambulance to get the piece of equipment it was gone. I searched all locations we had been that day, including inside residences with a law enforcement escort before I...