Recent content by nsmedic393

While you are correct that BLS trucks run the roads, I think the term technician still applies. Also with the very limited EMT-B scope of practice perhaps mooving from a supporting role to a sole provider role is a "drastic change" but not necessarily for the better.

What exactly has changed so drastically?

Like rid said; Its easier if they are VSA on arrival. You call em dead and moove on. That doesn't bother me a whole lot usually. We had a couple of calls recently where the patient was alive when we got there but despite working our arses off they died in front of us. (one died literally as the...

My first call was a MVC. Snowmobile vs half-ton truck on a logging road. It took us over an hour to get the ambulance back into the woods. Probably don't have to tell you how it ended.;)

EMS in cyberspace.... Cool!

Obviously err on the side of caution and work the arrest. However if the family is doing the sobbing huddle, talking about how he lived a long life and how he would be happy to go peacefully I am going to respect his and their wishes. This doesn't apply to the 40y/o with no hx that collapsed...

I find I get called an ambulance driver by people who are experiencing a stressfull situation more than anything and if not that than they call me adrian. As far as who should be called what, its all symantics. If you think that the person you are picking up off the ground cares what your...

This might offend some people but...... I have over three years of formal education just to get the title I have. Our BLS level has a year long course. I don't know how I would feel sharing my title with someone who took a 120hr evening course..... Take it or leave it...

No point in second guessing yourself. The way I usually measure things up is by asking this question; would they have been better off if I hadn't shown up at all? I'm all for promoting excellence in our field, but in reality with a blunt force traumatic arrest there will be nothing you can do...

I only carry what I have to. Shears, my personal cell phone, alpha pager and drug pouch. We have a great saying here; "you can tell how new someone is by the ammount of crap they have hinging off their belt".

What a dumb commercial.. Up here we call everyone a paramedic. We have three levels; Primary care paramedic, Intermediate Care Paramedic and Advanced Care Paramedic. But then again we do alot of stuff differently up here;)

I would definatly ride along if you can. But if you can't it isn't a huge deal. At the worst you lost two months of the summer and a few hundred dollars. It would look good on a resume also if applying for other jobs. Just forget all the "we save lives" crap and you will do fine.

I don't know what our actual times are, but we are contractually obligated to be on scene in under 10 minutes in any town or city. less than 20 in rural areas. I work rural and there are some areas that we just can't get to in under 20 minutes. The furthest point in my coverage is 45 minutes...

I agree with everyone else here. I don't think there were enough cardiac indicators to give NTG. I definatly would have done the 12 lead prior and if your protocols don't allow you any discretion as to give it or not, i think the protocols suck.