Not to butt heads, but at our local community college, passing EMR is required in order to go on to EMT. Unless you can provide proof of some prior medical training. Most people I know go through the college to get certified. Does everyone go through the college? Nope, do they have to? Of course...
First off, you could probably merge these two threads together.
Second, being a dispatcher (may) require(s) different certifications than say being an EMT. You say you won't take your EMR course but you will take EMT? EMR is a stepping stone to EMT. I don't know where you live but in my county...
Yesterday my emt partner and I responded to a BLS transfer, a home discharge from med/surg in a local hospital. Dispatch originally said the call needed a wheelchair/gurney van for the pt, "or whatever closest unit". So we show up on scene, get a set of vitals and I take report from the nurse...
@VentMonkey that day time temp doesn't sound too bad. I didn't know it can get that cold down there?
And ditto to that. It was 26F° here in SoCo the other morning. Cold winters now include high wind and fire danger for the north bay hills. It's like deja Vu all over again.
To add on to what Gurby said above, a Littmann for $70,$80 is a worthwhile investment. OP here's the stethoscope I use. In case you're looking for one. Doesn't blow the bank and gets the job done.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000F4OYFS/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Initially when this division started up the turnover rate was high. It's relatively stable now. I can't speak for the whole division because I work out of Sonoma. I know Sac, Placer and SF may have openings you can transfer over to after 6 months. The honest answer, it's hard to transfer over...
No our division does not offer those classes unfortunately. While it's mainly bls, you can come in and work as an rn for a cct unit or one of the air transport units. Honestly this division is best for new EMTs who want to get their foot in the door. For attending courses I think that falls down...
Oh okay gotcha. However, would this pt still be getting adequate ventilation's if you were bagging them with 21%/100% oxygen? I have this feeling that the foreign object in the airway would be causing some resistance and hinder tidal volume while using a bvm?
If your pt was choking and is now unconscious, yeah as everyone said above follow your local protocol and use BLS adjuncts. Insert your OPA and use high flow O2 via NRB or BVM and provide chest compressions if pt is pulseless and apneic. Hook up to AED and get a shock on board.
For some...