Recent content by ThirtyAndTwo

Also I think EMT's should be taught how to take a blood glucose reading, in PA that is a paramedic skill but its probably easier to do than get an accurate manual BP and is obliviously very useful in potential diabetic emergencies. Its a waste of time having to ask a family member to do it and...

I received my EMT-B cert about 4 months ago but have been too busy with schoolwork to do any volunteer work so next week when I am done with finals will be the first time I step onto an ambulance. What can I expect? Can I assume they will have me do ride-alongs/observer shifts before...

Hi, I am a new EMT-B and will be working on a college campus where most of our calls are for people who drank too much. Since we aren't taught to deal with this in class, what are your experiences dealing with drunk people and what is the best way to handle these calls (i.e. stay and play or...

I think it could be very helpful, practical experience is always a bonus to learning and more importantly it will greatly enhance your resume when you apply for a paid EMS position. In my area it is almost impossible to find a paid EMS position that is willing to train you, they want experienced...

This is a real shame, my thoughts go out to the family. EMS work has its risks, but I don't think she was being irresponsible by working while pregnant, unless assaults are common in her agency.

If you disagree with something I say, please give your reasons for doing so for the benefit of everyone reading this thread.

I think advanced training should be available in smaller segments, so that an EMT for instance could be trained to start an IV or read a cardiac monitor without going through an entire paramedic program. As a college student with a desire to become a paramedic, I can tell you it was hard...

I've heard the same, that you cannot do effective CPR in a moving ambulance. They have these things called "thumpers" that are some kind of device that does automatic compressions, I've never seen one but I'm thinking they probably hook onto the cot somehow, but anyway they are able to give good...

IMO the class isn't really that important, they all use the same few textbooks so the content is the same and you learn most of what you need to know on job anyway. My recommendation is to take the cheapest class and just read the book a lot so you learn all the important knowledge you are...

We carry one because we have enough medics at the hospital to dispatch one with every call, most of the time. It saves him/her the time and trouble of lugging their own monitor back and forth, because we all know how much lifting the medics do ;). Anyway, we are trained by our organization to...

This actually came from a friend of mine: Do you take any medications?: "Yes, insulin" Besides diabetes do you have any other medical conditions?: "No, and I don't have diabetes" Then why do you take the insulin:? "Because if I didn't, I would have diabetes"

Funny I just went over this is my orgo, our main ambulance is not allowed to travel faster than 35mph with winds over 40mph, and is out of service when winds reach 50mph. After 50mph we respond in SUV's with all our equipment and the hospital has a special transport ambulance that is...

Marijuana: An Overview Let me start off by saying that I am not a doctor, nor do I have any advanced degrees in pharmacology, however I am currently studying psychiatry and focusing on drugs and addiction. As a result, I have a great wealth of knowledge when it comes to marijuana so I hope to...