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I am shocked to learn that there is an expectation that people put 400+ hours into studying for an EMT class. At that rate why not just self study the whole thing. I think our paramedics probably get close to the 1:3 ratio (though I question time t still), but EMT class just doesn’t present...

At my FD job we use PSTrax for all of this. It handles all tracking from when controls are received from the pharmacy to when the paramedics waste and then get restocked. AMR uses a paper slip system which is much messier.

Those with Ativan, do you refrigerate? I worked at a spot where we had it and kept it in the fridge unlocked which I didn't think was quite kosher but "it can't live in the safe or it ages out too fast." Forgot we have Toradol, I use it a fair amount. AMR has IV Tylenol as well which apparently...

What do you carry in your narcotics safe? How much of each? What concentration? What do you wish you had or what would you get rid of? How are your guidelines? Do you feel you can adequately manage pain, seizures, agitation etc? Standing orders, call-in, some of both? Basically I enjoy talking...

We go all the time on falls and traffic accidents that didn’t happen but Apple Watch sure thought it did.

Surprised to find myself in an AMR rig made by Horton, didn’t think they could afford those. Don’t worry it’s still already beat up despite having less than 50k on it.

I’m also not sure how saying “I’ve never been sued or questioned” validates care being adequate. I have also not faced legal action but I don’t think that actually says anything about me or my care. This is an issue of patient consent. If they are making their own decisions, you don’t get to...

Doesn’t matter what I think. I could suspect the patient does in fact have an intracranial hemorrhage but at the end of the day if they want to refuse and have the capability to do, that’s their prerogative. If I suspect this I’m of course going to pull out all the stops to convince them to go...

The MOI has nothing to do with it. A patient could be critically injured or ill yet have the mental capability to refuse care. “Could have a brain injury is baloney,” I would hazard that the majority of rollover MVCs result in no or extremely minor injuries provided seatbelts are worn. If a...

I appreciate the background. The local military hospital’s medical director was quite disappointed but she didn’t have time for the full backstory.

Fort Carson has great guidelines, better than the county. The Air Force contractors currently use our county guidelines which are still quite good and of greater scope than what the DOD is pushing.

Not the same but somewhat interesting, DOD is also telling our local installations that they need to follow some sort of nationwide DOD set of guidelines. Fort Carson really set the standard for awesome guidelines in our region so it would be a shame to see that happen. Also the private...

The best we have come up with has been RV style fridges (we use Norcold). They are the not the toughest, seems like a less than five year life span. They take up a bit of room but have the benefit of having cold bottles of water kept aboard. The truck must absolutely be plugged in or running...

Are there BLS ambulances responding to 911 calls in Aurora? If so, do the respond to any call if needed or just certain call types (in the Colorado Springs BLS can only respond to Alpha calls, even if ALS is level zero).

It’s grievance time.

Got the word to go switch into an even more reserve engine today since we stilllll don’t have a muffler (or working headsets which is a total breach of health and safety policies). No switch today as the reserve reserve doesn’t start, has no hose, and all the brackets for equipment have been...

Sharpies. “Medication Added” labels. Lapel mic (if your service is using older radios and they don’t cost 300 dollars). Rubberized work gloves (what the jiffy lube guys wear). Pedi-Wheel. Headlamp with extra batteries. A buff (like a scarf but better). Decent eye protection. Insulated leather...

I think this is very true. I try to have my students and interns use the acronyms and other tools as checklists after they’ve done their assessment, thereby not making their assessment only by acronym. By the end of the call, you should be able to answer every part of SAMPLE and OPQRST and go...

Our cat growing up took a thyroid med in her food everyday. Apparently there’s some transdermal stuff you can put on their ears, that sounds better that what I am doing now. I was cool with getting a cat since they’re low maintenance. This cat is not low maintenance. She’s allergic to her...

Have medicated many a wily combative patient in my life—but none of them come close to trying to give a seven pound cat less than a cc of allergy meds orally. I am admitting defeat.