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I can't really follow all of what people are on about, it's a bit over my head so here's what I can say: In about 1999/2000, the Australian services (led by Ambulance Victoria) sat down and decided they wanted to move from the old two-year Diploma to a three-year BHSc degree as the base...

Yes. EMT: One year of study Paramedic: Three years study (or two for EMTs) Intensive Care Paramedic: Four years study (Paramedic plus one extra year) It's the same in Australia as well except they do not have the equivalent of EMT level from what I understand. When I looked at the LAS...

You need to politely, but firmly, ask for a written employment agreement. As an aside, check your employment legislation, in both places I've worked any oral or written offer is legally binding. Additionally, never resign from your current job until you have a written employment offer from...

I don't think ambulance personnel are paid "little" at all; for example a new national agreement has been reached which sees reasonable pay increases and a fair approach taken to ensuring access to the legislated 11 statutory holiday days plus five weeks annual leave. Paramedic will begin in...

Basically, don't piss arse around and bloody well decompress it, with the understanding for a tension pneumothorax to be present the patient must have shock and this must be rapid and progressive, a "little of shortness of breath and tachycardia" doesn't equal tension pneumothorax...

It is very easy for clinical personnel to over-estimate how much blood a person has actually bled, a bit like how it's very easy to over-estimate burn size because we generally also take into account superficial burns. Unless it's really obvious (for example a lacerated artery) then I am a...

Don't even think about asking Control for anything, especially not anything you are legally required to have, like rest breaks. Control are evil and just think up ways to make you miserable.

The standard ambulance roster on a 24 hour station is two 12 hr days then two 12 hr nights followed by four days off. There is some variation for specific vehicles such as 9 am to 9 pm (or slight variations thereof) in large urban centres for the second or third vehicle. Some smaller stations...

I got a very quick look at an ambulance when I was in Spain. They use a SAMU-type system similar to France. The ambulance service is provided by the health authorities with some combination of Doctor, Nurse and a Technician. Much like in France; the "Technician" is just a nicer way of saying...

I presume he had pulmonary oedema with his cardiogenic shock? Depends on how far the cath lab is vs. how far away an RSI Officer is. If he can be oxygenated satisfactorily - an LMA probably would have done the trick then I'd just run on down to the cath lab with a very early RT call so ED are...

I use the following: PMHx SHx/FHx as required HPI (as appropriate) Now/complaint On arrival: On exam: Diagnosis: Referral/plan: If the patient is transported somewhere by ambulance then under referral I'd add "enroute" and add a brief summary of what happened; if nothing then simply write "no...

It's interesting you bring this up, as it has been an area historically poorly managed and with much confusion on behalf of the personnel involved. Now it only happens in two circumstances 1. Either, the ambulance crewmember "happens" to also be a Registered Nurse, as some volunteer officers...

Adrenaline works well. It's the only vasopressor carried. I'm told there is no convincing evidence noradrenaline or one of the dopamine like drugs is better. Easy, cheap, simple to make up and administer (1 mg in one litre NaCl run at 2 drops a second initially) and no fart arseing around...

New CPGs for septic shock in adults: - Minimum of two litres of NaCl - Coamoxiclav (and gentamicin if uro or abdosepsis, or unknown cause) - If shock is unresponsive to fluid loading administer IV adrenaline infusion (two drops/sec of 1:1,000,000 adrenaline)

My experience with, and exposure to, paediatric patients is very small. I also believe it is very poorly taught in undergraduate education. Out of the three years of the degree you do two shifts in the paediatric ED and may have the opportunity to do another for example either in PED or on a...

If he has no medical complaint he is not technically a patient. Regardless, the law in New Zealand allows him to refuse assessment and treatment. There is no age limit. As long as he can prove he is competent he can do whatever he likes. I would still get his name etc. so I could complete a...

Bro, have you even talked with the Scottish Ambulance Service? Do you know if they are recruiting? Do you have any idea how much competition you face? Just because you might be able to obtain a work visa doesn't mean you are going to get a job. Certainly in Australasia this is the case because...

Of course I can't say what happens elsewhere, but in general, there's a lot of myth and misnomer about this sort of thing: This is an increasing area of work and it an area very poorly understood by ambulance personnel; and historically has been very poorly taught. As a contrasting example...

A great opportunity to timely remind us: 1. Attempted suicide, threatened suicide, and self-harm are NOT the same thing and should NOT be treated the same! 2. These scenarios do NOT routinely need the police, and the police are often more harm than good! 3. Transport to ED is NOT routinely...

I doubt it. How is your Hungarian, German and Czech? Most countries in Europe use some combination of a Doctor, Nurse and EMT. There are no "Paramedics" and I don't think it's a bad thing. I tried for weeks to arrange even a visit to SAMU and got nowhere. They just weren't interested.