WAS967

Didn't see an incident alert so figured I'd inquire here. Saw route 22 was closed tonight (23:30) and was wondering whats up. Detour was quite a drive over Quaker Hill. I'm guessing some sort of MVA due to the extreme fog (visibility of less than 100' at times).

First time doing CPR for me was on Christmas EVE 1991. I was in EMT class (The big'un done at Putnam Valley Firehouse where we had like 60 people in class with 4 CICs helping out - it was nuts). I wanted to do CPR on my ER rotations at least once so I knew I was doing right. Code comes in and we do our thing. Not a save. Sucked having to tell someone that their loved one died on Christmas EVE. Cest la vie. Only had two "real" saves over the years. One was off duty at Premier Athletic Club. Finished working out one day and heard someone calling for a doctor on the overhead to the tennis court. Man down, CPR started rght away by his tennis coplayers. Shoked by CCVAC once on arrival. I think he was awake prior to arriving at the ER. The other being an 8 year old Traumatic Arrest from a car accident in Somers.

Westchester HAS RSI. It's up the agencies to utilize it. If their medical control doctor is stuck in the stone ages then there isn't much that can be done other than beat a dead horse. The REMAC has approved it. The SEMAC has approved it. The proposed protocols cleared SEMAC late last year, yet mysteriously have disapeard from the REMAC website. Supposedly it is just waiting on people to get off their asses and get the education part of it going. If people are really motivated to get this off the ground, call the REMAC and ask what the hold up is. Then call the education committee of the REMAC and ask them too. Then call the protocol committee and ask them. Get answers. Don't let patients suffer because of red tape.

http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/guidelines_infection_control.htm

http://www.ems1.com/columnists/robert-dono...-Scares-and-EMS

Jacko Flees in SUV After Crash With Ambulance: EMT snaps photos allegedly showing King of Pop entering vehicle By JACK NOYES, OLSEN EBRIGHT, ANDREW GREINER and HASANI GITTENS

Brought a code to a local hospital recently. The MD spent half the time the code was being worked dicking around with their glidescope and portable ultrasound machine (both of which he obviously wasn't adept in using) than treating the patient. The tool is only as good as the person who uses it. Moral: Don't let the toys cloud the bigger picture.

In his defense (not that I really care to defend the guy from anything), he may have been unaware of the SUV's collision with the ambulance since he wasn't in the SUV at the time.

Sounds like you need to find a different line of volunteering.

I frequently traverse the TSP in Putnam Valley (thank god not every day) and pass a spot that has always peaked my interest. Between Roaring Brook (Pudding Street) and Route 301 on the Northbound side, there is what appears to be what used to be an offramp/onramp combination on the right hand side. It appears to have gone unused for quite some time and was likely blocked off and abandoned decades ago. My question is for all you local historians/history buffs is: What used to be there? Here is a google maps link to the spot I mean. http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source...mp;t=h&z=17 Any help is great appreciated.

So I pass the Each Branch of the Croton Reservoir system in Brewster on an almost daily basis on my commute from work. I can't help but notice that the water level is EXTREMELY low. Does anyone know why? Is it for maintenance on one of the dams or some other infrastructure? If it stays that low into June I'd imagine there would be some considerable drought concerns no?

Cool. So basically it's leftover from when they repositioned the asphalt. I passed it the other day and caught a glimpse of a Trooper sitting on the "exit" side of it, WAY back near a dirt mound. Be careful if you pass by there that you don't get caught. EDIT: Okay, how in the world did you find that Library of Congress picture? Seems like an amazing resource and I'd be interested to see what else is stowed away in there in regards to local history.

Thankfully it's not up to you. I don't see an exceptional problem with the response in this video. If you are saying "OMG HE'S FLYING MACH3 DOWN THE TURN LANES" then you can thank the illusion of photography for that in all likelihood. Just like the camera adds 10 pounds, it easily adds 20 MPH. As the recent PCVAC video demonstrates things look FAR faster on video than they are. It's also the same psychological phenomenon that causes people to say "The EMS vehicle was FLYING to the call" when passed only to find out they were only going 40-50 MPH.

Thanks for the info. Let me know what you find Christie.

Digging the cadre's purple crocks. And the pink collar (even if it did look a bit big ). Stylin colors.

google.com is a good place to start. Try "EMS CME". You should know by now what I use from my previous posts.

Got this from one of the online CME lectures I just finished. Could be a good community relations/education tool to help prevent injuries secondary to falls. http://www.cdc.gov/ncipc/pub-res/toolkit/C...SafetyCOLOR.pdf

Personally, I just like to take a rapid refresher class somewhere. Go in, take a practical, take a written, get some take home tests to do, take a class or two, do your CPR, take the NYS written and your done. I do this every 2.5 years (if you do it early you get it out of the way and your expiration date rolls back a bit). Sure beats the heck out of driving yourself nuts trying to make sure you have this CME and that CME and "CRAP! I need a Geriatric CME and the only place teaching one in the next month is in Utica!". Good luck!

Found this with additional reading. Appears NDP is partly correct. Seems of the base 24 hours of CORE content, you can also take 12 of that online. So in effect of the 72 hours of CME needed, you can do 36 of it online/self study. The remaining 36 need to be in the classroom setting it appears. Again, talk to your agency and/or the CIC overseeing the CME recert for your agency for clarification.

I think you have it backwards. You need 24 hours of CORE CONTENT REVIEW which is classes overseen by a NYS CIC (Certified Instructor Coordinator) that covers the following: * 24 hours of Refresher Training (review of core content) o Preparatory (1) o Airway (2) o Patient Assessment (3) o Medical/Behavioral (8) + General Pharmacology/Respiratory/Cardiac (4) + Diabetes/Altered Mental Status/Allergies (2) + Poisoning/Environmental/Behavioral (2) o Trauma (4) o Obstetrics/Gynecology (2) o Infants and Children (2) o Elective (2) Then you must do an additional 48 hours of additional continuing education requirements, which must include: o Geriatrics (minimum of 3 hours) o WMD/Terrorism (minimum of 3 hours) It is the additional 48 hours that you would/should be able to do online and yes, I'd imagine CentreLearn could fill that role for you. I would consult the people at CentreLearn or at your agency of record who is overseeing your recert for verification. Records of your additional CMEs should be forwarded to and kept on file with the agency through which you are you registered to do the CME recert. You must also complete a CPR class. WARNING: DO NOT ALLOW YOUR EMT TO EXPIRE DURING YOUR RECERT. If you do, you MUST take a normal classroom based refresher. (Sorry, don't meant to add pressure but thems the rules). You must also complete a skill competency portion which would demonstrate your knowledge of BLS skills in front of an instructor. This can be part of the Core Content classes mentioned above (and usually is done as part of the electives). For more information (and the source of the above): http://www.health.state.ny.us/nysdoh/ems/c...n/cmerecert.htm

Probably for the same reason we can't we have: -RSI or MAI -CPAP -Thumpers/Autopulses -Better Analgesics and on standing order -A prerecorded "no I won't ride in your BLS call" button like the one at staples that says "That was easy". on every ALS unit?

A friendly correction to previous post: http://www.hvremsco.org/ (note the missing "M"). I have recently signed up for CentreLearn's "RapidCE" Online CME program. It costs $59.95 for a full year of unlimited CMEs (there are hundreds to choose from ranging from BLS to ALS to OSHA/BBP to Fire Service. So far the courses have been informative and easy to digest.

I'm of the mindset that BLS comes before ALS (duh) and that if bagging a code is working just fine, then don't mess with it (If it ain't broke don't fix it). If gastric distention becomes a problem and BLS procedures aren't cutting it, or if there is vomitting/etc, then I'll most definitely drop a tube. On codes it seems to be more effective to have good BLS and move on to dropping an IV and pushing a round of meds before trying for a tube. Like somone said previously, get the first round in, prep you tube stuff then give it a shot. There has been a de-emphasizing of intubation lately in the ACLS and (especially) PALS classes due to the tendency for people to stop compressions while trying for the tube. If you have the opportunity, try tubing without stopping compressions. In many cases, it's really not that hard. I'm sure most of us involved in the above discussion are aware of the science behind "priming the pump" and minimizing time without compressions [if someone is not, and wants more info, feel free to ask and we shall provide]. Personally, I don't see a problem with holding off on the tube in favor of getting a line and a few rounds of meds in place first. Sure we want to get one eventually, but intubation has taken a get steps backwards recently on the priority meter.

I was recently doing some reading about the Great Swamp and kayak/canoe access to the waterway, and they mention that access road and the uncontrolled crossing. I immediately was skeptical to crossing the tracks when I read that there is no gates there, now I'm even moreso.

Recently I took a violent psych from point A to point B. Upon picking the patient up (heavily sedated mind you) from point A, I found the patent in leather restraints. I kindly asked security if we could borrow them and they agreed since we were taking "trouble" off their hands. My partner noted to me that he had been told in the past we cant use leather restraints. I had never heard of such a thing. Comments?