WAS967

I'll drink to that! [glug glug]

I've used MAST before. On a rare occasion I might consider using it again (unstable pelvic/leg fractures) or a traumatic arrest. But the second is a very distant maybe, the first being the more likely.

IF you are doing CPR for the Professional Rescuer then I'd charge around $75 per person. Heartsaver AED I might charge 40-50 for.

Is there anything that specifically says that if an EMT comes upon a diabetic and they have a glucometer with them (the patient that is), that the EMT can't use it to test the patient's blood sugar?

I had a call recently where the patient was witnessed taking her last breath by the aid who just finished giving her some apple sauce. Family was there stating that she had a valid DNR. BLS arrived moments before me and was looking for a cue on what to do. Family was asked for the DNR and they said they were looking for it. We started doing our thing while the family continued looking. The family even got on the phone and spoke to thier lawyer who wanted to talk to me (uhm...no thanks). I called the ER and talked to the ER doc. He conferenced in with the Patient's Medical Doctor who told us that he was unaware of the patient having a DNR. Long story short - have a copy of it available....hell, plaster it to the headboard or get a bracelet/necklace. And of course Murphy (a relative of Skooter's) Law dominated and we "saved" the patient on the way to the ER making the issue all the more sensitive to the family who most likely would have preferred that thier mother die in peace.

Somebody told me recently that the Lifeguard medics have the ability to rapel out of the Aircraft for missions. I smell BS. Anyone care to prove/debunk?

Uhm. If you get a call from a patient complaining of being dizzy and you get there and they're legitimately DOA then you have response time issues that go WAY beyond caring about silent approaches.

Show me an SOP anywhere the deals specifically with "silent approaches". SOPs and SOGs cant POSSIBLY cover EVERY situation we encounter. Our higher ups draw up Procedures and Guidelines to be used as just what the name implies - a guide. It's up to us to use our noodles and decide on the best course of action for each situation. I'm not saying (nor - hopefully - anyone else) that the entire response should be silent. Thats just silly. But turning off the lights and sirens when you are around the corner so as not to attract attention and stress the patient will absolutely have NO impact on response time and/or patient care. If it does, you're not doing it right. If I told people to drive themselves to the hospital because thier "problem" isn't that important - I wouldn't be employed very long. Thats where EMD plays a good role. I got a call last week for a kid with a dog bite that was described as minor and the parent "just wanted it to be checked". As a secondary responder I responded sans L&S and let the primary responders do thier work. I wish we had EMD on more calls. Nothing is worse than rushing to a call to find out the condition is minor and didn't warrant an expeditious reponse.

Are you willinjg/able to mount an antenna to the roof of your house and run wire to the scanner base? If so I highly recommend a good roof mounted antenna. And skip the two antenna with a splitter idea - theoretically it will drag down the quality of your reception. Get one of these bad boys: http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.js...rentPage=family :angry:

Hudson Valley has free gifts in the ER for EMS providers. If you can't find them, ask someone. Yesterday it was Trauma Shears. I think the stuff may change as the week progresses. WEMS had the first of two BBQs tonight (stop by Thursday evening for the second one followed by a double call audit). The ribs alone are worth the drive. :angry:

It's one of those cases where you have to balance common sense with good customer service. It also is a good case for well utilized EMD. A lot of times the people request a silent approach either because they don't want to bother thier neighbors or because thier neighbors are just plain nosey. I generally honor the request because most of the times the request seems to eminate from people in a small neighborhood. I can usually get to nearby (around the block) and shut down the lights and siren to go into the scene. It doesn't delay my response in the least. And as Seth said, in cases where stress to the patient should be minimized, following thier wishes just makes sense. It falls in the same line as taking a person to the hospital of thier choice, or getting some things together before you take them to the ER, or whaever. People who use the excuse "I came here to help the patient, not be thier butler" should step back a second and think about things.

Could you be more specific on what kind of repairs it needs? What's wrong with it. What does/doesn't work?

All I can say about that bathroom is "WOA"....

What? No Hammerhead steaks?!?!?

If anyone misses it I can see about getting it burned onto DVD for anyone who wants it. This is one not to be missed. I'll be watching it. Been looking forward to seeing it all Month!

Did anyone go to the debrief? I'd like to know what was discussed.

Just because a person has been triaged doesn't mean you can't triage them again. Triage should take 30 seconds MAX. I retriaged several people. People's statuses change. Several Reds we declared Dead and moved on. There were a few Reds that were really Yellow, etc etc. Albiet this was all in the treatment area. No reason you can't retriage to make sure they're in the right place then proceed with treatment.

Thank god. Wash away this crap you call Tree Pollen. PLEASE.

Alright. I did a little searching and found them in all thier glory in the back issues of Circulation (August 22nd Issue NOT the 15th like they say on the other page - there is a whole supplement). Remember me at Christmas. http://circ.ahajournals.org/content/vol102/suppl_1/

It looks like the AHA pulled the online version of the guidelines from thier site in favor of the new 2005 guidelines. The only thing I could find easiy was a site where you could order a hard copy from the usual sources: http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jht...ntifier=3012497 There are several sites that compare and contrast the 2000 vs 2005 guidelines. Just google for them. Also note that "protocol" is technically improper. They are just guidelines. Protocols are issued by your local certifying agency (in NY's case the NYS DOH).

I thought I saw a few shirts floating around with Fire and EMS symbols on the front. Maybe they were a limited edition.

Just because it addresses ALS techniques doesn't mean you can't stand back and thing about what you would do if you had NO ALS available. Consider the facts given in the case scenario and ask yourself, what would YOU do. Perhaps we can start a new thread each month and discuss the JEMS case scenario and what could be done on an Basic level.

3rd Annual EMS Night at Shea Stadium

I'd love to go to the debrief and hear the overall summation of how things went. I'm with you in that it would have been nice to know that the black piping represented. I too wondered what the "runoff" comprised....from the get go I assumed it was "bad stuff" until otherwise determined. It sucked that the runoff flooded the treatment area - that should have been moved sooner - tho I know the gradation of the pavement would have been missed by a lot of people. And right on about the decon - tho for the serious patients you have the consider the seriousness of thier injuries and wether they can be deconed at the hospital - tho the question arises - would it be safe to transport a patient that is contaminated with the stuff. It would have been nice to the see the IC wearing something that indicated that he was the IC. Wearing a vest that says "Sector 1" means nothing. I also found the fact that the IC and the SAFETY OFFICER were standing in the middle of the hazardous runoff. Should I assume it's safe just because they're standing in it? No way in hell.

Well, he pays a lot more than we do. Jet Fuel is actually Kerosene based and just checking the prices now "Jet A" runs between $4.39 and $6.44 a gallon at HPN.