The post Did You Receive the Calling to Become an EMT? appeared first on EMS Wire.
]]>As time has gone by, I have often used that same phrase to my new EMT students, usurping Margo’s pitch, by telling them that they were chosen for this career path by the career itself. It does kinda Sound strange when I read it aloud!
But this business is unlike any other business out there. We don’t sit at a desk and we really do not have a boss that looks over our shoulders to bug us all day. We don’t go home and have work to do until late in the evening and we don’t rush into work early in the morning to get reports done or get ready for a 9 o’clock meeting.
That doesn’t mean we DON’T take our job home… We do!
But what we take home at night are memories and visions of our day — of the patients and families we worked on and worked with. The bystanders and the looks on there faces, as well as the sounds and smells that accompany EMS personnel in our work…..daily.
When I walk into a hospital, the smell gets to me. It is a smell I have become so accustomed to that when I am not in the hospital, I can still smell it. I can smell blood — specifically the Iron in it. I can smell sweat, narcotics, and I have a keen awareness for the smell of a freshly opened box of gloves. You know what I’m talking about…
Is this all bad? Not at all! These smells are my life. These smells remind me of what we do for a living and tools we use to save lives and complete our tasks. I love the smell of an ambulance the same way teachers and students used to love the smell of freshly mimeographed paper in the classroom.
Being an EMT or Medic is not for everyone. Many people do not like the smell of blood. Human bodies and their strange odors make them vomit or gag. They don’t like the sight of things sticking out of bodies that are not supposed to be sticking out of bodies. The thought of doing CPR covered in blood does NOT appeal to a great deal of earthlings.
But for many of us, it does. It gets our hearts racing. They call us TRAUMA JUNKIES. We wear shirts that say things like “ Keep doing stupid things and I get to see you naked”. We WANT to be first on the scene of an amputation and desperately want to be the person that stops the bleeding, puts on the tourniquet and saves that patients life.
We dream of these events while we are posted in our ambulances behind the Taco bell, sitting in the cramped front seat, head against the window and feet up on the dash, the whole while stealing the taco bell wifi and watching Parks and Recreation on Netflix.
This may not sound like fun to a lot of you out there, but if it does, You are either already an EMT, wish you were one or crazy. And I can not emphasis the CRAZY enough!
And just remember, no matter how old you are, Its never to late to join our ranks. You just have to be a little…….CRAZY!
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]]>The post Careers for EMTs appeared first on EMS Wire.
]]>Our students usually went to work on ambulances or used their EMT license as the stepping-stone into a fire academy, fire department or into a volunteer Fire station.
As time has gone by I have found that a great deal of the students I teach have career objectives as a licensed EMT that do NOT include working on an ambulance or being a part of fire department.
The morphing of the license initially seemed to sway towards the Emergency Room and general floors of the hospitals as well as into the local Urgent care centers and Doctors offices.
But something new and exciting is taking place in the hiring and placement of licensed EMTs in our little slice of the world. Opportunities now abound for the right person with the right license to work in areas that many of us never considered being locations for our freshly licensed folks.
Over the course of the past year I have had students take jobs working as EMT professionals on Oil Rigs off the coast of California and up north in the oil fields of Bakersfield and Fresno.
Recently I had a student graduate and take a job working on a strike team with the DEA, acting as a armored-up EMT that makes entry on drug houses through-out the West Coast.
Over the past 3 courses I have taught, more then half of my students have already had jobs lined up working as stand-by EMTs for the movie industry in and around California, with pay scales well over the $20 per hour range.
I have students that work as security guards who are getting their EMT licenses in order to work personal security for wealthy families and groups in California, Arizona, Nevada and even Saudi Arabia. The families or groups that are seeking security protection now demand that their security team have EMT licenses in order to provide a new level of care to their staff, families or groups.
And then there is the private fire and rescue companies that are springing up across the country that hire licensed EMTs and Firefighters that either support local and state fire agencies or do specialized standby fire, rescue and medical at race tracks and events.
So when you are getting your license and working through your class, get online and start searching for the job you REALLY want. Look for unique opportunities with companies that you would not even expect to have a need for an EMT on staff.
Search for your EMT jobs with Police and Sheriff departments, check the US Government, Homeland Security and FEMA. Make sure you check to see if there is a local, private fire-rescue company near you that is looking for EMTs and fire folks. Go online to the local hospitals in your area, search their job listings and watch for EMT in the ER postings.
As EMTs we have a very specific skill set, one that is very appealing to many employers out there and that may not be on your radar yet. When looking for a job, look beyond ambulance. Look for what appeals to you.
(Editor’s Note – A good site to look at: www.emsgig.com)
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]]>The post LifeVac Saves Its First Life appeared first on EMS Wire.
]]>The Allt-y-Myndd Care Home bought the device after losing a resident to choking in the beginning of this year. Providentially, another resident choked on her lunch just two days after the care home received their LifeVac. After the normal standard protocols failed, a worker quickly grabbed the unit and with only one swift pump, the food was dislodged (2). Needless to say, everyone is ecstatic over the life saved. Even the supplier of this particular LifeVac, Rhona Manning, broke down in tears upon hearing the good news (3).
LifeVac always advocates using the standard protocols first, before ever trying their device (4), but this now begs the question, should you even waste time with the abdominal thrusts / back blows?
Everyone calm down. I’m not advocating using one thing and not using the other. Any good medic, nurse, or doctor will tell you success is in the options. What works for one may not work for another. The more tools we have in our belt, the more we can fix. Yet, when time is of the essence, which tool do we reach for first?
Thankfully, it seems we are breaking away from prehospital dogma. The American Red Cross changed their guidelines from performing abdominal thrusts first to performing back-blows first (5).
No doubt, the abdominal thrusts, back blows, and now, the LifeVac save lives. It could very well be that the LifeVac works best when the individual is unconscious. Our natural tendency when a vacuum is put to our mouth is to fight it. Or it could be that LifeVac works best when a person is conscious and can aid the device by generating their own positive pressure by activating their intercostals and diaphragm.
Whatever may be, keep your minds open, and don’t be surprised if LifeVac blows your mind by changing those choking guidelines some day.
You know what? That should be LifeVac’s catchphrase: “Sucking face. Blowing minds.”
… Okay maybe not.
Aside from my temporary lack of filter, and with all sincerity, congratulations to Arthur Lih, Paul Leberer, Rhona Manning, and the rest of the LifeVac family. You are now, officially, heroes.
(Editor’s Note: The views expressed above do not necessarily reflect the views of EMS Wire)
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]]>The post The EMS Bully appeared first on EMS Wire.
]]>We all know this who this person is, either at the station, on the rig or as part of a support team that shows to help first responders and caregivers.
They call the obese patients we have to care for “fatty” or other insulting words, they call our narco-overdose patients — things like ‘soon dead’ or ‘waste of a life.’ And when transporting the elderly, they call it “slinging the oldies” or even using vulgar slang to describe our patients.
Usually, when they say these things, they laugh, and usually, it is only THEM that laughs. Others may giggle, but it is an uncomfortable attempt to just kind of play along and appease this person, hoping they stop. Think schoolyard bully.
Let me start my critique by saying that these folks need to find new jobs right NOW. They don’t belong in our industry! They belong digging ditches or cleaning bathrooms in some far away forgotten land.
We work so hard to make the industry we work in respectable and admired and then along comes the 23 year old kid who has faced no tragedy in his short time on earth, doesn’t understand the value of human life and still thinks that insults and being vulgar and funny is the best way to become endeared with your peers. Basically, it’s still that high school behavior that still permeates with this kid.
We need to get these kids out of our business as soon as possible, and encourage them to move on to some other, more fitting and fulfilling career; possibly one selling used mattresses or salvaged space debris.
Just like we do not tolerate our work partners coming in drunk or stoned, we should never tolerate them coming into work and acting as if they are 10 years old. Degrading, insulting and bullying both the patients and their partners is not something any of us should ever have to deal with.
Take a stand and help them find the door out!
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]]>The post EMS Health and Fitness — Part 1 appeared first on EMS Wire.
]]>Old Man Jenkins may have you up your entire shift where the only fast food around is… well… fast food, and the last thing you want to do is to be is sore from working out during your 48 to 72 hour shift. Just as well, killing time on the couch waiting for a call can easily turn into a Dorito endorsed binge fest. So, if you start huffin’ n puffin’ from just getting out of the rig and sweating all over my stuff, how on earth are you going to pick my naked broken butt off this pavement?
Yeah, I may come back to life, but only to slap you with your own moobs. Likewise, skinny people can be just as out of shape. The last thing I’d want to see is Lurch’s arms snapping in half trying to lift the gurney.
By far, the hardest is the diet. Instead of getting a quick bite at of Heart Attack in a Bag, put your big boy pants on and prepare your meals a day or two before your shift. As a workout enthusiast, trainer, and physique competitor myself, I’ve picked up a few tricks:
As always, consult a nutritionist, physical trainer or physician to assist you with your dietary needs.
Keep an eye out for part 2 where I’ll give you example meals and some more tips!
(Editor’s Note: The views expressed above do not necessarily reflect the views of EMS Wire)
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]]>The post For Those That Want to Play Incident Commander appeared first on EMS Wire.
]]>Sure, some of the game was a little bit crude and not realistic, but it seemed to get the general premise of being an incident commander – such as how to develop quick thinking in an emergent situation where time was running against you. I actually found it to be helpful in prioritizing scenes in real life as a Battalion Chief/Supervisor.
And the game came with several missions, which I found to be incredibly realistic, even for the time period in which the game came out. Debuting in 1998, the German company, Sixteen Tons Entertainment came up with a game that was able to capture the essence of both complex fire and EMS situations requiring the deployment of multiple units.
Life-Like Playability
Also life-like was the damage that could be done in the event that the scene was not properly addressed. The developer obviously paid good attention to hazardous scenes as well as the importance of public safety and keeping bystanders safe. In some cases, if you are not careful, a bystander can actually become a victim and if too many bystanders or patients die, you fail the mission.
EMERGENCY even has a mobile gaming application if you want to play incident commander while waiting for real calls to take place.
Aside from the game available for download on your phone, since 1998, EMERGENCY has produced several other PC games with the latest, EMERGENCY 2016 being available for purchase on Steam.
Again, the EMERGENCY series is not 100% realistic, but it by far the best available simulation for the price to give aspiring incident commanders a chance to practice.
The game offers many more options for responding units and personnel as well as an open gaming world where you have an incredibly large number of choices in how you delegate units. The game is available for download on Steam by aspiring Incident Commanders, but don’t spend too much time playing as this game can be quite addicting!
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]]>The post Some Thoughts On Stress Relief appeared first on EMS Wire.
]]>We all know what we are supposed to do to cope with anxiety, depression and stress when confronted with it in a dramatic and new way. Usually, we run to the doctor and seek medicine and the all mighty magic pill to cure what ails us.
But is that really what we want to be doing to get through the hard work days as professional EMS workers and rescue crews? The short answer is “No.” The Longer answer is a even more hearty “NO!!!”
Jumping on the medicine bandwagon is quick and easy, usually only requiring that we make the doctors appointment on our next scheduled day off and then telling him about our problems. In most cases these days, the doctors are quick to offer the relief in a bottle we so desperately desire. So for us EMS workers, it’s quick and painless and in a few hours, we start to see some relief from our mental and physical symptoms.
But we all know that that is surely the wrong avenue to go down to attain long-term and long lasting high quality relief. Like many people, we also struggle to understand the long-term implications of the constant use of these medicines while at the same time we see the daily results of their overuse in the patients we care for.
Therefore, as practitioners and providers as well as students of the industry, we should be the role models for the proper way to care for ourselves both physically and mentally while working in the EMS world. To steal a phrase: We need to lead by example.
Now those of you who have spent years in this business know exactly where I am going with this story. You know that the next words out of my mouth, or the next words I am about to write are going to be; don’t drink, don’t smoke, don’t do illicit drugs and stay away from fatty foods as well as those high in carbohydrates. Yep!
But what I am going to say next may surprise you. I am not a saint and we didn’t get into this business because we are all the next in line towards sainthood, or about to become the next Anthony Robbins of EMS. We are humans and we decompress and deal with anxiety and stress differently. Sometimes, having a couple beers and talking to your family or buddies is exactly what fixes you. Sometimes heading out to the bar and dancing and letting loose is exactly what you need.
But what we need to practice is self-control and knowing when to stop, knowing when too much of a ‘good thing’ is no longer a good thing and that it can be harmful to our health or those around us.
Remember the edict in medicine “First, Do No Harm”. (Which, by the way may be from Epidemics vs Hippocrates. (1). Remember that when you are trying to manage your own personal issues. Remember that, First Do No harm, like BSI and Scene safety, applies to each of us healthcare workers and our long term well-being too.
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]]>The post This is the World You Live in Now appeared first on EMS Wire.
]]>Anyhow… as we strode into the fair, I could hear my children complaining about how they have to empty their pockets or put this or that on the table to go through the detector. My son asked, “Why do we have to do this, it seems so ridiculous!?!”
I simply responded, “This is the world you live in now.”
In that moment, I realized the totality of what I had said — the fact that the world has really changed now — When September 11th happened, people spoke about how it had dramatically affected the world and now it continues…
With the recent attacks in Orlando, Bangladesh, San Bernardino, etc… we are living in a world that is on the cusp of changing most dramatically. With the change in the current political climate close at hand, we are really, truly at a crossroads. It is surely a moment of awe and reflection. Being in this moment, I realized what I had told my son about OUR WORLD — that although there are some inconveniences we are putting up with, our liberty is certainly not restricted by a metal detector, but rather our freedom is being protected. And although I have nothing to back up the way I felt about going through the line, I have to say that it gave me some peace of mind.
It is always a delicate balance between freedom and security and so we need really to understand this different world, especially as EMS, fire and public safety providers, We always must remain vigilant and protect the public interest, while at the same time ensuring that their liberties remain.
This affects EMTs and Paramedics because they must attenuate themselves to notice and report suspicious behavior more frequently but they must also communicate with other providers in a manner which is more collaborative. The same is true of officers who must maintain security and control, but should also serve the public. Because that’s what public safety providers do – they serve the public.
What does it mean exactly to serve the public?
It means to provide for their security while at the same time advocating their freedom and liberty. It means to remain a person while in uniform – a vigilant responder, but one with personality and respect for civilians and their liberties.
We cannot lose sight of these values as we make our way into this new era – the world is in your metacarpals.
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]]>The post Push or Pull? What’s Your Motivation? appeared first on EMS Wire.
]]>Passion and Will play two separate roles in this situation. Passion has the power to pull you through. Will is when you push through. The thing about push is it never lasts forever.
I once worked for a job that gave full benefits, was the highest paying, as well as, the easiest, job I’ve ever had. So why was it so hard for me to get out of bed in the morning?
Working as a nurse tech, I woke up at 4:00 AM to get crapped, bled, and cried on for 14 hours straight. Each day I was nervous. But the good kind of nervous –worried about doing my job well, about being the tech I needed to be for my patients. Without fail, I arrived early, sat alone in the locker room, and prayed for each one of my patients and myself. The only time I sat down was on my way too short of lunch break. Never once did I have to pull myself out of bed. Many times, I woke up before the alarm even rang. Why?
Then there are those who just “put up” with it. They go into this knowing it is an honorable job, and yes, they can even get that intrinsic “good feeling” now and then. This anecdotal delectation tricks many into thinking passion is involved. Yet, time will take it’s toll and ultimately lead to burnout. You will have nurses passing on work, doctors who don’t get closer than 15 feet from their patient, and techs avoiding the call buttons.
This doesn’t mean you’re not allowed to not be thrilled about your job from time to time if you truly have a passion for your work. On the contrary! Seeing inadequacies, ineptitude, or disinterest within your area will likely cause you even more heartache than the normal person. However, instead of seeing those as reasons to leave, you see them as reasons to stay.
For the sake of your patients and your own sanity, be sure of your motivation. Are you earnest in your care and love for this job or are you trudging through for the sake of proving your own resiliency?
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]]>The post Life Saving Apps appeared first on EMS Wire.
]]>Well, CRAP. Was that group of people we passed actually waiting for 911 instead? Did I just walk passed a group of people experiencing the bystander effect? I felt terrible for being so close to a potential emergency and not even knowing it. However, this gave me an idea.
What if there was a way an off-duty EMT, firefighter, nurse, doctor, or just plain ol’ nice guy that took CPR class once could be alerted whenever a health crisis is near? Well, apparently there is one!
Israel’s national EMS agency, Magen David Adom (which sounds a lot cooler than you are probably saying in your head right now) came out with the “MDA Crews” app which alerts registered volunteers of any medical emergencies close by. More than 11,500 people have already registered as volunteers for this program, and tens of thousands more are hoped for (1,2).
Here in the States, we have PulsePoint Respond, a similar smartphone app that will alert users to collisions, medical emergencies, fires, and even locations of registered AEDs. You can even add AED locations using their “PulsePoint AED” app. However, this will only work if stations in your area are subscribed to it, and unlike MDA’s app, PulsePoint’s app has no screening/credentialing process, and users do not have to register (1,3). This brings up some concerns.
Anyone, with or without medical knowledge, can see the location of the person in need and the type of distress they are in. For a society that loves red-tape, HIPAA regulations, OSHA regulations, and a society that keeps their lawyers on speed dial, this has the potential to turn hairy. Fortunately, most states have a Good Samaritan Act which prevents people who render care from being held liable, unless they have been determined to be grossly negligent. While this is not legal advice and I most certainly am not an attorney, responders are encouraged to check state law to ensure a better understanding and prevent any liability.
Additionally, the agency providing information to PulsePoint has seen the value in having Good Samaritans provide assistance from the public over potential privacy concerns. Those concerned about their privacy may rest at ease knowing that the identify of the person experiencing the emergency is not released. PulsePoint. PulsePoint explains that only the location of public places are provided to potential good samaritans. (3).
When registering the AEDs, I sure hope there is some sort of verification process. Nothing would piss me off more than running to the location of an AED, and, instead, I’m face to face with a pack of Huggies Ultra Dry diapers, because Buster McThundertroll decided it’d be funny to tag aisle 5 at Safeway as the location of the AED.
Regardless, I think this is a great step in the right direction! Many people are CPR/AED trained, yet very few actually use the skill. This app can help get this expertise out there saving lives.
You can download the app here! http://www.pulsepoint.org/download/
Are there any other apps out there that do the same? Let me know!
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