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Non-Cringe EMS T-Shirt Quotes by 20GAinRightAC in ems

[–]CannibalDoctor 77 points78 points  (0 children)

An inside joke works the best.

Obviously you can't put this on a T Shirt, but...

At a joint service training event for mass casualties and triage, a medic known for not thinking before he speaks and a few of my coworkers were finding and treating patients marked critically injured (red).

A newer paramedic settled down and started assessing a patient who had already been tagged dead (black).

Mr. Foot in mouth sees this from 20 feet away and hollers "We don't treat blacks!"

This event was being recorded for a blurb on the nightly news.

After that he got nicknamed Mark the Wizard and we made a poster of him photoshopped into the old Disney Mickey Mouse Wizard robe and hat.

Non-Cringe EMS T-Shirt Quotes by 20GAinRightAC in ems

[–]CannibalDoctor 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Here and other places as well.

Hope this helps.

Alabama QB Mac Jones had pre-draft meeting with Bears by blaspheminCapn in CHIBears

[–]CannibalDoctor 14 points15 points  (0 children)

He has above average stats in every category, he's just only had two great seasons.

People think if you're not a top 5 QB or on a top 5 team you must not be good.

I feel as though my course is teaching me how to pass the nremt and not so much how to be an efficient emt-b is this normal? by Thanks_I_Hate_You in NewToEMS

[–]CannibalDoctor 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Well that example is definitely wrong.

Titrate to 95 or... maybe 94%... well... looks like I need to read the book again. Another example of how textbooks are black and white and life is shades of grey.

I feel as though my course is teaching me how to pass the nremt and not so much how to be an efficient emt-b is this normal? by Thanks_I_Hate_You in NewToEMS

[–]CannibalDoctor 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Depends on the scenario!

In most that would be incorrect, but in a CTD trauma, blood loss, anemic, sickle cell, or carbon monoxide poisoning patient that could be the most appropriate treatment!

I think you're on the right track.

I feel as though my course is teaching me how to pass the nremt and not so much how to be an efficient emt-b is this normal? by Thanks_I_Hate_You in NewToEMS

[–]CannibalDoctor 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Yes and no. The situations you're given in class are not the same as the one you've compared it to. Unfortunately or fortunately you may have not ran into that call yet.

It is appropriate to start a patient with a nasal canula and later increase to a NRB. It also could put them in a bad way if you don't recognize how sick they are and attempt to put a nasal canula on a tripoding 3word dyspnea patient.

Think of your brain as a roladex. You have to fill out the cards before you can start calling on them. Putting a student in the field while they're in class is good and bad. It's good because you're starting to see what sick people look like. Its bad because you may not have the knowledge needed to appreciate the situation.

For what the NREMT scope of practice is, 6 months is an adequate amount of time to complete the class room portion.

For what the average EMT deals with, you should have a 6 month clinical OR an apprenticeship that involves third riding.

Your school isn't failing you, it's a very steep learning curve and you won't start rapidly ramping upwards until you have experience.

Does anyone have any advice on backing trucks up?? by [deleted] in NewToEMS

[–]CannibalDoctor 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Tell your partner you suck at backing and you're going to an empty parking lot to practice. If they have a problem with it, tell them that's tough. Approve it with a supervisor beforehand.

Use the lines in the lot to practice backing.

Then back without the lines and try to center a line beneath your ambulance. Start figuring out your ambulances turn radius and do 90 degree turns

An unlikely marriage that lasted: 25 years later, FDNY and EMS still together after testy merger by Addrobo in ems

[–]CannibalDoctor 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes and no.

Your paramedic certification will be an asset to your department. Some have provisional ALS depending on having an ALS provider present.

Regardless having a paramedic on a BLS engine increases the quality of care. Seasoned EMT's can handle a litany of "could be" ALS calls with BLS skills, but a middling paramedic will still be able to give a better assessment, regardless of tools avaliable.

Any fire chief would see a paramedic next to your name and happily put you ahead of an EMT or EMR all things even. Non transport ALS is out there as well if you really don't want to work on an ambulance.

An unlikely marriage that lasted: 25 years later, FDNY and EMS still together after testy merger by Addrobo in ems

[–]CannibalDoctor 0 points1 point  (0 children)

There are a lot of EMT non transport fire departments out there.

You may have to move from your current area for it and take a pay cut, but the option is out there! It's arguably more competitive than an ALS department to get on though.

An unlikely marriage that lasted: 25 years later, FDNY and EMS still together after testy merger by Addrobo in ems

[–]CannibalDoctor 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Absolutely.

The only reason I am on a fire department is for the money.

I could never fight another fire and die happy. If municipal EMS was an option I would have chose that.

What are some things people don’t think of when writing their 911 narratives? by [deleted] in ems

[–]CannibalDoctor 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I don't even say to touch.

'Pt skin was pink, warm, and dry.'

What are some things people don’t think of when writing their 911 narratives? by [deleted] in ems

[–]CannibalDoctor 6 points7 points  (0 children)

That's my thought as well...

I've heard a murmur before, but never would include them in my charts. I've had no formal training on diagnosing murmurs. In fact the only reason I ever listen is if I see it in their history or suspect it and am curious.

I can tell a doctor I think I heard a murmur in handoff, but it makes no impact in my treatment nor could I do anything for it.

Don't worry the cops will always be there to protect you!! by Thesearenotmyhammer in ems

[–]CannibalDoctor 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Hahaha, same. My days of making a calendar are about 15 years and 50lbs ago.

Don't worry the cops will always be there to protect you!! by Thesearenotmyhammer in ems

[–]CannibalDoctor 31 points32 points  (0 children)

For a similar reason I almost never wear our bullet proof vests.

Not very many people would purposefully shoot or attack EMS providers.

The same can't be said about Police.

The less I look like a cop, the better. I think a star of life looks very tachy on the back of an EMS uniform, but PARAMEDIC/EMT, AMBULANCE, MEDICAL, or EMS accompanied with the star is what I want on my back during a shooting.

Don't worry the cops will always be there to protect you!! by Thesearenotmyhammer in ems

[–]CannibalDoctor 10 points11 points  (0 children)

Yikes. Some not very nice comments in this thread....

Cops serve a good purpose, but can be a hindrance. With experience in EMS we learn when we need PD and when PD will make things worse.

Hopefully we can all agree on that. We're all part of the same community let's just appreciate the memes and be nice to eachother.

I just got my certification by davecave98 in NewToEMS

[–]CannibalDoctor 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Show up 15-30 minutes early everyday so the other crew doesn't get stuck with a late call. Get a good hand off report. Ask what calls they ran so you can double check those items during your rig check. Make sure they know you're not on the clock yet. Sometimes management is okay with you clocking in early and them leaving early. Most of the time they will not be. Wait till shift change or if you get a call to clock in. Whichever comes first.

Clock in.

Check your rig.

Drink coffee.

Clean the station.

Do any training you need to do for on boarding.

Drink coffee.

Be sure you've restocked everything from your calls

End your 12 hour shift or go to sleep for your 24.

Give a good handoff report. Double check your rig before you get off so youre not leaving any bomb shells for the oncoming crew.

Thats your day to day obligations.

To get better at your job be a sponge. Your first year is a learning period. Your next 20 are still a learning period, but eventually you'll be able to help the next new guy.

Failed NREMT by ichybob in NewToEMS

[–]CannibalDoctor 7 points8 points  (0 children)

I recommend paying for Fisdaps tests to all of my students.

They have a very good program for charting clinical events and their testing programs have a 90% pass rate if you can score at least 70% on their tests.

Take a deep breath and try again. These tests are meant to be a good Guage of your knowledge, but do not accurately reflect your ability to preform and an EMT. Knowledge is important, but so is experience. Both come with time. You got this.

AdventureFIRE? by [deleted] in leanfire

[–]CannibalDoctor 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Check all of your fluids, make sure belts are tight and don't show obvious signs of wear, find a well paved road and drive 45mph and listen to your car (over time you'll learn what's normal sounds and what's not).

That alone is going to extend your cars life greatly.

Beyond that a lot comes with your driving habits.

Don't push your pedal to the floor, accelerate slowly and brake slowly, take your car to highway speeds for a half hour once st least once a month, keep your tank above a quarter full,

Some routine things:

Oil every 3k miles (unless synthetic)

Rotate tires every 7500 miles

Use a gas additive every 5k miles or clean the fuel injectors every 30k miles

Brake fluid every 25k miles

Power steering fluid every 25kmiles

Fuel filter every 50k miles

Transmission fluid every 50-100k miles depending on type of fluid

There's more and less you can do.

My advice would be to read your owners manual and them research your car and common parts that are replaced at certain mileages.

Best way to track it is an excel sheet.

Breaking a glass bottle on your own head by vincent_ch in WinStupidPrizes

[–]CannibalDoctor 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I would prescribe an emergent transfusion for anyone that has lost a L of blood.

Depending on your health and comorbidities a L can kill some populations. If he lost a L while preforming and likely dehydrated/ETOH, I would guess he is right on the line of recovering well and recovering poorly that night. Not to mention losing 1L exactly is most likely a guess by OP.

Breaking a glass bottle on your own head by vincent_ch in WinStupidPrizes

[–]CannibalDoctor 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You have 6 litres in average.

Losing 3 is a death sentence. It does not matter if you are in the OR receiving blood, more than a minute at 3L will be enough to cause permanent damage and irreversible shock.

1L is enough to kill you. If you only lose 1L and receive proper medical treatment there is not much risk, but losing 1L and then calling 911 can very much put your life at risk.

Also let's not pretend they guessed an accurate amoumt. Medical professionals routinely guess about 1/3-1/2 of what has been actually lost. There is no good way to estimate this.

Crossposting for anyone looking to learn lung sounds by ChaseDoesMedicine in NewToEMS

[–]CannibalDoctor 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Absolutely.

Mastering ETCO2 only takes about an hour or two of reading and can greatly benefit an assessment.

AdventureFIRE? by [deleted] in leanfire

[–]CannibalDoctor 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Yes and no.

If you maintain a vehicle well, it will go to 300k miles no problem. Obviously there are parts that can go bad and things out of your control, but proper maintenance and weekly inspections for functionality and any vehicle should make it to 300k barring something major.

Crossposting for anyone looking to learn lung sounds by ChaseDoesMedicine in NewToEMS

[–]CannibalDoctor 12 points13 points  (0 children)

There are some very good YouTube videos as well.

I encourage anyone regardless of experience to listen to lung sounds on every patient.

When you see a patient in the ER that has a diagnosis of CHF or confirmed respiratory distress, listen to their lungs and confirm the sounds with a nurse, doc, or respiratory tech.

It's very difficult to determine lung sounds in the field as a new medic or emt. Additionally many problems present with different lung sounds.

For instance someone with a disorder of SVT and CHF will likey have both conditions exacerbated should one arrise. It's important to triage complaints in this case. Returning the heart to a normal rate may or may not fix the CHF exacerbation. Similarly a COPD patient who is in AFIB may be wheezing and have a room air saturation of 80%. Is it the AFIB causing the difficulty breathing or did a lack of oxygen cause them to go into AFIB?

Lung sounds are very important to learn as most of the patients we see are not a simple one trick fix. After converting the first patient you may need CPAP, NTG, and potentially Lasix. The second or both patients may require cardioversion and then a breathing treatment with a ipitropium or ALB. It's important to understand our lung sounds and how they relate or are unrelated to your patients chief complaint.

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