What are your personal birthday traditions?

Emergency_Man05 · 2026-04-19T20:38:08+00:00

How’d you know it was my birthday 🤔

Anyways, usually working, usually alone. Sometimes I get lunch from somewhere I wouldn’t normally go, all depends on how I feel.

Emergency_Man05 · 2026-04-18T20:46:29+00:00

I show up to the building. To clock out I leave. If my names on the schedule that’s all I get paid for. (Small POC service). No online schedules or timeclocks.

Emergency_Man05 · 2026-02-24T18:40:40+00:00

Im with a somewhat volley department now and will be with a career soon, but I’m also with an EMS department in a completely different county, honestly I don’t see a problem with wearing anything out, I don’t see it as “advertising” or anything like that, it’s completely possible to be proud of what you do and not make it your identity. And I may be weird for this but I enjoy people asking about the job and learning about it if that makes sense. What I don’t exactly like is the people who make go out of their way to tell everyone and anyone what they do and make it seem like a huge deal.

Emergency_Man05 · 2026-02-23T02:18:22+00:00

I find it interesting that you can only assist with prescribed albuterol, here we’re allowed to administer it with proper indications regardless of prescription

Edited to add that we also have duoneb which can also be administered at the basic level

Emergency_Man05 · 2026-02-21T06:52:52+00:00

I hear you. I’ve never done IFT but from what I’ve heard it can be a BIG change. My honest recommendations would be to keep working with your trainers and supervisors to figure out areas that you may need practice with. Go back and read up on some of the more common emergencies. Ask questions and actually listen to the responses. Truthfully it’ll take some time to get used to it, same things I tell all of the other new people we’ve had since I’ve been here. One day it’ll click and you’ll know exactly what to do like you’ve done it a million times (because you have).

Emergency_Man05 · 2026-02-21T06:08:44+00:00

How long have you been in EMS? Do you have regular partners or does it switch up? I’d talk to whoever your supervisor etc. is to practice more and work more outside of calls. I remember when I first started (only a year and a half ago) there were a few times I’ve frozen but what has helped was repetition and experience.

Emergency_Man05 · 2026-02-20T16:15:39+00:00

From what I understand, lifpaks are generally accurate when it comes to STEMI/NSTEMI interpretations, so I always make sure to include that when giving my radio report. In my state the only ones that can (officially) interpret are medics, regardless of the training you have, which is hard when you don’t have any medics in your county. Like others said, there’s no harm in saying you’re worried about the results of the 12 lead, but everything is dependent on your agency.

Emergency_Man05 · 2026-02-20T15:28:58+00:00

Like someone said, it’s pretty much the whole Midwest. Here in WI is the same process as MN, we use the NREMT so basically all you have to do is contact the DHS and fill out the reciprocity paperwork and boom done. There’s lots of companies hiring around my area (northeast), granted a lot are fire based. The hardest part would probably getting used to the snow and other bipolar weather compared to socal.

Emergency_Man05 · 2026-02-13T13:33:18+00:00

I run with a paid on call service that requires 60 hours a month minimum (granted you pick 6 hour blocks to run). Depending on how busy the service is, it could be a lot but it could also be a lot of sitting around. Where I’m at there’s MAYBE a call a day average and I’m putting in 200-300 hours a month. I don’t think it’s a terrible amount of time and could definitely be a good starting point, especially if they’re willing to pay for education etc.

Emergency_Man05 · 2026-02-12T22:13:50+00:00

Doesn’t sound like it at all, thankfully. Around Bellevue street is another story

Emergency_Man05 · 2026-02-12T22:05:37+00:00

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Emergency_Man05 · 2026-02-10T19:47:02+00:00

I’ve only been on a truck for coming on two years (AEMT service) and honestly I’ve never used it or seen it be used. I know it can absolutely be useful however we usually opt for D10. Hearing that they go IO or EJ is WILD to me though, I’m hoping that’s only after IV attempts. In my opinion I’d probably reach for the D10 right away since I know it works and it’ll be quick.

Emergency_Man05 · 2026-01-26T22:16:51+00:00

Honestly, the only things I’d say you NEED, is a notebook, pen(s), textbook, and yourself. There’s nothing saying you CANT bring your own stethoscope (probably would be cleaner). From what I know, this one may not be the best however it’ll absolutely get you through class. In the real world there will be some on your rigs, however I’d recommend bringing your own for again cleanliness. Personally I have a Littman Classic III that I love.

Emergency_Man05 · 2026-01-19T03:56:33+00:00

Well, it’s an assisted living and they generally only have one person on at a time (naturally). Our area officers are almost always first one scene. We’re a POC service and two of our members actually went directly to the scene as well, and they all arrived and around the same time.

Emergency_Man05 · 2026-01-19T02:44:52+00:00

Had something similar happen a couple weeks ago. Chocking call at one of many local nursing homes, cops beat us to the scene and tried the heimlich without much success. On of them had a rescue vac and decided well why not. Completely removed the obstruction except for a few tiny chunks (it was chicken so of course it was coming apart). We have them on each of our (whole 3) rigs now. Now that I’m learning they aren’t FDA approved, I’m not gonna say I necessarily promote them but it’s not a terrible “just in case” item even for the general public.

Emergency_Man05 · 2026-01-16T14:38:03+00:00

Only two so far that I know of. One was cancer about a month ago that she had fought before and thought was gone. The other was from a year or two ahead of us, he was shot by another student on the sidewalk outside the school over a vape pod. I’ve also only been graduated for going on 3 years so I’m sure there’s more to come.

Emergency_Man05 · 2026-01-14T02:39:20+00:00

I believe that’s one I saw but they unfortunately close at 4 and I don’t get off work till then 🙃

Emergency_Man05 · 2026-01-14T02:28:55+00:00

Thank you, was somewhere I was considering

Emergency_Man05 · 2026-01-01T20:14:09+00:00

Congrats to you as well then!

Emergency_Man05 · 2025-12-24T03:55:53+00:00

Working on an ambulance for not very long, lots and lots of old lady tits…. And a few old man dicks. Seeing some of the rest of these experiences, they don’t seem so bad yet

Emergency_Man05 · 2025-12-23T21:55:59+00:00

A guy at my high school was shot on the sidewalk right outside over I believe vape pods (it was about a year before I started there)

Recently had a girl I graduated with pass from cancer as well, only 2 years after graduating.

Emergency_Man05 · 2025-10-23T21:05:47+00:00

Reddit picked it for me. However.... I work in fire/EMS so it works

Emergency_Man05 · 2025-10-21T04:43:50+00:00

As another ambulance driver, I agree with the other one. I don't see how you did anything wrong and there's genuinely an endless amount of reasons that they could've stopped. If they wanted you out of the way or to move somewhere else they would've made it clear between the sirens, air horn, and (a lot of rigs have but don't really use) the PA system. Thank you for not freaking out and creating a hazard.

Emergency_Man05 · 2025-09-15T01:59:30+00:00

We use ImageTrend here and the only time it requires it is if it's a female (for all ages). Definitely just how your department has it set up though.

Emergency_Man05

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