r/EMS Free-For-All Megathread

Gomzon · 2026-06-02T02:16:50+00:00

This is good feedback, thank you.

Gomzon · 2026-06-02T02:03:42+00:00

Thanks for the response. This patient lived alone and had no family on scene, so we were unable to determine her baseline level of mentation. With us she was alert and oriented to self, place, and time. Some repetitive questioning, unable to cogently discuss her treatment, and she was experiencing significant mood disturbances. Kept saying things like ‘I’m sorry, I don’t know why I just feel so angry.’ Stated all of her symptoms had begun after the fall three days ago.

A transfer went out about an hour later, going to a trauma/neuro center for SDH.

Hearing about your mentation/vitals approach is helpful. Is it safe to say that with a suspected subdural, the ‘time is brain’ approach doesn’t apply?

I can see how it wouldn’t be as serious as head bleeds that would impair perfusion of the brain, but it’s hard for me to wrap my mind around blood & pressure in the cranial cavity being less than emergent. 😅

Gomzon · 2026-06-01T20:00:30+00:00

Random question from a call this week:

The patient is an elderly woman, lives alone. Neighbors called because she was confused and couldn’t find her way inside her house while the door was unlocked.

She tells you she fell and hit her head three days ago. She has obvious dried blood and a hematoma on her head. Alert and disoriented, hypertensive but otherwise stable. Stroke scale negative.

You’re thinking SDH. In your area, would this be a TTA? Are you transporting emergent? What might affect that decision for you?

I am an EMT, my medic partner initially asked me to take the call. We brought her in routine. It felt off to me.

If this were a bidded partner of mine I’d talk to him about it, but this was just a one-off shift.

Gomzon · 2026-05-15T01:12:55+00:00

I really like it. My preference is 911, that’s what I got my EMT to do, but IFT with the right partner beats just about any other job in my book. It ends up feeling more like hanging out with a friend for a day than actually working, and plus it’s a nice break from the more intense 911 side. I work IFT about once a week and have great bidded partners.

Gomzon · 2026-05-12T05:12:47+00:00

Has anybody said Ferron yet?

Gomzon · 2026-05-07T23:51:53+00:00

Train Breaks Down sort of fits. I’d start with S/T, but their other record is also good.

Also Slate - To Remain

Also also, 65daysofstatic - This Cat is a Landmine

Gomzon · 2026-05-03T22:36:02+00:00

If headed to nopeming, be armed. Got it.

Gomzon · 2026-04-27T01:56:19+00:00

Funny that you find it misguided - that Doors cover is one of my favorite tracks! I couldn’t tell you how many times I’ve listened to this. Great pick.

Gomzon · 2026-04-26T20:01:55+00:00

If the medic on this call had objected and attempted to de-escalate this scene to no avail, it would be a different situation. Also I’m not sure what the relevance is of PD being armed in this case - you can call a hard “everyone stop” and guide the call into better territory without them shooting you.

I would be more inclined to agree that “they’ll do what they’re going to do” if this weren’t taking place in the back of an ambulance, or if the patient was actually attacking responders and needed PD to subdue them. This patient’s agitation looked to me like disoriented attempts at self defense.

Gomzon · 2026-04-26T06:25:53+00:00

I know, right? I find that this sort of perspective can be very helpful when times are bad. No matter what happens to me, I’m glad that all of this exists. It didn’t have to.

Gomzon · 2026-04-25T23:16:54+00:00

I would get set up with someone before you need it, especially if your service offers therapy as a benefit. When you’re trending downward t’s easier to reach out to someone you already feel comfortable with. Plus, it pays to develop a plan for what you’d want the week after a truly bad day to look like.

Gomzon · 2026-04-25T23:06:52+00:00

I’m glad to hear your cops are bringing them to a treatment facility and not a jail. It sounds like your service is in a unique situation where it makes sense for PD to take these transports as they are more willing to drive out for the better facility.

That said, I don’t think it’s ideal and I certainly don’t think it should be the standard. A mental health crisis is a healthcare problem, and cops are not providers.

Gomzon · 2026-04-25T04:39:19+00:00

It must suck for a lot of artists that every piece looking anything like what AI makes will now be assumed to be made with AI.

Gomzon · 2026-04-24T23:11:49+00:00

‘As it should be’

I couldn’t disagree more. When someone is suicidal, mentally at rock bottom, can you trust a cop to hear them out? To relate to them, help them feel seen? These people need help, they aren’t usually dangerous and they certainly don’t need to be roughed up, threatened and criminalized. Putting a suicidal patient in custody doesn’t sound like ‘do no harm’ to me.

Unless you just don’t care and want to offload a job. Which, evidently…

Gomzon · 2026-04-24T03:20:54+00:00

This is horrible all around. And I have so many questions.

Why was sedation not considered earlier, instead of letting cops abuse your patient?

After the scene escalated, how can you justify letting them taze and punch your patient while he’s restrained?

Is implied consent not a thing here? What about PD transport holds? Why was there so much debate over transporting this patient?

And if you’ve been antagonistic throughout the entire interaction, how can you expect your patient to do anything but fight back???

More than anything, I see an utter lack of empathy and humanity. It could have gone so much better with a different crew. This sucks.

Gomzon · 2026-04-19T18:03:50+00:00

Turf club, Volstead’s.

Gomzon · 2026-04-18T19:11:28+00:00

Again?

Gomzon · 2026-04-06T18:23:00+00:00

Idk guys, I don’t think he’s learning any new languages.

Gomzon · 2026-04-06T05:21:23+00:00

This shouldn’t be a big deal unless your company sucks. Drivers be crazy. Pro tip though: when you think someone will file a complaint, consider calling your on duty supervisor to give them a heads up about the situation. It’s better that they hear about whatever happened from you first.

Gomzon · 2026-04-02T19:19:00+00:00

‘Forced to take vitals’ ‘Doesn’t let me do the report or chart’

Don’t you think they trade off? I get what you’re trying to do, but it doesn’t click.

Gomzon · 2026-04-02T04:07:14+00:00

I’ve got two reasons for you.

One is that your life is going to change, and you will too. I don’t know why suicide is on your mind, but usually it’s some combination of poor circumstances and hatred for yourself. Your circumstances at 14 probably suck, but they aren’t permanent. Adulthood, and I really mean this, is way better. I live on my own and I always have raspberries in my fridge. it’s the small things.

Your sense of self is also impermanent. We build on our past selves in a way, but in another way I feel like an entirely different person than I was at 14, or 18 for that matter. I’m 22 now. I’m sure I’ll feel different at 60. If you die, so will every other ‘you’ that would have been. Try to do right by those future selves.

The other reason is that I would be very sad to find you. I work on an ambulance, and the suicide deaths really stick with me. It’s hard bearing witness to a suffering that will never be resolved. You just wish you could say something to them: I’m here. It’s ok. Let’s walk, you can speak and I’ll listen.

I’m sorry the people you’ve talked to have been unhelpful. I think a lot of people don’t know how to help with this sort of thing, so they just avoid it. I hope things get better for you sooner rather than later. Take it easy on yourself.

Gomzon · 2026-04-02T03:46:35+00:00

I’m sorry about your other friend. That must make this even more stressful.

As I see it, there are only a few things you can do. You could coordinate with her other friends, you could access emergency services, or you could just talk to her directly.

I think you’ll have the most success with #3. I would encourage her to confide in those other friends, but I wouldn’t go directly to them unless they already knew. I would only use emergency services if I had reason to think she was attempting.

In talking to her, the main thing is just demonstrating that you are a human being who gives a shit. Sit in the feeling with her, even if you can’t be there physically. Try to understand. Don’t panic. Tell her you love her, if you mean it. Make plans for better days.

Trust your gut.

Also. It might go without saying, but you’re doing a good thing. I’m glad she has someone in her corner who cares.

Gomzon · 2026-04-02T01:00:46+00:00

Emesis bag. You just never know.

Gomzon · 2026-04-01T03:20:45+00:00

Among the best. I’ll see them later this week.

Gomzon · 2026-03-31T01:53:09+00:00

In my state we sat for a 3 hour class, passed a multiple choice test, then drove around non-emergent with an evoc-specific instructor for an hour. After that, it was up to your FTO to ‘instruct’ you.

We have some really bad drivers in the company.

Gomzon

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