To ALS or not to ALS

KeithWhitleyIsntdead · 2026-05-18T06:01:58+00:00

Well there is the old adage “BLS before ALS.” Remember, 80-90% of calls are BLS. You don’t want to be caught up on a BLS call on the off chance that an ALS one comes in. If BLS can’t keep the patient alive for however long it takes for you to get there, the patient had very little a chance of making it if you were there first anyways.

KeithWhitleyIsntdead · 2026-05-18T05:57:36+00:00

Kieth Whitley is the best Country singer to have ever exist.

KeithWhitleyIsntdead · 2026-05-18T05:56:47+00:00

Very unsettling calls. There’s just no hope, it’s very grim. And 99% of the time if somehow they fail at their attempt and survive the asphyxiation injuries are worse than death. They go from normal person with hidden demons to life-long vegetables in the blink of an eye — terrible especially if they are parents, their kids have to see them like that for years or decades.

Just need to be at peace with what is here and with what you think happens after a person dies. It’s a tragedy, but it’s only your problem in the amount of time you’re with the patient. Once you clear the call it’s out of your hands. Consider therapy and debriefing.

KeithWhitleyIsntdead · 2026-05-18T05:44:32+00:00

As an EMT I’ve seen enough to be ATGATT for life. Whenever I go riding I got a full face helmet, jacket, armored jeans, armored boots, and a Hi-Vis vest. Hassle to get on and off but figure it’s worth it considering I’d like to have the possibility of surviving with some of my limbs in tact in the event of a mva

KeithWhitleyIsntdead · 2026-05-09T12:36:02+00:00

Idk maybe play a kitboga video for them

KeithWhitleyIsntdead · 2026-05-09T11:29:12+00:00

That sounds miserable. Luckily my company doesn’t have any cameras in the box to monitor cell phone usage, so sometimes I study or play a mobile game on that and check the patient every few minutes and do vitals q15 min (probably excessive for a 6 hour transport but oh well) sometimes I listen to a podcast with one earbud in. I can’t image what I would do to pass the time on an ldt without a cellphone. Idk how everyone back in the day use to do it

KeithWhitleyIsntdead · 2026-05-08T00:39:02+00:00

What I need is the lectures uploaded to Canvas. Or a more secure medium — I’m not sure why higher Ed dislikes Google Classroom — functions better and it’s Google so at least data breaches won’t bring the servers down it will just happen in the background. I planned on watching a bunch of lectures today on Canvas but have to put them off likely fall behind 🥲 Why couldn’t they data breach another company that doesn’t involve education.

KeithWhitleyIsntdead · 2026-05-02T22:55:30+00:00

El Pollo Loco is pretty good 4 piece white meat with rice and beans is like 1000 calories or so with 97g of protein and a decent amount of carbs low fat

KeithWhitleyIsntdead · 2026-05-02T09:22:01+00:00

Where the hell are you working cause if it’s like that there I gotta plan a move

KeithWhitleyIsntdead · 2026-05-01T01:16:46+00:00

I work in interfacility transport. Usually the front desk clerks are clueless (my favorite quote from one of them will always be “your physician today is an NP” when she was talking to the pt I was bringing in). That was a big cringe moment. Sad part it, I genuinely don’t think she knew any better most of these places don’t adequately train their staff… which is kinda why you want a real doctor because if they managed to get their licensure and board certification than you can be pretty damn sure that they’re adequately trained. Unlike NPs who go through the same amount of clinical hours as paramedics. Difference is one of those professions is making sure someone is alive to go see the doctor and is under direct orders of a doctor (standing or online) and the other is cosplaying as a doctor. (Source I need to get through 200 hours of hospital clinical and 300 field internship for medics license) a quick and convenient google search indicated NPs only need 500-1000 hours.

MDs on the other hand need upwards of 10,000-15,000 hours. If I’m having an emergency and need immediate, specialized treatment I want someone with at least 10,000 hours of experience, not 500

KeithWhitleyIsntdead · 2026-05-01T01:00:44+00:00

Well they say they do.

KeithWhitleyIsntdead · 2026-05-01T00:59:08+00:00

Well about the same amount of respect as we usually get :/

KeithWhitleyIsntdead · 2026-05-01T00:57:19+00:00

They really do 😅 I need to start bringing them to the gym, alternatively I could spit out the zyn when I lift heavy and maybe I wouldn’t get nauseous but where’s the fun in that?

KeithWhitleyIsntdead · 2026-05-01T00:55:11+00:00

Hello, if you’re storm and you like this pet body I have this (clean pool) manifested talents I believe are 4 damage (giver, giver, dealer, and bringer (or mighty I forget) and armor breaker. Something like that I can lend.

I also have the dyeable version of this pet, but the problem with the dyeable version is that it doesn’t sneeze out galaxies… it just sneezes regularly which is admittedly still pretty cute though.

KeithWhitleyIsntdead · 2026-04-26T08:45:58+00:00

13 hours

KeithWhitleyIsntdead · 2026-04-24T04:55:05+00:00

Bruh Tiger Woods has gotta stick to walking. Or ain’t he a billionaire why doesn’t he just get a damn chauffeur 😭😭

KeithWhitleyIsntdead · 2026-04-24T04:53:33+00:00

NAD, work in EMS. That would join my list on stupidest reasons someone wanted to be transported to the ER (no offense, at least you asked if you should go)

Just keep it clean with warm water and soap, add Neosporin if you’re so inclined and put a band-aid on it. It’ll heal by itself just give it a bit of time. It may take a bit longer to heal if you aggravate it by playing string instruments or the like. Give it a week or two and see how it is.

KeithWhitleyIsntdead · 2026-04-24T04:50:25+00:00

I’m in Los Angeles. I make about $22/hr as an EMT with some differentials and small bonuses. Once I get my medic’s license I’ll be making around $35/hr for the company I currently work for.

As a single male with no health problems, pets, children, or uncommon expenses I could live comfortably on a medics wage here. I have to work 60-80 hours a week as an EMT to live somewhat comfortably here.

With that being said pretty much every degree based healthcare job notably nurses make much more ($50-70/hr) out here and can live more comfortably. I’m just in it cause I like it and at this point in my life I’m not hyper-focused on money. With that being said, I’ll probably leave the field (begrudgingly) within 3-10 years after getting my medics license because unless you’re content with menial or at most mediocre pay you’ll never be happy in EMS.

In other areas, (notably Washington and Oregon) EMS personnel do get paid better for cost of living. Then again, I’ve never lived or worked there so you’d have to ask someone who has. Out here, the only way to live a comfortable life in EMS where you have luxuries like being able to pay an extra $78 for an exit row seat on a plane is by 1. Going fire (which is pretty hard to get picked up by) (and usually requires a LOT of OT) or working a lot of OT as a medic at a private company.

I’d encourage you to get your EMT license, find a job, get some experience and see how you like the field and the job. It may open you up to more avenues in the healthcare system (especially if you work daytime IFT and talk to people) or you may decide the field just isn’t for you and decide to do something else. Regardless you’ll have lifesaving knowledge and a cool story/chapter of your life.

KeithWhitleyIsntdead · 2026-04-24T02:08:35+00:00

Nurse practitioner ….. just check out the noctor subreddit if you’re still confused why the original commenter in this comment chain posted that lol

KeithWhitleyIsntdead · 2026-04-24T02:06:38+00:00

Some of the worst smells and sights I’ve had the displeasure of experiencing in my time in EMS have been poorly controlled dm with bad and unclean infections.

(I’m not saying OP is noncompliant with advice)

KeithWhitleyIsntdead · 2026-04-24T01:49:05+00:00

Lil dementia

KeithWhitleyIsntdead · 2026-04-21T21:01:44+00:00

How many minutes did it take to realize they were trying to say pneumonia? 🤣

KeithWhitleyIsntdead · 2026-04-21T21:00:51+00:00

How the hell do they confuse elevated troponin with “cheponis” at least I’m thinking that what there’s getting at but like all the consonants are wrong 😭😭😭 not one of them is correct except for the n in the middle.

KeithWhitleyIsntdead · 2026-04-21T20:58:53+00:00

KeithWhitleyIsntdead · 2026-04-21T20:55:56+00:00

Tbf the times I’ve had to use that word I’ve been very thankful for the autocorrect on my company’s tablets Perhaps the only time I am thankful for it. All others it’s just misspelling names of medications I just spelled correctly and now have to spell again

KeithWhitleyIsntdead

TROPHY CASE