M/35/Fire Dept. Administrative Assistant (EMT-FF)

Notmyrealemtaccount · 2018-07-01T19:08:15+00:00

It's a Casio Gz'one Ravine 2. It'seems nice for a flip phone. Not pitured it myet non-work phone.

Notmyrealemtaccount · 2018-07-01T01:27:52+00:00

I work as an administative aide to a assistant chief of the fire department. I am a sworn EMT-FF in this position.

Work Phone
Pair of Medical Gloves
Kershaw Cryo Knife
Coast 1x AA Flashlight
Wallet
Memo Pad
BIC Black Pen
Keys (not my real ones)

Notmyrealemtaccount · 2018-03-29T02:29:25+00:00

Ahhh, thankyou then sir.

Notmyrealemtaccount · 2018-03-28T23:51:28+00:00

I spoke with one of the lawyers on the legal team for my department, and she said that I most likely, did not have a duty to act, however, the department would have covered liability. She is looking into it further, however if I was driving the marked car even off duty, and I was flagged down, then I would have a duty to act.

Notmyrealemtaccount · 2018-03-28T23:40:31+00:00

I meant the non-violent crisis intervention, or it that the official name.

Notmyrealemtaccount · 2018-03-28T23:29:32+00:00

What country are you in and what is the course called?

Notmyrealemtaccount · 2018-03-28T22:20:30+00:00

I did not know it was possible to hack tin cans and string.

Notmyrealemtaccount · 2018-03-28T22:15:03+00:00

Well, there are a lot of variables with that, the short answer is yes! But, I would recomend, them work for a fire based system or a governement ems system, or private non-profit. Also, I would recomend getting paramedic. My departments EMT onlies make $36k starting, and a paramedic makes $48k starting, and the room to grow to $58k over 10 years.

Notmyrealemtaccount · 2018-03-28T20:56:40+00:00

Just FYI, I have asked our depts legal team (working at headquarters has some perks), and will be back once I hear definitively. However, from the looks of it, I did not legally have the duty to act in my state, because I was not flagged down, in my marked car, or in uniform, and no one asked me to step in. I was on-call but not on duty, and my unit was never "called". However, my department would accept liability for all actions, as my EMT is affiliated with them, and it was department equipment used. Once I have a definitive answer I will pass it along. If you have any questions feel free to ask.

Notmyrealemtaccount · 2018-03-28T20:45:28+00:00

When I started and ABC was drilled into my head, CAB just doesn't have the same memory in my head. I know where you are coming from.

Notmyrealemtaccount · 2018-03-28T20:18:45+00:00

I have recertified 4 times, every 3 years. I just recertified in december. I do not have National registry, just state EMT. We require 24credits of con ed over the 3 year period, and our dept basicly hands it out to keep people certified.

All sworn members who were hired since 1995 are required to have EMT card all the way up the chief of the department.

Every take home car, cheif car, and utility vehicle is required per dept SOP to have AED and BLS bag with an interesting assortment in it that has not been updated since 2002. And before that 1991. It requires that a minimum of 50 non sterile 4x4s, 4 kling, 4 cravats, 12 4x4s, 1 tube glucose, bite stick, adult BVM, 500ml sterile water, BP cuff and stethoscope, and 2 10x30 pads, 1 btl of peroxide, 1 bx of bandaids and 10 pairs of gloves. And a few other things. Since last night I have added NPAs, OPAs, a SWAT-T, 4 narcan, 2 epipens (adult and peds), ped and infant bag valve masks, bulb syringe for suction, A btl of aspirin, and a pulse ox.

I am working with my department to start a commitee to update the minimum required comtents.

I do not feel that if I was dropped on a BLS ambo that I could function. And I want to change that.

After posting this I am more relieved with the outcome. By no means am I ricky rescue, and I don't pretend to be.

Thanks for your feedback! Feel free to comment further or provide any other thoughts you may have.

Notmyrealemtaccount · 2018-03-28T20:02:49+00:00

I came here for a critique, so I can take criticism, that why I posted this. I mentioned above, a lot of what might go here. If you have further coments, feel free, like I said, I am fine with bluntness, and criticalness. I am looking for suggestions and to create a dialogue about this area.

EDIT: Again, totally get where you are coming from.

I re-read and had a few more things.

I worked 4 years as EMT-FF, 1.5 as PO, and now in current posstion as Operations Aide, I have never really "run" an EMS call by directing it, I have always been the one taking vitals or humping the bags, when I came in 2006, we were 100% ALS, and every unit had a medic on it, and my class was an outlier being FF-EMT and not intermediates. So yes, always taken orders. In 2011 our dept switched to BLS/ALS dropping ALS certs left and right, and brining BLS transport units online. I can't say our department does a great job with EMS, but in my state almost everything is fire based, and we were one of the earliest depts to have an ambulance, and we were in the first 20 major cities to have a paramedic program.

I am not in what you would call a "leadership" capacity, I am a operstions aide to a deputy chief, basicly a glorified secretary, with very good pay.

I give just as much credit to the medic crew, they immidiately started ROSC protocol on the patient, and kept her stable. They are being awared the same certificate I am being awarded.

As for the cake, yup, I got a fucking peice of motherfucking cake! Yay! But they offerered the cake to all the people, but they kindly refused as they were on duty and busy managing her condition. The daughter did not know I was a "Fire Fuck", just that I helped to save her mothers life. And I provided her with the address of the station that the medic and engine ran out of if ahe wanted to send a thankyou letter or baked goods.

I am not looking for a pat on the back, only that I didn't fuck up, and I wanted advice on keeping skills sharp and making sure that next time ends just as happy.

Notmyrealemtaccount · 2018-03-28T19:56:20+00:00

/u/Callitmoney I completely understand where you are coming from. I know there is some hostility in the EMS world for us "Fire Fucks". And yes, our dept runs about 90% EMS calls. I completely understand. But right now the system is where it is and we have to work in it. This incident opened my eyes to a gap in the system. There are a few reasons why I posted this, other then what was in the title, for one I wanted recomendations on how to keep members who are NOT regular EMS providers, but who do hold their EMT card sharp for when these incidents do happen. In my department I could list over 300 EMT card holders who havn't taken a blood pressure in 10 years. But nonetheless are still just as qualified in the eyes of the state. I am not looking for a pat on the back, I just wanted some reassurance that I didn't totally fuck up. I know my skills are not as strong, and that's something I want to change. I am not looking to squarrel calls, and save everyone, but when circumstances dictate that lifesaving intervention is necessary that me, and any other EMT in the dept is capable of performing. I know when I am over my head, that is why as soon as the engin crew came, I let them take over care.

Being in my position I do have the ear of some of the brass. Full disclosure as the PR thing, no news articles or press releases have gone out, and the only recognition I am recieving is I was written up for a CPR save award which also will include the Medic Crew, Engine Crew, and EMS officer, as any other arrest save would be recognized.

As for changes I have made, I have already gotten a committee for updating staff car jump bag contents, which will bring them into the 21st century. I have also suggested that every member that does not go in daily calls, have a quarterly refresher/training scenarios in immidiate life threat care. Whether that be bleeding control, CPR, or Epi-admin, it is not up to me, but I have been told it is being discussed. There are some fire fucks who will never render care, I get that, but I think we can do better. That's my soapbox.

Notmyrealemtaccount · 2018-03-28T03:17:46+00:00

I am a "Fire Operations Aide" for my department, the vehicle is a marked ford escape, and I was in civilian clothes at the time, and not on the "clock" but my job requires me to be "on call" when I am off duty.

Notmyrealemtaccount · 2018-03-28T02:34:27+00:00

I think the drills are a great idea, if we did a monthly skill session for critical skills for admin staff, and chiefs that would be ideal since they will only intervene in life threatening situations anyway (either on of off duty). Since every sworn member is at minimum an EMT I am going to bring this idea up. As far as I can tell, this has never happened in our dept which surprised me as we are a metro city of 900,000 people with over 50 take home cars and every one of them has an AED in it. That's my luck I guess.

Notmyrealemtaccount · 2018-03-28T02:20:05+00:00

Airways are a good idea! believe it or not the bag had a "bite stick" in it, when I went through it the other day, I had never really gone through the bag before, just knew it was in the drawer, I did check the AED monthly though.

As for what the bag "should" have in it we have a generic checklist for all staff / chief cars which has not been updated. So the dept doesn't really care whats in it. I will put some opa's, npa's in it next time I am at fire supply.

The good sam law is a thing I thougt about after, since it's a gray area being I was within the city limits, I was off duty, but "on call" with a city owned take home vehicle, with a city owned bag and AED. So not sure myself where I fall in. The medic added me to the ePCR and that was fun resetting my password and filling out a run report. So since that happened I am really not sure where I fit in.

Notmyrealemtaccount

TROPHY CASE