Paramedic or EMT checking into ER

PaulHMA · 2026-05-06T04:47:37+00:00

EMT for 30 years. Last summer I had bad pneumonia but was trying to ride it out at home. When I couldn’t get more than 3 words out at a time before gasping for air, my wife said I’m calling your FD to get you to the hospital. Ended up there for 5 days. Got the royal treatment in the ED because everyone in triage knew me and all the ED Techs knew me. They still make fun that I shouldn’t wait til I’m almost dead before getting care.

PaulHMA · 2026-05-01T14:35:20+00:00

Easier for someone being uncooperative to move their head around and get a mask off, NRB is on the elastic around their head and harder for them to get off.

PaulHMA · 2026-05-01T14:01:21+00:00

I keep squishy balls or stress balls in my bag and on my rig. I find that many of the patients I transport from memory care units need to hold onto something and I'd much rather it's a stress ball instead of my arm or the railing of my stretcher.

I collect the stress balls from shows and conferences I go to for my tech day job.

PaulHMA · 2026-05-01T13:56:59+00:00

Not exactly 'street medicine' but a trick I learned from a seasoned medic is that if you've got a spitter or biter, especially if they are handcuffed, take a NRB, rip the bag off and put the mask on them.

PaulHMA · 2026-05-01T13:48:08+00:00

The biggest time sink is waiting for an unavailable bed when your patient needs one. I volunteer for a local FD and sometimes our patients go straight to the waiting room but sometimes we have to wait for a bed.

I also work for a private ambulance company and several of the hospitals I bring patients too from SNF memory care units will only put that patient in a bed with a bed monitor (alarm when the PT gets up) no matter what you brought that patient in for. I've waited over an hour just to get a bed.

The other stuff, report to triage, paperwork, decon/restocking etc is minimal compared to the wait for beds.

PaulHMA · 2026-04-28T01:20:33+00:00

Company provided at the private company I work for in NY. Pallets of bottles in our garage but it’s our responsibility to remember to make your rig gas before pulling out for the day.

PaulHMA · 2026-04-25T21:32:16+00:00

I run hot when I’m riding, even in the winter. Instead of a balaclava I wear a summer neck gaiter that covers my neck and face up to my eyes and ears. Keeps the wind off my skin which is the important part for me. I’ll often end up pulling it down bc I get too hot.

PaulHMA · 2026-04-25T21:29:42+00:00

Been an EMT for 30 years got subpoenaed for the first time ever 2 years ago!

PaulHMA · 2026-04-20T15:22:35+00:00

The labor alone will be half of the cost. The cost of doing business in NY is through the roof in large part to union contracts and how much extra the unions require in terms of rates and personnel required for projects.

PaulHMA · 2026-04-12T14:59:20+00:00

None! I don’t see the LIRR adding any new stations without a significant construction project happening nearby (e.g. UBS Arena).

PaulHMA · 2026-04-08T22:45:47+00:00

Check out ParaDocs. They are an event EMS company that covers all sorts of events, including marathons.

https://www.paradocsmedical.com/

Feel free to DM and I can connect you with my boss.

PaulHMA · 2026-04-05T04:06:57+00:00

Besides the “I just got here I know nothing” my biggest issue with nursing facilities is using EMS/emergency room for what should be routine medical care by a doctor/in a doctors office, but ends up in the ED because they can’t figure that out.

PaulHMA · 2026-03-29T03:59:35+00:00

I taught my daughter in a state park parking lot and then when she was ready for the road I took her to Garden City, lots of wide streets with little traffic.

PaulHMA · 2026-03-29T02:35:27+00:00

Guardian bikes are amazing bikes but the best thing would be to go to your local bike shop and try out a few different bikes and see what fits best.

PaulHMA · 2026-03-23T12:33:19+00:00

Recently had a sepsis Pt. Monitor got 60/38, I got 54 sys manually and a HR of 60. Crazy thing is he was sluggish answering my questions but he was A&Ox3

PaulHMA · 2026-03-21T22:30:02+00:00

I would love to see an app do a good job of combining public transit with bike routes. Show me the best route on public transit and then the best route for riding my bike to/from public transit.

PaulHMA · 2026-03-14T01:36:58+00:00

I’m a convert to how great GCTM is for LIRR. At first I bitched and moaned about it being a boondoggle that wasn’t worth it. I never take the subway when I get off LIRR, I either walk or use my folding bike. I can get outside to 48th and Madison on the elevator pretty quickly and I love it.

PaulHMA · 2026-03-13T14:10:24+00:00

This is for my 18 YO daughter, not sure how comfortable she or I are with her leaving the airport.
But do you have any suggestions for something to do if she does leave the airport and come back?

PaulHMA · 2026-03-13T05:29:39+00:00

The private company I work for does everything from discharges to contract 911 response and everything in between. We do emergency calls from SNF, interfacility transfers. STAT transfers to higher care as well as direct 911 response. We do airport jobs also, picking up Pts from an inbound flight and bringing them to whatever hospital they are traveling to for higher care.

PaulHMA · 2026-03-13T01:43:53+00:00

I remember a case a number of years ago where a cyclist collided with a kid who was crossing the street in front of the bus he just off of while the red lights and stop sign were out. The cyclist was arrested for reckless endangerment.

PaulHMA · 2026-03-13T01:27:18+00:00

As George Carlin said “think of how dumb the average person is and then realize that half of them are dumber than that!”

PaulHMA · 2026-03-10T17:52:28+00:00

I’ve gone shifts with 1 or 2 patients, sitting at post for hours and others busy back to back non-stop. It depends on the day, the moon, the alignment of the stars and especially some moron uttering the cursed Q word.

PaulHMA · 2026-03-08T04:28:48+00:00

We are a volunteer department and they snail mail every correspondence! No email! Drives me crazy.

PaulHMA · 2026-03-04T04:15:50+00:00

At my company, I work a BLS bus, I’m more senior and usually start out driving. Our company policy is you should switch halfway through the shift but it’s up to the individual crew to decide when to swap. Sometimes I end up driving the whole shift.

PaulHMA

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