Posted: 5/5/2011 8:17:25 PM EDT
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So I'm starting EMT-Basic at Jeff State Community College in June, and I'm also looking to join a volunteer fire department.
I know I want to go into emergency medicine at some level, so I think this will help me gain experience. Does anyone have any tips, or know of any EMS companies in the Birmingham, AL area that hire Basics right out of class? |
Study your butt off, and pester your instructor for chances to do practical assessment practice. We only got a few chances to do practicals so far, and I'm a little behind the curve because of it. I test in 8 days. 
Other than that, read each chapter thoroughly and participate in a study group. The material isn't THAT hard to learn, there's just a lot of it there for a single semester course, IMO, at least if you want to REALLY know it. I managed an 89 overall grade for the class and an 89 on my written final, but you do need to know what's going on, especially if you don't want to feel like an idiot when you do your ER clinical. 
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Is there anything that an EMT should never be without (Besides stethoscope, shears, pens, penlight) Yeah. BSI. 
Oh God, the acronyms. DCAP-BTLS ACLS PALS ALS BLS KED AED aslhkdg[ashgapsdghjkfasldfjk Ok I know BSI already (Body Substance Isolation) and ACLS=Advanced Cardiac Life Support PALS= Ped. Advanced Life support ALS= Advanced Life support BLS=Basic Life support AED= Automated external defib. I'm not sure about KED or BCAP-BTLS |
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Is there anything that an EMT should never be without (Besides stethoscope, shears, pens, penlight) Yeah. BSI.
Oh God, the acronyms. DCAP-BTLS ACLS PALS ALS BLS KED AED aslhkdg[ashgapsdghjkfasldfjk Ok I know BSI already (Body Substance Isolation) and ACLS=Advanced Cardiac Life Support PALS= Ped. Advanced Life support ALS= Advanced Life support BLS=Basic Life support AED= Automated external defib. I'm not sure about KED or BCAP-BTLS You will learn young grass hopper, no worries. And you will never forget.
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Is there anything that an EMT should never be without (Besides stethoscope, shears, pens, penlight) Yeah. BSI.
Oh God, the acronyms. DCAP-BTLS ACLS PALS ALS BLS KED AED aslhkdg[ashgapsdghjkfasldfjk Ok I know BSI already (Body Substance Isolation) and ACLS=Advanced Cardiac Life Support PALS= Ped. Advanced Life support ALS= Advanced Life support BLS=Basic Life support AED= Automated external defib. I'm not sure about KED or BCAP-BTLS You will learn young grass hopper, no worries. And you will never forget. You forgot SAMPLE, sweetheart
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Is there anything that an EMT should never be without (Besides stethoscope, shears, pens, penlight) Yeah. BSI.
Oh God, the acronyms. DCAP-BTLS ACLS PALS ALS BLS KED AED aslhkdg[ashgapsdghjkfasldfjk Ok I know BSI already (Body Substance Isolation) and ACLS=Advanced Cardiac Life Support PALS= Ped. Advanced Life support ALS= Advanced Life support BLS=Basic Life support AED= Automated external defib. I'm not sure about KED or BCAP-BTLS You will learn young grass hopper, no worries. And you will never forget. You forgot SAMPLE, sweetheart I try not to type anything with an m in it because I have to copy and paste that letter. Fucking keyboard
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Air goes in and out, blood goes round and round. Any other questions? Post 'em up!  Any of that stops call for back up and transport. After all you are just a basic. O2, position of comfort, rapid transport, consider ALS intercept. There's your cheat sheet for protocols. |
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Is there anything that an EMT should never be without (Besides stethoscope, shears, pens, penlight) Yeah. BSI.
Oh God, the acronyms. DCAP-BTLS ACLS PALS ALS BLS KED AED aslhkdg[ashgapsdghjkfasldfjk Ok I know BSI already (Body Substance Isolation) and ACLS=Advanced Cardiac Life Support PALS= Ped. Advanced Life support ALS= Advanced Life support BLS=Basic Life support AED= Automated external defib. I'm not sure about KED or BCAP-BTLS You will learn young grass hopper, no worries. And you will never forget. You forgot SAMPLE, sweetheart I try not to type anything with an m in it because I have to copy and paste that letter. Fucking keyboard In that case, I won't be so hard on you. BTW, did you ever get your paperwork for the Boobie Inspector job? |
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Is there anything that an EMT should never be without (Besides stethoscope, shears, pens, penlight) Common sense. I've seen good medics (and MET's) do more with minimal supplies and a clued-in partner than many docs with an ER bay full of equipment and help. 
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PERRL = pupils equal round reactive to light
AMS - altered mental status TMB - too many birthdays CCFCCP - coo coo for cocoa puffs
When doing practicals: EVERYONE GETS OXYGEN!!!! and in practicals and real world DON BSI !!!!! If it's icky and sticky and not yours, don't get it on you. If you do, decon properly. Any questions, IM. I'll help if I can. |
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So I'm starting EMT-Basic at Jeff State Community College in June, and I'm also looking to join a volunteer fire department. I know I want to go into emergency medicine at some level, so I think this will help me gain experience. Does anyone have any tips, or know of any EMS companies in the Birmingham, AL area that hire Basics right out of class? Get your Paramedic. Don't stop, just keep driving on to Paramedic (EMT-P) now I think. EMT-B is a nice add on skill set, not a stand alone skill set. You can't make any money working as an EMT-B (Not good money at any rate) Be careful of your knees and back. Don't skimp on your BP Cuff and Stethascope. It's not hard. Just listen and monkey-see monkey-do. |
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PERRL = pupils equal round reactive to light AMS - altered mental status TMB - too many birthdays CCFCCP - coo coo for cocoa puffs . CATS - Cut All To Shit JPFROG - Just plain fuckin run outta gas Q Sign - 
O Sign - 
Tooth to Tattoo Ratio - you'll figure that one out SOCMOB - Standin onna corner mindin my own bidness |
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Is there anything that an EMT should never be without (Besides stethoscope, shears, pens, penlight) A good watch with a second hand or if digital, with second count. A lot of things are automated these days, but things break and batteries die. If you go rolling hot into an ER without some vitals because "the mah-sheen done broked", it'll be your ass. |
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Is there anything that an EMT should never be without (Besides stethoscope, shears, pens, penlight) A good watch with a second hand or if digital, with second count. A lot of things are automated these days, but things break and batteries die. If you go rolling hot into an ER without some vitals because "the mah-sheen done broked", it'll be your ass. And a box of pens. As a former commander here used to say - if you show up for duty without a pen and a watch to work the ambulance you might as well go back home. I like the G2's myself.
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So I'm starting EMT-Basic at Jeff State Community College in June, and I'm also looking to join a volunteer fire department. I know I want to go into emergency medicine at some level, so I think this will help me gain experience. Does anyone have any tips, or know of any EMS companies in the Birmingham, AL area that hire Basics right out of class? Get your Paramedic. Don't stop, just keep driving on to Paramedic (EMT-P) now I think. EMT-B is a nice add on skill set, not a stand alone skill set. You can't make any money working as an EMT-B (Not good money at any rate) Be careful of your knees and back. Don't skimp on your BP Cuff and Stethascope. It's not hard. Just listen and monkey-see monkey-do. I plan on getting my MD, but I'm not sure about paramedic yet. And I have a littman stethoscope. |
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Doctor? Why you wanna be a doc? It's not like they make a lot of money, have hot nurses vying for their attention, or have a mother that can say "My son the doctor."
Another thing: HOT PINK TRAUMA SHEARS!!! No one will steal them, and when you lay them in the grass at 0-dark-30 you can still find them. |
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Doctor? Why you wanna be a doc? It's not like they make a lot of money, have hot nurses vying for their attention, or have a mother that can say "My son the doctor."
Another thing: HOT PINK TRAUMA SHEARS!!! No one will steal them, and when you lay them in the grass at 0-dark-30 you can still find them. I just like to set my goals high. I want to be in the medical field, and you can't get higher than MD. Plus I'd like to eventually be in a position to give orders, not take them. I've got about 10 pairs of navy blue shears that I got from my mom (she finds alot at UAB hospital) lol |
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Quoted: Quoted: Doctor? Why you wanna be a doc? It's not like they make a lot of money, have hot nurses vying for their attention, or have a mother that can say "My son the doctor." Another thing: HOT PINK TRAUMA SHEARS!!! No one will steal them, and when you lay them in the grass at 0-dark-30 you can still find them. I just like to set my goals high. I want to be in the medical field, and you can't get higher than MD. Plus I'd like to eventually be in a position to give orders, not take them. I've got about 10 pairs of navy blue shears that I got from my mom (she finds alot at UAB hospital) lol You better get used to taking orders, no matter where you are on the food chain, you are always answering to SOMEBODY |
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Doctor? Why you wanna be a doc? It's not like they make a lot of money, have hot nurses vying for their attention, or have a mother that can say "My son the doctor."
Another thing: HOT PINK TRAUMA SHEARS!!! No one will steal them, and when you lay them in the grass at 0-dark-30 you can still find them. I just like to set my goals high. I want to be in the medical field, and you can't get higher than MD. Plus I'd like to eventually be in a position to give orders, not take them. I've got about 10 pairs of navy blue shears that I got from my mom (she finds alot at UAB hospital) lol You better get used to taking orders, no matter where you are on the food chain, you are always answering to SOMEBODY FACT. It's great to have high goals and standards, but this. Most MD's get their orders from pencil pushing (psuedo) bureaucrats and accountants in hospital admin - or an MD whose diploma is written on papyrus and thinks the ambulances double as hearses in their down time.
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| Get the most you can out of your clinicals. Jump in, and do everything you can. That is the time to screw up because you have an experienced medic there to make sure you don't kill his patient. Get the jitters out of the way, and try to experience the tough stuff now, because if you have to be scared shitless, it's better to do it with someone else in the ambulance with you who has seen it before. Don't forget that the good medics were good EMTs first, so be patient and get good at practicing at the BLS level, then, when you feel like you're ready for medic class, you'll be that much better at it. Good luck. |
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a new one from south Ga. DFO main call our ambulances run at night DONE FELL OUT When in the "hood" we get this call a lot. We had one once that was outside of a projects. My partner "green as can be" looks up and ask how far he fell. I looked at the girlfriend of the pt and smiled. I explained the finer points of the dialect we were speaking. |
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I just like to set my goals high. I want to be in the medical field, and you can't get higher than MD. Plus I'd like to eventually be in a position to give orders, not take them. I've got about 10 pairs of navy blue shears that I got from my mom (she finds alot at UAB hospital) lol Put a few wraps of reflective tape around the handle....makes them much easier to find in low light... As far as "gadgets" - buy yourself a good stethoscope (Littmann Classic II SE comes to mind) and a comfortable pair of duty boots (cannot stress this enough). A good flashlight with adjustable brightness levels that takes "AA" batteries and a quality folding knife or multi-tool are good additions as well. Anything else is overkill. Always wear a watch and have at least 3 or 4 ink pens on you at all times (2 pens for you and 1 "throw-away").... Most importantly...NEVER stop learning...Use every run/patient contact as an opportunity to learn something...You'd be surprised what you can learn from even the most mundane of calls... If you take the time to actually LISTEN to the patient, they will usually tell you what is wrong (but not always in a direct way).... Don't be afraid to physically touch your patients....I've seen too many medics go through a whole call and the closest they come to putting their hands on a patient is when they're hooking them up to a machine....Remember, we are there to do things FOR the patient, not TO them.... DON'T get wrapped up in station "politics" and drama...stay professional and remain above reproach at all times, i.e. "keep your nose clean"... Best of luck! |
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a new one from south Ga. DFO main call our ambulances run at night DONE FELL OUT When in the "hood" we get this call a lot. We had one once that was outside of a projects. My partner "green as can be" looks up and ask how far he fell. I looked at the girlfriend of the pt and smiled. I explained the finer points of the dialect we were speaking. We've all been green anough to ask the patient's family "fell out of what?" and get the  in return...
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Deformities Contusions/Crepitus Abrasions Perforations/Punctures Burns Tenderness Lacerations Swelling Don't forget OPQRSTI!
And Dan_Gray speaks the truth. Crepitus goes with TIC. T- Tenderness I- Instability C- Crepitus TURD is my favorite acronym. Oh and hope your clinicals are mostly bus time. Otherwise you will get nothing from the ER nurses other than a lesson in rolling patients from exam rooms to MRI. I had to do ten hours in the ER and 40 on a rig. The ten hours in the ER was the longest decade of my life. Nothing for a basic student to do and to the nurses and doctors youre just below the guy who cleans the bed pans. I'm currently 30 hours into my 120 hours for my medic clinicals. It gets a lot more fun at that level. |
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Absolutely OWN your basic skills. Use them as a foundation on which you build the rest of your assessmnts and interventions. These seemingly 'entry-level' and basic skills will serve you better and more often than the most gee-whiz super duper stuff you will learn later on.
I am amazed at how many times I have seen medical professionals skip (or do not perform correctly) the basic assessment skills that are themselves diagnostic in favor of machine based products. Treat the patient as required by the findings of your assessment, use the fancy gadgets to confirm your impression. |
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NEVER FORGET YOUR PEN. just relax when your on scene, if you need take a sec to think and breath. If the patient feels like your nervous they will be nervous. Be confident! As a former Commander of mine used to say - act like you've been there for the exact same call three times today. Take a breath and think (only for a second) about what you're going to say when you key the mike.Likewise when you're dealing with patients and their families - I've had folks remember me (usually kindly ) several years after the first time I interacted with them. It may be your "job" (full or part time) and you may go on a hundred full arrests a week (remind me not to move there ) but most folks don't deal with this stuff on a daily basis.
If you're freking out, it will only pour gas on the fire. If you're calm, cool - but compassionalte - it generally helps patients and families understand that the "chain of help" is pulling them to the ER. Quoted:
Absolutely OWN your basic skills. Use them as a foundation on which you build the rest of your assessmnts and interventions. These seemingly 'entry-level' and basic skills will serve you better and more often than the most gee-whiz super duper stuff you will learn later on. I am amazed at how many times I have seen medical professionals skip (or do not perform correctly) the basic assessment skills that are themselves diagnostic in favor of machine based products. Treat the patient as required by the findings of your assessment, use the fancy gadgets to confirm your impression. Again a great point. "Treat your patient, not your monitor" was a credo in Medic class, and it applies to all levels - 1st aid to MD. |
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BSI. Scene Safety. You always finish your shift in the same condition that you began it, and the only thing you ever bring home with you is either reheated leftovers or takeout from the local Chinese joint. You forgot an ER nurse.
As far as keeping your shit together on a call use a technique I use. Pretend you are on scene at the playboy mansion and Heff is your pt. Now all the bunnies are looking at you to do your thing and fix their boss. Who do you think they are gonna slip their number to? The guy thats freaking out yelling and generally acting like a bitch, or the guy that has an almost unreal coolness to him. That will help prepare you for when you go to the titty bar calls. |
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BSI. Scene Safety. You always finish your shift in the same condition that you began it, and the only thing you ever bring home with you is either reheated leftovers or takeout from the local Chinese joint. You forgot an ER nurse.
As far as keeping your shit together on a call use a technique I use. Pretend you are on scene at the playboy mansion and Heff is your pt. Now all the bunnies are looking at you to do your thing and fix their boss. Who do you think they are gonna slip their number to? The guy thats freaking out yelling and generally acting like a bitch, or the guy that has an almost unreal coolness to him. That will help prepare you for when you go to the titty bar calls. no she should already be home waiting for you with the beer. damn right, most important three letters for an emt-b. ABC's...... Always be Cool. Think cool, act cool, look cool. |
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You always finish your shift in the same condition that you began it, and the only thing you ever bring home with you is either reheated leftovers or takeout from the local Chinese joint.[/quote] Yeah - just don't get too bored in the back, neatly print "HUMAN DONOR ORGANS - KEEP REFIGERATED - DO NOT EAT" on the styrofoam container, and then leave it in the back of the rig. Not that I've ever done that.  |
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You always finish your shift in the same condition that you began it, and the only thing you ever bring home with you is either reheated leftovers or takeout from the local Chinese joint.[/quote] Yeah - just don't get too bored in the back, neatly print "HUMAN DONOR ORGANS - KEEP REFIGERATED - DO NOT EAT" on the styrofoam container, and then leave it in the back of the rig. Not that I've ever done that. Back when I was a TA for the Bio lab, every year the Freshman all thought they were so smart by grabbing lunch ahead of time, then wrapping it up and labeling it xxxxx culture not for human consumption and sticking it in the back of the lab freezer so they didn't have to run all the way back to campus if they wanted to eat something during the break between the five hour lab. We of course would then go stroll over and take a bite or two of some kids salad served on whatever the creepiest piece of labware we could find in front of a different group of students to mess around with them... That is of course until the day that my Professor got back at me by dumping what I can only assume was a huge chunk of Agar used for running cultures into my soda cup after constantly yelling at me to stop using the ice that was made in the lab ice machine since it was definitey not properly filtered. You can only imagine what I thought I had accidentally ingested after having scooped up in that big cup full of ice chips.   they learned me. |
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Cincinnati Stroke Scale
AVPU AAO didn't see this one above: MOI or NOI Here's a kinda funny MOI FF/EMS video, although clearly done by LEO :) MOI - FF/EMS Video |
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BSI. Scene Safety. You always finish your shift in the same condition that you began it, and the only thing you ever bring home with you is either reheated leftovers or takeout from the local Chinese joint. You forgot an ER nurse.
As far as keeping your shit together on a call use a technique I use. Pretend you are on scene at the playboy mansion and Heff is your pt. Now all the bunnies are looking at you to do your thing and fix their boss. Who do you think they are gonna slip their number to? The guy thats freaking out yelling and generally acting like a bitch, or the guy that has an almost unreal coolness to him. That will help prepare you for when you go to the titty bar calls. no she should already be home waiting for you with the beer. damn right, most important three letters for an emt-b. ABC's...... Always be Cool. Think cool, act cool, look cool. lol My instructor always told us to be John Wayne at a scene. If you're nervous then you patient/patients family are going to come unglued. Also don't say things like "Holy Shit" out loud when you arrive on scene and find a guy with half his face blown off. Some folks see that as unprofessional. |