Ask Ambulance Driver

What the heck, I’ll go first:When you’re in the ambulance, and there’s some braindead mouthbreathing shmuck completely ignoring the sirens and lights, do you ever wish there was a Browning .50 cal machine gun mounted to the hood? Or do you subscribe to the rocket-propelled-grenade school of gene pool cleansing through idiot removal?

What the heck, I’ll go first:When you’re in the ambulance, and there’s some braindead mouthbreathing shmuck completely ignoring the sirens and lights, do you ever wish there was a Browning .50 cal machine gun mounted to the hood? Or do you subscribe to the rocket-propelled-grenade school of gene pool cleansing through idiot removal?

My wife is sometimes very moody — yelling at me, finding fault, just not able to be happy. We’ve been married ten years, and I’m thinking of leaving her.My question: Is it really, really fun to drive that truck fast?

My wife is sometimes very moody — yelling at me, finding fault, just not able to be happy. We’ve been married ten years, and I’m thinking of leaving her.My question: Is it really, really fun to drive that truck fast?

What is your opinion on patients’ labs being drawn in the field? In the county where I run, we don’t draw labs in the field; in the county where I work in the ED, EMS does draw labs, and we do use them in the ED for analysis. However, we’re the last hospital under our parent system to do so, and the OMD has had to fight with our lab to keep the practice going. I gather the issue is that we in the ED weren’t there when the blood was drawn, so we can’t swear it’s from the right patient … WTF? EMS does have a procedure whereby they apply an armband with a unique identifier to the patient, and stickers from the armband are applied to each tube … seems sufficient to me. Is it a lack of trust in the EMS system? Seems to me that the patients get results and therefore treatment a little more quickly this way, if there labs are already drawn upon arrival …

What is your opinion on patients’ labs being drawn in the field? In the county where I run, we don’t draw labs in the field; in the county where I work in the ED, EMS does draw labs, and we do use them in the ED for analysis. However, we’re the last hospital under our parent system to do so, and the OMD has had to fight with our lab to keep the practice going. I gather the issue is that we in the ED weren’t there when the blood was drawn, so we can’t swear it’s from the right patient … WTF? EMS does have a procedure whereby they apply an armband with a unique identifier to the patient, and stickers from the armband are applied to each tube … seems sufficient to me. Is it a lack of trust in the EMS system? Seems to me that the patients get results and therefore treatment a little more quickly this way, if there labs are already drawn upon arrival …

Hey AD!I’m not in EMS, but here goes: Do you think the hemostatic agents like Quikclot are useful for (1) EMS (2) police (3) just plain folks? I think I can see their usefulness in a military setting (the Blackhawk Down scenario) and, where the situation allows, for a popo who is first on the scene at a trauma. (I don’t know what magic the EMS folks bring for trauma, so I don’t know when / if you would need it.) However, as a regular guy with a big ol’ first aid bag, I still haven’t bought any for myself; I’ve only got big bandages and stuff I could use for a tourniquet. Should I get some?Inquiring minds want to know,Forlorn BoaterTragicBoatingAccident.com

Hey AD!I’m not in EMS, but here goes: Do you think the hemostatic agents like Quikclot are useful for (1) EMS (2) police (3) just plain folks? I think I can see their usefulness in a military setting (the Blackhawk Down scenario) and, where the situation allows, for a popo who is first on the scene at a trauma. (I don’t know what magic the EMS folks bring for trauma, so I don’t know when / if you would need it.) However, as a regular guy with a big ol’ first aid bag, I still haven’t bought any for myself; I’ve only got big bandages and stuff I could use for a tourniquet. Should I get some?Inquiring minds want to know,Forlorn BoaterTragicBoatingAccident.com

What’s your views on expert patients? By that I mean the people who suffer from a chronic condition like asthma that requires emergency care by you guys. Do you listen to what they have to say about the treatment they require. For instance the size of cannula you can use. Or do they just plain bug you.

What’s your views on expert patients? By that I mean the people who suffer from a chronic condition like asthma that requires emergency care by you guys. Do you listen to what they have to say about the treatment they require. For instance the size of cannula you can use. Or do they just plain bug you.

What is the most efficient method of communicating medical information when you cannot speak for yourself? The medic alert bracelet? A card in the wallet? Do you really need to put ICE number on your cell phone? Give us some basic guidelines to use.

What is the most efficient method of communicating medical information when you cannot speak for yourself? The medic alert bracelet? A card in the wallet? Do you really need to put ICE number on your cell phone? Give us some basic guidelines to use.

AD,Do you think it’s about time that “Paramedic” in it’s broadest should become an (AD- lol) Associates Degree and be a Licensed Program as opposed to a Certificate. In our Urgent Care we used to start IV’s – now someone pitched a fit jealous nurse) and it has compromised patient care – our Nurses are all for us doing as much as possible) and now we can”t. Walk outside an you can do an EJ stick or run a full code—But IV’s? Come on!!Anyway- Question- Associate Degree vs. Certificate and expanding scope of practice to help fill the Nursing Shortage?Would be great for us Old timers who’s bodies can’t take the mean streets anymore and not yet ready to be put out to pasture. Heck- we could even teach selective EMT, 1st Responder etc. courses to remove some of that burden.Certainly you may post- edit- use whatever you like in any form you like of this post!Great idea by the way for advice column. Let me know if I can ever help in ANY way: say helping research for you etc. I’m waiting on a start date to finish my RN clinicals and since I’m not in school right now I could devote a little time to help with the “grunt” work so you can concentrate on the format and polishing of it.. You can impact a large(er) audience this way- not with me helping but with the Advice format!.Thanks Bro for your contribution to a still underated an unappreciated field!!JohnBoy- there are already a BROAD range of questions! I’m impressed by the quality of the responses! I think you have hit on something here Bro!!!J May 30, 2007 10:46 AM Crap- I meant to e-mail you vs. posting all the rest except the question.

AD,Do you think it’s about time that “Paramedic” in it’s broadest should become an (AD- lol) Associates Degree and be a Licensed Program as opposed to a Certificate. In our Urgent Care we used to start IV’s – now someone pitched a fit jealous nurse) and it has compromised patient care – our Nurses are all for us doing as much as possible) and now we can”t. Walk outside an you can do an EJ stick or run a full code—But IV’s? Come on!!Anyway- Question- Associate Degree vs. Certificate and expanding scope of practice to help fill the Nursing Shortage?Would be great for us Old timers who’s bodies can’t take the mean streets anymore and not yet ready to be put out to pasture. Heck- we could even teach selective EMT, 1st Responder etc. courses to remove some of that burden.Certainly you may post- edit- use whatever you like in any form you like of this post!Great idea by the way for advice column. Let me know if I can ever help in ANY way: say helping research for you etc. I’m waiting on a start date to finish my RN clinicals and since I’m not in school right now I could devote a little time to help with the “grunt” work so you can concentrate on the format and polishing of it.. You can impact a large(er) audience this way- not with me helping but with the Advice format!.Thanks Bro for your contribution to a still underated an unappreciated field!!JohnBoy- there are already a BROAD range of questions! I’m impressed by the quality of the responses! I think you have hit on something here Bro!!!J May 30, 2007 10:46 AM Crap- I meant to e-mail you vs. posting all the rest except the question.

What advice would you give people seeking to possibly try to publish a book?Also, what’s the hardest part of your job?(Generic, much?)

What advice would you give people seeking to possibly try to publish a book?Also, what’s the hardest part of your job?(Generic, much?)

How bout a little blerb about the care and feeding of tasered critters? That would be enjoyable.

How bout a little blerb about the care and feeding of tasered critters? That would be enjoyable.

Dear Ambulance Driver:I am an airport employee who has actual knowledge that a particular, specifically-named passenger is carrying an antibiotic-resistant form of tuberculosis, and that he knows it, and that he is going to get on my plane anyway. He could potentially infect the 107 people on board, who may go on to…well, you know. It could be bad.Aren’t you really grateful the HIPAA prevents anyone from telling anyone else his identity in order to notify the airplane people not to let him on the flight and take off?I know I am.SignedPere O’Dee

Dear Ambulance Driver:I am an airport employee who has actual knowledge that a particular, specifically-named passenger is carrying an antibiotic-resistant form of tuberculosis, and that he knows it, and that he is going to get on my plane anyway. He could potentially infect the 107 people on board, who may go on to…well, you know. It could be bad.Aren’t you really grateful the HIPAA prevents anyone from telling anyone else his identity in order to notify the airplane people not to let him on the flight and take off?I know I am.SignedPere O’Dee

Pierre,I assesd a patient in Triage that was on one of the Rome flights. He had a cogh and felt yucky. Said the airport officials would not tell anyone where he was sitting or how close they may or may not have been to him. And I’m all up in her face doing vitals…I know transmission rates are slim- but HEY- they should be NONE!!!!JHipa My ASS!

Pierre,I assesd a patient in Triage that was on one of the Rome flights. He had a cogh and felt yucky. Said the airport officials would not tell anyone where he was sitting or how close they may or may not have been to him. And I’m all up in her face doing vitals…I know transmission rates are slim- but HEY- they should be NONE!!!!JHipa My ASS!

When is a person declared dead? Does it have to do with heart beat or brain activity? Example, a person is declared brain dead and on a ventilator and the family wants to pull the plug, i argue that if the heart is beating without the aid of a machine then the brain is functional as it is telling the heart to beat. I look forward to your answer.

When is a person declared dead? Does it have to do with heart beat or brain activity? Example, a person is declared brain dead and on a ventilator and the family wants to pull the plug, i argue that if the heart is beating without the aid of a machine then the brain is functional as it is telling the heart to beat. I look forward to your answer.

John…<>In our Urgent Care we used to start IV’s – now someone pitched a fit (jealous nurse)<>WTF?!? Newbie nurse or what? Sheesh…start all the IVs for me you WANT…that’s that many fewer I have to do…

WTF?!? Newbie nurse or what? Sheesh…start all the IVs for me you WANT…that’s that many fewer I have to do…

A little late, but it is a blue moon tonight.Are you guys really busier during a full moon or what?

A little late, but it is a blue moon tonight.Are you guys really busier during a full moon or what?

Your thoughts on physician assisted suicide. With Dr. Jack getting out of prison soon, just wondering your thoughts on the subject.Second, your view on the scope of practice for medics (in the hospital). Currently this is causing a stir in the hospital I work in. I have worked in the ER alone for the past 14 years. The nurses I work with on the floor have NO problem with me back there; they want nothing to do with ER. The docs feel the same way, they have gone as far as credentialing me to do simple laceration repairs, apply casts, and a lot of other “advanced” skills. But our hospital insurance carrier feels I can’t do an assessment, or triage. What is your stance on the newly proposed advanced practice medics, and the current scope of practice in house. Pixie.dust, our hospital lab loves when I draw labs for them in the field. They stand by the ER waiting for them as we walk in. I just have to sign the lab sheet and place the band on the patient for crossmatch.

Your thoughts on physician assisted suicide. With Dr. Jack getting out of prison soon, just wondering your thoughts on the subject.Second, your view on the scope of practice for medics (in the hospital). Currently this is causing a stir in the hospital I work in. I have worked in the ER alone for the past 14 years. The nurses I work with on the floor have NO problem with me back there; they want nothing to do with ER. The docs feel the same way, they have gone as far as credentialing me to do simple laceration repairs, apply casts, and a lot of other “advanced” skills. But our hospital insurance carrier feels I can’t do an assessment, or triage. What is your stance on the newly proposed advanced practice medics, and the current scope of practice in house. Pixie.dust, our hospital lab loves when I draw labs for them in the field. They stand by the ER waiting for them as we walk in. I just have to sign the lab sheet and place the band on the patient for crossmatch.