Who should be checking who's blood pressure?
Pretend you care! Run, medic, run! Run for the camera!At least he's wearing gloves.
Saturday, December 16, 2006
Kodak moments...
Who should be checking who's blood pressure?
Pretend you care! Run, medic, run! Run for the camera!At least he's wearing gloves.
Saturday, November 04, 2006
Bad Idea!
Someone is selling their old uniforms on Ebay
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=200042576233&ssPageName=ADME:B:EF:US:11
and on craigslist
http://neworleans.craigslist.org/clt/226646418.html
I really don't think this is a good idea. For one thing, this is a uniform that's only worn by a few, those who earn it. More seriously, who the heck is buying these items and what are they going to do with them? This is just the thing that can pose a serious security risk for various events around the city. EMS basically has carte blanche as far as access into virtually any building or event in the city. Anybody wearing a uniform (with less than good intentions) would pretty much have the same access anywhere with no questions asked.
In addition, you know that there are those freaks out there who think of themselves as some sort of hero, the ones on scenes who say they're EMT's when in fact they've never had any kind of training at all. If such a person was to "treat" someone while wearing this uniform, how would it reflect on us, especially if there was some royal screw-up on their part? In addition, New Orleans EMS may hold some legal responsibility in such a situation.
Would you expect to see NOPD selling their uniforms to non-police? Of course not; you can imagine the havoc that the fallout would create. For the same reason, I'd encourage y'all to never give or sell your old uniforms to civilians, and if you know who is involved in this practice to please advise them to stop!
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=200042576233&ssPageName=ADME:B:EF:US:11
and on craigslist
http://neworleans.craigslist.org/clt/226646418.html
I really don't think this is a good idea. For one thing, this is a uniform that's only worn by a few, those who earn it. More seriously, who the heck is buying these items and what are they going to do with them? This is just the thing that can pose a serious security risk for various events around the city. EMS basically has carte blanche as far as access into virtually any building or event in the city. Anybody wearing a uniform (with less than good intentions) would pretty much have the same access anywhere with no questions asked.
In addition, you know that there are those freaks out there who think of themselves as some sort of hero, the ones on scenes who say they're EMT's when in fact they've never had any kind of training at all. If such a person was to "treat" someone while wearing this uniform, how would it reflect on us, especially if there was some royal screw-up on their part? In addition, New Orleans EMS may hold some legal responsibility in such a situation.
Would you expect to see NOPD selling their uniforms to non-police? Of course not; you can imagine the havoc that the fallout would create. For the same reason, I'd encourage y'all to never give or sell your old uniforms to civilians, and if you know who is involved in this practice to please advise them to stop!
Saturday, October 14, 2006
Sunday, October 01, 2006
MAST in NOLA
MAST Ambulance has a page on their website about providing mutual aid right after the storm. They have up a slideshow of about 200 pictures that you can either watch or preview and scroll through. There are several photos with our personnel and units, especially towards the end.
Monday, September 18, 2006
Saturday, September 16, 2006
Funny break
I know this isn't EMS-related but I saw this posted on a nursing forum and I wanted to share it with everybody. We could all use a laugh these days, I think.
These are actual entries in hospital charts that were posted publically to remind people to pay attention to what they are writing. Fitz, are any of these yours??? ;-)
1) The patient refused an autopsy.
2) The patient has no previous history of suicides.
3) Patient has left white blood cells at another hospital.
4) She has no rigors or shaking chills, but her husband states she was very hot in bed last night.
5) Patient has chest pain if she lies on her left side for ove a year.
6) On the second day, the knee was better, and on the third day it disappeared.
7) The patient is tearful and crying constantly. She also appears to be depressed.
8) The patient has been depressed since she began seeing me in 1993.
9) Discharge status: Alive but without permission.
10) Healthy appearing decrepit 69-year-old male, mentally alert but forgetful.
11) Patient had waffles for breakfast and anorexia for lunch.
12) She is numb from her toes down.
13) While in ER, she was examined, x-rated and sent home.
14) The skin was moist and dry.
15) Occasional, constant infrequent headaches
16) Patient was alert and unresponsive.
17) Rectal examination revealed a normal size thyroid.
18) She stated that she had been constipated for most of her life, until she got a divorce.
19) I saw your patient today, who is still under my car for physical therapy.
20) Both breasts are equal and reactive to light and accommodation.
21) Examination of genitalia reveals that he is circus sized.
22) The lab test indicated abnormal lover funtion.
23) Skin: somewhat pale but present
24) The pelvis exam will be done later on the floor.
25) Patient has two teenage children, but no other abnormalities.
These are actual entries in hospital charts that were posted publically to remind people to pay attention to what they are writing. Fitz, are any of these yours??? ;-)
1) The patient refused an autopsy.
2) The patient has no previous history of suicides.
3) Patient has left white blood cells at another hospital.
4) She has no rigors or shaking chills, but her husband states she was very hot in bed last night.
5) Patient has chest pain if she lies on her left side for ove a year.
6) On the second day, the knee was better, and on the third day it disappeared.
7) The patient is tearful and crying constantly. She also appears to be depressed.
8) The patient has been depressed since she began seeing me in 1993.
9) Discharge status: Alive but without permission.
10) Healthy appearing decrepit 69-year-old male, mentally alert but forgetful.
11) Patient had waffles for breakfast and anorexia for lunch.
12) She is numb from her toes down.
13) While in ER, she was examined, x-rated and sent home.
14) The skin was moist and dry.
15) Occasional, constant infrequent headaches
16) Patient was alert and unresponsive.
17) Rectal examination revealed a normal size thyroid.
18) She stated that she had been constipated for most of her life, until she got a divorce.
19) I saw your patient today, who is still under my car for physical therapy.
20) Both breasts are equal and reactive to light and accommodation.
21) Examination of genitalia reveals that he is circus sized.
22) The lab test indicated abnormal lover funtion.
23) Skin: somewhat pale but present
24) The pelvis exam will be done later on the floor.
25) Patient has two teenage children, but no other abnormalities.
Saturday, September 02, 2006
Hey check out this photo from the compound days that's up on David Naccari's website promoting "Katrinalaya," his song about, well, you know... Pretty cool that he chose this picture for his website!
You can check it out here, or click the picture above to see it on the katrinalaya.org website and read his story. And the song is cute too.
Tuesday, August 29, 2006
Monday, August 14, 2006
NOLA EMS or Homeland Security EMS?
According to the Gambit Weekly, our illustrious mayor Uncle Ray has proposed a brilliant plan to increase the pay of NOPD and new fire department recruits. Yes, that's it. Left out of the plan are countless other "essential workers," the type of city workers that stayed in New Orleans during the hurricane. No explanation of why dispatchers, civilian NOPD workers, veteran firemen and, oh yes, EMS workers were left out of this plan. Juliette was just as much in the dark about such a plan as anyone else was, as it seems the mayor announced this pay plan out of the blue, without consulting anyone about it - in particular those who would be affected by it!
Here's a snippet of the article:
----------------------------
Also left out of the loop was Dr. Juliette Saussy, the city's director of Emergency Medical Services. She testified this spring before the Federal Communications Commission on the travails of city ambulance workers during Katrina. Dr. Saussy admits she was caught unaware when her boss announced raises that did not include her and her 90 employees. "I think any time you start talking about the three public agencies -- police, fire and EMS -- you need to talk to them together," she stated in published reports.
We agree. In fact, city Homeland Security chief Terry Ebbert should take those words to heart since he has asked the Civil Service Commission to transfer EMS from the city Health Department to his own command. Regarding the pay plan, it's not too late for the mayor to consider the importance of consensus building. History holds enough lessons for him on that count.
-----------------------------
In regards to the command overseeing EMS, it seems that Homeland Security would have oversight on the running of EMS, rather than the Health Department. I would imagine that EMS workers would remain city employees and civil service workers, only the command structure would change. Instead of answering to Dr. Stevens, we'd answer to Homeland Security.
Here's a link to the full Gambit article.
What are y'all's feelings on this?
Here's a snippet of the article:
----------------------------
Also left out of the loop was Dr. Juliette Saussy, the city's director of Emergency Medical Services. She testified this spring before the Federal Communications Commission on the travails of city ambulance workers during Katrina. Dr. Saussy admits she was caught unaware when her boss announced raises that did not include her and her 90 employees. "I think any time you start talking about the three public agencies -- police, fire and EMS -- you need to talk to them together," she stated in published reports.
We agree. In fact, city Homeland Security chief Terry Ebbert should take those words to heart since he has asked the Civil Service Commission to transfer EMS from the city Health Department to his own command. Regarding the pay plan, it's not too late for the mayor to consider the importance of consensus building. History holds enough lessons for him on that count.
-----------------------------
In regards to the command overseeing EMS, it seems that Homeland Security would have oversight on the running of EMS, rather than the Health Department. I would imagine that EMS workers would remain city employees and civil service workers, only the command structure would change. Instead of answering to Dr. Stevens, we'd answer to Homeland Security.
Here's a link to the full Gambit article.
What are y'all's feelings on this?
Thursday, August 10, 2006
Saturday, August 05, 2006
Administration Idiots (from Lexie)
I found out that administration has been checking up on the mypsace pages. I know that Barbara Ireland has a fake page to check up on people too, I haven't found out what her name is yet, im still looking . I just wanted to let everyone know because I think its shitty and totally not professional. Spanks, you're the bomb and we miss you here in this pit of ems hell!!!!!
Saturday, July 01, 2006
Congrats to EMS-SWAT!
New Orleans EMS SWAT medics graduated today! Sincere congratulations to all of them for all their hard work throughout a hellacious three weeks of training and education. They will be better people for it and New Orleans will have an even more outstanding emergency response team thanks to the efforts of Nick Culotta, Josh Hill, Russ Latimer, Keith Thomas and Keely Williams.
Strong work guys!
Strong work guys!
Tuesday, June 27, 2006
City Business article "Code Red"
Click this link to read a recent article in City Business about the current EMS situation in NOLA. WDSU covered this story its noon news today, interviewing someone from the magazine about this article. I was glad to see this topic covered on the local news, but it would have been nice if the station had directly involved one of our people instead of secondhand from a features writer. But that will be what our P.R. SOD person will be for, I guess.
Anyway, it's a relatively short and interesting article despite involving Acadian (the "backup" provider for Orleans Parish, according to this piece). Look for quotes from Chris Cruthirds about OT availability due to staffing shortages.
In the "WTF?!" department, my favorite quote was this one:
The agreement New Orleans EMS has with the Morial Convention Center requires it to find new accommodations by Friday. But another extension is likely. Reis said several possible locations have been scouted and EMS hopes to have a permanent home within a month.
White House, we hardly knew ye??
Anyway, it's a relatively short and interesting article despite involving Acadian (the "backup" provider for Orleans Parish, according to this piece). Look for quotes from Chris Cruthirds about OT availability due to staffing shortages.
In the "WTF?!" department, my favorite quote was this one:
The agreement New Orleans EMS has with the Morial Convention Center requires it to find new accommodations by Friday. But another extension is likely. Reis said several possible locations have been scouted and EMS hopes to have a permanent home within a month.
White House, we hardly knew ye??
Monday, June 26, 2006
Press photos from Nola.com
20-I with Engine 25 at Carrollton/Walmsley, 2/11/2006
34-S at Fourth/Annunciation, 6/25/06All photos copyright The Times Picayune
Wednesday, May 24, 2006
More from the news outlets
US News.com on NOLA EMS shortage and wait times
EMS Responder.com on the new NOEMS
Emily Bruce's Homily on Katrina (I don't think this was posted before but it is moving)
EMS Responder.com on the new NOEMS
Emily Bruce's Homily on Katrina (I don't think this was posted before but it is moving)
Tuesday, May 23, 2006
Friday, May 19, 2006
Paramedics Save Lives (Despite ER Staffs' Efforts)
People say we practice "cowboy EMS."
I say "Damn straight!"
So Frezel is bringing a guy who got all beat to hell to Elmwood. Halfway there he codes, and Elmwood diverts the unit to E.J. (By the way, does the trauma center accept any trauma patients? WTF?!) So Frezel arrives at E.J. with the guy in asystole. (Hey Dave, what's up with no IV's on the guy?) So we start coding him; I'm charting everything and calling out reminders like 'time for another Epi.' After 4 Epi's and 3 atropines the guy goes into V-tach w/ a pulse, then after shocking him into pulseless V-tach, then into V-fib. After Amiodarone and several more shocks, the guy is still in V-fib. Nothing's working. Dr. Creel is standing there wondering what else to do. So I hollered out, "let's give him some mag sulfate." The doc looked at me quizzically and said "Well I guess if you want to, but I don't think it'll do any good." So I told the nurse pushing the drugs to give a couple grams of magnesium sulfate.
Right after she did, and circulating it for a few seconds, the v-fib converted into a beautiful sinus rhythm with pulse and a decent blood pressure! The doc's jaw hit the floor. He said "I haven't used magnesium in years; what made you think of that?"
"Doc, I've used it a million times, and I know the shit works. Always," I replied.
"I'll remember that."
Same night: Susan brings a lady with a decreased LOC to Tulane. The patient wasn't really protecting her airway so they decide to RSI her. After pushing the succinylcholine, the ICU resident tried three times to intubate the woman, three times he only pulled back a bloody ET tube. Then Ehlenberger tried. Again, no dice (big surprise).
So Mike Condatore, one of the RN's there, said "Hey, why don't you let Greg [Gavel] try. He was a paramedic with the city for years."
The docs step aside and let Greg give it a shot. One quick attempt by Greg, and the woman was tubed!
"Uh, nice technique," said Dr E.
"How'd you learn to do that?" the ICU doc asked.
Greg answered, "Experience, Doc; lots of practice!"
2 lives snatched by paramedics from the jowls of a doctory death! Tell us more!
I say "Damn straight!"
So Frezel is bringing a guy who got all beat to hell to Elmwood. Halfway there he codes, and Elmwood diverts the unit to E.J. (By the way, does the trauma center accept any trauma patients? WTF?!) So Frezel arrives at E.J. with the guy in asystole. (Hey Dave, what's up with no IV's on the guy?) So we start coding him; I'm charting everything and calling out reminders like 'time for another Epi.' After 4 Epi's and 3 atropines the guy goes into V-tach w/ a pulse, then after shocking him into pulseless V-tach, then into V-fib. After Amiodarone and several more shocks, the guy is still in V-fib. Nothing's working. Dr. Creel is standing there wondering what else to do. So I hollered out, "let's give him some mag sulfate." The doc looked at me quizzically and said "Well I guess if you want to, but I don't think it'll do any good." So I told the nurse pushing the drugs to give a couple grams of magnesium sulfate.
Right after she did, and circulating it for a few seconds, the v-fib converted into a beautiful sinus rhythm with pulse and a decent blood pressure! The doc's jaw hit the floor. He said "I haven't used magnesium in years; what made you think of that?"
"Doc, I've used it a million times, and I know the shit works. Always," I replied.
"I'll remember that."
Same night: Susan brings a lady with a decreased LOC to Tulane. The patient wasn't really protecting her airway so they decide to RSI her. After pushing the succinylcholine, the ICU resident tried three times to intubate the woman, three times he only pulled back a bloody ET tube. Then Ehlenberger tried. Again, no dice (big surprise).
So Mike Condatore, one of the RN's there, said "Hey, why don't you let Greg [Gavel] try. He was a paramedic with the city for years."
The docs step aside and let Greg give it a shot. One quick attempt by Greg, and the woman was tubed!
"Uh, nice technique," said Dr E.
"How'd you learn to do that?" the ICU doc asked.
Greg answered, "Experience, Doc; lots of practice!"
2 lives snatched by paramedics from the jowls of a doctory death! Tell us more!
Tuesday, May 16, 2006
Times Picayune 5/16/06
Do you have to stick me? I don't likes no needles!
Darryl: What I think happened is the perp shot him from the back of a red car, using a 9mm, probably a Taurus. The bullet entered at the mastoid process, taking out his medulla oblongata, then did a little dance and traveled to his left hand along the cephalic vein, backed up and visited his duodenum and nicked the aorta on the way, then exited above his asscrack. Anyway, this muthafucka's dead.
Wednesday, April 26, 2006
Today in USA TODAY
Why is Donny pulling the stretcher with Melinda? Because Ashley was 10-42!!!Donny, you better quit cockblockin' my 15 minutes, yerd.
You can read the article (mostly about Ochsner bitching about uninsured ER pt's) here.
Friday, April 21, 2006
Monday, March 20, 2006
Tuesday, February 21, 2006
NOPD has a blog too
Check it out, NOPD has their own version of the NOEMS Blog: Signal26.com
They are much bitchier than we are these days.
They are much bitchier than we are these days.
Tuesday, January 17, 2006
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