Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Social Media in EMS

Here's an intersting article about using social media at EMS. If the PIO's were able to use facebook or twitter to update the public about the goings-on such as mini-press releases, Community Outreach projects or CPR classes, it could be a valuable tool in making a positive impact for EMS in the city. Since social media on the internet is a worldwide phenomenon, EMS could have a positive image of community involvement and responsibility that extends all over the world. Might be worth considering.

http://www.ems1.com/ems-products/technology/articles/601956-Using-Social-Media-at-Your-EMS-Agency/

Saturday, September 19, 2009

Worth Following

Here's an EMS website that I find very interesting. They post EMS news, research and pilot programs. You'll find it useful!

http://www.ems1.com/


You can also follow them on Twitter:
http://twitter.com/EMS1

Wednesday, September 02, 2009

MVA I-610 & Canal Blvd.

Car flipped over. 9,000 people on scene. Patient ok. Photo from
nola.com. Fitz' best side.

Tuesday, August 25, 2009

911 Email

Wow! Oh wow! Man this sounds hilarious! I can just see some drunken
sot sending the email intended for his ex-girlfriend begging her to
come back to him to 911 accidentally!

Ok, here's the contest: what kind of emails do you think that a 911
email address would get? The article says it's for people who might
not be able to call (but they CAN email?). How do you think such an
email would read? Best entry wins! Post as comments.

http://www.911dispatch.com/db/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2663


- Sean Fitz

Monday, August 17, 2009

The Prequel to "Found Wanting" Is Beginning!

Ta da! Chapter 1 of "Weighed In the Balances" is up! It starts about
15 years before Marc's murderous rampage on the streets of New
Orleans. What turned him into a cold-blooded killer? What details of
his life sent him over the brink? I have a lot of places I want to go
with this story, and I'll visit them all in painful detail! Hope you
enjoy the first chapter.

http://newburningtiger.blogspot.com

- Sean Fitz

Wednesday, August 12, 2009

Casa Collapso

House collapse on Duels & New Orleans St. Workers chopped through the
roof and pulled the patient up. 1 trauma activation with an L-spine
injury. Power lines were exploding under me while I was extricating
the patient off the roof. Very much fun!

Monday, August 03, 2009

La. EMS Memorial Bike Ride

The Louisiana EMS Memorial Bike Ride is sponsored by the Louisiana NREMT Association (LANREMT) and is part of the National EMS Memorial Bike Ride, Inc.  

The National EMS Memorial Bike Ride, Inc., honors Emergency Medical Services personnel by organizing and implementing long distance cycling events that memorialize and celebrate the lives of those who serve every day, those who have become sick or injured while performing their duties, and those who have died in the line of duty.
The registration fee for this one day event is $50, with each rider obligated to raise a minimum of $50 in pledges. For those who are unable to participate but wish to make a donation, please do so through the link below.

http://www.facebook.com/l/;www.laemsmemorial.org

For those wishing to obtain more information about the National EMS Memorial Bike Ride please click on the link below:

http://www.facebook.com/l/;www.muddyangels.org



Sunday, July 26, 2009

The Wall Pumps Are NOT 10-7!

Every day I hear someone say they can't fuel up on the West Bank
because the Wall Blvd. pumps are supposedly 10-7. And every day, I go
fuel up there with no problem.

I've tried to explain that there is a knack to using the Wall pumps.
They have been quirky for at least 18 years. I'm shocked that the
older employees have forgotten how to use them, or chosen not to
enlighten the newer ones.

Here's the secret gris-gris:
Use PUMP 5!
Use your card, flip the handle, insert the nozzle as usual.
Start fueling, but it will be REALLY slow. Let go of the handle for 10
seconds. Then squeeze it again and it will work fine.

Share the knowledge with others.

Sunday, July 12, 2009

Brit Gets Jail for Sore Throat 911 Calls

Wow! Can we get some of this kind of proactive action here? I can think of a few callers that would benefit from this kind of therapy. 



- Sean Fitz

Friday, June 26, 2009

Found Wanting - Chapter 12 is up!

The last chapter of "Found Wanting" is now posted! Thanks to everyone for reading it and offering so much encouragement! And yes, I hope to try to get it published! I may take a little break, but there's already a gleam in my eye for my next project. By popular demand, I'm hoping to write a prequel to "Found Wanting"! I hope it's as well received as this story has been.

http://newburningtiger.blogspot.com/


Special thanks to Jon McCarthy & Tommy Evans for help with the plot and technical aspects; to Clarence Bradley, Tammy Guenard, Joey DeLoach, Monique St. Romaine and everyone who helped put a fire under my ass for the next chapter. And a very heartfelt thank you to all the heroes, past and present, living and dead, of New Orleans Emergency Medical Services. Every one of you are my inspiration!

-Sean Fitzmorris

Thursday, June 18, 2009

Tuesday, June 16, 2009

Tuesday, June 09, 2009

Found Wanting - Chapter 9

Ok, y'all, Chapter 9 is posted! Hope you like it! Don't forget, every patient I describe in this entire story is an actual patient I've had; only the names have been changed. I can't make this stuff up!

http://newburningtiger.blogspot.com/

Monday, June 01, 2009

Chapter 8 of "Found Wanting"

Sorry for the delay! Chapter 8 is up. See if you can recognize a little tribute I made! Hope you enjoy.

http://newburningtiger.blogspot.com/

Sunday, May 24, 2009

Scavenger Hunt!

We’re going on a scavenger hunt! All you have to do is find the street signs till the end, where you win the grand prize. It helps if you write down the street names and read them out loud so the contest judges know you were there. The only hard part will be finding the streets! Here we go...

We’ll start close to the station, so no one gets lost. All you have to do is leave the station and head over to the eighth district and find Gainy Street, then around the corner to Poyfar. From there, just go down the road into the first district to Grayver Street. It’d be a good idea to stop on Pwadras Street as well, before shooting on over to Ibberville.

Now lets make a little jaunt uptown to the sixth and second districts and visit Announciation. You might get there by way of Simon Boulevard Avenue. Then drop by Vincanes, before heading off to the third district.

In the third, we’ll stop by Genhayg Street, Cantina, Mowton and Aragorn in Lakeview, then move over to Trafflagar; it’s right off of Deesax.

It’s easy to get to the seventh district from here, so we’ll pass by Boing Street, make a pit stop on Linehubber and go all the way out to Canes Street. Next we’ll come back towards town a little and visit America or Americus (they’re interchangeable).

To get to the fifth district, it might be easiest to take Alamonster. Make your way over to Lizard Street, and look for the cross street too, Yuerquehart.

Lets take the scenic route back and visit the beautiful French Quarter. Dekatour is one of the nicest streets. You may also want to see lovely Barak Street. Near the cathedral, you can stroll up Peer Antine. Stop by the corner of S. Peter and St. Peter (also interchangeable) before moving onto historic Caenal Street.

Only one more district in our scavenger hunt- the fourth! Once you get off the bridge, see if you can find Faragoot Street. Once you do, make a quick stop on Murl, Morel or Merrill (again, totally interchangeable). Near that, you’ll visit Odean Street and then head to Patolemy. We’re almost through! On the way to the end, just pass by that other Lizard Street. Then make your final stop on the scavenger hunt where you can claim your grand prize. It will be on... Succotash Street!

Yay! You made it! Your fabulous grand prize is - Hooked on Phonics! It comes with a companion prize too- Hooked on Phonics for Dummies! Aren’t you happy? Make sure you take your prizes with you and use them a lot before the next time you key up that microphone at work! Everyone will appreciate you!

Really. They will!

Saturday, May 16, 2009

Signal 30, 1700 block of Duels, 5/16/09

A few minutes after the tornado. Kenny, Derek & Ben on scene. Yours
truly not in the picture, thankfully. From nola.com.

Tornado Over New Orleans 5/16/09

Comma-looking thing. From Pontchartrain Expressway.

Tornado over New Orleans 5/16/09

Not a great pic; taken from Pontchartrain Expressway looking toward
the lake.

Thursday, May 14, 2009

Louisiana Rolling Roadblock!!

Okay just bare with me on this one. I have had enough and have always wanted to express myself on this matter. Being that I travel the Interstate system daily I have become more and more frustrated at the way others drive. The main gripe I have is those using the left lane, as I see it improperly. This has been called the Louisiana rolling Roadblock for years, and with just cause.

Let’s be clear this is not being directed at any particular group. Not racial, not age, not the truck services, not low dollar car drivers or even the high dollar drivers. Not even the cabbies, but I could go on for days about cabbies. This encompasses every single fool idiot that driver in the left lane 10 – 15 mph below the posted limits.

Let me give you some parameters that are known or should be know by all divers. On mutli lane roads, the first lane, right lane that is for merging traffic as well as the slower traffic. The center lane is the through lane, normal diving speeds and then there is the left. This lane was designed to be the Emergency lane, for all Emergency response vehicles, as well as the passing lane, faster driver’s lane.

That being said lets take a gander at some of the thing’s I have seen. Of course I only bitch due to the fact I drive fast most of the time, not excessively but faster than post limits. Which means I shoot straight over to the left lane to start the trip at a good pace. All is good until the next exit comes up, only to see another connoisseur of speed dart over to the lane ahead of me. Oh hell no he didn’t, yes he did. The gas pedal all of sudden no longer works in his car like a stealth bomber he was undetectable due to no light, but has slowed to a whooping 50 mph. Keeping just enough room in between the car in the middle lane so you can’t just switch and pass him on the inside. At these speed the entire city of Kenner rushing in to the Big Easy has swallowed us up like a hurt horse in the stretch. No where to go blocked in. Ease up on him, maybe to entice a lane change, nah but hey he does have brake lights now! Miles have passed then finally a break you shoot a round him like a sling shot. I myself don’t use the flashing light in the mirror out of respect knowing that this only makes me slam on my brakes. But I do give that head shaking glare as I time my return into his path narrowly missing his front bumper. Then it is speed time until the next idiot arrives.

We have all kinds of offenders that constantly perpetrate this heinous crime. So look out for them, I will list a few that I have encountered. First the ever popular white haired, old fogy that has zero reason to be in a moving vehicle of any kind at all. The young, look at me I just got my license, to busy chatting with everyone in the car. The sports car which by the way cost’s more than my yearly salary. They are way too good to be asked to move over. The hoopdie, which should only be under a pneumatic car crusher instead of being driven on the roads. With some thug at the wheel, and some form of sound blaring from the exterior speakers. The cabbie oh those cabbies that is all I have to say!! The service trucks that with its size, feels it can go where ever it wants. The every day Sunday driver, just slowly making its way forward to their destination. All of them are of course talking or texting while performing this feat. Now don’t drive up on them at a speed at or above the limits, since it makes them uncomfortable, you can tell this by the popular braking being done. Forget the fact there is no one in front of them. Or the turning of the head and yelling that is being done at you with some friendly hand gestures sent to show the love. Then the one that just gets my laughing so hard I can’t drive. After a 3 mile tailing, finally you get the break you need. Signal, change lanes, speed up. But wait the car which couldn’t go faster than 50 or change lanes suddenly explodes forward, those friendly hand gestures a waving. You having some restraint realize now you won’t make it unless you go about 90. Just back down and ease in behind the traffic and starting laughing and such a fantastic move by the other driver.

Sadly the only way I have found around this issue and to keep my road rage down. Is to now travel in the right lane at a higher speed average, slowing when on coming traffic hits, but since these fools are making a bee line to the left lane it clears quickly.

If only we could have spontaneous combusting laser guns, this whole thing could end rather quickly.




--
T-Man

Wednesday, May 13, 2009

Thursday, May 07, 2009

Chapter 5 is up!

Okay all, just posted Chapter 5 of "Found Wanting!" It's a rough shift for Marc & Brian.

http://newburningtiger.blogspot.com/

Tuesday, May 05, 2009

EMS Trivia Quiz

Actually this was pretty good quiz. I’ve demolished it with my ridiculous answers, but feel free to take it yourself for real. Here's the link. It's on a pretty good EMS website, EMS1.com.

Bledsoe's EMS Trivia Quiz

1. What is the plural of pleura?
You've only got one pleura so who cares.

2. Your patient has a blood glucose level of 4.2 mmol/L. Is this high, low or normal? Convert the reading to milligrams per deciliter.
Normal. Press the button on the glucometer to convert it.

3. What is Hennebert’s sign and what condition is it indicative of?
A stupid thing that Dr. Hennebert described. Indicates Hennebertitis - inflated ego of a research physician.

4. How is Arnold’s Nerve stimulated? What effects result from stimulation of Arnold’s Nerve? What nerve is Arnold’s Nerve a part of?
Find a guy named Arnold and stick him with a needle. It’ll be stimulated. Effect will be saying “ouch.” It’s a part of Arnold’s nervous system.

5. The ligamentum teres is a remnant of what embryonic structure?
The umbilical cord’s connection to the vascular system. (Couldn’t think of a funny one.)

6. What is the appropriate treatment when an IV infusion of norepinephrine or dopamine extravasates?
Haul ass and tell the doctor when you get to the hospital.

7. Who invented the esophageal obturator airway (EOA)?
Someone with no gag reflex who was inspired while having sex. Maybe this guy?

8. What was the first dedicated civilian medical helicopter program in the United States?
When the Korean war ended and the guys from M*A*S*H went home.

9. Who was the publisher of the first version of Nancy Caroline’s Emergency Care in the Street?
Harlequin Romance Novels - Really, doesn’t it sound like a cheesy romance thing? Maybe a sequel to Nancy Caroline’s Love in the Janitor’s Closet?

10. What company provided the ambulances used in the television show Émergency!?
The lowest bidder.

11. What is the purpose of adding lactate to Lactated Ringer’s solution?
To make women’s boobs bigger.

12. Your Spanish-speaking patient is telling you, “Estoy embarazada.” What are they trying to tell you?
“I’m so embarrassed that I got pregnant from a gringo on spring break in Mexico that I came to America for free medical care.”

13. Which company published the now defunct Emergency magazine?
Apparently, one with poor managerial skills. AIG?

14. What are the three Greek humors?
Comedy, tragedy & drama.

15. What is a reticulocyte?
A single-celled reticulated python.

16. What was the name of the ambulance company in the movie Mother, Jugs & Speed, and what did it stand for?
Dunno - never saw it.

17. DRT is an abbreviation for what?
Dead Right There

18. What was the drug Hyperstat used for?
You inject it into your partner to get him off his ass. Do something!

19. What was HelaFoam used for?
At clubs when they have a HelaFun Foam party.

20. When your partner said, “We are going to hang three,” what did he mean?
You just had your third idiot patient who deserves death more than a ride to the hospital.

21. How many grams of glucose are in a liter of D5W?
50 - another one I couldn’t think of a funny.

22. What is an MICN?
“Medic I Can’t Name”- used when gossiping about the mistakes of a co-worker but you don’t want to get him in trouble.

23. What ambulance was known as Moby Pig?
Mine.

24. What slang term for MICU was used by many EMS operations in the 1970s?
“Ambulance.” Or “Meat wagon.”

25. Who are Joe and the Deer?
The guy from that famous 911 recording that kept getting attacked by a deer.

26. Who published the first EMT textbook in full color?
Highlights Children’s Books - still used today.

27. Who manufactured the orange Biophone used in the Emergency! television series?
The lowest bidder

28. What is an oral screw and when is it indicated?
Oh hoh hoh - I’m not even going there! But it’s indicated when you have a really sexy partner and a slow night.

29. Which actor from the television show Emergency! was the only one who was a certified firefighter?
The safety guy. He stood behind the gaffer, near the best boy.

30. Which individual shot or stabbed the largest number of people in the United States (and Canada)?
If by “shot or stabbed” you refer to giving shots or stabbing with IV’s, we all are guilty! Criminals ain’t got nothing on us.

Friday, May 01, 2009

Friday, April 17, 2009

Chapter 3 is up!

I just posted Chapter 3 of "Found Wanting"! Someone actually gets it in this one! Enjoy!
http://newburningtiger.blogspot.com

Sunday, April 05, 2009

EMS Short Story

I just wrote chapter one of my new FICTIONAL short story, "Found Wanting." It's about a burnt-out paramedic... and you'll find out the rest. I'll post future chapters as they're written. Hope you enjoy.

It's on my other blog, New BurningTiger. The link is: http://newburningtiger.blogspot.com/

Friday, March 20, 2009

G&L in Public Safety

You are invited to a meeting and recruitment drive for the Louisiana
Group of PROTECT AND DEFEND (PAD). The event will be hosted by the
PAD Southern Chapter Events Coordinator Travis St. Pierre at his
residence (821 Perdido Street, Unit 2E, New Orleans) on Saturday,
March 28, 2009 from 7:00 pm until. There will be plenty of food and
drink.

PROTECT AND DEFEND is a non-profit, tax-exempt organization, per
501(c)(3) of the IRS code. Our intent is to serve the interests of
gay and lesbian law enforcement, firefighters, military, and other
public safety and justice system workers from all over the world. We
are primarily a social organization that intends to organize public
and private events with an eye towards charitable fundraising for GLBT
organizations. For more information, please visit our website at
www.protectanddefend.org.

Please try to attend this event and please bring any friends that are
members of law enforcement, fire, EMS, or military, either active,
reserve, or retired. Also, feel free to bring your partner or spouse.

Membership in the organization is only $27.00 (per year) and you may
join via the website (www.protectanddefend.org)

For more information regarding the organization or this event, please
contact me (504-915-8411) or Travis (504-427-1913). Also, please RSVP
to either Travis or I so that we can insure the proper amount of food
and drink.

We look forward to seeing you!

Stay Safe!

-Ross

Monday, March 09, 2009

Another Times Photo



In the photo you can see Clarence, Dave, Ben, and Katrina. There is mystery medic hiding behind Ben, do you know who it is?

Friday, January 23, 2009

Disaster Averted

Ok, here's a great example of CYA:

Responded to a 20-I. On scene, NOPD says "I can't believe they called you for this bullshit! This accident happened over 2 hours ago!" He indicated that one of the passengers had said something about back pain. We went to the car, expecting to be cancelled. The grand total of damage to the car? A cracked rear light cover. Inside were two females, one saying her neck hurt, one saying her lower back hurt. The one with neck pain vascillated about going to the hospital with us but eventually said for us to take her. Her friend said she would go too.

Slightly pissed off about the whole obvious bullshit of it all, but I figured they should get the whole "treatment" because this was obviously a sprouting personal injury lawsuit. Brought the stretcher and collar and LSB over to the car, immobilized them properly, blah, blah, blah.

Neck pain on the benchseat, heavy girl on the stretcher. Asked neck pain when her LMP was. "8 months ago." Why? "I'm 8 months pregnant; I'm due next month." Okay, whatever. (Didn't realize she was pregnant; thought she was just "shaped" that way.) Both have rock-stable vitals, no obvious injury.

We're code 77 for like 2 hours before 6239 relieves us at University. No new complaints, the girls are fine. We move on.

Later on that day, 6239 (Katrina) relieves us again. She says that the ultrasound on our pregnant patient revealed the fetus was dead! Holy crap! "From the accident?" I asked. No, apparently it had died earlier and she didn't know it.

Here's how it could have happened in an alternate universe:
NOPD: "Y'all can cancel."
Us: "10-22 per NOPD unit whatever." Or maybe make patient contact and "You don't really need to go with us, you can drive yourself to the hospital if you want." 10-22 or patient refusal dispo.

One month later the woman goes to the hospital to have her baby. It's dead. The fetal demise could easily be attributed to the earlier accident and lack of medical care at the time. Who do you think the first people would be to spring to mind to sue for negligence or something like that? Yep, EMS.

Really, really glad we took her to the hospital. New rear light cover: $50. Ambulance ride to the hospital for bullshit complaint: $700. Two paramedics keeping themselves out of a shitload of trouble for said bullshit complaint: Priceless.

Thursday, January 15, 2009

The Francene Hair Diaries!

Our beloved Francene Jones and her amazing hair - the good, the bad and the frightening. Thanks for being a good sport! You're awesome.




This should be available on YouTube soon, too!

PSA video!

Susan's posted the final version of the PSA on YouTube. Click the video and it will take you to the YouTube site. You can copy the code and paste it onto your MySpace & Facebook page or into emails to friends! Everyone share to get our great service reputation out there! Everyone looks great, too.

Friday, January 02, 2009

New Phonetic Alphabet

Due to inconsistencies with spelling difficulties over the radio, particularly when spelling out street names, we have arrived at a new phonetic alphabet. Up until now, there have been varying ways to clarify various letters. For example, when trying to say the letter “A,” should we say 'A as in apple; A as in alpha; A as in Anthony', and so on. The following list creates an “EMS-centric” list of mnemonics so as to better communicate exact spellings over the air. Please use these mnemonic phrases to clarify the spelling of words:

A as in ambalamps
B as in better be up on time
C as in CPR-ah
D as in do you speak English
E as in everybody re-centralize
F as in free ride to the hospital
G as in GOA
H as in hell no, you can’t have a forty
I as in idiot 911 callers
J as in just get in the truck
K as in kept past ETOD
L as in late call
M as in medicaid
N as in no getting off on time
O as in obnoxious
P as in parametric
Q as in drag queen
R as in refusal
S as in stupid
T as in ten-forty-two
U as in ugly
V as in vaginal bleed
W as in write-up
X as in x-tremely fat
Y as in yes that call was for you
Z as in zero payment for this transport

With these easy-to-remember phonetic alphabet substitutions, we trust all will have a more efficacious time communicating on the radio. Thank you.