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.
Friday, January 23, 2009
Monday, January 19, 2009
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!
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.
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.
Thursday, December 25, 2008
A Boxing Day Carol
Not EMS related, but seasonal.
Once upon a time, long ago, there was a man named Jesus. Jesus got into a fight with another man named Santa. A great battle ensued. Santa won the battle, which ended with Jesus being squirted out of a virgin vagina as a baby. The details of this phenomenon are complicated, so don’t ask.
When Jesus grew up, he challenged Santa to a rematch. Every year since then, the ongoing rivalry has resulted in a Death Match Ultimate Cage Fight. Wagers were staked on either Jesus or Santa. Wagers can take the form of cash or prizes. Today these wagers are called Christmas Gifts, since we now live in a more enlightened society. We’re not sure who has the advantage; Jesus lives in our hearts but Santa watches us all year. Somehow this surveillance has a bearing on the outcome of the fight, perhaps by gauging support for which contestant is our favorite.
In the uncertainty of the fight’s outcome and the inherent dangers of such a bout between two powerful pugilists each year, Christmas trees were invented. These brightly decorated trees are placed near windows and doors as a hedge to protect us in case one of the Death Match fighters gets knocked out of the arena into our houses.
Santa needs milk and cookies to refresh himself between rounds. These are placed near the stockings that are hung by the chimney with care. The stockings are used as makeshift boxing gloves in case Santa’s and Jesus’ wear out. Since the Christmas trees, garlands and wreaths block other entry points to houses, Santa must use the chimney to enter. Jesus has easier access; he can just return home to our hearts and exit through any of our body orifices into our houses. Jesus eats the Christmas dinner leftovers to refresh himself. Christmas dinners are deliberately made to have an excess of food specifically for this purpose.
Since more people seem to favor Santa over Jesus, experts are predicting him as this year’s winner. Results of the fight are posted on December 26th. And this, friends, is the reason December 26th is called Boxing Day. Merry Christmas!
Once upon a time, long ago, there was a man named Jesus. Jesus got into a fight with another man named Santa. A great battle ensued. Santa won the battle, which ended with Jesus being squirted out of a virgin vagina as a baby. The details of this phenomenon are complicated, so don’t ask.
When Jesus grew up, he challenged Santa to a rematch. Every year since then, the ongoing rivalry has resulted in a Death Match Ultimate Cage Fight. Wagers were staked on either Jesus or Santa. Wagers can take the form of cash or prizes. Today these wagers are called Christmas Gifts, since we now live in a more enlightened society. We’re not sure who has the advantage; Jesus lives in our hearts but Santa watches us all year. Somehow this surveillance has a bearing on the outcome of the fight, perhaps by gauging support for which contestant is our favorite.
In the uncertainty of the fight’s outcome and the inherent dangers of such a bout between two powerful pugilists each year, Christmas trees were invented. These brightly decorated trees are placed near windows and doors as a hedge to protect us in case one of the Death Match fighters gets knocked out of the arena into our houses.
Santa needs milk and cookies to refresh himself between rounds. These are placed near the stockings that are hung by the chimney with care. The stockings are used as makeshift boxing gloves in case Santa’s and Jesus’ wear out. Since the Christmas trees, garlands and wreaths block other entry points to houses, Santa must use the chimney to enter. Jesus has easier access; he can just return home to our hearts and exit through any of our body orifices into our houses. Jesus eats the Christmas dinner leftovers to refresh himself. Christmas dinners are deliberately made to have an excess of food specifically for this purpose.
Since more people seem to favor Santa over Jesus, experts are predicting him as this year’s winner. Results of the fight are posted on December 26th. And this, friends, is the reason December 26th is called Boxing Day. Merry Christmas!
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Professionalism 101
"Give me a drama delay."
"My patient needs to fix her hair and makeup."
"I'm 10-97."
"Yes, ma'am, yes ma'am, thank you ma'am, I'm here for you ma'am. You just let me know ma'am."
"CCCrrkkkkzz[garble]...NOPD here code three!"
Lately I've noticed a trend on the radio. In all my seventeen years of working for EMS in New Orleans, never have have I heard the amount of unnecessary chatter over the radio as is prevalent today. Oftentimes this chatter passes the bounds of steam-valve stress relief and strays into the realm of actual rudeness. In extreme circumstances, it can even create a hazard to our safety.
What do I mean? More often than not, we hear crews "walking" on each other on the radio in an effort to get their transmissions across. It is understandable that this may occasionally happen, particularly during hectic times. But I have noticed this happening far more frequently than in years past. The only factor I can attribute this to is simple discourtesy. Many times a shift, I will hear dispatch in the middle of a conversation with a crew, perhaps giving out details of a call or relaying other information, or maybe a crew asking for clarification of a location when in mid-transmission a different crew will barge in on the conversation with "put me Code 77 at Ochsner" or something to that effect. Cutting in on someone else's conversation is simply rude, particularly when it is centered on subject matter that can wait for a more appropriate time.
I am not saying that your Code 77 or your 10-10 or your on-scene delay isn't important. However there is no reason that any of these radio transmissions cannot wait for a few seconds until the current on-air discourse is finished. There are certain things that are vital to get out in a timely manner. Dispatching calls is one of them. A crew in danger is another. Requesting more units is another example. These radio transmissions must have first priority. But a large majority of our radio transmissions are simply routine status updates that should wait until whoever is on the radio finishes speaking.
"Professionalism" is an amalgam of many aspects of conduct. It is important that we treat our patients with respect and courtesy. We would never speak rudely to a physician that we were giving a report to. The mayor, the governor, the president - all deserve no less than the utmost respect when in conversation with them, regardless of our personal opinions of them. This is simply what is expected when dealing professionally with others. Should it be different when dealing with our co-workers? Courtesy, allowing others to finish their conversation, is one extremely important aspect of professionalism. Not barging in on a conversation already in progress is doubtless one of the things your mother taught you when you were a child. Though it may have been many years since Mother taught you this principle, it is no less in force today.
It is human nature that we feel that what we have to say is the most important thing at the moment. It takes practice and conscious effort to temper this impulse. Next time you need to key up your radio, take a split second to listen and determine if there is a conversation already underway. If there is, wait a few seconds if you're just giving a routine status update. No one will die if you go 10-10 a few seconds late. Lives do not hang in the balance regarding your "drama delay." If you are in a critical situation, please break in on the radio, by all means. Look at the radio conversation at the top of this post. Which do you think is the most important transmission? Which transmission is yours? Please, just be polite!
"My patient needs to fix her hair and makeup."
"I'm 10-97."
"Yes, ma'am, yes ma'am, thank you ma'am, I'm here for you ma'am. You just let me know ma'am."
"CCCrrkkkkzz[garble]...NOPD here code three!"
Lately I've noticed a trend on the radio. In all my seventeen years of working for EMS in New Orleans, never have have I heard the amount of unnecessary chatter over the radio as is prevalent today. Oftentimes this chatter passes the bounds of steam-valve stress relief and strays into the realm of actual rudeness. In extreme circumstances, it can even create a hazard to our safety.
What do I mean? More often than not, we hear crews "walking" on each other on the radio in an effort to get their transmissions across. It is understandable that this may occasionally happen, particularly during hectic times. But I have noticed this happening far more frequently than in years past. The only factor I can attribute this to is simple discourtesy. Many times a shift, I will hear dispatch in the middle of a conversation with a crew, perhaps giving out details of a call or relaying other information, or maybe a crew asking for clarification of a location when in mid-transmission a different crew will barge in on the conversation with "put me Code 77 at Ochsner" or something to that effect. Cutting in on someone else's conversation is simply rude, particularly when it is centered on subject matter that can wait for a more appropriate time.
I am not saying that your Code 77 or your 10-10 or your on-scene delay isn't important. However there is no reason that any of these radio transmissions cannot wait for a few seconds until the current on-air discourse is finished. There are certain things that are vital to get out in a timely manner. Dispatching calls is one of them. A crew in danger is another. Requesting more units is another example. These radio transmissions must have first priority. But a large majority of our radio transmissions are simply routine status updates that should wait until whoever is on the radio finishes speaking.
"Professionalism" is an amalgam of many aspects of conduct. It is important that we treat our patients with respect and courtesy. We would never speak rudely to a physician that we were giving a report to. The mayor, the governor, the president - all deserve no less than the utmost respect when in conversation with them, regardless of our personal opinions of them. This is simply what is expected when dealing professionally with others. Should it be different when dealing with our co-workers? Courtesy, allowing others to finish their conversation, is one extremely important aspect of professionalism. Not barging in on a conversation already in progress is doubtless one of the things your mother taught you when you were a child. Though it may have been many years since Mother taught you this principle, it is no less in force today.
It is human nature that we feel that what we have to say is the most important thing at the moment. It takes practice and conscious effort to temper this impulse. Next time you need to key up your radio, take a split second to listen and determine if there is a conversation already underway. If there is, wait a few seconds if you're just giving a routine status update. No one will die if you go 10-10 a few seconds late. Lives do not hang in the balance regarding your "drama delay." If you are in a critical situation, please break in on the radio, by all means. Look at the radio conversation at the top of this post. Which do you think is the most important transmission? Which transmission is yours? Please, just be polite!
Tuesday, December 09, 2008
Friday, November 21, 2008
New Paramedics!
Congratulations to our new Paramedics: Beverly Cannon, Ashley Fain, Katrina McCrary, John Kesler and India Cross! One word of advice: RUN!
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Effort Saving Idea
walking those exhausting ten feet to the card swiper at the pumps.
Monday, October 20, 2008
Preview of the "Francene Hair Diaries"
Below are a few of the images to be included in the Francene Hair Diaries. Much more work needs to be done on this project, and I am asking you, the reader to contribute as part of an OpenArt presentation. Please email me photos you take of our beloved co-worker Francene and her inimitable hairdos. My address is linked in the box on the right marked "Want to be a member of this blog?" As we all know, she has one of the most versatile mops in all of EMS and presents styles that range from the demure to the bizarre. We need your pics. God put cameras on our cell phones for a reason people, and this is it. We need photos honoring Francene - the good, the bad and the frightening.
Because we love her and she's such a great sport!
Because we love her and she's such a great sport!
Thursday, September 25, 2008
I ALMOST Gave Him Money
can't call him stupid!
Sunday, September 07, 2008
What's the Deal?
Why is it that of all the shifts, B watch (odd days) is consistently
late getting themselves 10-8 on time? Not just once in a while, but
nearly every shift!
late getting themselves 10-8 on time? Not just once in a while, but
nearly every shift!
I can maybe understand being a little late on the first day of your
rotation, but when almost every truck has "paperwork" issues, stock
issues or just plain not answering the radio, then that makes a
problem for the entire division.
We've made it a matter of pride over the years to "watch each other's
back." For the most part, we keep that up. But B watch, I'm
disappointed; you're dropping the ball.
If you are one of the few on this watch that gets 10-8 on time, I applaud you. Keep setting a good example. But take that one step further and start motivating your shiftmates to do the same. It's rough enough without problems like this; each one has to do his part to keep everyone's morale up and continue NOEMS' reputation as the best in the country. We are counting on you, don't keep disappointing us.
Sunday, August 31, 2008
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
New Poll!
In view of our new best friend Gustav, here's a question for everyone:
What is your favorite flavor of MRE?
Leave your responses in the "comments" section beneath this post. Peace!
What is your favorite flavor of MRE?
Leave your responses in the "comments" section beneath this post. Peace!
Sunday, August 24, 2008
Didn't Think This Could Happen
earth where the tracks cross. These two happened to try to occupy that
one place at the same time.
Friday, August 22, 2008
Jeb Tate, RN
Yet another one of our EMT's has taken the plunge into the purgatory
that is the field of nursing! Gratz to Jeb Tate, RN. He passed his
Louisiana state boards today! And I was remiss in posting Samantha
Graham's passage into the paradise of poop also. So a belated Gratz to
her too!
We can haz a raise now, missah?
that is the field of nursing! Gratz to Jeb Tate, RN. He passed his
Louisiana state boards today! And I was remiss in posting Samantha
Graham's passage into the paradise of poop also. So a belated Gratz to
her too!
We can haz a raise now, missah?
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Slavery in EMS
Poor Katrina, already precepting for free, washes the truck while white oppressors look on. Slavery is alive & well!
By the way, Katrina is an excellent student!
Saturday, August 16, 2008
Creative AMA Writing 101
Ever get bored calling in those same old AMA's? Same dull formula every time? Ever actually start snoring during a medical control report? I know I have; that's why I've created a handy list of alternate vocabulary to use when calling in AMA's.
After the billionth time of saying "blah, blah, blah... the patient really doesn't want to go, we've encouraged her to seek medical attention but she still adamantly refuses... blah, blah, blah," it gets a little bland doesn't it?
Well, next time you need to call in an AMA, why not vary your radio report a little with some different, obscure vocabulary? After all, variety is the spice of life at EMS! Mix and match words from the lists for a fun twist on your reports!
"Blah, blah, blah... the patient
adamantly
firmly
inflexibly
rigidly
insistently
stubbornly
unyieldingly
pigheadedly
intransigently
obstinately
obdurately
firmly
pertinaciously
emphatically
brassboundly
implacably
refuses transport with EMS. We
strongly
ardently
explicitly
firmly
soundly
vehemently
vigorously
zealously
keenly
forthrightly
forcefully
earnestly
urgently
encouraged
exhorted
goaded
pleaded
urged
prodded
pressed
begged
admonished
spurred
beseeched
solicited
implored
supplicated
petitioned
coaxed
entreated
adjured
insisted
that he/she go to the hospital, but they still decline. Calling for an AMA... blah, blah, blah."
Now isn't that more interesting? You get to enjoy your AMA more and you have the added fun bonus of sending the new little residents scrambling for their dictionaries! Everybody's happy!
After the billionth time of saying "blah, blah, blah... the patient really doesn't want to go, we've encouraged her to seek medical attention but she still adamantly refuses... blah, blah, blah," it gets a little bland doesn't it?
Well, next time you need to call in an AMA, why not vary your radio report a little with some different, obscure vocabulary? After all, variety is the spice of life at EMS! Mix and match words from the lists for a fun twist on your reports!
"Blah, blah, blah... the patient
adamantly
firmly
inflexibly
rigidly
insistently
stubbornly
unyieldingly
pigheadedly
intransigently
obstinately
obdurately
firmly
pertinaciously
emphatically
brassboundly
implacably
refuses transport with EMS. We
strongly
ardently
explicitly
firmly
soundly
vehemently
vigorously
zealously
keenly
forthrightly
forcefully
earnestly
urgently
encouraged
exhorted
goaded
pleaded
urged
prodded
pressed
begged
admonished
spurred
beseeched
solicited
implored
supplicated
petitioned
coaxed
entreated
adjured
insisted
that he/she go to the hospital, but they still decline. Calling for an AMA... blah, blah, blah."
Now isn't that more interesting? You get to enjoy your AMA more and you have the added fun bonus of sending the new little residents scrambling for their dictionaries! Everybody's happy!
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