This not having school for a month sure makes doing a weekly podcast hard. Of course giving my brain a break is good.
All that to say, we’re taking next week off. Not Newbie coming out Wednesday Jan 12, 2010.
And the next week we need your help. Since there is still now school, we’re going to do a Listener Question and Answer episode.
Obviously we need questions.
You can give them to us 3 ways.
1. Post them as a comment on this post.
2. Leave a voicemail question. Call 281-738-2102.
3. Send it to us via the contact form.
You could also wrap it in a Benjamin and mail it to me. Let me know if you need the address.
What’s the benefit of field experience for EMS number crunchers?
Timothy:
Can you clarify what you mean here? Who are the number crunchers you
are talking about?
From a soon to be EMT-Basic (MA) student:
What’s the best way to study for an EMT-B class? Notecards? Cramming? Just reading the book for hours on end?
What’s the Glascow Coma Scale? I’ve heard of it, but have yet to fully understand it.
How much anatomy am I going to be expected to know? Am I going to be asked bone – muscle attachment points, what muscle is where and performs what, etc.
I’ve got a bunch more in the back of my head, but I can’t really seem to word them right (not gonna lie, I’m a little tired, it’s 11:50 PM local time.) I’ll post them when they come to me.
Any tips for trying to save a (likely) blown vein when cannulating? Some people aspirate while pushing in/pulling out with varying results, any more tips?
People who on QA projects like coordinating the cardiac arrest registry.
Any tips for taking a pulse easier?
Is the bouncing on the BP Cuff’s needle accurate for a Blood Pressure? I personally doubt it but friends who are EMTs & Paramedics tell me otherwise.
I know you’re in a 2 year paramedic program, I’m in a 1yr compressed course. What are your opinions on the 2year v. the 1yr crash course?
I am a 55 year old Intermediate. Got into EMS late in life. Was a Cop. Started as First Responder. Basic in 08. Intermediate in 09. Taking A&P this spring online. Thinking Paramedic in the Fall. Am I crazy? I still suck at Iv’s. Any tips? I look forward to your stuff. Thanks!
I asked about a million and one questions in the comments of another episode that you said will be answered here, which I’m looking forward to. It’s just that since I’m not currently in a position to practice with a service, the only time I’d ever be able to use my CFR skills would be if I came across someone by chance, so I think it’s important for me to know what my rights and responsibilities are should that ever happen.
Also, I want to know what you think the advantages are of having a college degree, if any. You see, I’m a psychology major at a private, liberal arts college and people are often surprised when they find out that I want to be an EMT and not a psychologist, as if being an EMT is somehow “below” my potential, which I think is silly. I try to explain to them from my perspective: That the skills I learn at a liberal arts institution (namely critical thinking, problem solving, creativity, effective communication) will allow me to use my degree every single day for the rest of my life, no matter what career I’m in. So I’m not “wasting my degree,” I’m just using it in a nontraditional way. But that answer doesn’t satisfy everyone (urgh!) so I’m wondering if you have any ideas of how my psychology degree might be put to use in EMS from the perspective of an experienced EMS provider? I can imagine ways in which my knowledge of psychology can come in handy in EMS 😉 but since I haven’t had the pleasure of practicing yet, I wouldn’t really know for sure….
Sorry all of my questions are so ridiculous and long! I’m just a long-winded person, typically! =)
Thanks!
Katie
Is it better to take an EMT course durning HS or wait until you graduate? I’m dertimed and plan to succede at this however it may be. I would just like a proffesional opinon.
Thanks so much
A few more:
How much of a difference isthere in scope of practice between NREMT-B and MA-EMT-B?
Any idea of a general starting wage for a per-diem EMT-B?
In your opinions, what works better on an unresponsive patient: NPA or OPA?