46 replies to this topic

[randomperson139]

Even in parts of the UK, you can be further than 30 mins from the nearest hospital. Where I used to be, in not particularly rural Yorkshire, one hospital was about 30 mins in one direction and another was 45 mins in the other. And this wasn't even a very rural area.

[CFDDIVE11]

Here the nearest trauma center is 30-35 minutes away. Other hospitals are 20-30 but there is a freestanding ER about 15 minutes away and that's driving non emergent

[Fred03]

Dear lord man, where are you from? Even in the farthest reaches of our county, we're never more than 30 minutes away from a hospital.

I'm Midwest America lol, whole lotta nothing out here. Its even worse out west in some places.

[firetruck]

Yes. I'm an EMT (BLS) in California. I work for one of the largest ambulance companies in the country. I run emergency calls every now and then but these days I mostly just transfer people from facility to facility since I am a part time employee.

AMR?

[AZNALUBMA]

Volunteer EMT-B, 3 years now.

Medical student.

 

My country follows the Franco-German EMS System, so we have:

 

BLSD Units for routine calls/ transports with 2-3 EMT-B

Intermediate Units with a Nurse, and two EMT-B

ALS Units with Nurse, Emergency Physician and two EMT-B

 

I'm currently studying to become a Physician and then get a master degree in Anesthesiology and Reanimation...wish me luck

[jamnj88]

I use to work as a paramedic but I quit from the ambulance company I was working for. I was tired of being a taxi driver for the elderly people who were to cheap to take a taxi to drs appts and trips home from the hospital

[mercurygrandmarquis1]

Here in NY with The current system there are 4 tiers of EMS providers:

 

Certified First Responder: 80 hour course. Basically a combination of first-aid, CPR and AED. Aimed at volunteer Firefighters.

 

EMT-Basic: 200 hour course. Can do all basic life support skills. Can give some medications (Nitro, Albuterol, Epi-Pen, Narcan, Asprin). Can insert oral and nasal airways. Can sample BG's and do Pulse Ox readings.

 

EMT-Advanced: 220 hours, can do everything the basic can do but can start an IV Line as well and use a manual defib/monitor and run a 12 lead EKG. Can also use a King Airway.

 

EMT-Paramedic: Can do everything the others can do, plus can administer a wide range of drugs, perform RSI and intubation. 

 

 

The state requires an ambulance crew to at a minimum have 1 EMT-Basic on board. The driver does NOT have to be an EMT, but MUST have CPR/AED. 

 

The county requires all ambulance crews be EMT-B's at minimum. Most agencies staff with 1 EMT and 1 Paramedic on each rig.

 

Fire departments that do not have an ambulance and dont transport have less stringent requirements. In our county ALL paid Firefighters MUST be EMT-B's or paramedics. ALL volunteers must at a minimum have CPR/AED and Red Cross First Aid. That being said most departments demand more... In our department its expected that all volunteers will complete either CFR or EMT-B within a year of finishing fire training. all of our paid staff and about 90% of our volunteers are EMT-B's.

 

I cant imagine not being allowed to take an SpO2 reading or give asprin...

 

 

are you from upstate?

 

Here in the city Advanced EMTs aren't recognized. and every 911 truck is either both EMTs or Both Medics. On the transport side you generally have Medic/EMT crews. As an EMT practicing in the city blood glucose and pulse oxs are not in our protocol (Despite that they should be and some crews carrying them anyway.) Can you guys give narcan up there? It was just approved for us.