Wake Up! - Page 2

Med-Defense · 11-21-2012, 07:56

Quote:

I'll chime in. I finish EMT basic next month.

Well there ya go, people just needed some coaxing!

seagravedriver · 11-21-2012, 17:36

Great to see folks getting started. We ALL started somewhere.

LifePak 4s felt like they had a lead acid battery in them. We were running those, except we had ONE LifePak 5. Gas powered ambulances with Ford 460s in them, riding tailboard, (yes, I did! Hey, they took me as a volunteer FF when I was 16)! Beer at big fires,hmmmmm

Paul53 · 11-21-2012, 17:46

Was NREMT-I in NM and TX in the 80's. EMT-B volunteer in Maine 2005 +/- 3 years (with a Lifepack 20 something!).
ER Nurse 87 to 09. EMS/ER people are a breed apart. When everybody else runs away, we run in. Proud to be among you mi amigos.

Been disabled almost 3 years. Guess it's because of the above that all my dreams are of working emergencies (honestly).

Med-Defense · 11-22-2012, 10:32

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EMS/ER people are a breed apart. When everybody else runs away, we run in. Proud to be among you mi compadres.

Truth Spoken!

And....

...Happy thanksgiving!

vinniej123 · 11-22-2012, 12:04

You have to be a special breed of messed up in the head to deal with the things we see.

Paul53 · 11-22-2012, 12:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by vinniej123

You have to be a special breed of messed up in the head to deal with the things we see.

I disagree. We train and practice to help people on the worst day in their lives. When trajedy occurs, people function as they're trained. Panic sets in when people feel overwhelmed, helpless, or don't have the training. We train for the worst.

Nobody wants to see people severely sick or injured. There are 2 choices, be helpless, or train to be helpful. We have chosen to be helpful rather than helpless.

vinniej123 · 11-22-2012, 14:45

I didn't say we wanted to see it happen, but to be able to shrug it off and go on, can't be done by just anyone.

Paul53 · 11-22-2012, 14:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by vinniej123

I didn't say we wanted to see it happen, but to be able to shrug it off and go on, can't be done by just anyone.

Important distinction and I didn't mean to imply we WANT to see people get sick or injured. That just happens.
I meant that we WANT to be able to help them when they do. Sorry if I implied otherwise.

vinniej123 · 11-22-2012, 15:20

No offense taken, I just feel like it is a natural mechanism not easily learned.

oli700 · 11-23-2012, 21:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by Med-Defense

Man I know this isn't a site dedicated to Fire/EMS but there is next to nothing going on in this part of the site. I'm a First Responder and currently in college for Pre-Med, what about the rest of you guys?

Wildland Fire, 23 years out of Oregon

BC Dan · 11-24-2012, 10:26

28 years career, bat. chief for the last 10 (hence the BC in BC Dan) and I know where the great state of Jefferson is

Lots of changes over the years, some good, some not so good. The job has changed a lot, not sure why they call it the Fire Dept. when most departments do 80%+ doctor calls.

One thing that remains the same; when they call for help, we go. Without fail.

oli700 · 11-24-2012, 10:44

very nice, I am equivlent to a BC......supervise 12 engines, a dozer, 10 person handline crew.....couple of lookouts

Med-Defense · 11-25-2012, 21:12

Loving to see this from you guys! BC for ten years and an equivalent, we have some heavyweights here.

seagravedriver · 11-25-2012, 21:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by oli700

Wildland Fire, 23 years out of Oregon

Love the wildland! I have been on our wildland team for 12 years. Toolbox complex in OR a few years ago, and a bunch of fires in WA. Just a FF 1 right now. Working on Engine boss.

BC Dan · 11-26-2012, 09:34

Spent a 8 seasons with the FS and Oregon Dept. of Forestry, most on engines, two on the Shot crew,. Wildland is a lot of fun. But getting a paycheck 12 months out of 12 trumps the fun factor

Still miss it from time to time, but fortunately, we have enough fires in the interface to give me my fix

And BC's don't have to go on doctor calls, unless we want to :D

seagravedriver · 11-26-2012, 14:47

Quote:

Originally Posted by BC Dan

Spent a 8 seasons with the FS and Oregon Dept. of Forestry, most on engines, two on the Shot crew,. Wildland is a lot of fun. But getting a paycheck 12 months out of 12 trumps the fun factor

Still miss it from time to time, but fortunately, we have enough fires in the interface to give me my fix

And BC's don't have to go on doctor calls, unless we want to :D

Understand the full time pay thing! We have a couple of former WA DNR guys with us now. They all loved the work, but the pay and being seasonal often sucks. What area of OR are you in, chief? I lived there a few years, and went to medic school there. A good friend of mine works for Albany Fire.

BC Dan · 11-26-2012, 21:11

I'm in Klamath Falls.. south/central Oregon

AmonRa · 11-29-2012, 08:09

Medic for around 7 years now

JabbaNoBother · 11-30-2012, 14:40

OEC (Outdoor Emergency Care) tech, member of the National Ski Patrol. Looking to further my EMS training for EMT certification sometime next year.

oli700 · 11-30-2012, 17:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by BC Dan

Spent a 8 seasons with the FS and Oregon Dept. of Forestry, most on engines, two on the Shot crew,. Wildland is a lot of fun. But getting a paycheck 12 months out of 12 trumps the fun factor

Still miss it from time to time, but fortunately, we have enough fires in the interface to give me my fix

And BC's don't have to go on doctor calls, unless we want to :D

sweet

cfd630 · 12-25-2012, 19:27

Career Fire Lieut./Paramedic here in VA. Work as a Tactical medic on the SWAT team and now a Dive Medic on the Police Dive Team. Just got my first Glock after our team just switched to Glock from HK , all .40s.

sphillips45 · 12-26-2012, 12:36

18 yrs as a firefighter, 1 yr as Chief. We are a small rural dept here in Alabama . It has been the best 18 yrs of my life i love it ..

***hotpig*** · 12-26-2012, 18:36

Career FF/Medic/Arson Inv. 26 years plus three years as a Volunteer FF. I also work per diem Ambulance/ER at a teaching hospital.

I'm not teaching often since starting out my last medic class with a dose of reality. I asked why in the **** are you people wasting your time here. In two to four years you will have realised that this is a mistake. Get in the RN Program and in not much more time you will have a better paying job, better working conditions, more respect and a career path.

Out of the eight that finished the class four are in the Nursing Program two years later. It feels nice helping shape young minds.

aspartz · 12-27-2012, 14:05

Just got my medic -- FF since 96, EMT since 99

tallen122 · 12-30-2012, 20:44

Retired (on a disability) firefighter/paramedic after about 27 years. Best job in the world bar none! I also taught fire science and the State firefighter II course at a local college.