EMT’s Behaving Badly

When does “what happens on the truck, stays on the truck” end, and reporting misconduct begin? That’s the topic we tackle on this week’s edition of Inside EMS. Read, share, comment, opine.

In this week’s episode of Inside EMS, co-host Chris Cebollero and I welcome women EMS leaders Nancy Magee, Tracey Loscar and Catherine Counts to the Guest Table, where they share with us what it’s like to be a woman in a male-dominated profession. Short version: If you have a Y chromosome, you really have no clue how much crap women ...

Check out co-host Chris Cebollero and I discussing this week’s EMS news and events in this week’s episode of Inside EMS. Enjoy.

In this week’s episode of Inside EMS, co-host Chris Cebollero and I discuss the latest EMS news and events, including the California fire department that stepped on its wedding tackle, PR wise, by billing a Good Samaritan $140 for a bandaged hand. Listen to the podcast here, and share with us your thoughts.

In this week’s episode of Inside EMS, co-host Chris Cebollero and I discuss the suicide of Fairfax, VA firefighter/paramedic Nicole Mittendorf, and how EMS and the fire service talk a good game about the public safety brotherhood, but many systems do a poor job of practicing it. Give us a listen, and share with us your thoughts. As I said ...

The suicide of Fairfax County, VA firefighter/paramedic Nicole Mittendorf has brought to light an ugly, hidden truth in public safety: boorish, even abusive behavior toward women is still alive and well in the firehouses and ambulance stations. A story by Deputy Chief Billy Goldfeder of Firefighter Close Calls details some of the filth and innuendo directed at Nicole Mittendorf. Chief ...

On this week’s episode of Inside EMS, co-host Chris Cebollero and I discuss the two Falmouth Volunteer Fire Dept. EMTs who suffered an epic case of Quadruple P Syndrome*, and discuss pediatric assessment in some detail. Give us a listen, and share your thoughts!       *Pediatric Patient, Panicky Providers

It’s rare that I allow guest posts on the blog. In fact today is only the second in seven years. But my sweetheart Nancy Magee unleashed an excellent rant today, and I thought I’d have her share it with you. Plus, if I publish it here, maybe she’ll be quiet long enough for me to watch Blazing Saddles uninterrupted. It’s ...

If you are ever in public, performing your duties as an EMT, or cop, or firefighter, and you realize someone is filming you, here’s what you do: Listen carefully, now. This is important. The instructions I’m going to give you must be followed to the letter. Do not deviate from them, and I guarantee you will handle the situation as ...

On this week’s episode of Inside EMS, co-host Chris Cebollero and I discuss the latest EMS news and events, including the disgrace to the profession Detroit EMT who couldn’t be bothered to respond to an infant in cardiac arrest. For our Clinical Issue, we discuss vital signs tips and tricks. Check out the show, and let us know what you ...

A lot of Facebook friends have shared this video with me: If I ever had a partner who drove like that, especially with me and a patient in back, I’d whip his ass in the ambulance bay as soon as we cleared the patient off our stretcher. From the Jalopnik article: For ambulance drivers, the route back to the hospital ...

On this week’s episode of Inside EMS, co-host Chris Cebollero and I discuss Next Generation 911 and the potential for 911 PSAPs (Public Safety Answering Points) to send and receive data such as texts, video and photos. This is something that could really revolutionize EMS and public safety communication. In the news, we discuss the latest in the rash of ...

In this week’s episode of Inside EMS, co-host Chris Cebollero and myself welcome defensive tactics expert Kip Teitsort to the Guest table, to discuss the recent suspension of two Glendale, AZ firefighters for striking a patient, and how departments can avoid such happenings in the future. Along the way, I piss off a whole bunch of people with my comments ...

Way back in 2008, I called naloxone the most abused drug in the EMS drug box. That comment arose from a discussion on an EMS forum where a distressingly high number of paramedics saw nothing wrong with using maximum doses of naloxone to “wake someone up” or “ruin the high” of some junkie. Not to reverse opiate-induced respiratory depression. Not ...

… there’s a new column up on EMS1. Playing chess with pigeons. Enjoy.