I spent 30 and a half years working the best job any man could ever hope for. I can honestly say I loved my job and my career. It wasn't always easy. There were times of great tragedy, more than most people ever experience, times of great joy, wonderful camaraderie with fellow firefighters, and other times that just make you shake your head in wonder. You never knew from day to day what you were going to be doing .Will it be a quiet day, a busy day, will you be fighting fire, or doing CPR on some poor soul. You never knew, and I loved that fact. The stories in this book are my report of some of the more unique memories I have. Tempe Fire Department was established in 1903. It serves a relatively small city of 47 square miles, and a population of 170,000. Tempe is home to Arizona State University, and the site of Super Bowl XXX. Tempe Fire Department was the 1st Internationally Accredited Fire Department in the United States.
Have you ever seen a fire engine racing down the street, siren wailing, air horn blasting, and lights flashing? Have you ever wondered where they were going, and what could be happening? Is there a fire, is someone hurt or trapped? We all want to know, but never find out. I was lucky enough to be one of the men riding down the street in one of those fire engines for 30 years. This book tells the stories of where we were going in such a hurry.
Fundamentals of Paramedic Practice An indispensable guide for aspiring paramedics and emergency medical professionals Paramedic practice is swiftly evolving, driven by changes in the paramedic curriculum. To meet the growing demands of the community, student paramedics and clinicians working in out-of-hospital care must stay abreast of this rapid evolution. Fundamentals of Paramedic Practice, Third Edition contributes to driving the profession forward and provides a comprehensive, accessible text authored by experienced paramedics and academics. This third edition has undergone comprehensive updates, introducing new chapters that provide students and recently registered practitioners with a vital overview of the theory and practice of contemporary paramedicine. This is an essential resource for the next generation of paramedics and out-of-hospital practitioners. Readers of the third edition of Fundamentals of Paramedic Practice will find: A multidisciplinary approach incorporating varied and dynamic research New chapters on subjects including end of life care, domestic violence, and paramedic wellbeing Learning activities to aid understanding and retention Fundamentals of Paramedic Practice, Third Edition is ideal for undergraduate paramedic and emergency care students, as well as registered paramedics, clinicians, and educators.
While a profound and much deserved amount of attention has always been directed toward the firefighters and police officers who were affected by the events of September 11, 2001, seldom has there been any attention provided to the often unrecognized rescuer who bears the title of Emergency Medical Technician or Paramedic who suffered equal consequences. These very special people have routinely been referred to simply as "emergency workers" or "ambulance drivers," rather than by the title they continuously demonstrate by the nature of their very trying profession. PARAMEDIC: M.O.S., pulled from the author's EMS experiences; was assembled to provide deeper insight into the mind of one such New York City Emergency Medical Technician/Paramedic and is dedicated to all emergency service workers and first responders. Inspired by true events pre-September 11th, a Paramedic of NYC EMS finds his world suddenly turned upside down by a series of in-the-line-of-duty events. In an effort to understand what brought him there, he begins reconnecting the events in his work and personal life that created this unforeseen scenario. Facing daily crises and how they apply to how he entered this line of work, readers are also shown the closeness that is felt and experienced working in such close proximity to those who face death and destruction together as a team daily. Comforted and kept together by his female mate, readers are taken through the sometimes playing field and often minefield of Emergency Medical Services in New York City and what it means to be a Member of the Service. PARAMEDIC: M.O.S. is a profound and deeply personal look into the experiences on the front lines of Emergency Medical Services in New York City. EMTs and paramedics not only experience the highs and lows of constant exposure to psychologically traumatic events but in addition to the constant intensity of patients revived or lost due to these events. Furthermore, EMTs and Paramedics are also forced to deal with coworkers who are sometimes ineffective, self-serving, uncaring, as well as bureaucratic red tape, politics, and often personal tragedy within their own fraternal public safety family. These incidents rarely, if ever, get reported in the general media. This book was created to share the human condition of EMT's and Paramedics, their camaraderie, bravery, and skill. Although September 11, 2001 claimed at least eight precious lives of these specialized rescuers, not even this was enough to direct attention toward the New York City Emergency Medical Technicians and Paramedics who lose their lives daily or are permanently scarred in the line of duty. The title of "hero" for those that have died and those that are out there every day risking their lives to save others existed long before September 11th changed calendar days. This book is an offering to share that view.
The Paramedic Revision Guide delivers a one-stop reference for paramedic students, paramedicine educators, and practicing paramedics. Designed to take the mystery out of paramedic education, the book provides a solid foundation of understanding in crucial areas of paramedic science and practice, including practical skills, research, anatomy and physiology, pharmacology, and medical emergencies. This guide furthers readers’ understanding and practice of emergency care, and includes: A thorough introduction to paramedic anatomy and physiology, including anatomical and medical terms, cellular biology, and pediatrics An exploration of practical skills for paramedics, including scene survey, airway practices, basic life support and defibrillation, burns, and head injuries Practical discussions of medical emergencies, research and evidence-based practice, and the ethical and legal considerations for paramedics An analysis of pre-hospital trauma treatment, including the physics and physiology of trauma The Paramedic Revision Guide earns a place on the shelves of all paramedic students and educators who need a comprehensive handbook full of succinct and easily digestible information, ideal for exam preparation and quick reference.
This special Instructor’s Edition can help you present better programs on the subject of EMS documentation. The patient care record your EMTs and paramedics leave at the hospital is your calling card. How good do you look? Oral reports need knowledgeable and effective delivery. Written reports also need completeness and accuracy. Written reports are a permanent patient medical record. They help with care continuity. The record of your personnel leave reflects on the professionalism of your organization. Patient care reports are the first place attorneys and regulatory agencies look when seeking to place liability. This training program helps you take steps to decrease your liability by teaching your employees how to write organized, professional reports. It also deals with special situations such as patient refusals, sudden death, crime scenes and child and elder abuse -- areas where your liability could increase even if you don’t transport a patient. This book breaks down the components of report giving and writing and provides instructors with a useful tool for training their personnel in proper written documentation and verbal reporting situations. It provides margin cues keyed to the text and helpful insights on presenting the program. Sample reports with analysis, useful for discussion groups, are provided.
This book provides a standard for all Emergency Medicine Services (EMS) agencies and Critical Care Transport (CCT) programs to follow as they conduct simulation training for their crew members. Simulation-based education for pre-hospital training and skill maintenance is now standard and there is a growing need for this this type of training tool. This title is an invaluable resource for EMS and CCT educators who aim to facilitate high quality simulations within their programs. The text provides guidance for running a successful simulation, including scenario charts and debriefing tips and topics. Included are over 30 simulation scenarios broken into appropriate scope of practice for EMTs, paramedics, and critical care transport crews where applicable. The books format is such that it can be followed to create a plan for simulation training. The first section provides a guide to using the text successfully and a concise overview of the theories and best practices of simulation-based education and debriefing. Next, clinical scenarios are presented by topic, including general care, cardiology, respiratory, neurology, trauma, obstetrics, pediatrics and toxicology. Each section offers specific disease-based simulation scenarios, including supporting imaging, physical exam, and laboratory data for the EMS and CCT community to use as part of their training and education. There are also suggested learning objectives, critical actions, and debriefing topics for each scenario. This resource is not designed with a specific simulation platform in mind and can be adapted to both low- and high-fidelity simulation settings. This book is a must-have resource for emergency medicine services agencies, critical care transport programs, and educators who work with pre-hospital providers.
