Comments on: Patients Define Their Emergencies http://theemtspot.com/2009/02/21/patients-define-their-emergencies/ Medicine Moves Fast ... Keep Up. Tue, 15 May 2012 14:49:39 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Flavio http://theemtspot.com/2009/02/21/patients-define-their-emergencies/comment-page-1/#comment-5948 Flavio Tue, 31 Jan 2012 03:26:30 +0000 http://theemtspot.com/?p=261#comment-5948 "You work in EMS to serve human beings. The good ones and the bad ones and the nice ones and the smelly ones and the drunk ones and the violent ones. Everyone." That was awesome and once I start working I will keep that quote in mind brother! Thank you! “You work in EMS to serve human beings. The good ones and the bad ones and the nice ones and the smelly ones and the drunk ones and the violent ones. Everyone.”

That was awesome and once I start working I will keep that quote in mind brother! Thank you!

]]> By: Lisa http://theemtspot.com/2009/02/21/patients-define-their-emergencies/comment-page-1/#comment-5428 Lisa Fri, 08 Jul 2011 02:06:30 +0000 http://theemtspot.com/?p=261#comment-5428 I stumbled upon this website while doing research for a report on Whiplash for my EMT-Basic course. I have been fortunate to have instructors who have embraced this very philosophy. We are NOT to judge because it is an emergency to them. So don't worry it is being taught, at least in my school. I am relieved that it is taught because I understand what it's like being in the callers position. Fortunately, for me my uncle ( who's now a retired Firefighter/EMT) was on the other line when I called to get advice on what to do for rambunctious children who would flip over furniture and hit their heads on tables or stick their heads in wrought iron trellises. He would patiently tell me how to assess, treat and observe them, or how to remove them from the object. Thanks to him I never had to actually call 911 but in a sense I felt I had because he responded no matter what time of day and never once treated me as if I was some kind of intrusion. In fact he's one of the reasons that I have decided to become an EMT because he made a difference in my life and is my inspiration. I wish more people would read what you have written so perhaps we could all come to understand the real reason we are in this profession which is to help people in what ever capacity we are able to without judgement or attitude. Blessings to all. Be safe. Looking forward to being a part of the team. I stumbled upon this website while doing research for a report on Whiplash for my EMT-Basic course. I have been fortunate to have instructors who have embraced this very philosophy. We are NOT to judge because it is an emergency to them. So don’t worry it is being taught, at least in my school. I am relieved that it is taught because I understand what it’s like being in the callers position. Fortunately, for me my uncle ( who’s now a retired Firefighter/EMT) was on the other line when I called to get advice on what to do for rambunctious children who would flip over furniture and hit their heads on tables or stick their heads in wrought iron trellises. He would patiently tell me how to assess, treat and observe them, or how to remove them from the object. Thanks to him I never had to actually call 911 but in a sense I felt I had because he responded no matter what time of day and never once treated me as if I was some kind of intrusion. In fact he’s one of the reasons that I have decided to become an EMT because he made a difference in my life and is my inspiration. I wish more people would read what you have written so perhaps we could all come to understand the real reason we are in this profession which is to help people in what ever capacity we are able to without judgement or attitude. Blessings to all. Be safe. Looking forward to being a part of the team.

]]> By: Nate http://theemtspot.com/2009/02/21/patients-define-their-emergencies/comment-page-1/#comment-4178 Nate Fri, 29 Oct 2010 02:28:55 +0000 http://theemtspot.com/?p=261#comment-4178 I for one happen to disagree with this. We have alot of people who abuse the system in our county. I for one am sick and tired of my hard earned tax dollars being spent for welfare junkie's night out at the hospital and my tax dollars paying to get them there. Not to mention my volunteered time for what is not a true emergency. I do not mind helping those truly in need even if it means changing an elderly persons diaper or helping them up after they have fallen that is what I am here for but there should be a method to report and eliminate obvious misuse of the system and my tax dollars. I for one happen to disagree with this. We have alot of people who abuse the system in our county. I for one am sick and tired of my hard earned tax dollars being spent for welfare junkie’s night out at the hospital and my tax dollars paying to get them there. Not to mention my volunteered time for what is not a true emergency. I do not mind helping those truly in need even if it means changing an elderly persons diaper or helping them up after they have fallen that is what I am here for but there should be a method to report and eliminate obvious misuse of the system and my tax dollars.

]]> By: The EMT Spot » Patients Define Their Emergencies (Part 2) http://theemtspot.com/2009/02/21/patients-define-their-emergencies/comment-page-1/#comment-3938 The EMT Spot » Patients Define Their Emergencies (Part 2) Sun, 15 Aug 2010 22:10:16 +0000 http://theemtspot.com/?p=261#comment-3938 [...] of emergency, not yours.” and Justin never mentioned my name in his post. But I did say that patient’s define their emergencies. Which is the closest thing I’ve ever seen to Justin’s quote in the [...] [...] of emergency, not yours.” and Justin never mentioned my name in his post. But I did say that patient’s define their emergencies. Which is the closest thing I’ve ever seen to Justin’s quote in the [...]

]]> By: The EMT Spot » What Is An EMS Non-Conformist? http://theemtspot.com/2009/02/21/patients-define-their-emergencies/comment-page-1/#comment-3746 The EMT Spot » What Is An EMS Non-Conformist? Mon, 14 Jun 2010 16:09:30 +0000 http://theemtspot.com/?p=261#comment-3746 [...] Patients Define Their Emergencies [...] [...] Patients Define Their Emergencies [...]

]]> By: The EMT Spot » The May 2010 Handover Blog Carnival http://theemtspot.com/2009/02/21/patients-define-their-emergencies/comment-page-1/#comment-3658 The EMT Spot » The May 2010 Handover Blog Carnival Fri, 28 May 2010 13:34:14 +0000 http://theemtspot.com/?p=261#comment-3658 [...] Patients Define Their Emergencies [...] [...] Patients Define Their Emergencies [...]

]]> By: The EMT Spot » How Being Burnt Out Can Ignite A Rebirth. http://theemtspot.com/2009/02/21/patients-define-their-emergencies/comment-page-1/#comment-3603 The EMT Spot » How Being Burnt Out Can Ignite A Rebirth. Tue, 11 May 2010 20:50:41 +0000 http://theemtspot.com/?p=261#comment-3603 [...] Patients Define Their Emergencies [...] [...] Patients Define Their Emergencies [...]

]]> By: Amy http://theemtspot.com/2009/02/21/patients-define-their-emergencies/comment-page-1/#comment-3160 Amy Thu, 18 Feb 2010 08:54:39 +0000 http://theemtspot.com/?p=261#comment-3160 Steve, you couldn't be more right. I was really lucky in that my instructor told me & the rest of the class how EMS really was. Not only do you need to know your skills backwards, forwards, & upside down--you have to be part psychiatrist---not that all patients telling you their life story want advice, in fact, most just want an empathetic ear. Giving advice is a touchy subject & not always appropriate. Listening is your best bet. When people decide they want to join EMS, if they don't already know or they're not told, they think it's going to be just like t.v.---one adrenaline pumping---mindbending---hair raising---H O L Y C R A P!!!!! call after another. Some get really disappointed when they find out it's really not like that & feel it's a waste of their time & skills to answer a call similar to the call in Steve's article. Steve--what you wrote is so true & I also agree that " patients define their emergencies." Who are we to decide what's an emergency & what's not? Our job is to just show up--no matter what. As far as what Jimmy wrote, I'll go with EPIC. Steve, you couldn’t be more right. I was really lucky in that my instructor told me & the rest of the class how EMS really was. Not only do you need to know your skills backwards, forwards, & upside down–you have to be part psychiatrist—not that all patients telling you their life story want advice, in fact, most just want an empathetic ear. Giving advice is a touchy subject & not always appropriate. Listening is your best bet. When people decide they want to join EMS, if they don’t already know or they’re not told, they think it’s going to be just like t.v.—one adrenaline pumping—mindbending—hair raising—H O L Y C R A P!!!!! call after another. Some get really disappointed when they find out it’s really not like that & feel it’s a waste of their time & skills to answer a call similar to the call in Steve’s article. Steve–what you wrote is so true & I also agree that ” patients define their emergencies.” Who are we to decide what’s an emergency & what’s not? Our job is to just show up–no matter what. As far as what Jimmy wrote, I’ll go with EPIC.

]]> By: Nancy http://theemtspot.com/2009/02/21/patients-define-their-emergencies/comment-page-1/#comment-2868 Nancy Thu, 31 Dec 2009 17:28:03 +0000 http://theemtspot.com/?p=261#comment-2868 I couldn't agree with you more - as a nurse in a nursing home setting, the greatest "emergencies" are not the medical so much as the need to feel useful, to still matter in life, and to not be ignored by those of us caring for the body, but not the soul. Behaviours occur with some, and it it is a sign they still have the ability to fight...they haven't given up yet.It is frustrating, but it is also a chance to intervene and help guide the individual in their anger before they truly give up and just begin waiting for the end. I couldn’t agree with you more – as a nurse in a nursing home setting, the greatest “emergencies” are not the medical so much as the need to feel useful, to still matter in life, and to not be ignored by those of us caring for the body, but not the soul. Behaviours occur with some, and it it is a sign they still have the ability to fight…they haven’t given up yet.It is frustrating, but it is also a chance to intervene and help guide the individual in their anger before they truly give up and just begin waiting for the end.

]]> By: Steve Whitehead http://theemtspot.com/2009/02/21/patients-define-their-emergencies/comment-page-1/#comment-2743 Steve Whitehead Wed, 16 Dec 2009 18:49:15 +0000 http://theemtspot.com/?p=261#comment-2743 Scott, I think it is important to somehow interject the reality of what EMS care is in the basic curriculum. I don't see it becomeing a part of the standard DOT curriculum any time soon, but as an instructor I know it can be done. Scott, I think it is important to somehow interject the reality of what EMS care is in the basic curriculum. I don’t see it becomeing a part of the standard DOT curriculum any time soon, but as an instructor I know it can be done.

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