Comments on: Five Rules For One Shift

By: Eric

Eric — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 15:17:16 +0000

Steve, great article and great responses. When I was doing my EMT-B third rides, we were dispatched for a transfer of a pt with an infected fingernail. This was on a Sunday afternoon. I made a comment like “oh, I’m sure this is an emergency”, and was quickly reminded by my preceptor that it’s not up to us to decide what is or isn’t an emergency. It’s up to us to make the call, no matter what we think, and to be professional about it. It really put me in the correct mindset that even if we think the call is ridiculous, we still have the duty to respond and treat that patient with respect, because in their mind, it’s important.

By: Shawna

Shawna — Wed, 06 Jul 2011 19:42:47 +0000

I love it. Its about how you handle the calls, not how they handle you.

By: sarabeth burke

sarabeth burke — Wed, 18 May 2011 05:05:45 +0000

this is great and i will definitely keep this to heart when i get my first shift!

By: The EMT Spot » Jumping to No

The EMT Spot » Jumping to No — Sun, 21 Nov 2010 14:26:12 +0000

[...] Five Rules for One Shift [...]

By: Rob

Rob — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 16:01:51 +0000

My mantra is “I get paid by the hour.”

By: The EMT Spot » Where Do You Put The Fear?

The EMT Spot » Where Do You Put The Fear? — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 16:12:13 +0000

[...] Five Rules For One Shift [...]

By: Favorite theemtspot.com Posts | RethinkingEMS

Favorite theemtspot.com Posts | RethinkingEMS — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 17:10:39 +0000

[...] Five Rules for One Shift [...]

By: Jameson

Jameson — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 07:14:43 +0000

Another fantastic read. There’s a lot to be learned from the 5 rules as well as from the comments following them.

The EMT spot is my new homepage, for sure.

By: Steve Whitehead

Steve Whitehead — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 14:00:31 +0000

@Charles I second the recommendation on reading “People Care”. Nobody explains the concept quite as well as Thom Dick.

@Chris Nice perspective. And perhaps we should care for them as if they are our own.

By: Dispatcher Chris

Dispatcher Chris — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 10:03:01 +0000

Steve these are great rules to live by….I would like to add that after 24 years in EMS the only thing I know for sure is that it isn’t like it is on TV. All of these are good points, but remember we are always Teaching, and forming the next generation of EMT’s and Medics. We need to not be like the old “Burned out” 20 plus years Grumpy old fart’s and remember what an old Medic told me once. Every one no matter how Drunk, Sick, or out of their minds they are is someones Mom, Dad, Son, Daughter, Husband, Wife, Grandmother, Grandfather ect, Treat them as such.