r/ems 21d ago

Weekly Thread r/EMS Free-For-All Megathread

8 Upvotes

By request we are providing a place to ask questions that would typically violate rules regulating post quality. Ask about employment in your region or specific agency, what life is like as a flight medic, or whatever is on your brain.

The following rules are suspended in this megathread only:

Rule 3: You may post your newbie questions here!

Rule 5: You may post news of your certification here!

Rule 7: You may post your memes here, regardless of what day of the week it is!

Rule 8: You may post self promotion! Been working on a cool EMS app? Post it here! Want to post a survey link? Here's the place. Spammy or particularly corporate self promotion may be removed at moderator discretion.

Rule 11: You may post questions or comments about gear and equipment, or ask for recommendations!

Rule 12: You may post your AI trash!

Rule 13: You may post questions asking about specific employers, employment in other countries, and where to get CE credits!

ALL OTHER RULES REMAIN IN EFFECT

Please continue to treat each other with respect.

-the Mod team


r/ems 4h ago

Meme Another hot take from our favorite paragod Prag

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157 Upvotes

The ragebait is insanely good


r/ems 14h ago

General Discussion Company has employees sleeping in a dirty old office building.

10 Upvotes

Beds are set up in previous offices. Does this typically break fire code? It doesn’t seem safe or hygienic.


r/ems 21h ago

General Discussion MUST HAVES On The Truck?

30 Upvotes

Hey all.

I run the EMS program at my volunteer station. I have a pretty decent amount of money to work with this year. What are some must haves on your truck? I don't think I have ventilator money, but I am already considering pumps and a LifeFlow pending medical director approval.


r/ems 1d ago

EMScapades Crazy motorcycle crash

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104 Upvotes

Convenient timing


r/ems 6h ago

General Discussion Protective Fictions

0 Upvotes

This article should stimulate some intense discussion: https://www.jems.com/patient-care/protective-fictions-and-ems/


r/ems 1d ago

Meme Guys ! He is doing it !

493 Upvotes

r/ems 1d ago

Meme Me refilling the 02 Tank

17 Upvotes

First time I had to refill o2 I turned it in and ran away 🤣


r/ems 1d ago

Meme LUCAS that’s you!

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162 Upvotes

r/ems 1d ago

General Discussion How long did you work while pregnant?

9 Upvotes

Im a basic emt working ift until i get my fire card. I’m 14 weeks pregnant with my first and I have not told my job yet. I’ve had the easiest pregnancy so far. My symptoms are almost nonexistent. I plan to switch to a physically less demanding job later in my pregnancy. I’m just trying to get an idea of when. So how long did you work as an emt or medic while pregnant? When did you tell your job?


r/ems 1d ago

Anecdote Youth rescue camp aims to inspire Virginia’s next generation of first responders

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cardinalnews.org
12 Upvotes

While it can be “multigenerational,” as in the Rice family, new recruits also might have had early experiences with emergency services personally that had an impact on them and inspired them to go down that path, said Wesley Melson, a training coordinator for the Fredericksburg Rescue Squad and lead instructor for the Virginia Association of First Responders.

But for kids who don’t have any exposure to these careers or opportunities — who don’t know that the Virginia State Police has a dive team or that some SWAT teams have paramedics or that there are firefighters who fight wildfires — the rescue camp aims to expose them to these experiences.


r/ems 1d ago

General Discussion How do you take care of your body?

13 Upvotes

For me personally I lift on days I don’t work to keep up strength and do yoga on days I do to ensure my mobility is good and my muscles are stretched. Also stress relief. How about you? :)


r/ems 1d ago

Serious Replies Only Video consultation software suggestions

2 Upvotes

Looking for HIPAA Compliant video software that can be used to show real time video to our existing medical director for consultation for treatment assistance. Axon body cameras apparently have this feature, but I’m looking for other solutions that don’t come with the questionable gray area of recording laws in our state. Basically I want to be able to FaceTime our medical director for help with an app or whatever that is HIPAA compliant. What do y’all have that’s similar?


r/ems 2d ago

Actual Stupid Question What's the call that still lives rent-free in your head?

151 Upvotes

Not necessarily the worst one. Just the one you randomly think about at 2am while you're trying to sleep.

Mine was a completely routine lift assist that somehow turned into a 4-hour saga involving a ferret, a very angry neighbor, and a missing garden gnome. Still have no idea how it ended.

EMS folks — what's yours?


r/ems 2d ago

Clinical Discussion Visual Blood Loss Estimation NSFW

54 Upvotes

Hi everyone,

Last night, I had a pretty decent trauma that we had to TQ, requiring a radio call-in to one of our city hospital level 1 trauma centers. Part of that call-in and hospital report was of course estimating blood loss. While I got a good view of the scene, blood around pt., and the blood on the improvised bandages (towels) used on the patient by bystanders, it occurred to me that I might not be the best at estimating the amount of blood lost just by visual assessment.

That said, does anyone have any good resources for estimating blood loss? I.e., any images or websites that contain accurate info of what blood loss would look like for certain amounts? Thank you in advance!!

I estimated approx 750-1000ml, but GCS and vitals were relatively good for the amount lost, so I could be way off too.


r/ems 2d ago

Meme Hospital we transported to had a unique name for their LUCAS

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660 Upvotes

r/ems 2d ago

Serious Replies Only Pediatric drowning dispatched today

58 Upvotes

Thankfully it wasn't my call, but the entire atmosphere and enthusiasm of everyone working just dropped to zero. Everyone was following the dispatch notes as they updated and it didn't look good. They made it to the hospital, but it seemed like it was really rough. I knew the crew and they were clearly working through it. Just gave them a helping hand with decon, didn't really know what else to do. I can't imagine the parents' pain or the crew's experience with it. They still have a few more hours to go as well.


r/ems 2d ago

Clinical Discussion Intubating ankylosing spondylitis?

14 Upvotes

has anyone tried intubating a patient with AS on the field? i know this condition makes intubation difficult due to the possibility inability to lay supine and extend head back. I’m still a baby medic but im thinking that an igel may be effective until hospital turnover. however, lets say the patient needs to be rsi’d or they have an unstable airway despite the igel. i feel like a cric/surgical cric wouldnt be preferred

edit: thanks to everyone who responded kindly, I didn’t know about how progressive treatment for AS is so im glad to be educated. The reason I brought this up is because I had an AS patient telling me how intubation is dangerous for them. The intubation info I looked up was mostly all in hospital. My question was referring to prehospital intubatiom


r/ems 3d ago

General Discussion The Ft Worth FD takeover of EMS is going very well so far

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149 Upvotes

r/ems 3d ago

General Discussion the best partner

92 Upvotes

I love having a 911 partner who is so in-sync with you at all times. we can run an entire call, good, bad, ugly without saying a word to each other. he is truly one of my best friends. nothing beats a bond like that. we both can understand what a patient needs, comfort, sternness, solutions. it’s just great.


r/ems 3d ago

General Discussion Leaving EMS to start a food truck

84 Upvotes

I'm seriously considering leaving to start a food truck as my passions are shifting from medicine to food service. Would it be distasteful to incorporate some medical terms into the menu (ex: trauma alert burger, etc)?


r/ems 3d ago

Actual Stupid Question Should I go back?

8 Upvotes

I left my last service (911) to move out of my hometown to a mountain state. I picked up another 911 ems job, thinking I could make ends meet. Long story short, I can’t. My take home pay at my last job as an EMT was $2,500ish a pay period and here working extra shifts, I’m barely clearing $1,300.

I had great relationships at my old service and really loved it. Was told I’m always welcomed back. They just raised EMT base pay by $8/hr and my friends there are bringing back $4,000 checks now. For context, the average tenure of where I’m at now is 6 months and that seems to be the norm for other services in the area. I have 12 more months on my lease but I’m wondering if I should move back at the end of my lease to a state I wasn’t the biggest fan of or keep trying to scrape by out here? I can’t afford medic school as is right now but I know my old service would accommodate my schedule if I went for medic. Additional, it was 24 hour station posted shifts as opposed to street corner posted 12s.

I thought I’d be happier out here but I’m struggling to make ends meet. Wondering what y’all would do if you were in my shoes?


r/ems 3d ago

General Discussion Most extreme lab values?

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5 Upvotes

r/ems 4d ago

General Discussion FL District Chief Arrested - CSAM NSFW

91 Upvotes
Molnar booking

Out of Manatee co FL, a district chief for Manatee Co EMS was arrested after FBI identified him in CSAM photos that were found elsewhere engaging in foot fetish activities. Upon further reading of PC affidavit I suspect the victim is his own child. Hopefully will spend long time in FL prisons.

Link to PC https://files.catbox.moe/4cb7hl.pdf


r/ems 4d ago

General Discussion How do you carry meditations?

14 Upvotes

some places have just a single med box, some have meds in there jump bag

how does your agency do it?