Earlier today, I got an email from @theHappyMedic asking me to clear something up for him because he was in an "email melee" with someone.
He asked me "Are you better because you're a combat medic?"
My short answer was NO.
That email was one reason I decided to start a text blog today. Of course listening to Firefighter Netcast was another.
In the world of the combat medic, I am trained as an Intermediate, but certifed by the NREMT as a BASIC. That's right, I'm an EMT-B for all intents and purposes.
In combat, though (along with on military installations at the local commander's discretion) I'm allowed to do more than I could on my FD where I engineer and run rescue calls.
In one case I can basically
Intubate
Cannulate
Defibrillate
Medicate
Oxygenate
The "medicate" is limited. Sometimes we have a small O2 cylinder, sometimes we don't. THAT depends on our appropriate medical contol (No ASA for your CP, sir.)
In another case I can basically
Oxygenate
Defibrillate
and wait for ALS to show up...usually about 5 minutes after we put our BP cuff on.
In one case, I can look good in a green suit...in another I can look good responding in my T-shirt, blue jeans, work jacket with vest.
Oh, how I'd love to do a cric stick sometimes when on calls with my FD...Nope...only a State and NREMT-B so I can't.
I'll spell out more differences as time goes on.
No comments:
Post a Comment