I learned three valuable things tonight

[EMS_Rookie]

This would probably fit in both the EMS and Firefighters forum, and even though I'm not an EMT yet (my class starts in september! woohoo!) I'll go ahead and post it here.

Three important things I learned this evening while on mutual aid for the local squad.

1. I am not allergic to poison ivy.
2. Wild rose bushes do not make good hand holds
3. A human being on a backboard is very heavy even with five other people.

My brain is now full.. I think I'll go meld with the TV.. http://www.firehouse.com/interactive/boards/biggrin.gif

[This message has been edited by EMS_Rookie (edited July 18, 2000).]

[E229Lt]

This guy shows promise!

[EMS_Rookie]

I feel so embarassed. http://www.firehouse.com/interactive/boards/redface.gif

The story that goes with that would have to be the oddest 'war story' I have so far.. http://www.firehouse.com/interactive/boards/smile.gif

[wannabe-EMT]

Something I - unfortunately - learned tonight. Maybe it applies to you, maybe it doesn't, but here's some advice. Watch out for yourself 200%, because assuming your partner has your back covered can be a deadly mistake.

Peace, and stay safe.

[This message has been edited by wannabe-EMT (edited July 21, 2000).]

[JMP17]

You'd better be able to feel your partners got your back, because if you don't your heading into the **it with the wrong team Brother. You may need to reconcider what your doing or who your doing it with!
I know when I respond to a worker or an mva I can count on my team to be ALERT to their safety as well as mine.
Stay safe & take care of EACH OTHER!!!!
JMP17

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Opinions expressed are mine and may not be those of my Dept.s

[wannabe-EMT]

Perhaps I should rephrase. Ignoring the specifics of the incident, I think it boils down to a bigger issue. Some folks care, some folks don't. Some care about the new guy, will teach him, watch out for him, etc. Some folk don't care and will let the new guy run amok, or trust him to know everything and be perfect. Without getting started on how this is the problem in most of society, I'll relate a story that occured to a fellow firefighter. He's fresh out of fire school, goes into a building with an experienced partner. Heavy smoke, etc. The partner leaves him to go play hero on the fire floor. Some folks care about their partner and what their job stands for, some folks care about the glory. Period.

Peace, and stay safe.

[JMP17]

We all started in this job somewhere we were'nt born with 10 years on the job. It's our job to take the probie under our wing and teach him how to survive this job and in turn help us survive. When we go to the house we are family and family takes care of each other! I feel bad for the kid you refer to,he may gert hurt one day, Freelanceing will get you killed!! Never split the team up, do the job your assigned and for GOD sake "take care of the prob.s the life they save some day may be yours"!!!!!
Stay safe & take care of each other!
JMP17
(Did'nt meam to get down on you Brother.)

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Opinions expressed are mine and may not be those of my Dept.s

[This message has been edited by JMP17 (edited July 22, 2000).]

[EMTBASIC_29]

No matter how long you have been in this business you are always learning. remember always trust your partner. You are there to help each other. If you feel you can not trust your partner it is time to get a new partner.
Good Luck and stay safe.

[EMS_Rookie]

I made a bit of a joke of what happened in the firefighting forum, but here's the basic rundown of everything.

What, in a way, ticked me off, was I was told by my assistant chief to hand my part of the backboard up to the captain and come up with them so we'd have a less chance of dropping the guy. (Basically I'd hand off, go up, get the next part from the guy behind me, he'd come up, and then we'd hand off one more time and carry him to the squad.)

I had this set in my mind, I knew what I was supposed to do. I got my footing correct to do this procedure. Well, upon handing off to the captain and the guy opposite me handed off to who he was supposed to hand off to I began following them up. Well, instead of walking up the captain yelled at me to step to the side.

Yeah right. I had good footing on my right foot, near to nothing on my other. I could walk up, but sideways was another story entirely. Well, I made it to the side so my captain could change the plan and everyone walked up while I lay on my knees and chest holding onto something painful before I got over some more to grab ahold of a tree.

Somehow my assitant chief ended up at the bottom of the hill, I have no clue how, he was right behind me and we came up the hill together.

I kind of hate to tell the entire thing without making it funny since it kind of makes the captain in the story look bad. I never really thought about how serious it was that they changed everything on me until I saw the responses you guys left.