Your EMS experience?

[24 on/ 48 off]

If it isn't obvious, I am a firefighter and paramedic with a Portland-area fire department. I have been in the field for 17 years.

One of the most annoying things about my job is that we never get feedback from the people we care for. I'd love to hear your stories here, both good and bad. I know Jennie's isn't all that good.

If you have ever been treated and/or transported by an EMS crew, I'd love to hear about your experience. Were they compassionate? Professional?

--spud--

[JustCallMeDave]

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[Cool Texan]

I got an ambulance ride from Breckenridge (sp?) to Denver many years ago....I was pretty out of it, so I can only assume that they were professional. All I really remember to this day is that the female medic in the back with me was a hottie and I tried my best to hit on her....but its hard to be sexy when you're on a stretcher and half unconscious. :grin:

[Coastalfisherman]

All I really remember to this day is that the female medic in the back with me was a hottie and I tried my best to hit on her....but its hard to be sexy when you're on a stretcher and half unconscious. :grin:

I have never had to ride in one, thankfully, but a coworker took a ride about a year ago. Less than a mile from our office to the hospital and the bill was something like $1200 or $1300. Seems like a lot of cash for a 2 minute ride.

[Hare's Ear]

In August 1984 I was in a very serious automobile accident at the intersection of SW Terwilliger and Boones Ferry. I was thrown from the vehicle into a ditch and knocked unconscious (or knocked unconscious and thrown into a ditch). When I came to an EMT was feeling my ankles and legs to see if I had broken any bones. I knew something bad had happened, but didn't know that we had been in a car accident. The EMT was very professional and kept reassuring me that everything was going to be OK. A female EMT came over and they both got me on a board, onto a gurney, and into the ambulance. My friend, the driver of the car, was ambulatory and quite hysterical. I was pretty bloody and he thought he had killed me. They strapped him in a gurney next to me and eventually had to handcuff him to the railings to keep him from thrashing around. They asked me to talk to him to try to calm him down. Because I was barely conscious myself I couldn't do much. I remember looking at the name badges on the EMTs trying to memorize the names so I could thank them later. Of course I forgot both names. I have always felt kind of bad that I was not able to thank them personally for being professional and compassionate.

If you two EMTs are reading this - thanks for my life!

David Buettner

[On a mission]

Good thread 24/48. I too am with a fire department down in Keizer. Our Chief has cards sent out to everyone who we provided service to. We get feed back and in fact the page of "Todays response card" comes out almost everyday. Any way its great for our guys to learn and do better with. Have a good day and Thanks for making a Difference.

[3riversBob]

My son is a volunteer fireman/emt with North Lincoln Fire District in Lincoln City and works for the ambulance service in Newport. All I can say to you guys is THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU. Fortunately, I have never needed to be transported but I have seen first hand what you guys do for a living, having friends and family in the business. You do a fantastic job and have my respect.

Bob

[big fishy]

Saved by the Bone Box crew and Life Flight(June 2004). I'm a retired Fire Captain, never thought I would be on that end of the stick. All were very good and professional.

[iwanttofish]

The EMS is not a job that I would not want to do yuck
Firemen and women Police men and women my hat is off to you.

I had a bad experience in an ambulance once and I hope that if I am in another that I am awake, heres the story--

My wife and I were driving down the road one day in beaver creek and a tree fell on our van while we were driving 50 mph.

The tree cruched the roof down on my wifes head and in front of my head.

We were taken by ambulance to a school and she was life flighted to Emanuel hospital I was taken by ambulance to the hospital.

On the way to the hospital the ambulance stopped quickly and I was not strapped in all the way or at least not securely, I slid out and had a neck brace on straight into the front wall, Iwas then screaming at the top of my lungs, wow I can picture this on a cartoon but not in real with my head

I got to the hospital and I had to have my neck fused for a cracked vertibre and my wife is now a quad.

So I would hate to see what would have happend to me if I was unable to know it.

I know this does not happen to many people but that is my experience. The ambulance company would not admit any wrong doing.

Just my luck one ride and it was a crappy one.

But I will never forget that one thats for sure.

This in not to put down or to complain about the EMS or anyone its just my experience.

Mike Huppi

[fishncliff]

If you have ever been treated and/or transported by an EMS crew, I'd love to hear about your experience. Were they compassionate? Professional?

24 on/ 48 off, are you high? Have you been testing the O2 again. What a glutton for punishment. :grin:

I was a Firefighter/ Emt, ambulance jockey, and CPR instructor for 4 yrs with Island County.

I participated in a Customer service survey for our county dep't. Be prepared for harshness. I learned alot from the chief of Phoenix Fire. He does a great customer service presentation.
Don't be shocked. Good luck.

[Thumper]

I have had two or three occasions over my many years to use an ambulance, but have declined each time --- for only one reason. Around here they dispatch a full-blown fire truck with each ambulance. Whadda crock. I'll take my chances driving to the ER rather than have that combination scream up to the door in the middle of the night.

What's up with the fire truck anyways???

[big fishy]

Calling it a crock really shows that you do not not have a clue to how things work in the Fire/Ems system. Take the time to get educated and visit your local fire station and have them explain to you how the system works, and visit the 9-1-1 dispatch center. I can tell story after story but some people never get.
One little story I will tell is the following:
Homer decides he will not go in the ambulance he will drive himself to the hospital. We just start backing into the station and get another alarm just a few blocks from Homers house. On scene we find Homer slumped over the wheel, now with chest and head injuries and a long line of side swiped cars and some very scared kids. Have a good day.

[STGRule]

I've had one trip in an ambulance. EMT's were great. Couldn't get a vein to start an IV, even after they pulled over to the side of the road, but the rest was fine.

I'll take 10 fire trucks if they want to come too. The firemen usually get there before the ambulance. And their primary mode of transportation just happens to be those big trucks. If I need them, bring the big trucks on. The neighbor’s will forget all about it by next week.

[Thumper]

Calling it a crock really shows that you do not not have a clue to how things work in the Fire/Ems system.

Yep, you're right. But you did not tell us why a call for an ambulance is answered by a fire truck. Very strange.

[joemomma]

I ride dirtbikes and my two boys race motocross, I've seen the inside of enough ambulances and met lots of ems people! Nothing but great things to say about them! I'm always waiting for the you must be stupid for riding bikes thing! Sorry but us Evans boy's live life to the fullest! Usually I get a "Hey I ride too!" Excellent care and compassion!

[otisdog]

They stage. I know a 65 year old man having a diabetic reaction can be really dangerous :grin:

[STGRule]

But you did not tell us why a call for an ambulance is answered by a fire truck. Very strange.

Because you are not calling an ambulance. You are calling for EMS. EMT's are more numerous and a lot closer coming from the fire department. They just happen to have bigger trucks that they arrive in. You don't need an ambulance unless you need to be transported to the hospital. And if it needs to be really fast, you get to fly in a helicopter.

[Norski]

1 st, Trip.
My first trip in a ambulance was back in 1968, I and too other Buddy's went deer hunting down outside of Eugene, some place called Bear Creek Lodge, ( I THINK, BEEN SOME TIME )
Well one of my buddies, (EX NOW, AND THAN ) was goofing around with a .38 pistol, and yea, it went off, right through both of my leg's, the blood, the shock, I took a ride down to Sacred Hart Hospital, in a 1958 Hurst, that at the time was used for a ambulance.

2nd Trip.
Some time in the early 80's around Christmas time, I was having a blow out sale at Hillsboro Toyota, and we needed 5 more cars, I called the headquarters for Toyota than on 82 street, and I bought 6 cars, took 6 drivers, went and picked up, and drive back to Hillsboro, on the trip back I was at the end of the pack, some where around Holiday over pass and I-84, a drug dealer in a new Volvo, broad sided me doing 80+, that trip was well I don't remember, I was out, after some time after, I did find the EMT's and thank them for the service they gave me.
3rd Trip.
Last year I was out putting in flower beds, worked my fanny off for too days, my wife calls me in for dinner, it was a hot weekend, no beer, well 1 or 2, I am sitting on the couch, she calls me into the kitchen for dinner, I am standing next to her, the next think I remember is the big bang, thats when I hit the floor, EMT's and fire truck show up, I go out the door flat, on a gurney, the hospital said electro lights and low sugar count???? thanks for the V.A. they paid the total bill.
And again I stooped by the fire station and said thanks to the boy & girls in Blue, and again, THANK YOU.
Leif Akerson aka: Norski.

[bait dunker]

thumper, the reason for the firetruck, is because of the unknown! when a call comes in for a mva (motor vehicle accident) we dont know if your trapped inside and need to be extricated and need additional man power and equipment or not. maybe it was just a fender bender, but we dont know that. if the call is for a diabetic emergency, additional manpower may be sent too, we dont know how hard it may be to remove you from the house. are you really fat (obese) or is there narrow stair you need to go down or a rotten front porch. there are so many variables that you arent taking into account. its easier to send people and equipment back then to wait for it while you die!

[Smoke Showing]

Good post Spud. Depending on how your EMS organization is laid out depends on if you get just an Ambulance or an Ambulance and Fire Engine. In Washington County for example. The Ambulance service is privetly owned. In our Fire Department we respond to almost every call with a Fire Engine, because of possibily needing an engine for our next call driving back from the first. Besides Fire Engines are cooler to drive!!

[Firedog]

Thumper, the reason you get the fire "truck" is because everyone on the rig is an EMT and at least one will be a paramedic. Fire dept response times are much lower than ambulance response times. So you get help faster. I don't know Vancouver's response time goals but I do know Portland's. Ours are 4 minutes or less the ambulances are 6 minutes or less if I remember correctly. Do we always make it in 4 or less no. We are more consistent than AMR is though. Every second counts in emergency medicine. Is everything we go on a full blown emergency, no not even close. Do we see people who would die without help. Close to every day. My job is not near as glamorous as the media makes out but I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world. The best part of my job is fighting fire, the busiest part of my job is EMS.

Sorry to Hijack your thread 24/48. Like you I wonder quite often about the outcome of patients. With the new privacy laws it is tougher to find out as you know.

[WheresMyBobber]

All professional FF's in Oregon are required to be at least an EMT Basic (can't speak for volunteers). In the department I work for we have at least one (usually 2) Paramedics on our fire engines. We carry almost identical EMS gear and meds as an ambulance.

When you call the 911 system for medical aid a fire engine and an ambulance are both dispatched. You never know how many ambulances are available on the street at any minute, or how far they are coming from. The system is designed to get medical aid to your location as fast as possible. The current system works well in that regard. Why in the heck someone would think having the fire department come is a crock is beyond me. Having the fire department come can also save you money by cancelling an enroute ambulance if it's determined that you don't need ambulance transport.

When we're working a code (cardiac arrest) or other serious medical call, it takes all the bodies we can get to do what needs to be done. That means an ambulance crew as well as a fire crew. I even call for a second fire engine sometimes for codes. As a FF/EMT for 22 years in the Portland area, I have a pretty good idea of why the system is set up the way it is, and it is definitely designed to deliver the best possible care for the citizens. If I was the one having a serious medical problem I want as many emt's/medics on scene as possible. A person needs to be stabilized before they can be transported. We've saved a lot of lives by doing what we do and sometimes that takes a lot of people.

Having fire engines respond to medical calls doesn't mean they're missing fire calls. A LOT of time and effort is spent on response guidlines, keeping the area's covered by moving engines as needed, mutual aid and other considerations.

As far as Jen's issue, a couple years ago I put together a training bulletin on Marfan so our people would be more aware of it, and to remind them to be on the lookout for aortic disections.

Firedog, AMR's contract with Multnomah County allows them to have up to 8 minute responses for a large part of their calls. Since the human brain doesn't do to well without O2 after 4-6 minutes, it helps explain why fire responds on EMS calls. Preaching to the choir, aren't I? :grin:

BTW - I'm liking working with our new Ops Chief.

[Firedog]

WMB, thanks for the clarification on the response times. I couldn't remember so I erred on the low side.

I knew you would like that Ops chief, he is a great guy. Get him telling stories and yo uwill hurt form laughing so much.

Hows the injury rehab going?

[otisdog]

Thier job is to put Union stickers all over everthing they own. I once heard of a guy who put a IAFF sticker on his lawnmower

My dad is a retired FF and he still has to put those things on everything he owns. I guess Im jealous I took "The other test." I have to patrol the streets all night as you guys sleep :grin:

[stilly bum]

My only trip in an ambulance was in January. I blew another disc in my back and couldn't get up, the pain was too bad in my leg. Really, the biggest thing I needed them for was to get me up. I couldn't get out of bed. Couldn't roll, couldn't bend. I was stuck face down.
My sister works in an ER and I hear all the stories about non-emergencies so I felt like I shouldn't go 911 unless I was dying.
Mom: Let me call an ambulance.
Me: No.
Mom: Please, let me call one.
Me: No.
And on and on. Then...
Me: I have to pee and I can't get up. Call an ambulance.
The EMTs were cool. The ER docs, just like most docs who dealt with my back, were not.

[24 on/ 48 off]

Great, honest answers people. This is a good experience for me. I'd love to hear more.

--spud--

[skybuster]

Two years ago on Halloween weekend some teenagers rolled their car on the road in front of our house. I had a 16 year old kid hysterical on my porch at about 1115 at night, and that's not normal where I live. He had to run about 200 yards up my dark driveway just to get to my place.

I called 911 and put him in my truck and drove out to the road. There I found a car on it's roof and 2 teenagagers in bad shape. I communicated with the dispatcher and told her right then that we needed lifeflight, but she responded that a commander would need to make that call. In the meantime we went to work stabilizing the wounded. Myself, my girlfriend, and a neighbor, all treated the wounded until help arrived. It was evident that they were in bad shape, so we just tried our best to keep them comfortable and calm.

Now we live in the hills of Washougal, so it seemed that most of the response team were volunteers, but here is what we noticed. No one was in a real hurry to administer any real aid to either of the critical patients. There was a lot of standing around and yelling going on amongst the EMS people. At one point someone finally checked on the young man near us and loudly proclaimed "we have a massive head wound here!". I thought they should have maybe toned it down to keep him from freaking out.

Eventually lifeflight did carry the female away, and I believe that the male was taken away in an ambulance. Maybe it was the fact that most of the EMS crew had been attending a costume party and was dressed accordingly, but I didn't get a good vibe from them that night. There was way too much standing around going on, and looking for someone to take charge, which finally happened. Oh, and I had to help keep the dad of the injured female from killing the male driver of the car while law enforcement was trying to get a grip on the situation. The only thing that prevented the death of a 16 yr old boy that night was a friend of the injured girl's family that kept a cool head, I know that I couldn't have physically restrained that dad at that point.

[Troutinator]

Two experiences... one bad and one super good...

In 1976 I had an unscheduled off road adventure of the motorcycle kind. I ended up about 20yds off the road in the pucker brush. I was pretty messed up, in and out of consciousness. My first distinct memory was an EMT trying to pull my helmet off. Which did my neck injury NO good at all. This in spite of the BRIGHT ORANGE stickers on the top and back of my helmet that read "DO NOT REMOVE HELMET UNTIL I AM EXAMINED BY A DOCTOR". These stickers were issued by my insurance company because so many motorcylists were being further injured by the EMT's trying to jerk their helmets off. Anyway, I hollared at them to knock it off and they decided that was prudent. Then after getting me on the backboard, one guy lost his grip, the board flipped and they dropped me face first onto the ground. While strapped. Needless to say, I didn't get my arms out so it was a perfect 9.8 on the face plant scale. Fortunately... my helmet was still on! The rest of the ride went ok but they did their best to mess me up more than I already was. BTW, these were volunteer firemen with the Albany Fire Dept.

Second ride was a few years ago when I destroyed my lower leg. Tib/Fib spiral fracture and complete dislocation of the ankle. After my wife convinced me I wasn't going to get up and "walk it off" :shocked: I agreed to the 911 call. Woodburn's fire dept and ambulance were there in minutes and they got me packaged up and hauled me away... without dropping me! They got some morphine onboard right away and I was quite comfortable during the ride.
My wife baked a huge pan of brownies and we delivered them still warm(along with a gallon of cold milk) to the fire dept. about 3 months later when I was walking pretty well again. They seemed to really appreciate it. I know I sure appreciated them being there for us that night. They really did a great job of comforting my wife who was pretty freaked out by the whole thing.

I to this day believe that Woodburn Fire and Rescue is far above average for a town our size...

[tgreene]

About 20 years ago, time flies!, I was in a wreck on Mt Hood, ex was driving. We slid sideways down the hwy and t-boned another car. I went into immediate shock, climbed out and stopped a car. Luckily was part of the ski patrol. Nobody got hurt in the other car, my ex got knocked out for a few minutes, and I shattered my shoulder, rotator cuff, and lost the end of my collar bone.

The ride was terrific down the mountain. Had great EMS, and they gave me an injection of morphine. I was in such a good mood, until I found out I had to have surgery! Very professional people. I remember being embarassed they had to put me on a board and carry me, was afraid I weighed too much!

Great job was done by all. I appreciate all who do this work.

Theresa

[PapaHog]

Well I have a recent experience and will try and write about it.

Spud I don't know what we would do without you guys and gals.

At 3:00 am on May 17th my wife who was sleeping in bed beside me because it was hot and my air conditioner was better than hers.

I awoke to her in some kind of seizure and she was not breathing and no heart beat and I called 911 and they sent help as they were directing me how to do chest compressions while we waited for the EMTs to arrive and it seemed like me to take forever however probably about 3 maybe 4 minutes. Thought I was going to have a heart attack yet I did not quit not for a second and was still doing chest compressions when the fire trucks arrived and the EMTs were in our apartment.

My wife was a large woman and I could not get her off the bed to the floor and there is no room in my bedroom for her to be on the floor and someone work on her.

This team of EMTs and Paramedics worked hard and fast to move her to the living room floor where they went to work with all their equipment and drugs as she was flat line they were trying everything to get a heart beat.

They had established an airway and had the breathing device in place and the EMT that was doing compressions would not quit. He kept doing compressions and would only stop when they shocked her and were listening for a heart beat.

They worked as a team with all knowing there roll and were very professional, and would not stop.

After the third time they shocked her her heart started beating and they continued there protocol for stabilizing her, loading her on a gurney and out a difficult apartment entry and into the waiting ambulance.

There was equipment, and used medical supplies and drug containers all over my living room floor and within a minute of her being loaded and the ambulance left they had removed all evidence that they had ever been there.

They were a very well trained team and everyone knew there role. They were courteous and helpful to me in answering questions. They were having me get in the ambulance because they did not think I should drive when my son drove up and he came from Hillsboro.

My son drove me to the hospital where I stayed till my wife died on Saturday afternoon.

As for my thoughts about the fire department and their EMTs and paramedics I think they are second to none. Thank God for the fire department that night. There effort was above beyond what I would have expected and they gave her every chance to make a comeback. But alas it was not to be.

I NEVER got a bill from the fire department and my wife's insurance paid the 630 dollar bill from the ambulance company.

All in all my hat is off to the fire department EMTs and paramedics and the paramedics of the ambulance company that night.

[drano100]

I coach football and have had to make a few calls to 911 the response has been great as has been the EMT's they all worked great with the kids putting them at ease and doing their work at the same time, all I can say is I'm glad their there when needed and thanks

[winterkill]

This wasn't an injury to me persay, but I was involved...

Labor day of Last year my girlfriend and I were on our way home from her cabin in the Blue Mountains. It was a 2 lane mountain road (1 lane each way) coming around a curve she lost control of the car going 90mph. We went off an embankment hit the ground and did about 3 tight spirals in mid air before landing on the wheels, only to slide into a tree - on her side. I was miraculously uninjured, I looked over to see her slumped over, uncounscious, bleeding from her mouth, nose and ears. We were about 20 min from ambulatory service, and 30 from the nearest hospital. She was a 3 on the glasgow comma scale, I will never forget saying to the driver while on the way down the mountain, "Is it bad, or how bad is it?" He turned, looked me square in the eye and said, "We need to get her to the hospital as soon as possible." I honestly didn't know if she was going to make it to the hospital. They intubated her in the ambulance and she made it there. She had a subdural hematoma, and was airflighted to OHSU from Walla Walla. At OHSU she underwent brain surgery that night (a craniotomy). She missed the fall quarter of school going through physical therapy, only to return the next quarter and get a 4.0, which was higher than my 3.65! We are still together, and after all that we went through I know for sure she is the girl I will marry (I was 19 when this happened).

She is alive today because of the ability of our EMS system to 1) retrieve and provide prompt pre-hospital treatment in even the remotess of locations 2)quickly determine the nature and severity of trauma once in the ER and 3) provide prompt air transport to a facility capable of providing the level of care needed for major trauma's like this one. I have never been more grateful for the EMS system...

With that being said it also underscored some faults in the system.

1) The response time was agonizingly slow, we need a better rural ems system.
2) She was brought to St. Mary's MC in Walla Walla, designated a level I trauma center for the region- On Labor Day there were 0 of 3 Neurosurgeons in Walla Walla on call! (This turned out to be for the better because she was immediately flown to OHSU instead of letting the Neurosurgeons get started to only find out they were in over their heads)
3)There is no medical facility on the eastside of the state that is capable of handling such a severe trauma, THERE NEEDS TO BE ONE!
4) EVERYONE SHOULD KNOW BASIC FIRST AID!! I was able to at first perform a jawthrust to maintain her airway, I later switched to a head tilt chin lift when she began moving all of her limbs (she was uncounscious but trying to push out of the seat). This allowed the blood in her throat to clear out of her windpipe. If I wouldn't have known these manuevers she would have died before the ambulance arrived.

As a side note, this solidified my desire to become a doctor, I am currently in my junior year of my BS in Biology with emphasis on Pre-Med. I also took an EMT class to get medical field experience. I passed the Washington State Exam with a 97%.