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Advise for new EMT-B's
I am new to the world of EMS. just recently got my EMT-B.. I did very well in class but i have to admit i am scared to death to get on the ambulance. They pounded it in our heads in class that the slightest screw up and you can loose your card..
We're taught that from the time of initial dispatch we should be doing "scene sizeup" thinking about the call and everything thing from equipment to take into the scene to possible hazards of the scene. I myself, paid very close attention during my ride time with class and saw alot. so when i go to a call instead of doing the "scene sizeup" i cant help but go over my "jess dont screw up list" in my head..
I myself feel that in this field, you can never learn enough and your always learning something new.. if by chance you feel that you know all there is to know about the field of EMS and will never need to learn anything else, then bow out gracefully before someone tells you how it is.. I am all for any advise, hints, suggestions or comments on how to overcome my fears on the ambulance.
~Jess~
UPDATE September 1, 2007
Thank you to EVERYONE who has offered advise, support, smiles and everything else offered..
You will all be happy to know that i FINALLY got forced into running my 1st call alone.
My mom was visiting for a weekend, and so around 1am or so the paramedic in town was on another call, and the BLS unit was dispatched for a "unknown problem". Since my mom was at the house i woke hubby up and told him i was taking the call, and he said ok c ya.. i smaked him and said get up your gonna be my driver..
Well as we approached the Fire House, i started to get scared and said if there was not another EMT up there , i wasnt going. when we got there i yelled to another member to ask if he was an EMT and he said " No but you are, GET YOUR ASS ON THAT AMBO.. "
I got on the ambo, went responding and listened to the info being provided to me. After listening to the report from dispatch, i knew that PD was on scene and one of the officers was also a EMT-P. so i knew my back up was already there waiting for me.. When we got on scene, i let dispatch know we were on location and grabbed what i thought i would need and went to my patient. Everything clicked. i remembered what to do. i didnt panic. and at the end of the call, i was really proud of myself.
All of your advise, comments and support gave me the know how to build up the little bit of confidence i needed to get out there and prove to myself that i can do this..
Thank you all.. I wish i could give you each a hug..
Jess
We're taught that from the time of initial dispatch we should be doing "scene sizeup" thinking about the call and everything thing from equipment to take into the scene to possible hazards of the scene. I myself, paid very close attention during my ride time with class and saw alot. so when i go to a call instead of doing the "scene sizeup" i cant help but go over my "jess dont screw up list" in my head..
I myself feel that in this field, you can never learn enough and your always learning something new.. if by chance you feel that you know all there is to know about the field of EMS and will never need to learn anything else, then bow out gracefully before someone tells you how it is.. I am all for any advise, hints, suggestions or comments on how to overcome my fears on the ambulance.
~Jess~
UPDATE September 1, 2007
Thank you to EVERYONE who has offered advise, support, smiles and everything else offered..
You will all be happy to know that i FINALLY got forced into running my 1st call alone.
My mom was visiting for a weekend, and so around 1am or so the paramedic in town was on another call, and the BLS unit was dispatched for a "unknown problem". Since my mom was at the house i woke hubby up and told him i was taking the call, and he said ok c ya.. i smaked him and said get up your gonna be my driver..
Well as we approached the Fire House, i started to get scared and said if there was not another EMT up there , i wasnt going. when we got there i yelled to another member to ask if he was an EMT and he said " No but you are, GET YOUR ASS ON THAT AMBO.. "
I got on the ambo, went responding and listened to the info being provided to me. After listening to the report from dispatch, i knew that PD was on scene and one of the officers was also a EMT-P. so i knew my back up was already there waiting for me.. When we got on scene, i let dispatch know we were on location and grabbed what i thought i would need and went to my patient. Everything clicked. i remembered what to do. i didnt panic. and at the end of the call, i was really proud of myself.
All of your advise, comments and support gave me the know how to build up the little bit of confidence i needed to get out there and prove to myself that i can do this..
Thank you all.. I wish i could give you each a hug..
Jess
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by ken boehm on
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been doin this for seventeen years best advice i can give is that your new, resign yourself to it. you passed a class thats all. don't worry about a card, worry about doing your best each and every time. if your not sure ask, so what if someone busts your onions or you look stupid for asking, you are the one who has to do the job. don't be afraid take time to take a breath each time, get your own head on straight. start from the abc's do your job by the numbers and soon you'll start developing your own style. thats what we all do.
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Permalink Reply by Troy Wolf on
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I have been a emt for 10 years in less populated area i have never once thought about being sued while on a call, all i am thinking about is what i need to do on the call ,to take care of my patients to my best abllity and not to go beyond my scope of practice and i have ran some very bad calls over the years and your run report is what you address all the things you did document well and you will be coverd.
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Permalink Reply by Dan Hoey on
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all bleeding stops eventually, every one ends up in a heart rhythms you know, if its wet and sticky and not yours don't touch it, blue is bad and a baby thats not crying be scared.
If you want the best tricks to play on a partner just ask I have a few. Good luck just remember these words, you didnt make them sick and people die no matter what you do.
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Permalink Reply by Randy on
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First of all,cool heads will prevail.Remember your A,B,C's in that order.PTOA-Protect Thine Own Ass.Last but not least,there are two(2) rules to EMS.Rule #1 EMT's are not God.Rule #2 EMT's can't change rule #1.Do to the best of your training and you will be fine.I remember how it was in the beginning and I'm on my 27th year.Be safe,Randy
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Permalink Reply by Engineco913 on
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Heres the only advice I can give you. On the way to the scene listen to the radio traffic for updates, and if your riding, spend the time clearing your head. After so much training, it will be second nature as to the equipment to bring, and what to do. Keep your chin high, you will do just fine. Remember if they pulled cards for the minor screwups, patients would have to be self hero's, and we know thats not possible. My own personal belief is there was only 1 perfect person ever to step foot on earth, and hes been dead for a few thousand years.
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This might sound cold and uncaring but I was told this on my first shift and remember it all the time.
"YOU DIDNT MAKE THEM SICK OR HURT YOUR THERE TO HELP AND IT IS BETTER THEM THEN YOU"
That might seem wrong but the reality is you didnt make them sick and you are there to help them the best you can. Remember trust you and not all the toys they give you, look listen hear feel smell A pulse Ox of 100 doesnt mean they are not short of breath a good BP and pulse don't mean there not sick and be afraid of babies that are not crying.
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Permalink Reply by jdstamp on
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I am not an emt, but I have been in quite a few emergency situations. I was an MP for 6 years and am now a volunteer firefighter, I have been the first on scene to many incidents where those involved were very excitable. one of the first things I figured out was YOU have to be the calmest person on scene, when your calm, it calms everyone down, then you can concentrate on the job at hand.
I am starting an emt-b course in November, I started an emt course when I was in the army, But uncle sam wanted me elsewhere right in the middle of the course, hopfully I will be able to fininsh this one
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Permalink Reply by James Roberts on
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You will do just fine. Just remember it is not your emergency. Wear your seat belts and stop at red lights and stop signs. The rest will come to you as you learn. Everyday you will learn something new. If your calm everyone will follow. Caos leads caos. Treat every patient like you would want to be treated also. Good luck and stay safe.
Jim
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Permalink Reply by Candy Caldwell on
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Hey Jess, Congratulation on passing!!! I see that many are giving good advice. We all start out having to overcome some fears. Remember your ABC's they don't stress this in class for nothing. The other thing is get acquainted with your equipment. Nothing worse than getting on the scene and something be different than what you learned on, most things are the same but every company does a little something different. Knowing it will save time in the field.
I have seen lots of new medics trying to figure where to write vitals or times, use the sheet your pt is laying on or grab a spare glove, the sheet you won't lose and the gloves are always around.
Protect your back. Its a rare time that you cannot find lifting help, you only have one, and it only takes one careless move to put you out of this business. Your safety should always come first.
Know your limitations, we all have them, not everyone is GREAT at everything (although some would argue) if you need help just ask, every one of us had questions about something starting out!
Last, don't take yourself to serious, sometimes laughter is the best medicine for curing what we see doing this job we love. Have fun doing it!!! ~Candy
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Permalink Reply by Bruce Pauley on
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1st don't be afraid. That will not help you at all. Practice, go over calles in your head. At the end of the call talk to your fellow EMT's and ask qestions. What could have been differnt, what would happen if a pt. had anther symptom. how the pt. was reacting to what you was doing? And about what to go to scene with verys from call to call of course. You don't want to keep making trips out to your truck. There are acouple of reasons why you would do this. One you didn't think you need this peace of equipment. Or the pt. is worse than you thought. But again some times you don't get the whole story from dispach.
Good luck and God bless and be careful
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Permalink Reply by Brad Chittum on
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Hi Jess, I was an EMT-B then I screwed up and didn't get my hours so I am doing it agin. The problem that I see with a lot of new EMT's is they are scared to jump in there and do it, once you roll your sleves up and get in there and do it, you don't even have to think about it. Every one told me this and I didn't believe them, then one day I was the only EMT on an EMS run. Every thing just clicked,I was shocked I didn't think I could do it by myself but I did. Now don't get me wrong not all runs just click. You will be fine!!
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Permalink Reply by Andy Tanner on
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I might be a little behind on this posting... however just wanted to say that it's somthing that we all go through as new EMT's, and as you go... it get easyer... you start thinking about your scene size up just like breathing... it just happens. Just wait till you start watching some T.V. shown that have car accident's and Medical problems in it... and you start yelling at the T.V. that the people in the show are doing it wrong! lol thats always fun! Just know, that it get's better, and it's not that hard.
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