Life Under the Lights

Plastic Snake Oil – EMS Spinal Immobilization

February 24, 2014 | Emergency Medical Services, EMS, ems 2.0, EMS protocols, EMS Topics, Paramedic, paramedic education, Patient Management | Ckemtp | 2 Comments

If you’ve ever stopped to actually think about it, you might notice that EMS is full of things we do simply because they seemed like a good idea at the time. We have providers who blast pure oxygen in the faces of patients where it will not do any good and probably causes harm, have […]

My Butt Isn’t Hurt – Defending EMS’s Public Image

February 9, 2014 | Administration & Leadership, ambulance humor, Command & Leadership, Emergency Medical Services, EMS, EMS ethics, EMS Topics, Fire Rescue Topics, Paramedic, Public relations, Technology & Communications, technology-communications-ems-topics | Ckemtp | 8 Comments

Some things I need to get off my chest about the treatment of our public image.

Everyone Gets a Card! The Diminishing Importance of ACLS

January 27, 2014 | ACLS, Administration & Leadership, American Heart Association, CCR, Emergency Medical Services, EMS, EMS Topics, hospital, Paramedic, paramedic education, Patient Management, politics, Training, Training & Development | Ckemtp | 23 Comments

My Boy Scout first-aid merit badge was a big achievement in my formative years. Little did I know that decades later as a professional paramedic I would get to consistently re-live the experience.

BLS vs ALS – Cold War or Misunderstanding?

January 13, 2014 | Administration & Leadership, ALS Intercept, Emergency Medical Services, emotions, EMS, EMS ethics, EMS rant, EMS Topics, Paramedic, Patient Management | Ckemtp | 15 Comments

BLS vs. ALS? ALS providers behaving badly? BLS providers protecting their egos at the expense of patient care? It happens. We’re exploring it.

You BLS guys have got this, right?

January 11, 2014 | ALS Intercept, Ambulance, Emergency Medical Services, EMS, EMS Dispatch, EMS Topics, EMT, Paramedic, Patient Assessment, patient care, Patient Management, rural ems, volunteer fire department | Ckemtp | 13 Comments

You BLS guys have got this, right? There’s like, no way that you need paramedic mucking up you scene… right?

15 REAL Reasons to Date a Paramedic

September 28, 2013 | Ambulance, ambulance humor, Emergency Medical Services, EMS, EMS Humor, EMS Topics, Paramedic | Ckemtp | 4 Comments

Consider this a gritty reboot of the other articles out there that claim to know why you should date a paramedic and present the information in numbered lists. Here are 15 REAL reasons you should date a paramedic, written by a real one.

Listen for ALL of the Hoof Beats – Aphorisms and Diagnoses in EMS

September 18, 2013 | Ambulance, Emergency Medical Services, EMS, ems education, EMS Topics, EMS training, Fire Rescue Topics, Paramedic, paramedic education, Patient Management, Training, Training & Development, Uncategorized | Ckemtp | 2 Comments

Is Occam using a razor to shave Zebras while Hickam dictates? I’m no good at titles. Anywho, here’s a case about a patient that may be more than he seems

Call PAPPA for Chest Pain – A helpful Mnemonic for Paramedics and EMTs

September 15, 2013 | EKG, Emergency Medical Services, EMS, EMS Topics, EMS training, paramedic education, Patient Management, Training, Training & Development | Ckemtp | 1 Comment

If you’ve been an EMT or Paramedic for more than a few days, chances are that you’ve met someone complaining of chest pain. “Chest Pain” calls are one of the most common reasons for an ambulance being dispatched and for good reason, a patient having pain in their chest can be experiencing a host of […]

Working Out on Shift – Any tips out there?

September 7, 2013 | EMS Health & Safety, EMS Topics, Firefighter Safety & Health, Training & Development | Ckemtp | 5 Comments

I can work out on duty, and I really should. Ever kneel down to do CPR and come up with a cramp on compression #38? I’m needing your suggestions here.