ironic primitive delivers as promised

[franksolich]

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10024815833

Oh my.

Possibly a good thread to watch all day long.

IronGate (128 posts)    Sun Apr 13, 2014, 09:52 AM

As promised, a day in the life of a Firefighter/Paramedic.

Up and readying for a shower and breakfast because I know from experience that breakfast at the house (fire station) won't be an option.
 
Everyone, plz bear with me as I won't be able to post right away on the alarms we receive today, but rest assured, I will give, in chronological order, every alarm I run on today.
 
My Captain and Lt. have made it very clear to me that my duties come first and posting on my laptop a distant second.

Now, it's too bad other primitives don't ask their boss's permission to post while on the clock; as we all know, many primitives do that.

IronGate (128 posts)    Sun Apr 13, 2014, 11:11 AM

4. 07:45, arrival a Station 23.

07:50: Roll call, assignments, Paramedic Engine 23 as nozzleman and Paramedic, now on to inventory of my assigned Engine and then inventory of supply room.

Question.

Why "roll call"?

I mean, there's probably only six or eight--I'm only guessing, though--guys at the fire station at any one time, and one can see who's there and who's not, and what they're doing, just by turning the head.

So why bother with that formality?

IronGate (128 posts)    Sun Apr 13, 2014, 11:52 AM

7. 08:50, Inventory of Engine and supply room done,

now off to wash Engine and house bays.

calimary (33,833 posts)    Sun Apr 13, 2014, 12:01 PM

8. Of course. Work comes first.

But educating us all about what your job is like - is a NOT-so-distant second!

Thanks, IronGate! I look forward to reading your posts! We have a good - no, make that treasured friend who's a firefighter, currently out on disability, but he's been a firefighter for 20 years and has lived to tell the tale! I have so much respect for this guy I can hardly express it. Firefighters literally put their lives on the line every day that they walk into the fire station. Hell, they're firefighters whether they're in the fire station or NOT. Seems to me a first responder is ALWAYS gonna be a first responder because that's what they've been rigorously trained to do, and that's what their agenda is. Hell, it's not even fair to call it an agenda. It's a mission. A quest. To some it's quite sacred. I believe it and take it seriously. We're lucky as a society that these selfless everyday heroes are out there in every community. And they're to be honored, cherished, protected, and defended, and respected. And NEVER nickel-and-dimed!

IronGate (128 posts)    Sun Apr 13, 2014, 12:51 PM

10. 09:50, Engine washed, bays washed,

now, training evolutions for the day are confined space rescue at our training facility, full turnouts with SCBA and masks until 12:00.

That's it so far; there's sure to be more.

Maybe the cousin'll walk in.

[Skul]

Teh grate gNads will ask about atmospherics and pullets.
I hope she brings the good rig.

[Dori]

 

Typical DUmbshits.  Can't be grateful for a decent job...hell no

seaglass (5,505 posts)

6. what time does your shift actually start? my husband has to be there at least 15 min before start to transition from the previous unit and stay until transitioned at the end of his shift. I know not THAT big of a deal but works out to be about an additional 20-30 min unpaid per shift.

IronGate (130 posts)

11. We're required to be at the house by 07:45,
 
we don't get paid for that time, but that will be addressed in the next union contract negotiations.

[GOBUCKS]

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10024815833

Why "roll call"?

Maybe the cousin'll walk in.

I'm surprised they didn't discuss 3:1 or 4:1 advantage.

And what about the scanner frequency?

[67 Rover]

calimary (33,833 posts)    Sun Apr 13, 2014, 12:01 PM

8. Of course. Work comes first.

But educating us all about what your job is like - is a NOT-so-distant second!

Thanks, IronGate! I look forward to reading your posts! We have a good - no, make that treasured friend who's a firefighter, currently out on disability, but he's been a firefighter for 20 years and has lived to tell the tale! I have so much respect for this guy I can hardly express it. Firefighters literally put their lives on the line every day that they walk into the fire station. Hell, they're firefighters whether they're in the fire station or NOT. Seems to me a first responder is ALWAYS gonna be a first responder because that's what they've been rigorously trained to do, and that's what their agenda is. Hell, it's not even fair to call it an agenda. It's a mission. A quest. To some it's quite sacred. I believe it and take it seriously. We're lucky as a society that these selfless everyday heroes are out there in every community. And they're to be honored, cherished, protected, and defended, and respected. And NEVER nickel-and-dimed!

I recall a story of a man in CA that had a heart attack directly across the street from he fire station and they refused to respond to the cry's for help until an "official" call came through, so not all firefighters and paramedics are as dedicated as described above.

[dane]

Ran across this campfire again while wandering around in the DUmp, and this line struck me

My Captain and Lt. have made it very clear to me that my duties come first and posting on my laptop a distant second.

Why would it be necessary for two different supervisors to tell this "professional" that his job comes first?

But on the other hand, quite often we see evidence that DUmmies play on the 'work' computer

[Karin]

Everyone, plz bear with me as I won't be able to post right away on the alarms we receive today, but rest assured, I will give, in chronological order, every alarm I run on today.
 
My Captain and Lt. have made it very clear to me that my duties come first and posting on my laptop a distant second.

I swear we have a Nadin Mini-Me.  Look at the condescending, self-important language.  Please bear with me, I know you're waiting with bated breath to hear about my every move of the day, including washing the truck, but look, you people are just going to have to wait.  Dammit, Jim, my duties come first.

 

I'd say thanks for your service, douchie, but you're paid.  My husband is a firefighter, but it's an all-volunteer force.  There are no union negotiations, no pay or benefits.  He's got to do the same training you do, though.  And run into a burning building out of the goodness of his heart alone. 

[Rebel]

nadinbrzezinski (132,641 posts)

48. When I started in EMS it was in Mexico City

So we were trained to improvise everything. That could come very handy in a major disaster. Give me some cardboard and any cord, para cord, curtain cord or bandages will do, and I will have that arm or leg splinted in a jiffy, and a knife. You literally set the box to your patient.

Then in Tijuana I literally helped to stand up a paramedic program. I lost some folks who simply could not get on with the times. And the idea of radio and medical control, let's put it this way "Emergency 51" made a lot more sense. No, not from medical treatment, but that first episode where they are given the order to cardio convert, we had those fights. The episode where those two take a patient to a private doctors office and...I had that fight. I took a diabetic patient to the private hospital after stabilizing for low blood sugars, connected to the monitor with strip. You know the setup. The private hospital doctor was a pain and questioned why mere ambulance drivers even did any of this and our training, and legalities and ethics. I mean...the horror, we could have killed him. No doc, not giving the glucose bolus could have done that. His sugars were under measurable by glucometer on scene at arrival. We got them all the way to 75 or so. He did not have convulsions and for that I am thankful. Oh and went from not responsive to rather chatty.

So after that, watching emergency took a different feel. From the POV of a mature system it's funny as hell. From the POV of one undergoing birth pains...it is actually true to form.

As to Backdraft, we laughed our asses too, that said due to manpower issues we always took more risks than our counterparts in the US. And while they were calculated risks...they were still higher. But the BA, getting the FF to wear those was a real fight. Real men never wear them you know. I insisted on them. I like my lungs. These days they are pretty much wearing them though. But the late 1970s and 1980s were fun all over. Ask the old firefighters at the station about two major fights, universal precautions and BA wearing. I am sure somebody will want to share the good old days.