So I am a Paramedic fully licensed and certified and accredited.
I spent my first month doing Dialysis transports and inter-facility transports to get a feel for the paper work and procedures that my particular ambulance service uses. I work for Blauer Stern Ambulance Company, this is not it's real name however in our town the german heritage is more than abundant.
Blauer Stern Ambulance Company has many different shifts and different ambulance stations.
Red Station- The 9-5 Ambulance does mostly discharges and dialysis transports and is usually staffed by IV techs and Basics. The 24 hour trucks out of the red station do some 911 calls but mostly advanced inter-facility.
Orange station does 911 for the surrounding area and some inter-facility and discharge transports.
Yellow Station- this station is where our dispatch is located and our office and billing staff are located. Ambulances only run out of here when we are over taxed at all other stations.
Green Station- This station runs most of the 911 volume for their response area
Blue Station- This is the station most critical care runs out of due to it's proximity to major teaching hospitals.
I have mostly been working at Red Station to increase my basic level skills. I was only technically allowed to do IV Tech level skills. I was also running as a third on an ambulance crew to allow me to be observed. I had great teachers and preceptors while working in this station. They taught me how to drive and ambulance and the ins and outs of how to properly document what my patient does and says. I went through a driving course that allows me to drive lights and sirens with and without patients and in adverse weather conditions. I ran 9-5 weekdays for my first month and can now write almost entire reports for certain patients without seeing their paperwork at all.
As of 2 days ago I was cleared to run as a full Paramedic. That means I get to run with just me and another Paramedic. So 2 days ago for the first time in my life I was allowed to run code 3 to a call. Full on lights and sirens and speeding. I was told of the fact that in Wisconsin there is no limit for how fast you can go while running Code 3 as long as you are traveling with due regard and have the safety of yourself and others in mind. I was too scared to go more than 10-15 mph over the speed limit, I just did not feel safe doing it.
I got my first four 911 calls in my first day and I learned a few important lessons.
1. Always put your day bag in the ambulance first thing in the morning
as you are getting in to do rig check.
2. If you will need food, a glucometer, medication, caffeine or anything
like that for you to get through the day it needs to be in your day
bag before you get to work.
3. The second you punch in CHECK YOUR RIG...and restock it immediately.
If you do not your first call will be within 10 minutes of the
beginning of your shift.
4. If you think you need to go to the bathroom go to the bathroom.
5. When you get a chance to eat... EAT
6. If you want a call... Heat up food, sit down, drink lots of water,
and take off your boots you will get a call within 10 minutes.
I am sure there are many more truths about EMS that I have not learned yet. But I am working on it and i will post as I learn them.
