Originally posted by: DAGTA
I'd rather be driven a hospital, if possible. Most EMTs I have met are very incompetent.
As a former paramedic, I'd like to respond to your comment.
1) Paramedics have to have extensive training in order to be certified as EMT (basic, intermediate, or otherwise). We also have to continue to take training courses in order to maintain our certification. While I'm not denying that there are incompetent EMTs out there, who here works in a field where every person is an expert and extremely proficient at their job? There are morons in every line of work. However, I would rather have someone who is trained in emergency treatment helping me, rather than not.
2) Regardless of whether an EMT is capable or not, even a moron can administer nitroglycerine and put a person on oxygen. Unless you have a defibrillator, oxygen, nitrous oxide, IVs, epinephrine, etc. etc. and your car says MICU on the side, I think I'd rather stick with the ambulance.
3) It is not nearly as safe to drive yourself to the hospital as it is to ride in an ambulance. Most major cities now employ a system called Opticon. If you look at a signal light assembly some time, you'll probably see what looks like a little metal bird sitting on top (a small cylinder with a tube coming out of it). That little bird is an Opticon sensor, and it responds to light received at a very specific frequency. When activated, the Opticon turns every light in the intersection red and gives the ambulance (or fire engine, or whatever else) a green light with a protected left turn. That is why riding in a ambulance is significantly safer than trying to "safely" run a red light in an emergency. I shouldn't even mention the bright lights and loud siren.
4) It has been several years since my work as a paramedic, but I still find myself stopping at accidents to render aid every once in a while. It is absolutely astounding what untrained people do that they believe will help an injured person. More often than not people do more damage than good (I've seen people try to move a person with a neck injury, and one time try to administer CPR to a conscious person).
5) On a side note, in the wake of 9/11, people have become very deferential to firefighters. I completely agree with this sentiment, but it's interesting to see that the same deep respect hasn't seemed to extend itself to other members of that community (police officers, paramedics, etc. etc.) As a paramedic, I have seen and have been involved in very dangerous situations (if you've ever tried to render assistance to an injured motorist on a freeway while the traffic whizzes by at 75 mph, you'll know what I'm talking about). Police and paramedics put their lives on the line every day, and while it may not be as obvious to the casual observer, I believe it deserves respect.
Cliffs:
1) All paramedics are not incompetent
2) Driving yourself is NOT as safe
3) Where's the love?
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