Gadgets and Tricks of the Trade

Comment

Comment by Liz Simma on April 19, 2009 at 6:12pm

When one has a pt on a LSB, take a spare BP cuff and place the bladder under their lower back. Inflate until pt says 'O...that feels better'. For those newbies out there, if your having trouble getting a BP in the back, lift the pt's arm off the pram and the noise from the road won't travel into your ears.

Comment by Betty Ganschow on April 14, 2009 at 6:45pm

To get that bad smell out of the ambulance after the call, get a bottle of Iodaform from the ED and string it up in the back of the ambulance, odors will be gone quick. It is very helpful for those lovely GI bleeds.

Comment by Chris Duncan on March 14, 2009 at 8:00pm

For those who have problems with certain odors, I carry a small tube of Carmex lip balm in my pocket. For the most part, the camphor in lip balm will help ward offf the bad smells

Comment by Richard Boaz on March 7, 2009 at 8:51pm

You might try doing volunteer work in a small town i have lived in the country for 22 years this is how i got my start in EMS starting as a first responder then slowly increasing my level of skills till I was a medic doing this you get to know the people on the ambulances and they can help you get your start thats what i did

Comment by Jennifer on February 21, 2009 at 5:39pm

Thank you, Kyle, I agree; and it is what I keep hearing when I go to apply. (Especially now that many counties have a hiring "freeze" in place.)

Comment by Jennifer on February 19, 2009 at 4:49pm

Hello, I'm a newbee to this site and to EMS--anyone have "tricks of the trade" for getting hired when you're fresh out of school? :)

Comment by jason on February 19, 2009 at 12:35pm

i once had a bottle of peach body spray that i got in a dollar store. That cut through some of the worst smells . I have found that if you do not have any kind of oils or fabreeze or vics as a last resort you can hook yourself up to a NRB at 15 lpm and with that positive pressure it tends to keep most smells out of your nose and mouth

Comment by Pamela duBois on February 16, 2009 at 5:55pm

Ok, here's my 2 cents...

Heat packs work great on cold extremities when you can't find good IV access.

Mini Mag light works every time when you need to find a vein on some of our "thick" patients or the little old lady with teeny tiny veins.

Comment by Jace on January 30, 2009 at 11:44pm

Oh, oil of clove also helps if you have a toothache or are cutting your molars...(for you kids out there) It is one of those 'ol wives tales' that work...really!

Comment by Jace on January 30, 2009 at 11:42pm

We also used our "mega masks" for those types of calls where you can smell the odor before you get out of the truck. Vicks, oil of clove, oil of cinnamon or spearamint and peppermint oil also work. I usually carried a small bottle of oil of clove. Just a little (very little) drop in the mask and it lasts. I also used to prepare a couple of masks for the police officers who were responding to help them out. Unless you hate the cop that is responding, it is a pretty nice thing to do. They gotta go in there too and they even have to remain exposed longer. Vicks is a multi-tasker. You can put it in your nostrils and it will stay for a long time. It helps the old sinuses too. You might also think about carrying a travel size bottle of Febreeze to spray on your clothing. You might smell a little 'flowery' but at least you won't carry that odor into your next call of the cafeteria....

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