Applauding Public Service
This month, we feature some of the positive feedback we received about a JEMS.com article on the Virginia Beach (Va.) Department of EMS Santa-on-the-Air program In “Santa Comforts Children over the Air“, author Bruce Nedelka, NREMT-P, provided us with a history on the growing program. Also featured here, we find out some of the best EMS advice our JEMS Facebook fans have received.
I think this is awesomeness! Public service can be reaching out to your community in as many or as little ways as you want. I’m all about whole-health, which means people’s spirits are as important as their bodies.
Vanessa J.
Via Facebook
Aw, shucks. It figures; I put on eyeliner today and something finally makes me tear up!
Lee W.
Via Facebook
This is fantastic example of public service. The public won’t care how much we know until they know how much we care. Way to go Virginia Beach EMS! Bravo Zulu!
James B.
Via Facebook
Author Bruce Nedelka, NREMT-P, recently sent us an update on the program: I appreciate the placement in the magazine and on the website. A late entry into the program this year was the Virginia State Police! The Southeastern Virginia sector heard about the plan and asked to be included. Since their radios were not ORION channel equipped, our Virginia Beach 9-1-1 Center worked with the Virginia Beach ComIT Radio Team to develop a radio patch that allowed the state troopers to use their existing radios, set to a special tach channel, that was then linked to the ORION channel. This just goes to show how much our Virginia Beach people really enjoy this annual program. Preliminary information from the Big Man in the Red Suit points to 2012 as being the busiest on record!
From our Facebook Audience: Best EMS Advice
Our Facebook fans responded to the question: “What is the best EMS advice you’ve gotten?”
Adam H.: “Time and experience are the only things that will teach you discretion. Until then, over-treat many and under-treat none.”
Lee W.: Eat when you can, sleep when you can, and pee when you can. Or by the end of the day you’ll be starving, tired, wet and useless.
Debee M.: Always look like you know what you’re doing, even if you don’t!
Todd I.: Twenty years ago by Lt. Carlos A. Ramos, Jr. (NYC EMS), “You will never get in trouble for up triaging.” Still use that line with the newbies 20 years later. Thank you.
James R.: It’s a crisis, but it’s not your crisis. Be calm, do the job right.
Chrissy P.: Be a duck … Calm and smooth on the surface even while paddling like hell underneath.
Shane D.: The day to stop learning is the day you should quit.
Brad V.: Eat your fries first!
Jimmy S.: My first ped’s full arrest “¦ another seasoned medic put his hand on my frantic spinning shoulder and said, “Son, he’s not getting any more dead.” I calmed down and everything was good from then on.
Paul G.: If you think bad calls don’t bother you, you are probably in denial. Take care of your back and your mind.
Ana-Maria G.: You have a duty to act, not a duty to cure.
Ryan A.: No matter what type of patient you have and what tools or medications you carry, reassurance is the best medicine.
Christine D.: Vicks vapor rub around and nostrils prevents one from smelling the most stinky of smells.
Matthew C.: Always remember: You’re writing a report for 12 people that were too stupid to get out of jury duty; document with that mentality.
Steve W.: Riding with my captain and a very green Paramedic student doing textbook compressions when my captain yells at him, “Shut up, damn it! We don’t count in real life!”
Dennis S.: Oxygen is good for everything. Take a deep cleansing breath before you start evaluating or treating the patient.
