-=> Quoting DOUG BROWN to KARL UMSTATTER <=-
 DB> Brrrrrrrrrrrr hehe I can just imagine extrication in that kind of
 DB> cold.  I would imagine it would be a real bugger trying to keep a
 DB> shocky  patient warm in that! 
     Yes, but the sub zero has kept a patient from bleeding to death.
 DB> We have a National REgistry of EMT's and Paramedics
 DB> also. But  it isn't a mandatory thing in most states.
    To bad, if all EMT & P were on a NR. self monitering would be alot
    easyer.
 DB> The National exam has a practical exam  as well as written.
     The same way that APA is set up here. If you don't pass both you
     won't work.
 DB> good  "WARM" day! 
     It's simple, I just keep the furnace at 72'.
     Any ways this person drives into a train, to much anti freeze in
     him. He was in a 80s chev van, picture it after a 50 mph T-bone
     into the moving train. So here we have a guy pinned by the
     dash,steering wheel, fire wall. While he is pinned with his foot
     removed at the anckle he starts to bleed to death. As luck has it
     it's -39 degrees, when it's this cold things freeze real fast.
     So as luck has it again our FD chief is going into town to get his
     girlfriend from work, it's 20:15 hrs on a road that has no traffic
     at the best of times. Du chief calls me on a portable I roll out
     the rescue team. We get there and things don't look to good. I take
     scene command and I tell the team to strip the rescue unit, we will
     need all eqpt. Two members do FMR, we start to extricate. As fast
     as the jaws and cutters are put in to action, the whole jaws unit
     go's for a winter holiday. Not a big problem, we have the old back
     up hand mini jaws kit right. No not today it also thinks it's time
     for a getaway to  "Keys". Up to this point the DUI just wants to go
     back where he was last. So in going against all that I teach the
     greenhorns, I have no choice but to use a tow truck to do a dash
     roll, ect. To this day I still can't believe that it worked !!
     One of the ALS units is one scene by this time, they take the
     patient and do the magic that only is done outside a ER room.
     We bring in the chopper and the patient is airlifted to the city.
     A year later the Patient is walking on 2 feet at 98%. We the FD and
     medics see the guy on and off in town, no one ever received a
     thanks  or great job from the guy! Perhaps he has forgotten that
     this call had taken an hour from first unit on scene til he was air
     lifted out, perhaps he has forgotten who came in his most time of
     need, or maybe he is pissed after getting his bill ! But I try not
     to dwell on it, for the few that do say thankyou it more than makes
     up for the ones that don't. He still does the DUI. maybe next
     time he will not have some luck on his side, and we may be there
     just to do a body removal. I hope not.
     So thats the worst cold extrication I have been on. The  only thing
     colder is landing the chopper in -39 , not sure what the wind chill
     factor is but have bin told that it's around -120 in the down wash.
     Ya Ya its a long story, but it is -34 outside  and unless we get
     called for a structure fire this weekend I'm staying inside. Ever
     seen a ALS unit or Pumper truck as part of a 12 dog sled team ? (G)
     TTYL Karl.
        Karl Umstatter               karl.umstatter@cr2.alive.ampr.ab.ca
... You might be a Redneck if you have "sheep" for house pets.    UBU
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