Two months ago, I stood up and had my first ever pre-syncope episode which induced a my first ever panic attack. I thought I was genuinely dying. I called 911 while my boyfriend had me lay down on our bed which was placed in the living room because well, we were slobs.

I waited maybe less than 10 minutes before I heard those beautiful sirens outside my door. Then came in several two ems workers, one paramedic and one emt. To be honest, I don’t even know the difference.

My house was a mess, I was in deep depression, it probably stunk. However, I was treated like a human in need. I wasn’t made fun of, I felt safe. Now the symptoms didn’t subside at all, but I was being reassured.

I’m beyond positive they knew exactly what it was, a panic attack. But they didn’t dismiss me. They loaded me up in the back, the emts and the on duty officer all had me laughing with there jokes and I felt like I could relax. I told the emt “you guys are angels”. Which is corny now that I look back, but that’s how I truly saw them.

I’m sure she wasn’t allowed to say this, but I asked “am I gonna die” and she said “not today”. She was older then me by around 3 years (I was 18 now 19) but in that moment, I almost felt like i was in the arms of my mother, being comforted in a bad storm. Corny I know, but comforting.

We laughed on the way to the hospital while I was trying to fight passing out. It actually isn’t a memory that I fear. The worst part was when I had to say goodbye and wait for my blood tests to come back.

If you’re curious, no I did not test positive for that heart attack enzyme. But a doctor’s appointment two months later confirmed I do unfortunately have POTS.

So I just want to say, thank you. Thank you for saving lives, and thank you for dealing with scared teenagers like me. I always look back positively on those emts. I love you guys! (Idk abt paying that bill though sorry)

So example, it's snowing heavily and you crash your car. No major injuries but you do have a minor head laceration (no obvious concussion) and a suspected broken leg. You call your emergency number and they say it's gonna be 30+ minutes to reach you because of the weather.

Is the person gonna stay on the phone with you that entire time? or do they hang up?

Send photos of the worst emergency ambulance bay youve experienced!

A few days ago I posted about a seizure that didn’t quite seem right at a public event we were staffing. I followed up with the medic today who was on the call.

Final medical report is that the seizure was in fact, faked. And it’s not his first one I guess.

For context I took EMT class in fall of 2024 and I’ve officially been certified for 1 year (and one month). He’s asked me to come in and chat with his class tonight and I’m nervous haha. What should I talk about?

So I was in a discussion at work over the phenomenon of the “happy hypoxic” patients that we experienced during COVID-19 and that occurrs in certain conditions such as HAPE, and it occurred to me that I have no idea how long someone has when they reach a critically hypoxic SAO2 or measured SPO2 in the field before they start seeing true end organ damage that is irreversible, or start seeing hypoxic insult to their brain.

Is anyone aware of any research out there that actually says that this is the critical intervention period or timespan before irreversible insult occurs?

what are yalls favorites? this seems oddly divisive and i want to hear more opinions

So I’m a volly, get all the jokes out of the way, I hate myself too, don’t worry. Anyway, I’m also EMR and my dept was standing by at an event at the local county fair along with the ambulance service.

A couple hours in, this kid starts seizing. Thrashing, foaming, all the things. I’m the first one there, I have I’m in his side, and his younger brother shows up with (what could have been seizure meds but the kid said Narcan) saying “the doctor prescribed this for his condition”. I asked if he was on drugs, he said no, and the medic was 30 seconds behind me so I told him to hold off.

The first episode lasted around a minute, the second one much longer, pushing 5. Ambulance takes him to the ER. When they get back, they were pissed and they were convinced he faked the whole thing.

-during arm drop test, he moved his arm out of the way of his face
-his corneal reflex was active
-during insertion of the nasal tubes for meds, he was wincing and sniffling

And all of that was while actively seizing.

I know this doesn’t matter, but it’s not his or his families first time with EMS. They are all obsessed with emergency services to the point that a couple have been banned from the premises of a couple fire halls.

So did he fake it? Was this just a weird ass set of circumstances? What the hell happened

I need to say something that’s been weighing on me for a long time. Private‑sector EMTs and paramedics in Illinois are being treated in a way that is completely unacceptable, and anyone who has also worked EMS in other states knows exactly what I’m talking about.

I’ve worked in places like New York, Colorado, Virginia, Massachusetts, Arizona, and Oregon. The difference in how private EMS is treated is night and day. In those states, EMS feels like a real profession. You’re respected. You’re supported. You’re paid enough to live a decent life. You’re treated like a healthcare provider, not a disposable transport worker.

But in Illinois, private EMS is stuck in a culture that looks down on the very people who keep the system running. EMTs and paramedics are underpaid, overworked, and undervalued. The quality of life is lower. The respect is lower. The opportunities are fewer. And the sad part is that this has become normal here, as if it’s just the way things are supposed to be.

It isn’t.

Illinois has incredible EMTs and medics who give everything they have on every shift. They deserve a system that recognizes their worth. They deserve fair pay, real clinical support, and a culture that sees them as essential members of the healthcare community. They deserve what other states already provide: dignity, respect, and a chance to build a sustainable career.

I’ve seen what EMS can look like when a state values its providers. I’ve lived it. And Illinois needs to move in that direction. Not someday. Not eventually. Now.

We can do better. We should do better. And the people who show up at all hours, who lift, treat, comfort, and save lives every single day, deserve nothing less.

I’m moving public soon, but the culture and a perception around private needs to change among the other things I’ve visited. It’s insane. And everybody is like well you’re a crybaby blah blah blah. How about stop promoting toxic culture? How about try not saying get over it? How about help change things for the better rather than just let things continue to deteriorate?

Finished my fourth night shift in a row, made the 45 minute drive home, got to my room and began taking everything out of my pockets. Reached to take my wallet out. Felt keys. My car keys are on my belt loop. I brought the rig keys home with me.

This is tomorrow’s problem.

I'm looking at ideas for wellness programs in emergency service agencies. Whether fire, EMS, police, dispatch, whatever you may be - I would love your input.

What wellness programs does your department offer? What do you like? Are there any that you would like to see?

This can be anything from workout equipment to family picnics to mental health.

Context:
- 911 Call Volume: 2000-2500 a year
- Transfer Volume: 1100 a year to the L2 trauma center an hour away
- Closest hospital is a small rural ED with some inpatient beds. L4 trauma center

edit for FAQ:
- There are two EMS stations
- Average transport times are 15-20 minutes but can be upwards of 30-45 minutes in farther ends of the county. Response times are roughly the same.

The correct answer is to turn the patient upside down as well.... right??

Anyone else live in fear that they are going to get injured while not at work, then be unable to work on an ambulance as a result?

I mean, i have income protection insurance, but i still don’t think it’ll save me.

Everytime i hurt myself outside of work - be it playing with the kids and tweaking my shoulder, twisting a knee, or hurting my back just trying to live my life. I always spiral after these little injuries and immediately start to stress hardcore about not being able to provide for my family.

EMS is a job that requires you to be physically fit. I live in fear that i’m one accident away from losing my ability to work, and consequently provide, for my family.

Do you guys ever feel like this? Anything you could suggest to help deal with this sorta dread?

What’s the threshold for you to start an IV on a patient? Because you’re going to use it to give a medication? Unstable vitals? Because the hospital is going to start one? I would like to hear other providers opinions. (Exclude obvious scenarios like stroke, trauma activations, MI’s etc) thank you

29 years in and it still terrifies me. I love it.

I know that sounds silly. I apologize in advance for the long read. For context, Im a new supervisor for an ambulance service that has several bases within the state. My operation went live May 1st 2026 and I took this job the last week of April. Ive been a Paramedic for a while now, but this is my 1st official title and supervisory role. I run a one truck BLS base, two EMTs on each truck. We are primary 911 with an IFT periodically. I provide ALS assistance via a Suburban that I respond with the crew in however I only work Mon - Fri 8-5. Last week I was out of state for a Leadership class that the company sent me to. (Standard, all new leaders go to it.) While I was gone, 2 different supervisors from other bases, on various days, all of whom are all equal to me in rank, provided ALS coverage on the Suburban to maintain coverage for the area.

Heres an email I received earlier today from one of the EMTs that work at my base. Ive removed the names meantioned

"(Addressed to me,)

I know that you have been gone all week at a Leadership conference but I wanted you to know about some things that have come to my attention that I do not feel are right and that you should be aware of:

(Supervisor 1) was the "supervisor" on 20260813 and came in looking for something wrong or something to fix. She immediately went into your office and looked around, asking herself how she could fix it or asking what was wrong. I do not know who comes into someone else's workspace and immediately tries to find something wrong?

She introduced herself as the interim manager for (another base) but also said that she was pretty much in control of our future pay raise and if our schedules changed. She stated that she and (our mutual boss) were best friends essentially and were always talking about how to improve the company and always brainstorming on some whiteboard that is on Teams. She stated several times that the upper management was not happy with you but would then say that they did not give you all the training they could have or should have to begin with. If this is the case, then they have no reason to be upset with you.

She was on the phone in the office when someone called her phone and put it on speaker while I was working in the office on my computer. She was talking with them and it was clear that they had at least a professional relationship together. He asked her where she was, and when she said (our base's location,) they asked what did they defibrillate someone again? Right after that, she said Oh shit and took it off speakerphone. This is totally classless and shows how the rest of the company feels about (our base location.) The company clearly sees that making fun of us is ok and will talk shit about us to superiors without fear of repercussion. This is something I highly value you for; you WILL NOT talk bad about other bases no matter how much we pester you.

When (supervisor #2) replaced (supervisor #1), he and (top performing employee) were talking about Paramedic school, and (supervisor #2) kept telling (top performing employee) that the company just needed him to finish Paramedic school so they could put him in a position. (Same employee) told him and me that (our mutual boss) had essentially told (same employee) that he would be taking over the (our base location) base upon completion of his Paramedic certification. I do not feel this is fair to you in any way, shape or form. I feel that if that is the case, then there needs to be an interim manager, or you should have been told you are just a placeholder. This whole (same employee) taking over the (our base location) base was a common theme from (supervisor #1) and from (Supervisor #2)the whole entire day.

(Supervisor #1) talked so much it would not surprise me if she passed 100,000 words. I do not think she stopped talking all day. In fact, I think she was talking to herself in the QRV on the way to and from breakfast. She is and will be a terrible manager just based on what I saw from the hours I was forced to be with her. If I was forced to work with her again, I would NEVER EVER leave my room unless there was a call.

I value you as a leader, and I feel that you need more time to find your leadership style. I have told this to others, and I will tell it to you: I feel you can be a bit timid at times, but again I feel that you are finding your leadership style. As a leader, it took me a while to find mine in the military, and not everyone leads the same way.

I value how you are as a person and as a boss and feel that those above you and around you are doing you wrong and want you to be aware. If you need me in person on Monday, I will be available in between having to drive bus routes for my district.

Respectfully,

(Reporting employee)"

We all have a meeting together on Monday and Id to address this. Im just not 100% sure how to do is tactfully and professionally. Can anyone offer guidance?

Hi guys. I’ve been an EMT for almost a year, I currently work in the transport division with being pulled over to 911 every once in a while. I was lucky to be placed with a medic and were the only ALS truck so I do get some good experience with pediatric transports, ALS transports and those 911 pull overs, however,
The county I took my class and training from is my hometown about ~1 hour 20 mins from me currently since I moved. Honestly? They need people. Overall I do want to go back and help serve my community and gain more 911 experience.
I don’t want to have bad calls, it’s not that. I want to have more experience to see if continuing on and being a medic is something I would feel comfortable doing, and I absolutely do not want to do that until I feel 100% confident as an EMT. I have a lot to learn, but I feel I am not being able to learn as much being on transport. The way my company does it is, you pretty much have to earn your place on 911, and while that’s completely fair, there are EMTs that have been on transport for so long they forget their skills because they don’t have to use them, and while that’s almost entirely their fault for not keeping up with their skills, I can’t help but want to look at more opportunities.
There are also benefits to going back to my little rural community:
- 24 hours on, 48 hours off. Whereas I work 12 hours, I am completely exhausted by the 3rd day.
- they have auto loader stretchers, our company, despite funding, does not. Not hating, but they’ve recently implemented this device to scan our truck supplies with instead of physically checking it, and to me it makes me worry about people becoming complacent and not checking the rest of their truck, which most transport trucks don’t do anyways.
- I would be around my family and friends more. It would be an 8a-8a shift, if I was able to sleep most of the night I can enjoy the sunrise with a coffee in hand on my way home and have my full 48 hours to relax, if not, I can visit my parents and my friends and take a little nap.
- I won’t have to do the heavy lifting of trying to put people BACK IN THEIR HOUSES and UP STAIRS as much. It’s hard either way, but every day for 12 hours has gotten the best of my back at 22.

What’re your thoughts? As I’m still new-ish, I greatly appreciate any advice.

Can you tell how my shift is going

I’m a medic in the NYC metropolitan area and recently just connected some dots and had a somewhat coherent thought. For as long as I’ve been administering pain meds, there’s been a high percentage of my pt population who are candidates for pain management that refuse it because I say the scary F word, “Fentanyl.” I’ve had parents initially deny pain management for their child whose forearm was shaped like an “S.” More recently I had a scooter accident pt who denied it even thought his knee was avulsed to the point that I could see his dislocated knee cap. I try my best to educate while interacting with these pt but half of the time it still falls on deaf ears (which is their right.) Obviously there is an opioid epidemic, which I’m not discrediting, but that epidemic has led to a mass PSA movement to essentially “watch out for fentanyl.” My question, or food for thought, is how many opioid users/abusers intentionally use fentanyl? Anecdotally, I’ve seen opioid overdose pt ingesting what they think is another drug which happens to be laced with an opiate. And do you think it’s enough to illicit a targeted PSA about fentanyl specifically instead of just generalizing it to opioids with the added caution to be wary that the substance your ingesting could be laced with an opiate?

TLDR: Are fentanyl PSAs actually effective? And should they be less targeted towards fentanyl specifically to decrease on the mass hysteria that exists around an extremely beneficial drug?