1972MGB72

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Fire Based EMS

Hi, It really depends on the system for if fire-based paramedics are trained more or less. The simple truth is that all medics must meet the same requirements set forth by the state they work in. That said, protocols vary by system and there was a news paper article (I wished I saved a reference) where a Los Angeles City Fire office stated, on record, that they would not even attempt to train their paramedics in interpreting 12-leads (they use the machine's interpretation) due to the number of paramedics they have. In addition, the International Association of Fire Fighters have actively fought attempts to require an associates degree requirement for paramedics (http://www.iafc.org/associations/4685/files/ems_NtlEMSeduStandardsSectionComments070731.pdf bottom of page 3). Now, that said, there are plenty of hospital-based, private, and third government agency services that higher educated paramedics and allow them to think on their own. There's even a few states that require (e.g. Oregon), or give more leniency to paramedics with college degrees (e.g. "Licensed Paramedic" vs EMT-Paramedic in Texas).

I'm can not argue that Canada has been able to implement a better, more educated system by using the PCP/ICP/ACP/CCP system with the bulk of the background education (anatomy, physiology, micro, etc) at the entry level instead of for the normal top level (ACP). This is especially true when it's compared to the requirements for the American entry level (EMT-Basic. 110 hours of class room time). That said, I will challenge unsourced facts (e.g. "Ottawa was the first") or blantently wrong/misleading facts (e.g. "Unlike American paramedics Canadian paramedics do not call for drug orders" which imples that all American paramedics must call for pharmacological orders). JPINFV (talk) 20:21, 27 March 2008 (UTC)

Found that one article about fire medics and 12 leads. "But we have 2,500 paramedics [and 27 provider agencies] in L.A. County," Rokos said, "And obviously we can't train everyone to read ECGs." So Los Angeles County has paramedics rely on an automated computer ECG interpretation. "All they have to do is read ***Acute MI, and that's their ticket to go," he said. http://www.jems.com/news_and_articles/articles/Paramedics_Activate_Cath_Lab_STEMI_Patients.html. Paragraph 13.

Most of the paramedics operating in Los Angeles are with the fire department. JPINFV (talk) 22:05, 27 March 2008 (UTC)