What to carry for remote medic?

M

medic82942003

Longterm Registered User
I have currently been offered a position in a remote Area of Michigan USA.
The Upper Peninsula to be exact. I will be living in a remote area and respond advanced life support to help First responders and EMT's. I will
treat, stabilize, and the transport to hospitals. My question is With all the new gadgets and gizmos, what actually works in a remote area setting.
I have not used Israel trauma dressings, or Quick clot, or 1 arm tournikits,
ect ect ect. I am old school, what is really worth carrying and what products work as advertised.? regards. I mean I will be responding to things like Moose verses car,
snowmobile accidents, man attacked by bear, wildlife verses pedestian, things like that. (not kidding) recieved a call volume report. thanks in advance.
 
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One thing, all jokes aside, if you are going to be in/near/around bear country, pack 2 things: bear spray (it's like pepper spray on steroids) and a small airhorn (can with compressed air and nozzle), since bears will come back to sights of attacks later on to feed again, or they will stalk the wounded.

Here is a link on some tips with dealing with bears.

Safety Guide to Bears in the Wild

Read them once, then keep them in the back of your mind for every time you exit your vehicle (don't forget your 5's and 25's in this case either). I have had to do remote cp work in bear country and they are so damn quite and sneaky that it is creepy. One got within 25 meters of me once before I noticed him.


Good luck and take care. You don't want to end up a tasty morsel. :eek:
 
check firstly with your new employer and see what kit they issue and talk to others in the region doing the same job with the same employer. you may find the kit they issue yuou with is sufficient also you may out what their policy is on medics using their own kit.

In Other Words, Find out before you Pay out!! as you may be wasting your money.
 
Hi and Congrats on getting the job, it sounds like fun!! I could write pages and pages about what kit to take but not knowing your experience and comfort level or what is expected of you, it would be unfair to do so. If you want to e mail me with some further info i will gladly take the time to offer some advice on kit and preparations etc. I have been a remote medic myself and currently we both teach and deploy remote medics. Thanks Chef The Medical Wing - Medical Training, Equipment Supply and Medical Consultanvy
 
Does that mean that us mere mortals don't get a chance to see in this thread what gucci kit these saviours carry in their big bags and on their rigs.

Gutted

RM
 
medic82942003 said:
I have currently been offered a position in a remote Area of Michigan USA.
The Upper Peninsula to be exact. I will be living in a remote area and respond advanced life support to help First responders and EMT's. I will
treat, stabilize, and the transport to hospitals. My question is With all the new gadgets and gizmos, what actually works in a remote area setting.
I have not used Israel trauma dressings, or Quick clot, or 1 arm tournikits,
ect ect ect. I am old school, what is really worth carrying and what products work as advertised.? regards. I mean I will be responding to things like Moose verses car,
snowmobile accidents, man attacked by bear, wildlife verses pedestian, things like that. (not kidding) recieved a call volume report. thanks in advance.
Click to expand...

The best thing you should take with you as part of your kit IS ME :D
 
Medic82942003-

What, exactly, is your role in 'u-per'? Are you responding POV? Are you limited to just a backpack? Is your transport ambulance or helo (or 4-wheeler)? What type of area are you servicing? (logging, residential, etc.)

I did EMS in Alaska (remote) for a number of years; let me know more specifics and I should be able to give you some ideas (or point you in the right direction).
 
A lot will depend on your scope of practice and the company policy / protocol in place, your time / distance from definitive care and the likely MOI or NOI you will encounter.
Worth dropping them an email to see if the current guy in post can give you some direction.

All the best
 
Much thanks for advise.

The new contract should start in a bout 6-8 weeks. I will be in a remote area near Marquette Michigan, just a short swim to Cananda. I will be in a Echo unit which means I am in charge of myself, I get some type of jeep
Vehicle complete with supplies. I then will have a radio, cell phone, and
pager. the company gives me a 3 bedroom place to live, I get a gas allowence, Then I respond to a given area, type of calls very every thing
from soup to nuts. Apparently people get injured, shooting accidents drownings, bear vrs man, snowmobile accidents.
She said with my military background I will make my own rules. Call average is about 400 calls a year. Echo units in USA mean You have a drug box, defib kit IV kit, you have everything except a partner.

If a bear catches me he will live good on beer soaked yank for about a year. More to follow. Catch up on my shooting skills. Regards. When I find more info I will asl for more advise. Thanks to all. Cheers.
 
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Advise for remote medic.

Also Once I do a meet and greet, I will have more info as far as my kit and
protocols. Aparently they are having trouble with finding medics. Volunteered for God Guts and Glory once before. Willing to do it again.
Paramedic shortage in the UP of Michigan USA. Thanks for any and all advise. Regards. I am trying to find out what I can use and carry in kit. I know for a fact you British Gents recieve more training than us in USA. I will be doing longer transport times- here in the States its a bit differant, we have to play Mother may I
via radio. Another words we have to ask permission to use certain drugs before giving them. I will find something and list what I will carry. regards.

Run fast, think small. From what I gather lots of hunting fishing snow shoeing
once you step out your back door. Go Yanks in World Cup.
 
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Fishing, snow shoeing.... sounds like the job for me!
Do they accept NREMT-P or do you need to be registered in that state?
 
Quick question- do you have to have your protocols/gear approved by your physician sponsor? Are you expected to provide more long-term tx's as well? (anti-biotical therapy, for example). Are you expected to transport your patients while providing care as well, or are you more of a 'first responder' that goes with the pt. and bus to the hospital- do you have support?

M4MED- MI will give reciprocity to NREMT cardholders as they recognize their certification (not every state does- see NREMT website for whom). You have to be licensed in MI in order to practice.

I would consider a decent shotgun/rifle for bear and moose protection; I wouldn't carry a handgun (like the 'Alaskan Backpacker') due to risk with psych/drunk calls and, usually, the bears tend to try to avoid contact and the moose normally get up and run off after taking out a car, or just need to be put out of it's misery.

Sirens do work wonders.

For long transports, you might want to look into getting a full length vacuum mattress; it's easier on the patient than just a long board and you reduce the risk of pressure ulcers. A ventilator isn't a bad idea as well (like the Draegar oxygen demand one-if you have enough O2) to free up your hands.

Etonox is a beautiful thing to have as well; not many services carry it, though.

I ordered some SOF-T tourniquets for my bag; I don't see a lot of GSWs or other battlefield injuries, but that's not the only way to lose an arm/leg... and triangular bandages- you can't have too many of those. Izzys aren't a bad idea as well.

Here are some links to the AK protocols; these might give you a better idea of what to expect and what they carry. These protocols are state-wide- not just for cities like Anchorage.

[url]http://www.chems.alaska.gov/EMS/documents/2003AKEMTprotoMICP.pdf[/URL]

[url]http://www.chems.alaska.gov/EMS/documents/2003AKEMTprotoalllevels.pdf[/URL]

Let me know if there's anything else.
 
Many thanks for your input.

Thanks much for all, all good ideas. I am certified in the State of Michigan.
I recieved my cert in 1995, before the input of NREMT. Now if you go to school in Michigan you must test for NREMT.

I believe this will be more of responding ,with First responder, EMT first on scene. treat and stabilze- go to hospital. Triad responce, MFR-EMT-paramedic, assess, treat go.

400 calls per year- everything from Difficulty breathing to cardiac to moose
verses car. Snowmobile through ice, hypothermic ice fisherman. things of that nature.

Thanks for all input and ideas. its bin a while since I,ve treated outdoor
variety of injuries. Winter should be brilliant. Cheers.
 
from UP Michigan USA to Kabul Afganistan.

Looks like I will trying to get a job for a job. After UP I will hopefully be going to a medic job at a base in Afganistan. Hopefully in 6-9 months.
So the woods to the hills. Luck to all. Stupid question? any one know the dilalects spoke in Afgan?
 
Dialects are often a mix of Pashtu with the other languages spoken by Afghans, which include Dari, Urdu, Farsi, Baluchi and Arabic. Hope it helps!

Salam Aleikum

-=MM=-
 
medic, I only noticed your last request now, if you want I have some background info on the Afghan tribes, dialets spoken etc, I can mail it to you if you like.
 
Lots of cold weather gear and a 45 cal for bears.
Old school medical knowledge is a good basis for primary medicine
but I would also recommend a good TCCC course to get you up to
speed on the latest in trauma. Much has changed from the old
ATLS ABCs and it includes use of hemostatics, tourniquets, and
hypotensive resusitation.
 
Hi, a good but expensive product that would be a god send when in a spot of the remote and it gets complicated is the Tempus IC. Its a cracking bit of kit that I have heard very experienced paramedics talk about as the dogs bollocks. It integrates unique communications technology. Its unites a full set of medical parameters with simultaneous real-time voice and video in an easy to use system that enables confident remote diagnosis.

Check out the site not sure on the cost but it won't be cheap, if you could sell it to your boss though maybe an idea.
RDT | Tempus IC
 
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