NR-P

I got a nice letter in the mail today.

Effective last week, I'm now a Nationally Registered Paramedic. That means that I'm no longer "NREMT-P", instead I'm "NR-P".

And if I decide to pay money for a new patch, it will look like this (From NREMT website):

I'm glad that NREMT has gone back to the traditional old rocker patch for paramedics. It's a nice nod to tradition. As for NR-P? Doesn't matter much to me right now. I know my home state, Pennsylvania, will be transitioning to the new standards soon, and it's unclear what transition I'll need to do at the state level. With the NREMT, I challenged the exam for recert, so I automatically transitioned.

Felons and Guns?

One of the big gun blogs, TTAG, raises the question of felons owning firearms in a blog on Friday.

Live by the gun, die by the gun? Create a federal system for the restoration of felons’ gun rights? Or full rights restoration for felons upon release? Where do you stand on gun rights restoration?

So, the root question is: should felons be able to own guns? I've actually had this discussion with my brother and some other firearm enthusiasts over the last few years. The answer isn't simple, but I'll submit that at least in some cases, felons should have a system to regain their rights.

The goal of prison, as far as I understand it, is to both punish those who commit crimes, as well as rehabilitate the inmates so that they don't re-offend. Or, to think about it another way, people are in prison because they aren't safe to interact in regular society.

If they have served their time, and it's deemed safe for them to be released into regular society, they should have a way to regain their rights. If they are so dangerous that they shouldn't be able to regain their rights... then they should still be in custody. They shouldn't be out in public where there are ample unprotected targets.

If prisoners are so dangerous that they can't ever be trusted with firearms again, they belong in prison, sequestered from the rest of the population, where they can't hurt anyone. If they don't need that, then there should be a path for restoration of rights. Call it an extended probation, call it what you will. What if, 10 years after being released from prison, and being released from parole, they have a way to petition (easily) to get their rights restored?

Gear Review - Mophie Powerstation Duo

I've been using the Mophie Powerstation Duo since this summer. I actually bought it on the way to the 2013 Boy Scout Jamboree to replace the portable battery I'd forgotten to pack. Picked it up at a Best Buy for the MSRP of $100. It's a 6000mAh battery for USB-powered devices.

Link to product HERE

If you know me, you know I'm addicted to my iPhone. The problem is that I use my phone so much, it's not uncommon to need a second full charge during the day to make my phone last all day.

Since I use a LifeProof iPhone case, I can't use a case with built-in battery power. That means I'm stuck carrying a USB power supply with me almost all the time, because I hate having a dead phone.

I like the Mophie battery. I've used it regularly over the last 9 months, and it still appears to hold a charge without issue. On average, I get 2 full charges of my iPhone, or a full charge of my iPad off of a fully-charged battery. That's while I'm using it, so it's by no means "perfect" conditions. The battery takes ~4 hours or so to charge completely from empty.

The battery is small enough to fit in a coat pocket or my work trouser cargo pocket when I want to travel light, and it usually lives in my "satchel" that I carry to work with my iPad and various charging cables. It also appears well designed and durable. I've dropped the battery a couple of times and it's still working fine.

The 2nd USB port is very handy for charging my iPhone and iPad at the same time, or charging a friend or co-workers device. The battery charges off of any standard Micro USB cable, so recharging isn't difficult. Out of the whole product line, it's probably the best combination of capacity and compactness in their line

If you're on GovX, the device can be had for a decent discount, but I also don't think the device wasn't worth what I paid for it. If you're looking for a portable battery for your digital devices, I think this is a good product.

2 Beers

It's a common response to the question "How much did you drink" - "2 beers".  Often by a patient that can't stand without support, let alone walk straight.

I've been legally consuming alcoholic beverages for the better part of a decade. I know what drinking 2 beers does to the average person. They might be more likely to try (and fail) at Karaoke. They might even say something stupid they'll regret later. If they don't hydrate appropriately, they might wake up with a headache. They are unlikely to be so intoxicated that an ambulance is called for them.

After 14 years in EMS, I'm convinced that anyone who tells me they "only had 2 beers" is lying. Why? I'm still trying to figure that out.

Anyway - the other day I discovered something new. I had an obviously intoxicated Hispanic patient in my ambualnce. Though my minimal Spanish, I asked "cuántas cervezas?" The response I got? A toothy grin, coupled with the patient holding out 2 fingers and saying "dos".

Now in addition to the fact that SumDood is on a world tour, it appears that '2 beers' is a universal concept.

EMS Goes To Capitol Hill

As some of you know, I'm involved with NAEMT's legislative advocacy efforts on behalf of EMS. Yesterday, I spent the day walking the halls of the Capitol offices meeting with some of the Commonwealth's legislative contingent - mostly their staffers, but I did get to meet one Representative. This was the 5th EMS On The Hill day, and the 4th one I've attended.

This year, our "asks" were actually pretty simple. On the Senate side, we met with the staff of Senator Toomey and Senator Casey (separately). We were primary talking about H.R. 1791, The Medical Preparedness Allowable Use Act. This bill passed the House in February, and it currently sits in committee in the Senate. It's a pretty simple bill - allows an expansion of approved expenses for the Urban Area Security Initiative grant money to fund chemical/biological countermeasure stockpiles. The money is already there, this just means it can be spent on some more things that could be useful. In the Senate, we also talked about the Field EMS bill, even though there is no companion Senate bill yet. Finally, we asked for the Senators to consider joining the EMS Caucus.

After leaving our first meeting on the Senate side, we were able to get an escort by an intern from Senator Casey's office, so we were able to make our meetings on the House side without rushing too much. We got to walk along next to the Senate Subway tracks (We didn't wait for a subway car for the trip. Pretty cool tour!

On the House side, we didn't have to talk about H.R. 1791, because it's already passed. Instead, we focused on talking about the "Field EMS Bill" - Officlally: H.R.809 - Field EMS Quality, Innovation, and Cost Effectiveness Improvements Act of 2013. The Field EMS Bill isn't perfect - but it gets us talking about quite a few things, and at least gets us a seat at the table. If you've got a better idea, I'm sure NAEMT would LOVE to hear it... but right now, this is their best one.

We also talked about the EMS Caucus. Although there's a Congressional Fire Service Caucus, there's no group focused on EMS - yet EMS calls for service are often 5:1 fire calls.

I think the easiest sell with that was Congressman Glenn "GT" Thompson from central PA (PA-5). We walked in to the office as the House Bells were sounding, calling representatives to the floor for a vote. His staff explained that the Representative was being called away for a vote, but "He has 5 minutes and wants to see you." He greeted us with "It's good to see fellow EMS personnel here". Turns out, he's been an EMT and Firefighter since the mid-1980's, and still serves when he's home.

Here's a screenshot of a tweet HE sent with our group photo:

Congressman Thompson's staff said that the Representative has apparently stopped at a few car crashes in rural Pennsylvania since being elected and provided initial first aid until EMS arrived, so heads up, Central PA folks - that gentleman who says he's a firefighter and stopped to help might also be your Congressman!

Anyway - I think it was a relatively successful day. Last picture before I sign off - This is Chief Touchstone from Philadelphia FD EMS (and NEMSMA), with his Congressman, Rep. Chaka Fattah (PA-2).