Johnson County Med-Act H. Girard, Lieutenant 63 rd and Quivira Showed by Jenny Ham

Professional Background –Heath Girard –Has three kids, and his wife is a nurse –Stationed mostly at 63 rd Quivira or 135 th Switzer –Was taking Nursing course at first, but he decided to go into Paramedic because it felt more like what he wanted to do. –While he was taking nursing course, he transferred over to the EMT course. It was almost the same, but just covered subjects in more detailed.Background

Education Education Paramedic has not been around long There’s not enough national standard; now they realized that they need new ones About a 2 year degree(associate) Similar to nursing Nursing is more broad, but Paramedic specializes on one thing which is Paramedic care. They do things that they come across for example, delivering babies, taking people out of wrecked cars, cardiac patients, trauma patients, and common cold patients.

Continuing Education –About 30 hours a year –This is regularly once every other month –Goes to different buildings for training Hours –GREAT hours! –24 hours on 24 hour off for 3 shifts –After every 3 shift 4 days off –Overtime is possible, but you are required to sign up for 5 on- call days Everything MUST be kept clean!! –Has to pick up after themselves –It is their home for the next 24 Hours Job Requirements

Trends, Changes, and Possibilities Job trends –Every year, there are newer equipments –Tries to educate the workers with new equipments Job changes –Can go up in rank –Lowest to highest: paramedic, lieutenant, captain, battalion chief, division chief, and upper managment Job possibilities –Rarely any job possibilities because if you quit a job, you can not continue your rank. You have to start over as a paramedic even though you were a captain before for instance.

Challenges and Rewards Challenges –Injuries because of lifting people Spends thousands of money –Political challenges Change in hours and pay –Seeing people die –Sleeping hours are not consistent. It will vary. –You are not going to eat meals on time. Rewards –Tries to put three months at a busy station than transport to different, slower stations –Can get any job as a Paramedic –Great medical insurance –Also has a retirement plan set-up –Your hours allows you to do other things besides work. –Your salaries are very good. Ranging from roughly 13, ,000 for a paramedic to lieutenant or even Captain.

Equipments Oxygen Tank: It is in the Green bag. Green stands for oxygen 2.Heart monitor: monitors what the heart is doing. Very similar to the one in the hospital Drug box- Ex: IV, different kinds of drugs, simple bandage The “green bag”: consist of everything you need to keep a patient breathing. Ex: tube, portable mask 4

Facilities 1.The hallway where bedrooms are located. In the bedroom, there was a bed, TV, desk, and restrooms. 2.Lounge- games, movies 3.Kitchen- they had LOTS of food in the storage. Everyone brings their own food. Has to clean up after themselves 4.Office- They say that they are barely in the office. Only when they have to do paper work

ETC.

Uniforms 2 1.Wears a polo top with their names and rank printed on it. Navy Kaki pants. Has a belt to hold their beeper. 2.This is a jacket made out of the same material as the fire fighters uniform. This is a fire resistance jacket. You only wear this if you are at a fire incident. 3.All uniform is provided by the department! 1 2

This is the master chair. The patient is right in front of you There are at least five storage on the side of the ambulance. This is the drivers seat. This is the passenger’s seat. There is a computer to navigate route and tell what kind of patients they are running into. This is a radio. They can connect with any hospital in Kansas. This is there to tell the hospital that they need to get ready for a patient.