The back of an ambulance is actually a very well organized space. There are bunches of little (labelled) cabinets and cubbies containing everything you might need in the course of treating victims of a variety of accidents, but not a lot of spares (you pretty much have to restock each time you use stuff). Our amblances are certified for BLS (basic life support) which means that the two crew members are EMTs. an ALS (advanced life support) ambulance has Paramedics (think Roy and Johnny), and as a consequence more stuff, including IV setup, drugs, etc.

We do mainly psychiatric pickups, but from time to time these turn into a medical emergency, or we have a medical emergency on our unit that we have to send to a local ER, so all the regular ambulance stuff is in there.

Yes, Doing a restraint in an ambulance is not the easiest thing in the world, but doing it in a relatively narrow hallway, which is my usual point of contact ain't so great either. The real tough part about an ambulance restraint is that you have only two people ... cops will sometimes help hold the patient down at the scene to get him into the leathers, but not always. It's rare that the out-of-controlness starts in the back of the ambulance, so it's not usually moving during the struggle. (This has happened. It's not supposed to. The judgment of our crews is actually pretty good about this, but sometimes people fool you.)

Unlike most squads, ours carries handcuffs, and have handcuffed people to the rails of the cot rather than taking the time to do a full restraint.

Meet me over in doodads, honey ...

Ahhh - BLS - that explains a lot. Much less crap to haul around. That is way cool that your emts get to have handcuffs - we either have to use the clunky leather buckle type deals or cling wrap. In NY (Syracuse at least) mostly only level 4's and 3's (critical care) get paid, so there aren't a whole lot of BLS rig around, mostly just BLS calls in ALS rigs.

We're the only crew in the country with actuall APPROVAL for handcuffs (We usually use the aforementioned clunky leather things). We also apparently have approval for pepper spray from Harrisburg, but the hospital risk manager won't let the crew use it (Our criminal justice/outreach guys get to use the pepperspray).

It's all because of our nature as having the only behavioral ambulance in the country with the authority to serve the mental health warrants (most involuntary psych pickups are done by police in other counties of PA/states).

Holy shit, Wolf.:eek: That sounds more dangerous than "domestics".

It can be, but that's why we take the cops (and let them "go in first to secure the scene").

Two sheriff's deputies were killed in Maryland last year serving a mental health warrant.

Our crews have bullet proof vests and know when to duck.

The temperature in my area has been hovering around 25 degrees for over 24 hours now. Shit...I'm actually going to have to go outside today too. Have to take the garbage out...of course, I don't have to, but that would be pretty ewww.

Fluffy snow
 

I love waking up to snow. We had a melt so most of our Thanksgiving snow was gone. This morning looking out the trees were freshly flocked with fluff. Yea! The walk to work was beautiful. Snow quiets everything and it's still falling. The tally is expected between 4-8inches, and perfect for skiing- fluff city.

And you're right Wolf, nothing's purtier than pines or spruce catching snow.But those bright red twig dogwoods poking out of the bank are pretty nice too.:)

You keep your Dogwoods in a Bank?:eek:

I'm heavily invested in my red dogwoods.:)

So, in this case, trees grow on money. :D