Despite the number of “aids” that paramedics have to help them transfer patients from one place to another it sometimes comes down to moving someone quickly and damning the risks.

Or does it? Is it worth it?

Would the public eye us with contempt if we save ourselves before others?

I spoke to an ambo the other day and she said that her back was so sore that she was probably going to have to head home and take some time off. She said that they had to move a voluminous patient from beside a toilet. It was a difficult move for them because the patient had an obvious fracture to her leg. The stretching and lifting at the same time had caused her some lumbar back pain and a couple of hours later she was “feeling it”.

Injuries like these can seriously limit the lifespan of a paramedic.

What can we do?

We use the aids as best we can but sometimes we just can’t. I suppose that’s the price we pay for the privilege of doing what we do. Helping others.

What do you think? Do we have to risk ourselves sometimes? Is it a matter of further training? What other “devices” could we utilise? Should we use the “spoonful of concrete” approach to patients?

‘Tis the conundrum.

Be safe peoples.

To all of the paramedics who worked in Melbourne’s oppressive heat yesterday – Well done and thank-you.

40+ degree heat (104F) is truly hard and dangerous work. It’s not just the sweating Nannas that appreciate the hard work.

Well, Victorian Paramedics have eventually agreed upon AV’s “pay cut” EBA.

Despite Ambulance Victoria (AV) running an ambulance service propped up by paramedic goodwill (overtime), AV has managed to secure a 20% pay cut on this goodwill.

It’s remarkable that paramedics were threatened by Fair Work Australia and Ambulance Victoria for even thinking about withdrawing from voluntary overtime (due to fears for public safety) – yet on the other hand Ambulance Victoria allegedly dropped over 20 ambulances from service the other night (allegedly commonplace too). With no repercussions.

Viva La Pay Cuts – except for the boss’ $30,000 pay rise.

Nice.

Call us anti-money chasers but ambos tend to take on a lot of new skills and don’t take anything in return.

With the new EBA happening and paramedics likely to experience a pay cut overall, we’re still willing to tackle new skills like Intranasal Fentanyl, IV Dextrose, new burns dressings, and MDI Salbutamol. All of which benefit Joe Public but increases the expectations on the Paramedic in Victoria.

On the other hand, firemen gained allowances for things like CPR. Is it paramedics goodwill or the proactive fire union that made the difference?

Don’t get me wrong, firies rock – especially when they turn up at cardiac arrests to do compressions for us. Good on ‘em for getting the cashola.

Anyhoo – it’s all food for thought. I’m leaning towards feeling that our union has dropped the ball. We’re looking at a capped 2.5% raise while Alfred hospital physio’s, etc are looking at 5+%. good on ‘em too I say. They earned it after falling behind.

Maybe next time for us?

The state of play, with regards to Ambulance Victoria, is that on AFL Grand Final night Melbourne is missing over 20 ambulances from our streets.

Frightening to say the least!

Is this because of union/eba issues, disillusioned ambos, people “chucking sickies”, or what?

Any way you paint it – don’t get sick.