Guest guest Posted May 2, 2003 Report Share Posted May 2, 2003 backboards are being found in dumpsters at funeral homes and morgues I dont even want to know why someone was scrounging around in a funeral home/morgue dumpster!!!! Kathi Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 2, 2003 Report Share Posted May 2, 2003 Coogah! An old friend and fellow educator sent this to me a long time ago.......... Texas Ten Commandments (1) Just one God. (2) Put nothin before God. (3) Honor yer Ma & Pa. (4) No telling tales or gossipin'. (5) Git yourself to Sunday meeting. (6) No foolin' around with another fellow's gal. (7) No murderin'. (8) Watch yer mouth. (9) Don't take what ain't yers. (10) Don't be hankerin' for yer buddy's stuff. You seem to have a deficiency in #9, and perhaps #10. Your " Back Board Lending Program " is STEALING, young man, no more, no less. My service looses several boards and strap sets each year, and with the cost of a good board at around $200 and a set of velcro spider straps at $85 it adds up quickly. We rely heavily on donated funds to buy this stuff and cannot just " put it into circulation " and hope for the best. Steal my services stuff and I will sic the law on you. Period. Please stop trying to justify bad choices and poor behavior...........it makes you look petty and unintelligent. You may very well be a skilled, compassionate, highly experienced medic, and a fun guy to be around after work as well............it is just so hard to see that in your posts.......... If you happen to be at EMSTOCK, ask for me by name. I'll buy you a soft drink, Sonny. And if you still want a trip 'round back of the outhouse, well, remember this little bit of Latin....... " Maturecere y Perfideum Vincere Adulecentia y Vigor " Regards- Terry Dinerman EMTP Re: Backboard/Taping/Thievery Happy Birthday, but maybe youd should has stuck to your silence. For your infomation I wokr in HOuston. You have worked around those punks int he system so long your starting to sound like you were somebodys " kid " at one time. But that's kewl. I'll catcy 'ya by the outhouse, old man. Cougar!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 2, 2003 Report Share Posted May 2, 2003 Thanks, I'll have to use that for my Sunday School class. As to those who are barrowing other's stuff without permission, you might want to ask TDH if that's OK. -mikey Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 2, 2003 Report Share Posted May 2, 2003 Something interesting we've come across here in the greater Houston area--backboards are being found in dumpsters at funeral homes and morgues. Apparently bodies are frequently moved on backboards, put into caskets on backboards, etc. And speaking of black holes--we have been told that sometimes the backboard is left in the coffin and buried with the deceased. Maxine Pate hire-Pattison EMS ----- Original Message ----- > So y'all in Texas don't think this is an isolated situation, our service > figures that we have purchased enough backboards to fully equip every fire > department, rescue squad and ems service in the entire state. These devices > go into the black hole of backboards. > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 2, 2003 Report Share Posted May 2, 2003 I spend thousands of dollars a year on replacing equipment that gets DONATED. This in turn makes me have to raise my rates and not give my guys raises because we have to have the equipment to function. It got so bad with reusable head blocks and head beds that I went strictly with disposable. (my only problem is I don't like them as much as I did the reusable ones, I don't feel like my patients are as secure with the disposable. My Opinion.) I have asked TDH to be on the lookout for our backboards when they do their site visits. I got the impression that TDH was not fond of the information that we were losing boards. We clearly identify our boards. We also have regional AirLife boards, which were bought years ago to prevent having to send boards all across the region when your patient gets airlifted. This works great when you have them, but as we know in EMS it ain't always there when you need it so we don't hesitate to send ours. Our crews then fill out a special form that tells what equipment went with the patient, and where the pt was transported. As soon as I get that form I advise the transfer crews and their next run to San they try and pick the equipment up. I have had equipment come up missing when we flew a patient at 3AM and had a transfer go out at 7AM and the equipment was already gone. As far as the post about just grabbing what you see and going. TDH requires that you have a minimum stock of equipment on your unit to be in service. As an administrator it is my job to plan for these times when you get a call after arriving at the ER. So we keep two boards at the ER for that instance. If I found another services boards on one of my units I would immediately contact them and UPS the board to them. (after cleaning it) I would hope that other administrators would do the same for me. Heck I would even pay the freight if I could just account for the boards I have bought. Sorry for the long post just felt I needed to say my piece, as this hits home to me. And by the way I would prosecute backboard thieves as well. Just my $0.02. Young, LEMT-P EMS Coordinator Kerrville Fire/EMS 212 A Street Kerrville, Texas 78028 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 2, 2003 Report Share Posted May 2, 2003 This make sense. We have " loaned " the ED this equipment. Why should they just throw it in a closet for anyone to pick up? Half the time, if you do find your equipment, it is so nasty you are afraid to put it back in your unit. What would happen if we used one of their IV pumps and treated it like this? There needs to be a " clean and return " policy. Great idea Ken. In a message dated 5/2/03 4:23:08 PM Central Daylight Time, clinical@... writes: > > >Seems to me that the hospitals have a responsibility to secure > > equipment that is on loan to them. I use to work for a hospital based > > system, and whenever a patient was transferred in, we would clean any > > equipment and UPS it right back to them. The TRACs would be a logical > > place to start in setting guidelines and rules for equipment left at the > > hospitals. Then both EMS and Hospitals have input for the solution. If > > this hits a brick wall then EMSTAT and GETAC might be able to help. > > Ken Schaaf > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 2, 2003 Report Share Posted May 2, 2003 Now if someone finds a backboard marked Los Angeles County FD with " Squad 51 " on it.... -Wes Ogilvie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 2, 2003 Report Share Posted May 2, 2003 Actually, word of backboards being used like this first came from someone who worked at a funeral home. So, it wasn't just someone's idea of a fun thing to do. Some folks went to the funeral homes specifically to see if backboards that had been purchased by the RAC were being used and discarded as had been reported. The newest sport in EMS - dumpster diving! Maybe a competition can be planned for EMStock. Maxine ----- Original Message ----- > backboards are being found in dumpsters at funeral homes and morgues > > I dont even want to know why someone was scrounging around in a funeral > home/morgue dumpster!!!! > > Kathi > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 2, 2003 Report Share Posted May 2, 2003 Hey Maxine! Have you ever visited the backboard graveyard under the helipad at UTMB Galveston? I bet some of your boards (everyone's boards!) are there. There is some real vintage stuff down there in the dust.......even the old aluminum cots from the old Alouete aircraft...... Anything going to UTMB Galveston will wind up stored there if not " re-allocated " by " Cougar!! " if it sits around too long........I am not sure how long it takes for a board to get down there, tho..... Here in Dogpatch we keep our old wooden backboards for Life Flight calls and UTMB and Hermann Hosp dispose of them after each call since they are not easily cleaned........if an item can be cleaned and reused, however, the Hermann Life Flight folks clean, bag, identify and store all the rest of the materials they get in from the field, and will only disperse them to a properly identified member of the owner department. They have a storage room the size of my living room devoted to this task. When on biz in Houston, I can count on picking up several boards and associated gear for several of the departments in my area. (Brazosport) This is by far the most conscientious hospital in the region, with regards to caring for our gear, saves us small providers a truck load of $$$$$ and is one more reason to give a tip of the fedora and a hearty back-slap to the Memorial Hermann folks. Stuff going to UTMB is pretty well considered a lost cause unless someone goes after it that same day. So disposables are the rule. Wooden boards, webbing, disposable headblocks....but kiss the KED goodbye! When our wooden boards are exhausted, we plan on using cardboard ones..........anyone got a cardboard KED? Regards- Terry Dinerman EMTP Re: Backboard Thievery Actually, word of backboards being used like this first came from someone who worked at a funeral home. So, it wasn't just someone's idea of a fun thing to do. Some folks went to the funeral homes specifically to see if backboards that had been purchased by the RAC were being used and discarded as had been reported. The newest sport in EMS - dumpster diving! Maybe a competition can be planned for EMStock. Maxine ----- Original Message ----- > backboards are being found in dumpsters at funeral homes and morgues > > I dont even want to know why someone was scrounging around in a funeral > home/morgue dumpster!!!! > > Kathi > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 2, 2003 Report Share Posted May 2, 2003 Back in 1986, I found a backboard from the service I was with in the Houston area, leaning against the wall on the ER dock at Parkland Hospital in Dallas! Talk about travel mileage! Barry McClung, EMT-P Re: Backboard Thievery >> Have you ever visited the backboard graveyard under the helipad at UTMB Galveston? I bet some of your boards (everyone's boards!) are there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 2, 2003 Report Share Posted May 2, 2003 Don't tell me your dispatch call sign was KMG-365.... -Wes Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 2, 2003 Report Share Posted May 2, 2003 > > >Seems to me that the hospitals have a responsibility to secure > equipment that is on loan to them. I use to work for a hospital based > system, and whenever a patient was transferred in, we would clean any > equipment and UPS it right back to them. The TRACs would be a logical > place to start in setting guidelines and rules for equipment left at the > hospitals. Then both EMS and Hospitals have input for the solution. If > this hits a brick wall then EMSTAT and GETAC might be able to help. Ken Schaaf Clincal Coordinator Med Care EMS > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 2, 2003 Report Share Posted May 2, 2003 Several years ago at Baylor-Ellis County, we had a backboard marked Miami-Dade FD. BEB Re: Backboard Thievery This make sense. We have " loaned " the ED this equipment. Why should they just throw it in a closet for anyone to pick up? Half the time, if you do find your equipment, it is so nasty you are afraid to put it back in your unit. What would happen if we used one of their IV pumps and treated it like this? There needs to be a " clean and return " policy. Great idea Ken. In a message dated 5/2/03 4:23:08 PM Central Daylight Time, clinical@... writes: > > >Seems to me that the hospitals have a responsibility to secure > > equipment that is on loan to them. I use to work for a hospital based > > system, and whenever a patient was transferred in, we would clean any > > equipment and UPS it right back to them. The TRACs would be a logical > > place to start in setting guidelines and rules for equipment left at the > > hospitals. Then both EMS and Hospitals have input for the solution. If > > this hits a brick wall then EMSTAT and GETAC might be able to help. > > Ken Schaaf > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 2, 2003 Report Share Posted May 2, 2003 Actually, as a former assistant district attorney, I'd be more than pleased to file theft charges. Theft of government property or theft by a public servant are both top-priority charges for most prosecutor's offices. As you know, top-priority cases tend to be publicized in the media. So, if you'd like your smiling face and your ambulance featured on the front page of the newspaper or on the 10 pm newscast, you need to think when you walk off with equipment that's not yours. -Wes Ogilvie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 2, 2003 Report Share Posted May 2, 2003 Here Here , Now were talking. They expect us to come right back with the pump! In perfect working order. They should at least wash off the backboards. LONG time ago when I was teching in the ED that was part of our job. What happend???? Re: Backboard Thievery > This make sense. We have " loaned " the ED this equipment. Why should they > just throw it in a closet for anyone to pick up? Half the time, if you do > find your equipment, it is so nasty you are afraid to put it back in your > unit. > > What would happen if we used one of their IV pumps and treated it like this? > > There needs to be a " clean and return " policy. Great idea Ken. > > > > In a message dated 5/2/03 4:23:08 PM Central Daylight Time, > clinical@... writes: > > > > > >Seems to me that the hospitals have a responsibility to secure > > > equipment that is on loan to them. I use to work for a hospital based > > > system, and whenever a patient was transferred in, we would clean any > > > equipment and UPS it right back to them. The TRACs would be a logical > > > place to start in setting guidelines and rules for equipment left at the > > > hospitals. Then both EMS and Hospitals have input for the solution. If > > > this hits a brick wall then EMSTAT and GETAC might be able to help. > > > > Ken Schaaf > > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 2, 2003 Report Share Posted May 2, 2003 Wes, Actually, the county I worked in on the East Coast had/has a Station 51. Our Quick Response unit (mini-pumper/light rescue) WAS Squad 51, and we HAD a PAIR of backboards with that exact tag on it! 8^) Barry McClung, FF/EMT-P Fire & EMS Patch Collector Webmaster: " The FyreMedic's Space URL: http://www.fyremedic.com Re: Backboard Thievery > Now if someone finds a backboard marked Los Angeles County FD with " Squad 51 " > on it.... > > > -Wes Ogilvie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 2, 2003 Report Share Posted May 2, 2003 There was a case in 1990's that someone sued Baylor Dallas and won. The case was based on the fact that when equipment is left with a patient the recieving hospital is responsible for the safe keeping. Chris Re: Backboard Thievery > This make sense. We have " loaned " the ED this equipment. Why should they > just throw it in a closet for anyone to pick up? Half the time, if you do > find your equipment, it is so nasty you are afraid to put it back in your > unit. > > What would happen if we used one of their IV pumps and treated it like this? > > There needs to be a " clean and return " policy. Great idea Ken. > > > > In a message dated 5/2/03 4:23:08 PM Central Daylight Time, > clinical@... writes: > > > > > >Seems to me that the hospitals have a responsibility to secure > > > equipment that is on loan to them. I use to work for a hospital based > > > system, and whenever a patient was transferred in, we would clean any > > > equipment and UPS it right back to them. The TRACs would be a logical > > > place to start in setting guidelines and rules for equipment left at the > > > hospitals. Then both EMS and Hospitals have input for the solution. If > > > this hits a brick wall then EMSTAT and GETAC might be able to help. > > > > Ken Schaaf > > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 2, 2003 Report Share Posted May 2, 2003 And some of us can't believe the pitiful spelling and grammar that is characteristic of this discussion. The atrocious use of the English language detracts from any cogent points that you might be attempting to make. Even if others do not correct your spelling and/or grammatical errors, I can assure you that others DO notice them. You can be assured that such lack of attention to detail can and will be noted by the appropriate regulatory agencies if a complaint is ever brought against you or your service. It will be even more noted by a jury of your peers. Twelve jurors will be highly influenced by spelling errors in run forms, reports, etc. They can't help but think that sloppy spelling and grammar may be indicative of negligent patient care. When such a verdict returns from a jury, it will have one of two effects. 1) The EMS field will be forced, through liability issues, to slough off its dead weight of undertrained and unprofessional medics. 2) The EMS field will be so bankrupted by liability premiums that ambulances are once again run by the funeral homes. After all, if this is the quality of care that our " profession " wishes to tolerate, we might as well go back to " load and go. " Final point. The Penal Code doesn't recognize a defense to theft called " swapping. " -Wes Ogilvie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 3, 2003 Report Share Posted May 3, 2003 ExLngHrn@... wrote: > Now if someone finds a backboard marked Los Angeles County FD with > " Squad 51 " on it.... ....UPS it to the Squad's current home: The County of Los Angeles Fire Museum PO Box 3325 Alhambra, CA 91803 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 5, 2003 Report Share Posted May 5, 2003 I did find a nurse with " Dixie McCall " on her name tag. Kinda liked the hat and stockings, but nobody would take her back. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 5, 2003 Report Share Posted May 5, 2003 At my volunteer agency, North Blanco County EMS, we have the fortunate circumstance to have several backboard resources. We have our own MARKED backboards from Bound Tree (the good ones that look like they are laminated with cherry wood). We have red plastic backboards, issued by San AirLife, to use for patients with the potential of being flown by AirLife, and we have access to backboards issued by the CATRAC, which we usually end up grabbing when we transport to Austin and are unable to wait for our own boards to return. At Rural/Metro Ambulance in Bastrop County, we have a sizable inventory of backboards with our logo either molded into the board, or nearly imperviously painted onto them. We also have access to the CATRAC backboards. Cheers, Barry E. McClung, Firefighter/Paramedic Fire & EMS Patch Collector Webmaster: " The FyreMedic's Space " URL: http://www.fyremedic.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 5, 2003 Report Share Posted May 5, 2003 To all those who have liked the idea of the RACs helping with the backboard problem, I have a question. I don't expect an answer--just tossing it out as something to think about. Do you participate in the RAC for your area? If you want to reap the benefits, you need to be participating and helping the system work. For information on the RAC in your area, go to the TDH - Bureau of Emergency Management web site and click on " Trauma Systems " . Maxine Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 5, 2003 Report Share Posted May 5, 2003 Maxine, Excellent point. " TJ " Hatfield EMT-P " Women and cats do as they please. Men and dogs might as well relax and get used to it. " ----- Original Message ----- > To all those who have liked the idea of the RACs helping with the backboard > problem, I have a question. I don't expect an answer--just tossing it out > as something to think about. > > Do you participate in the RAC for your area? If you want to reap the > benefits, you need to be participating and helping the system work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 5, 2003 Report Share Posted May 5, 2003 Maxine, Great toss out....I thought everyone participated in their local RAC... I am going to assume they don't by the way you ask that question....why would services not??? Re: Backboard Thievery > To all those who have liked the idea of the RACs helping with the backboard > problem, I have a question. I don't expect an answer--just tossing it out > as something to think about. > > Do you participate in the RAC for your area? If you want to reap the > benefits, you need to be participating and helping the system work. > > For information on the RAC in your area, go to the TDH - Bureau of Emergency > Management web site and click on " Trauma Systems " . > > Maxine > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 6, 2003 Report Share Posted May 6, 2003 I'm sure that the reasons (excuses?) for not participating vary from agency to agency. My reason for asking the question was to make people think--if an agency does not participate in their RAC, then that agency should not feel like it is okay to take advantage of RAC projects. Example: If an agency does not participate in RAC, then why would they take and use a backboard purchased with RAC funds. Maxine ----- Original Message ----- > Maxine, > > Great toss out....I thought everyone participated in their local RAC... > > I am going to assume they don't by the way you ask that question....why > would services not??? > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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