From: Kevin.Agard@f94.n343.z1.fidonet.org (Kevin Agard)
Newsgroups: misc.emerg-services
Subject: Becoming an EMT...
Date: Mon, 21 Dec 1992 11:01:00 -0800

RW->I kinda still would like to be an EMT, but....I have this fear...of
blood,
RW->anymore.  No, it's not the "oh GROSS!! I'm gonna pass out!" kinda
fear.  It
RW->the AIDS kinda fear.

RW->Am I being too...paranoid?  Personally, I don't think so...but
OTHERS might
RW->think so.

Rick,

I work in Manhattan South. Full Time, Between the large homosexual
population in the West Village and the enormous population of IV drug
abusers in the East Village, this area is probably one of the areas of
highest HIV infection in the country and I spend very little time
worrying about contracting HIV. I am more concerned with contracting
one
of the Antibiotic resistant strains of TB or Hepatitis.

Most of the fear of HIV/AIDS/ARC I have encountered are due lack
of education about the disease itself and how it is transmitted.

Some facts:

HIV can only be transmitted by some type of blood to blood contact. (To
my knowledge, there have been no confirmed cases of transmission by any
other means).

I have yet to here of a "CONFIRMED" case of an EMT or Paramedic
contracting the virus. There are however a few cases pending where the
exact determination of route of transmission has yet to be made.


All Health and Allied Health professionals are (or should be) trained
in
proper precautions against blood borne pathogens. They tend to be as
simple as ALWAYS wearing gloves, Thoroughly washing your hands
immediately after EACH and EVERY Patient contact. And basically not
letting patients bleed on you; Something, I must admit, that is
sometimes difficult. Not impossible however.


RW->What kind of precautions do you take to prevent contact with blood?
I know RW->about the rubber gloves.  What if there's no way to get to
gloves???

There is absolutely no excuse for an ambulance to roll without having
proper isolation equipment on board. These items are now an absolute
necessity. If the vehicle and crew are not properly equipped it should
be put out of service!


RW->Any info is GREATLY appreciated!

Basically, All I can suggest to you is the same thing we tell our EMT
students the first night of class: Read the current literature on the
disease and glean a real understanding of it characteristics and
patho-physiology. After doing so decide whether or not you believe you
can function in an environment where you must assume every patient you
contact will have all three of the above diseases. If the answer to the
question is "yes" then by all means pursue your ambition. If the answer
is "no" then you should choose some other field of endeavor. But you
must be honest with yourself in this evaluation. If you are preoccupied
with these diseases you will not be able to provide the patients with
the best care possible, and if you can do that you have no business in
any medical field. (Blunt but true!)

Hope this helps.

Regards,

KMA

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