Life Care EMS

[EngineCo8]

Originally Posted by jlamanske

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I thought at one point in time Tennessee had a regulation requiring ambulances to be the standard KKK color spec of white with orange stripes? Is that still required or can it be waivered out?

I could be wrong but the KKK spec is just a solid 4" reflective stripe going horizontally from front to back, it has no specific color

[Nozzleman71]

Originally Posted by EngineCo8

I could be wrong but the KKK spec is just a solid 4" reflective stripe going horizontally from front to back, it has no specific color

TN changed the law a few years back originally for Memphis and Nashville fire departments . MFD wanted to go back to solid red ambulances to differentiate between their units and pvt ambulance services so I was told. I was unaware that any other units did not have to be orange and white till my pal Keith told me what his color was going to be

[WX4EMT]

@ 03MSC There isn't a simple answer to your question about my decision to start up. Maybe I'm tired of corporate EMS. Maybe I just need a place to finish up my last days on earth where what I do really matters.

We are a non-emergency provider - all emergency calls are sent to 911. I specialize in carrying patients from ICU to ICU, the sickest of the sick - the most critical patients that need life support above and beyond the regular street medic. For comparison / level of patient care, I am essentially a helicopter without a rotor and a LOT cheaper, just not as fast.

TN no longer requires KKK-1822 a Polar White and Omaha Orange paint scheme. However, all vehicles must be the same and the color scheme must be approved by the committee. Reflective striping is still part of the requirement.

[evfd1625]

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I did my NREMT-P practical session in Memphis and remember every ambulance I saw was in the white/orange scheme once I got into TN. That is why I ask. I think I might have looked it up at one point and saw it was a state requirement at the time. Nice looking unit. I've contemplated starting my own before. Expensive is the key word. Did you go with LED, halogen, or strobe lighting?

[WX4EMT]

The box corners have been converted to LED the bar is still conventional rotators and cab lights are halogen. Gotta make a little money, everything I have is older and used. Once we are on level ground and spec-ing new trucks it will all be LED, that's a no brain-er.

[n7lxi]

Originally Posted by WX4EMT

@ 03MSC There isn't a simple answer to your question about my decision to start up. Maybe I'm tired of corporate EMS. Maybe I just need a place to finish up my last days on earth where what I do really matters.

We are a non-emergency provider - all emergency calls are sent to 911. I specialize in carrying patients from ICU to ICU, the sickest of the sick - the most critical patients that need life support above and beyond the regular street medic. For comparison / level of patient care, I am essentially a helicopter without a rotor and a LOT cheaper, just not as fast.

TN no longer requires KKK-1822 a Polar White and Omaha Orange paint scheme. However, all vehicles must be the same and the color scheme must be approved by the committee. Reflective striping is still part of the requirement.

I'm curious about your scope/level of care. Are you operating under different protocols than "regular street medics"? Are those protocols available?
What is your current certification level?


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[WX4EMT]

Originally Posted by n7lxi

I'm curious about your scope/level of care. Are you operating under different protocols than "regular street medics"? Are those protocols available?
What is your current certification level?

Short answer: I am a Critical Care Paramedic.

just like any other street Paramedic because I have taken additional training to care for patients that are beyond the standard scope of practice.

Long answer: Some states call them Critical Care Technicians others call the Critical Care Paramedics. The names are numerous but the mission is the same to transport patients above the normal scope of practice for Paramedic. The class is 40 hours didactic with as much as 100 hours clinical and the original curriculum was set by University of Maryland at Baltimore called CC-EMTP.

CCEMTP at UMBC

The protocol is much more extensive than traditional street medicine and it is all standing order, which also allows for the individual patient's physician to order procedures and medications en-route (like clot busters) that would normally require a nurse to ride along. Also if a patient has multiple machines that are providing life support (Intra-Aortic Balloon Pump) flying will be almost impossible because of size & weight restrictions. So a specialized ground transport is indicated.

Dr. Bledsoe was my Medical Director and mentor for many years back in Dallas this was the defacto protocol:

Critical Care Paramedic Protocols

There are lots of Critical Care protocols scattered all over the internet.

[n7lxi]

Thanks. Good luck in your new endeavor!

Doing CCT transports was one of the most difficult, but most rewarding aspects of my paramedic career.


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[WX4EMT]

Originally Posted by n7lxi

Thanks. Good luck in your new endeavor!

Doing CCT transports was one of the most difficult, but most rewarding aspects of my paramedic career.

Rob, you are absolutely correct and thank you for the well wishes. I know stepping up to that level of care REALLY impacted my life and how I looked at things. I guess it's like the difference between being in the military versus actually being in combat. That life and death struggle is not something you can describe, especially to the un-initiated.

It's hard, DAMN hard! but as you described it is also VERY rewarding. I have cried SEVERAL times after transporting some of those extremely critical patients and really bawled my eyes out when I come across one that made it.

All you rookies and para-gods out there listen up, YOUR PATIENTS REMEMBER YOU! and EVERYTHING you do for them. You will reap what you sow!

[gr8rcall]

Originally Posted by WX4EMT

Rob, you are absolutely correct and thank you for the well wishes. I know stepping up to that level of care REALLY impacted my life and how I looked at things. I guess it's like the difference between being in the military versus actually being in combat. That life and death struggle is not something you can describe, especially to the un-initiated.

It's hard, DAMN hard! but as you described it is also VERY rewarding. I have cried SEVERAL times after transporting some of those extremely critical patients and really bawled my eyes out when I come across one that made it.

All you rookies and para-gods out there listen up, YOUR PATIENTS REMEMBER YOU! and EVERYTHING you do for them. You will reap what you sow!

Thanks so much for what you do. It can't always be easy!
Your job is a special one!

Also, love your ambulance!

[WX4EMT]

Originally Posted by gr8rcall

Thanks so much for what you do. It can't always be easy!
Your job is a special one!

Also, love your ambulance!

Thanks GR8 we are going to re-do the decals some of them are bubbling up a bit but the box is nice and roomy & the ride is great. She'll make a good Critical Care rig.

And thank you for your service as well.

[gr8rcall]

Originally Posted by WX4EMT

Thanks GR8 we are going to re-do the decals some of them are bubbling up a bit but the box is nice and roomy & the ride is great. She'll make a good Critical Care rig.

And thank you for your service as well.

I'm not in any kind of service, and I'm not in public safety(PD, FD, EMS, or CCU)......can you clarify what you mean?

Thanks,
GR8

[WX4EMT]

Originally Posted by gr8rcall

I'm not in any kind of service, and I'm not in public safety(PD, FD, EMS, or CCU)......can you clarify what you mean?

Thanks,
GR8

Your avatar suggests that you are a LEO, my bad. But thank you for your compliment just the same.

[gr8rcall]

Okay, Perhaps I better change that!

[KD2DLL]

Originally Posted by gr8rcall

Okay, Perhaps I better change that!

If I remember right, didn't you have a thing in your signature quite a while back about saying you were not a sheriff or something like that?

[gr8rcall]

Yep! Sure did! I'll put that back in!

[Git-R-Done]

How about a video about the Life Care EMS and all the goodies it has to offer.

[gr8rcall]

Originally Posted by Git-R-Done

How about a video about the Life Care EMS and all the goodies it has to offer.

Yeah, that would be COOL! Id love that!

[gallagher073]

Originally Posted by EngineCo8

I could be wrong but the KKK spec is just a solid 4" reflective stripe going horizontally from front to back, it has no specific color

A reflective device in any color meeting the reflector or conspicuity systems requirements of
FMVSS 108
a) Have at least 60 square inches of total reflective area
b) Shall be installed at the base or around the interior perimeter of all patient compartment
entry doors.
c) The reflectors shall be so positioned as to provide maximum visibility when the doors are
in the fully open position.

3.16.2 COLOR, PAINT, AND FINISH.
The exterior color of the ambulance shall be gloss white in combination with a solid uninterrupted
orange stripe and blue lettering and emblems. The stripe should be as close to parallel as
possible with the road but a stripe transition angle is acceptable to connect the module beltline
stripe with the chassis stripe. The exterior finish on painted metal modular bodies and metal roofs
on Type II ambulances shall be an acrylic composition urethane or polyurethane paint. The final
stage manufacturer’s painted components shall have a paint film not less than 1.8 mils thick and
a minimum total thickness of 2.6 mils including primers. The orange stripe shall not be less than 6
in. wide, nor more than 14 in. wide and shall encircle the entire ambulance body at the belt line
below the bottom edge of cab windows but may exclude the front of the hood panel. The orange
stripe shall be reflective tape. This single, solid band (except when interrupted by windows, locks,
etc.), when viewed horizontally, shall appear as a stripe near parallel to the road. The interior
finish shall be the manufacturer’s standard light color harmonizing with the color of upholstery.
After application of the final film of paint, the surfaces shall be smooth and uniform.

[n7lxi]

Historical note:

"One of the things that has really come to the forefront in the last five years is that the KKK spec was used for the federal government's procurement process. That's how they buy their ambulances. A lot of EMS organizations believe their ambulances have to meet the KKK specs, but the GSA office is quick to point out they never intended it to be a federal ambulance standard,"


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