Hey Matt,

Does NYS require National Registry? If so, once you pass the course final (written and practical) take a few days off, relax, then study lightly on a regular basis, then two weeks before the exam pick the pace up with some intensive study. A day or two before the exam relax and try and clear your mind, review lightly <img src="images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />. When it is time for the practical try the same approach. Hopefully, things will be fresh in your mind, but at the same time you will need to try and relax as much as possible <img src="images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />.

The practical is especially stressful, even for the “well prepared”. As I have mentioned before, I became an EMT back in the mid 70’s so I have been at this a while. The day of the practical, it was 90+ degrees out, our practical exam was in Montgomery County at their fire training facility. They had us sit/stage in the non-air-conditioned atrium of the main building. Between the nerves and the heat it was hard to concentrate <img src="images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />.

For the trauma / patient packaging station in addition to extremity immobilization and long board immobilization we were required to put a KEDS on. Well, I have put many a KEDS on over the years, but when I started, something was wrong, I could not put my finger on it at the moment, but knew something was amiss <img src="images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />. So I took it off and reapplied the KEDS, still with that feeling something was just not right <img src="images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />. When I was finished the examiner checked the patient for alignment, placement and appropriate tightness. They direct you to remove the device and tell you to report back to the staging area, with no indication of how you did until the end of the day when they review each station with you.

I passed all the stations with the exception of the dynamic cardiology and patient packaging station. I failed the dynamic cardiology section, by not employing one of the drugs early enough in the scenario <img src="images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />. I attributed that to nerves. I failed the patient immobilization station due to putting the KEDS on inside out and even though the patient was immobilized, I failed for misapplication, again nerves <img src="images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />. I retook both stations the same day and passed them both without any problems, one I got over the jitters <img src="images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />. Pete

Matt, CONGRATULATIONS!!!!
I have no idea what you have gone through to get this far, but I am certain your accomplishment speaks volumes as to your dedication.
Use your knowledge wisely, continue to make the world a better place for all of us.

All the best,

NYS doesn't require National Registry. But I will do it anyway. After I take my State I have two weeks before I have oral Regional test. This one is what allows me to operate in NYC.

As soon as I'm done I want to look for Wilderness Paramedic course somewhere.

That's funny about the KED. Next to hour class is an EMT class and they do it all the time. But if you do it wrong once you will never do it again.

Matt

Congrats! <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

For wilderness EMS, Wilderness Medical Associates can not be beat. Pete

http://www.wildmed.com/main.html

Davies' SAS Desert Survival book could use a lot of work, IMHO. I think it's one the least impressive of all the SAS series. I don't think the author quite realized how different desert survival skills are from wetter and colder climates (and you really could say that about all the SAS books). Davies' book concentrates on snaring animals and making up a survival tin instead of more important subjects like water collection, snakebite, heat illness, etc. What it does offer is very questionable advice on things like getting sustainable water out of solar stills, drinking the sap of birch trees (in the desert??). If you want a desert survival book, David Alloway's Desert Survival Skills, or Mark Johnson's The Ultimate Desert Handbook are far more complete and accurate on preparing for desert travel and survival.

Zerge:

I've still got your books, and would love to send them to you, but you've got to e-mail me your complete mailing addres, exactly as I should put it on the package!

dchinell at msn dot com

Bear

The US army field survival field manual is pretty good, and is downloadable in pdf form from ETF (I forget the exact url). There's also suggestions of some other books there, including a few printed on waterproof paper.

Thanx for the recommendation, they're getting pretty hard to source, and I picked up a copy from this guy. Great service and the copy of the Flickbook was still in the original shrink wrap.

<img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

there is a nicely sized survival book that i actualy keep in my survival pack for reference. Its clled the SAS SURVIVAL GUIDE its made by gem