EMSResponder.com Polls

Archived/Inactive Polls:

How often do you wear a seatbelt in the front of the ambulance?
Never
 3%  (9)
Rarely
 7%  (19)
Sometimes
 12%  (35)
Always
 78%  (219)

How often do you use a personal restraint system in the rear of the ambulance?
Never
 27%  (120)
Rarely
 41%  (181)
Sometimes
 25%  (111)
Always
 8%  (34)

Does your EMS agency require field providers to undergo physical fitness testing?
Never
 55%  (123)
Only upon hiring/joining
 32%  (70)
Regularly
 13%  (29)

If your EMS organization provided free or discounted access to a gym, would you use it?
Yes, I would
 85%  (205)
No, I wouldn’t
 5%  (11)
It already does, and I do use it
 4%  (10)
It already does, and I don’t use it
 7%  (16)

Did your EMS agency do anything to participate in EMS Week, May 20-26?
Did not know about EMS week
 7%  (11)
No, not at all
 37%  (61)
Somewhat… we acknowledged it
 23%  (38)
Yes, we had special activities and/or awards
 33%  (53)

What do you spend the most time doing between calls?
Other work duties or training
 32%  (68)
Goofing off with co-workers
 21%  (44)
Watching TV
 18%  (38)
Getting exercise
 0%  (1)
Cooking and/or eating
 2%  (4)
Snoozing
 15%  (32)
Other
 11%  (24)

How strict are you about observing BSI precautions - wearing appropriate PPE and handwashing?
I observe it for all patient contact/cleaning
 77%  (111)
I do it when contact with bodily fluids is likely
 22%  (31)
I do it once I know fluids are/were present
 1%  (2)

Have you ever acquired an illness or infection that you attribute to your work in EMS?
Never
 55%  (82)
Once
 16%  (24)
A few times
 24%  (36)
Many times!
 5%  (8)

Did your EMS agency respond to any fireworks injuries this 4th of July?
No, and we have never responded to a fireworks injury
 20%  (18)
Not this 4th, but we have responded to fireworks injuries
 51%  (46)
Yes, we did respond to at least one fireworks injury
 30%  (27)

Would you ever disregard the rules of "Scene Safety" in order to render aid?
No, it's never a sensible idea
 34%  (60)
Yes, but only for family or friends
 30%  (53)
Yes, I would generally feel compelled
 36%  (64)

What do you think of the concept of an unmanned air rescue vehicle?
Sure, I think there would be many appropriate applications
 11%  (7)
It could occasionally make sense as a last resort
 27%  (17)
No way - it should be a priority to provide a medical attendant
 62%  (40)

Has your EMS agency ever treated an animal?
No, because we have never been in this situation
 36%  (37)
No, because we always refer treatment elsewhere
 9%  (9)
Yes, but only on a scene involving a human patient
 33%  (34)
Yes, we have specifically responded to an animal emergency
 22%  (22)

Is your rescue community talking about local bridge issues after the experience in Minneapolis?
No, we have no equivalent structures
 32%  (21)
No, we are not more concerned
 32%  (21)
Yes, we are re-examining our local situation
 35%  (23)

What topic would most interest you for a future EMSResponder.com webcast?
Clinical Care
 17%  (9)
Products/Technology
 12%  (6)
EMS Lifestyle
 25%  (13)
Safety
 21%  (11)
Careers/Leadership
 25%  (13)
Other
 0%  (0)
None
 0%  (0)

How do you generally record patient information during a call?
Memory only
 11%  (18)
Written notes
 84%  (141)
Voice recorded notes
 1%  (2)
Dictated notes to colleague
 2%  (4)
Other
 2%  (3)

Have you ever been assaulted by a patient?
No, not verbally or physically
 12%  (21)
Yes, I have been threatened
 18%  (32)
Yes, I have had a physical attack attempted
 45%  (79)
Yes, I have had a physical attack resulting in injury
 24%  (42)

What do you think about the idea of disaster simulation video games for first responders?
Waste of time
 10%  (10)
Valuable training tool
 52%  (53)
May as well play, but only if it's free
 38%  (38)

Have you ever been involved in an ambulance crash?
No
 48%  (78)
Just a "fender bender"
 29%  (47)
Yes, resulting in significant damage and/or injury
 23%  (37)

Did personnel at your EMS agency say or do anything to mark the sixth anniversary of 9/11?
No.
 52%  (46)
Yes, we made note of it informally.
 24%  (21)
Yes, we marked the anniversary formally.
 25%  (22)

Which location would be your choice for a national EMS Memorial?
Kansas City, Mo.
 37%  (2779)
Arlington, Va.
 1%  (103)
Colorado Springs, Col.
 62%  (4727)

Do you experience feelings of sleep deprivation while on duty?
No
 25%  (72)
Yes, primarily as a result of my EMS schedule
 60%  (173)
Yes, but it's a result of my personal lifestyle
 15%  (43)

Have you ever failed to properly request or follow orders from medical control?
No, never
 62%  (68)
Yes, accidentally
 21%  (23)
Yes, intentionally
 17%  (19)

Has your EMS agency prepared for the possibility of a school shooting?
Yes, we have
 30%  (29)
No, not specifically
 70%  (69)

Have you ever suffered a back injury as a result of your EMS duties?
Yes
 64%  (61)
No
 17%  (16)
No, but I'm concerned that I might
 19%  (18)

Is your EMS agency taking extra precautions against spreading staph infections?
Yes
 26%  (16)
No
 74%  (45)

Did your EMS agency respond to any emergencies related to Halloween activities?
No
 56%  (40)
Yes - Trick-or-Treating
 7%  (5)
Yes – Food/candy issues
 3%  (2)
Yes – Decorating incidents
 4%  (3)
Yes - Other
 11%  (8)
Yes – Multiple causes
 19%  (14)

Have you ever utilized critical incident stress management services?
No, I have not had the need/opportunity
 25%  (26)
No, I have declined it
 10%  (11)
Yes, I have been glad to utilize it
 55%  (58)
Yes, but I prefer not to
 10%  (10)

Does your EMS agency have a written policy for disinfecting vehicles and equipment?
No
 38%  (51)
I don't know
 8%  (11)
Yes, with good compliance
 33%  (44)
Yes, with poor compliance
 21%  (29)

Would you trust your own EMS agency with your loved ones' lives?
Yes, I would trust my own colleagues the most
 67%  (86)
No, my insight there has lowered my confidence
 22%  (29)
I feel neutral about my agency
 11%  (14)

Do you get a yearly flu shot?
Never
 40%  (49)
Some years
 18%  (22)
Always
 42%  (51)

Do union endorsements or organizational political views affect your vote?
Yes
 13%  (11)
No
 76%  (65)
Not applicable
 11%  (9)

Should chronic inebriants get an EMS response, or a van with a paramedic and a social worker?
Standard EMS response
 31%  (36)
The van, as sometimes used in San Francisco
 53%  (61)
N/A - Other
 16%  (18)

Do you like to be on duty during the New Year's Eve holiday?
Yes.
 46%  (56)
No way.
 21%  (26)
I have no preference.
 33%  (41)

What is your top EMS goal for 2008?
Improve health and/or fitness
 31%  (34)
Improve job performance
 17%  (18)
Improve personal safety
 4%  (4)
Continue to learn
 28%  (31)
Get a promotion or new job
 15%  (16)
Other
 5%  (5)
None
 1%  (1)

Given the opportunity, how would you spend extra money at your EMS agency?
Pay/benefits
 30%  (31)
Staffing increase
 9%  (9)
New programs
 3%  (3)
Training
 20%  (21)
Vehicles and equipment
 34%  (36)
Station/amenities
 4%  (4)
None
 0%  (0)
Other
 1%  (1)

Have you ever used your EMS skills for emergencies encountered off duty?
Yes
 92%  (208)
No, never had the opportunity
 4%  (10)
No, chose not to get involved
 4%  (8)
Other
 0%  (1)

Have you ever had a close call with traffic while working a scene?
No
 11%  (18)
Yes, I've had a vehicle drive dangerously close
 61%  (104)
Yes, I've had a secondary accident at my scene
 28%  (47)
Other
 1%  (1)

Do you live and work in the same service area?
No, I commute 1 to 15 miles
 23%  (36)
No, I commute 16 to 30 miles
 19%  (29)
No, I commute 31-45 miles
 9%  (14)
No, I commute more than 45 miles
 10%  (16)
Other
 10%  (15)
Yes
 29%  (45)

Has any EMS equipment in your care ever been lost or stolen?
No
 30%  (27)
Yes, one or more minor items
 43%  (38)
Yes, something important
 27%  (24)

Should EMS responders be issued tasers?
Yes: the law enforcement TASER with training for deployment and treatment
 43%  (78)
Yes: the civilian TASER with training for deployment and treatment
 11%  (20)
No: EMS responders don't need TASERs
 43%  (79)
Other
 3%  (5)

Do you enjoy EMS themed entertainment? (Books, movies, TV, etc.)
Yes, if it's about EMS I'll see it
 60%  (67)
No, I get enough EMS on the job
 8%  (9)
It depends on the material
 31%  (35)
Other
 1%  (1)

Have you ever been thanked by a patient or their family?
Never
 1%  (1)
Once
 4%  (6)
A few times
 35%  (58)
Many times
 45%  (75)
Most of the time
 15%  (25)

Do personnel at your agency use any of the medical supplies on themselves?
Never/Not unless it's an emergency
 29%  (39)
Sometimes
 61%  (82)
Often
 10%  (13)

Do your personal hospital preferences ever affect your transport decisions?
Never
 38%  (55)
Sometimes
 46%  (67)
Often
 11%  (16)
N/A or Other
 5%  (7)

Do you plan to stay in EMS indefinitely or to change fields?
Stay in EMS
 57%  (58)
Change to another health care field
 2%  (2)
Change to another public safety field
 6%  (6)
Change to an unrelated field
 1%  (1)
Both: work in multiple fields
 32%  (33)
Other
 2%  (2)

While responding with lights and siren to a medical emergency, how fast does your state/jurisdiction
No More Than Posted Speed Limit
 11%  (16)
No More Than 5 MPH Over Posted Speed Limit
 6%  (9)
No More Than 10 MPH Over Posted Speed Limit
 49%  (74)
Greater Than 10 MPH Over Posted Speed Limit
 27%  (41)
Don't know - N/A
 8%  (12)

Should EMS agencies strive to equip all ambulances with GPS?
No, it isn’t necessary
 2%  (3)
Yes, it should be a high priority
 76%  (127)
It depends on each system
 22%  (37)
Other
 0%  (0)

What do you prefer to hear the public call EMTs and Paramedics as a group?
EMS responders, personnel, etc.
 25%  (40)
First Responders
 4%  (7)
EMTs
 17%  (27)
Paramedics
 13%  (22)
Anything besides Ambulance Driver
 40%  (65)
Other
 1%  (2)

Should EMS responders be trained to report possible signs of terrorism?
Yes, we are in a position to do so
 74%  (119)
No, we'd risk patient confidentiality and trust
 6%  (9)
Maybe, this idea needs further debate
 20%  (32)
Other
 1%  (1)

Should EMS agencies reduce non-essential transports with Treat and Release programs?
Yes
 60%  (65)
No
 18%  (19)
Maybe in some systems
 21%  (23)
Other
 1%  (1)

Do you say anything if you feel unsafe about how your partner is driving?
No, I keep my mouth shut
 7%  (9)
Yes, I speak up
 76%  (94)
I might say something afterward
 10%  (13)
I never feel unsafe with my colleagues
 5%  (6)
Other
 2%  (2)

Do you think your community should do more to celebrate EMS Week?
Yes, we could do much more
 81%  (83)
No, the activities are extra work
 4%  (4)
Our observance is just right
 8%  (8)
What's EMS Week?
 8%  (8)