Colloquialisms

TOTWTYTR doesn't like it when you call your Emergency response vehicle a "bus". In the spirit of sticking with topics presently in my head, I will discuss slang terms. Besides, I like discussions, and none really occur on this four day old blog. Maybe poking the hornets nest will bring me some more company.

Personally, I see no harm in such terms, I like colorful language, and slang. But then again, I come from a mixed Mili-Fire-Medi-etc background, and slang terms, like potty mouth, are a fixture. I do agree that in the wrong arena, or context, slang terms (just like f-bombs) can detract from a professional image, however, in other settings it is harmless.

Obviously, on-scene, using slang can come across as unprofessional. You generally wouldn't refer to a "patient well-known to your facility" as a "frequent flyer" to the patient, their family, or in your entry note, but they are what they are. In the [station, garage, quarters, crew-room, barn, base] you might discuss "LOLFDGBs", "welding", "skells", "tubes", "darting", "sticks", "jakes", and "blue canaries". When, on scene, you really mean "elderly woman s/p fall", "cardioversion", "less-fortunate, unemployed, unbathed citizen", "advanced airway", "needle thoracentesis", "intravenous attempts", "firefighters" and "law enforcement officers". No harm in the appropriate arena. I'm pretty sure none of your co-workers are going to gauge your professionalism based on verbage and dialect, just like they probably won't be offended if you say "fuck-fuckity-fuck-fuck". However, in a patients [house, apartment, car, scene of emergency, domicile] you probably ought to sideline such terms. Same thing with in the ED.

Other terms are harmless, regardless of the setting. Some terms that vary from region to region, job to job, person to person, are not offensive to anyone, but may cause some confusion. Despite the fact that NIMS and ICS are the standard, you'll never take the dialect out of emergency services. You do, however, need to be mindful of it, just as you need to be mindful of slang terms on-scene. I can think of a thousand examples of such dialect within my experience, I won't bore you with a list.

"Hey Tim, go to the [truck, rig, rescue] get the [jump-kit, first-in, aid-bag] the [monitor, defib, lifepak] and the [stretcher, cot, bed]."

Ambulances have MANY different titles. I call the various Units I run on "Ambulance-[Number]" or "A-[number]". "Paramedic-[Number]" or "P-[number]. [Town] Rescue, or Rescue-1. CJH in Brick City refers to his units as "MIC-4", or 2404 or some variation thereof. We all have our labels on the radio. As long as you know what vehicle to get in, and [dispatch, control, fire alarm] knows who is assigned, labels don't make much of a difference.

What you call the vehicle in the inner sanctum doesn't matter. Just don't be a jackass and act unprofessional in front of outsiders.

Personally, I am far more offended by the term used in some regions for a handicapped vehicle with a lift. We call them "chair cars" or "chair vans" in my region. I've heard the term "Handi-Van" utilized. But tell me, WHO THE HELL thinks it's OK to call them "Invalid Coaches". Yeah, this means you New Jersey. That shit ain't right.

Back to ambulances, maybe, growing up around the [industry, profession, lifestyle] I had a skewed perspective, but I always pictured a Wheeled Coach when I sang...

"The wheels on the bus go round and round..."
"The doors on the bus go open and close..."
"The suction on the bus goes swish swish swish..."
"The siren on the bus goes waaaaa-waaa-waaanh..."
"The Psychs on the bus go 'I AM JESUS!"

Oh wait.