I am an ECT (and was an AEA) and I think there is a place for us in the ems.  It all depends on how the companies want to use us in the system. Firstly (please don`t quote me, its my opinion) the title ALS is known for CCA and N-dip.  The only reason I can call myself an ALS is due to my limited "ALS" skills and some of the "ALS" drugs that we use, otherwise we are not ALS but ECT. Let's use this example: There is an ALS transfer for a pt on morphine, the only reason this is an ALS transfer is for the Morphine used. Now won't it be better to send an ECT with an AEA and still have your ALS on the road to do the ALS "stuff". So yes I believe that there is a place for us.

The ECT course was designed to have them on an ambulance not on the Response vehicle, but these days you get AEA`s also on a response vehicle. The Course helps alot to understand why you do what you do to a patient and for that I think it is good to have.  The other thing is that I don`t think it should be only a two year full time course but part time as well, for those who want to become more qualified but cannot affort to be without an income for two years. So basicly the way it's been implimented,in my opinion, was wrong.
We can sit and chat about this forever, but it all depends on if we are willing to accept change or not.

Hi all!
Just a few comments about ECT practitioners.I have worked with a few on the road and my general impression is that those who did ECT without previously being a AEA or even a BAA, lacked confidence and made mistakes,some quite bad.I feel that putting people on the road in  an 'independant practice' capacity when they are fresh out of collage with no prior road experience,is wrong both for the practitioner and the paitents!!!!!.As a practitioner who has been through the BLS ILS and finally ALS, I know that the majority of my experience and confidence was built up through my BLS and ILS stage where I could learn safely and through repetition of the "boring"P3 calls. There is a huge difference in treating the 'doll' at collage and a live person who is in trouble. In my experience with ECTs on the road I must admit I have not been impressed with their skill levels, even in simple BLS situations.Basic things like turning a convulsing or vomiting paitent lateral, supplying oxygen before going for IV, using correct jelco for rehydration and worst of all not discarding needles safely but leaving on the ambo floor, have been some of my experiences,but to name a few!Do these mistakes reflect on their training or is it their lack of road experience?These skills were drummed into me during my BLS and ILS days and come instinctivly now.Putting practitioners on the road to practice in a ALS capacity with no prior independant road experience,(road pracs during collage time in my opinion does not qualify as road experience as it is always closely supervised)is asking for trouble. I feel there is a place for ECTs but that they should be supervised initially until they have gained confidence and proven themselves competent, alternativly perhaps all the ILS should be offered a "top up" course to learn extra skills drugs ect. Then we would at least have practitioners on the road who already have some road savvy!

hallo almal.

mens moet altyd terug staan en kyk hoekom het hulle 'n ect kurses begin?
ons land is een van min wat mens net 'n maand of 3 maande kurses kan doen,
en dan op die pad werk. so wat hulle wil doen met die ect's is om ons industrie
een vlak op te vat, deur baa en aea half uit te werk en mense op die pad te kry
wat meer kan doen.(daar sal altyd baa aea wees wat geat is) daar is great baa en aea wat beter is as paramagics.. ek dink
net ons almal moet spasie maak vir mekaar en respek he vir almal.
daar is plek vir almal. ek dink dit gaan nog 'n goeie 5 - 10 jaar vat voor daai vlak
bereik gaan word!

well if you look back not long ago ,first aid level 3 was the level of emergency care given by fire figters and this changed into a.m.a and then baa -aea- cca .SO ECT is still a neonate at this stage lets accept change and hope for inprovment on the scope ,the specialised transport module is being formulated and this will include F.M.A (we need to change with the time"s}.AND lets give a ECT time to buld up some muscle memory!!!!!!!!!!!!!!