RE: Any Idea About EMT/Paramedic Textbooks?

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

There are a variety of ways to access books and materials.One way is to request

review copies for a course if you are faculty. Another is to but out the request

for " old " books for folks that have the ability to update and then pass along

their previous copy etc. online materials abount etc. What are the teaching

circumstances for your community- ie: where is it,who are you teaching, goals

etc.Are you trying to certified courses or modular programing. etc . I can be

reached off line if that is better for you. gkeenan@...

From: graphana@... <graphana@...>

Subject: Any Idea About EMT/Paramedic Textbooks?

Date: Thursday, November 20, 2008, 2:32 PM

Hi Folks,

I'm new to the field, new to the list.

Any idea if there's a possibility somewhere/somehow to obtain quality books at

no charge?on emt/paramedic/ anatomy-physiolo gy, like the Paramedic Care series

by Brady publishing and other textbooks?books from this press or authors, or

others like Caroline - that are used in the studies and practices in

classes.

I really want to get to knowledge so that I can eventually help people in the

community (with required education and official certification, of course), but

the books usually are expensive, especially the latest editions, and I can't

afford to spend at this time. I'm not considering it as a paid job, as I have my

full day job.

Also, any idea if the earlier textbooks editions, like those published in '05

are substantially different from the newer editions or they can still be

basically good and relevant?

I'd appreciate any help and advise.

Thanks,

S

[Guest guest]

Hello ,

   Thrift and second hand stores can be a source of EMS books.

You can scan and copy the material.  If no profit is being made, you won't be in

violation of USA copyright laws.

Also, ask the college bookstore for the texts, that the instructors, no longer

use.

   Also, the Internet is a fair resource of materials.  Some community colleges,

even have Power Point Presentations, that you can download.  Some EMS companies

and fire depts have their protocals and training outlines on their websites.

   Write me please, and tell me more about your project. robert_vahle@...

 I am very interested.  God bless you and good luck.

   Hope and peace,

From: graphanaaol (DOT) com <graphanaaol (DOT) com>

Subject: [Remotemedics. co.uk] Any Idea About EMT/Paramedic Textbooks?

el=nofollow> @groups. com

Date: Thursday, November 20, 2008, 2:32 PM

Hi Folks,

I'm new to the field, new to the list.

Any idea if there's a possibility somewhere/somehow to obtain quality books at

no charge?on emt/paramedic/ anatomy-physiolo gy, like the Paramedic Care series

by Brady publishing and other textbooks?books from this press or authors, or

others like Caroline - that are used in the studies and practices in

classes.

I really want to get to knowledge so that I can eventually help people in the

community (with required education and official certification, of course), but

the books usually are expensive, especially the latest editions, and I can't

afford to spend at this time. I'm not considering it as a paid job, as I have my

full day job.

Also, any idea if the earlier textbooks editions, like those published in '05

are substantially different from the newer editions or they can still be

basically good and relevant?

I'd appreciate any help and advise.

Thanks,

S

[Guest guest]

The single best way to find any book " cheap " is to get the right ISBN for

the book you want and search for it at the following sites;

_www.half.com_ (http://www.half.com)

_www.amazon.com_ (http://www.amazon.com)

I have found great deals in this manner even on new books.

LNM

Louis N. Molino, Sr., CET

FF/NREMT-B/FSI/EMSI

Freelance Consultant/Trainer/Author/Journalist/Fire Protection Consultant

LNMolino@...

979-412-0890 (Cell Phone)

979-314-1408 (Home Phone)

979-690-7559 (IFW/TFW/FSS Office)

979-690-7562 (IFW/TFW/FSS Fax)

" A Texan with a Jersey Attitude "

" Great minds discuss ideas; Average minds discuss events; Small minds

discuss people " Eleanor Roosevelt - US diplomat & reformer (1884 - 1962)

The comments contained in this E-mail are the opinions of the author and the

author alone. I in no way ever intend to speak for any person or

organization that I am in any way whatsoever involved or associated with unless

I

specifically state that I am doing so. Further this E-mail is intended only for

its

stated recipient and may contain private and or confidential materials

retransmission is strictly prohibited unless placed in the public domain by the

original author.

In a message dated 11/21/2008 8:19:29 P.M. Central Standard Time,

robert_vahle@... writes:

Hello ,

Thrift and second hand stores can be a source of EMS books.

You can scan and copy the material. If no profit is being made, you won't

be in violation of USA copyright laws.

Also, ask the college bookstore for the texts, that the instructors, no

longer use.

Also, the Internet is a fair resource of materials. Some community

colleges, even have Power Point Presentations, that you can download. Some EMS

companies and fire depts have their protocals and training outlines on their

websites.

Write me please, and tell me more about your project. robert_vahle@...

I am very interested. God bless you and good luck.

Hope and peace,

From: graphanaaol (DOT) com <graphanaaol (DOT) com>

Subject: [Remotemedics. co.uk] Any Idea About EMT/Paramedic Textbooks?

el=nofollow> @groups. com

Date: Thursday, November 20, 2008, 2:32 PM

Hi Folks,

I'm new to the field, new to the list.

Any idea if there's a possibility somewhere/somehow to obtain quality books

at no charge?on emt/paramedic/ anatomy-physiolo gy, like the Paramedic Care

series by Brady publishing and other textbooks?books from this press or

authors, or others like Caroline - that are used in the studies and

practices

in classes.

I really want to get to knowledge so that I can eventually help people in

the community (with required education and official certification, of course),

but the books usually are expensive, especially the latest editions, and I

can't afford to spend at this time. I'm not considering it as a paid job, as I

have my full day job.

Also, any idea if the earlier textbooks editions, like those published in

'05 are substantially different from the newer editions or they can still be

basically good and relevant?

I'd appreciate any help and advise.

Thanks,

S

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

------------------------------------

Member Information:

List owner: Ian Sharpe

Editor: Ross Boardman

[Guest guest]

,

Welcome aboard. Am I to understand that you do not yet have any medical

education, and that you are looking to take a peek into the profession? If so,

I have to say that this is not the way to go about it. Paramedicine is not

first aid. It's not something you have the slightest chance of learning by

reading through a few books. Paramedicine is medical practice. It is far more

involved than it looks on television. You will not learn it from reading some

books. And reading through some books will not give you a " head start " or " leg

up " on paramedic education. Everything in this field is best learned in a very

specific order, not randomly. That means, before you ever pick up a paramedic

textbook, you should already be in the class. And before you ever enter the

class, you should have a good year of scientific college prerequisite courses

behind you, including a FORMAL course in anatomy & physiology that includes a

laboratory component, as well as microbiology and psychology at a very minimum.

Without that preparation, you are attempting to build a professional practice

with no foundation. Would you build a home without first establishing a

foundation? Of course not. And when human lives are in the balance, no less

than serious, full-time, complete focus on being the very best you can be is

acceptable.

If you want to first see if this is something that you really have a serious

interest and aptitude for, then I would recommend that you visit a community

college EMT programme and discuss it with an instructor. During that

preparatory course (which really is nothing more than a 120 hour first aid

course), you will get a sense of what is ahead, academically, as well as the

opportunity to ride with an EMS crew a few times to see if this is really the

field for you. But again, reading books will do ZERO for you. It gives you no

feel for what the field or the educational process is about. And again, that

learning does you no good at all until you have established the foundation.

Best of luck,

Rob

On Thursday, November 20, 2008 17:32, graphana@... said:

>

> Hi Folks,

>

> I'm new to the field, new to the list.

>

> Any idea if there's a possibility somewhere/somehow to obtain quality books at

no

> charge?on emt/paramedic/anatomy-physiology, like the Paramedic Care series by

> Brady publishing and other textbooks?books from this press or authors, or

others

> like Caroline - that are used in the studies and practices in classes.

>

> I really want to get to knowledge so that I can eventually help people in the

> community (with required education and official certification, of course), but

the

> books usually are expensive, especially the latest editions, and I can't

afford to

> spend at this time. I'm not considering it as a paid job, as I have my full

day

> job.

>

> Also, any idea if the earlier textbooks editions, like those published in '05

are

> substantially different from the newer editions or they can still be basically

> good and relevant?

>

> I'd appreciate any help and advise.

>

> Thanks,

> S

[Guest guest]

Lou left out the best one, the old Bibliophile.com, now renamed as ABE

Books.

<http://www.abebooks.com/> http://www.abebooks.com/ in the USA

<http://www.abebooks.com/Canada/> http://www.abebooks.com/Canada/ for

Kanuckistan

<http://www.abebooks.co.uk/> http://www.abebooks.co.uk/ in the UK

<http://www.abebooks.com/docs/ANZ/index.shtml>

http://www.abebooks.com/docs/ANZ/index.shtml for OZ and NZ.

All the large booksellers advertising on Amazon, EBay and Half.com use this

service as well. They also have Italian, French and Danish sites.

Donn

_____

From:

[mailto: ] On Behalf Of lnmolino@...

Sent: Friday, November 21, 2008 9:19 PM

Subject: Re: Any Idea About EMT/Paramedic Textbooks?

The single best way to find any book " cheap " is to get the right ISBN for

the book you want and search for it at the following sites;

_www.half.com_ (http://www.half. <http://www.half.com> com)

_www.amazon.com_ (http://www.amazon. <http://www.amazon.com> com)

I have found great deals in this manner even on new books.

LNM

Louis N. Molino, Sr., CET

FF/NREMT-B/FSI/EMSI

Freelance Consultant/Trainer/Author/Journalist/Fire Protection Consultant

LNMolinoaol (DOT) <mailto:LNMolino%40aol.com> com

979-412-0890 (Cell Phone)

979-314-1408 (Home Phone)

979-690-7559 (IFW/TFW/FSS Office)

979-690-7562 (IFW/TFW/FSS Fax)

" A Texan with a Jersey Attitude "

" Great minds discuss ideas; Average minds discuss events; Small minds

discuss people " Eleanor Roosevelt - US diplomat & reformer (1884 - 1962)

The comments contained in this E-mail are the opinions of the author and the

author alone. I in no way ever intend to speak for any person or

organization that I am in any way whatsoever involved or associated with

unless I

specifically state that I am doing so. Further this E-mail is intended only

for its

stated recipient and may contain private and or confidential materials

retransmission is strictly prohibited unless placed in the public domain by

the

original author.

In a message dated 11/21/2008 8:19:29 P.M. Central Standard Time,

robert_vahle@ <mailto:robert_vahle%40> writes:

Hello ,

Thrift and second hand stores can be a source of EMS books.

You can scan and copy the material. If no profit is being made, you won't

be in violation of USA copyright laws.

Also, ask the college bookstore for the texts, that the instructors, no

longer use.

Also, the Internet is a fair resource of materials. Some community

colleges, even have Power Point Presentations, that you can download. Some

EMS

companies and fire depts have their protocals and training outlines on their

websites.

Write me please, and tell me more about your project. robert_vahle@

<mailto:robert_vahle%40>

I am very interested. God bless you and good luck.

Hope and peace,

From: graphanaaol (DOT) com <graphanaaol (DOT) com>

Subject: [Remotemedics. co.uk] Any Idea About EMT/Paramedic Textbooks?

el=nofollow> @groups. com

Date: Thursday, November 20, 2008, 2:32 PM

Hi Folks,

I'm new to the field, new to the list.

Any idea if there's a possibility somewhere/somehow to obtain quality books

at no charge?on emt/paramedic/ anatomy-physiolo gy, like the Paramedic Care

series by Brady publishing and other textbooks?books from this press or

authors, or others like Caroline - that are used in the studies and

practices

in classes.

I really want to get to knowledge so that I can eventually help people in

the community (with required education and official certification, of

course),

but the books usually are expensive, especially the latest editions, and I

can't afford to spend at this time. I'm not considering it as a paid job, as

I

have my full day job.

Also, any idea if the earlier textbooks editions, like those published in

'05 are substantially different from the newer editions or they can still be

basically good and relevant?

I'd appreciate any help and advise.

Thanks,

S

[Guest guest]

ONCE AGAIN Rob minimizes the the value of self education, and once again Rob

is DEAD WRONG!

Please don't think I'm disparaging Rob as a person or as a medic. My

complaint is aimed only at this VERY WRONG opinion of his. Rob has

established himself as an intelligent fellow and has the reputation of being

a better than fair practitioner. He can speak eloquently on many medical

topics. He has arrived at his opinion of the educational process by

correctly observing the many failings of paramedic education in America. He

is correct on many fronts, but in this message, he again fails to understand

that adults learn in different ways, and some learn better following a

self-made path. Some folks don't require Rob's regimented form of education

to achieve lofty heights in medicine. Many of the best medics and physicians

I have encountered arrived at that station by the sweat of their brow and

the seat of their pants.

But I am in the middle of a conference at the moment and don't have time to

reprise the well worn arguments. So, , I recommend you do a search of

this list's archives using Rob's name as you keyword. You will find several

threads on the topic. There are other forums in which you can accomplish the

same. Now, go ahead and locate your books, read them, and get that leg up

you desire. There are plenty of folks on this list and others who will try

to be of assistance to someone with the desire for knowledge.

Regards,

Donn

_____

From:

[mailto: ] On Behalf Of

rob.davis@...

Sent: Friday, November 21, 2008 10:17 PM

Subject: RE: Any Idea About EMT/Paramedic Textbooks?

,

Welcome aboard. Am I to understand that you do not yet have any medical

education, and that you are looking to take a peek into the profession? If

so, I have to say that this is not the way to go about it. Paramedicine is

not first aid. It's not something you have the slightest chance of learning

by reading through a few books. Paramedicine is medical practice. It is far

more involved than it looks on television. You will not learn it from

reading some books. And reading through some books will not give you a " head

start " or " leg up " on paramedic education. Everything in this field is best

learned in a very specific order, not randomly. That means, before you ever

pick up a paramedic textbook, you should already be in the class. And before

you ever enter the class, you should have a good year of scientific college

prerequisite courses behind you, including a FORMAL course in anatomy &

physiology that includes a laboratory component, as well as microbiology and

psychology at a very minimum. Without that preparation, you are attempting

to build a professional practice with no foundation. Would you build a home

without first establishing a foundation? Of course not. And when human lives

are in the balance, no less than serious, full-time, complete focus on being

the very best you can be is acceptable.

If you want to first see if this is something that you really have a serious

interest and aptitude for, then I would recommend that you visit a community

college EMT programme and discuss it with an instructor. During that

preparatory course (which really is nothing more than a 120 hour first aid

course), you will get a sense of what is ahead, academically, as well as the

opportunity to ride with an EMS crew a few times to see if this is really

the field for you. But again, reading books will do ZERO for you. It gives

you no feel for what the field or the educational process is about. And

again, that learning does you no good at all until you have established the

foundation.

Best of luck,

Rob

On Thursday, November 20, 2008 17:32, graphanaaol (DOT)

<mailto:graphana%40aol.com> com said:

>

> Hi Folks,

>

> I'm new to the field, new to the list.

>

> Any idea if there's a possibility somewhere/somehow to obtain quality

books at no

> charge?on emt/paramedic/anatomy-physiology, like the Paramedic Care series

by

> Brady publishing and other textbooks?books from this press or authors, or

others

> like Caroline - that are used in the studies and practices in

classes.

>

> I really want to get to knowledge so that I can eventually help people in

the

> community (with required education and official certification, of course),

but the

> books usually are expensive, especially the latest editions, and I can't

afford to

> spend at this time. I'm not considering it as a paid job, as I have my

full day

> job.

>

> Also, any idea if the earlier textbooks editions, like those published in

'05 are

> substantially different from the newer editions or they can still be

basically

> good and relevant?

>

> I'd appreciate any help and advise.

>

> Thanks,

> S

[Guest guest]

On Saturday, November 22, 2008 05:14, " D.E. (Donn) " <donn@...>

said:

> ONCE AGAIN Rob minimizes the the value of self education, and once again Rob

> is DEAD WRONG!

>

> <snip> ...he again fails to understand

> that adults learn in different ways, and some learn better following a

> self-made path. Some folks don't require Rob's regimented form of education

> to achieve lofty heights in medicine.

This is certainly a fair and valid point. And I did not mean to minimise the

value of self-education or even distance education, both of which I am a true

believer in and supporter of. Many distance learning institutions --

particularly in Canada -- do an excellent job at educating new EMS practitioners

strictly through self-study. My point -- which I obviously failed to make very

specifically -- is that learning -- whether self-paced and self-directed, or in

a classroom -- is ideally achieved when there is a method to it. And just

picking up some books, with no idea of which concepts build upon which other

concepts, and reading through them, is not an effective means of learning

medicine.

When you pick up the books and start reading them, there is an overwhelming

tendency to turn right to the sexy and exciting stuff, skipping over the mundane

science that is the very basis of everything we do. That tendency comes from

the mistaken notion that most have of our profession, which is that it is

nothing more than a collection of skills to be practised, and that " all that

book learnin' " is not important. So you end up with people who know a lot of

theory about intubation, cardiology, and pharmacology, but still don't know

anything about respiratory or cardiac anatomy and function to put it into

perspective. And if you start packing your mind with concepts that do not have

a solid foundation, it is often harder to teach you once you get to school than

if you had not picked up the books at all. Looking for Paramedic level

textbooks when you do not yet know the basics of A & P is a sign that this is the

direction our friend may be headed. It is simply easier to teach a blank slate

than it is to re-educate someone who brings with them a slate full of

misunderstood concepts and mistaken notions. Would you rather raise your own

newborn baby, or someone else's teenager?

I absolutely recognise the value of self-education. Hell, I'm the one who has

long recommended that Paramedic students read the Dubin EKG book before the

cardiology section of their school, because it honestly does a better job of

self-educating than most Paramedic instructors I have ever known. And

self-education is where most of my education has come from in the last

thirty-five years, despite eight years of college. And I would never discourage

anyone from seeking to further enlighten themselves through any means possible.

However, at the very beginning of your education -- where now finds

himself -- it is extremely important to get off on the right foot by

establishing an organised foundation. And with not the slightest previous

exposure to medicine, he is not well equipped to determine what that foundation

is composed of. He simply doesn't know what to study, so his efforts will be

chaotic, and in some cases counterproductive.

I will amend my original recommendation to acknowledge the clear value of

self-study, and to further recommend that you find a way to organise and guide

your efforts into productivity. There are distance learning courses for EMT and

Paramedic education that do a fine job of this, and they will turn your efforts

into results -- including a certification -- instead of just time spent reading

books. Books raise as many questions as they answer. And with a course guiding

you through the process, you can get those questions answered instead of being

left confused and only half understanding the concepts. Two such institutions

are:

http://www.TechProServices.net

http://www.trainingdivision.com/About.asp

There is a synergy in having your learning guided through a logical sequence

that maximises the results from your efforts. My primary point here is that you

should seek that synergy and not just read aimlessly without guidance. Yes, you

can learn without it, but you will also waste a lot of time.

An alternative suggestion for you would be to assure that, when you obtain your

books for self study without the guidance of qualified instructors, you be sure

to obtain the corresponding workbooks that accompany those texts. That way, you

have some guidance along the way to both show you what key concepts you should

be taking from the reading, and to reinforce those concepts for you.

Thank you, Donn, for your intelligent and constructive criticism. I absolutely

should have been clearer in my original recommendations, in order to give our

new friend more insight and options, than to dismiss an entire learning concept

outright.

Best of luck, !

Rob

[Guest guest]

Now you're percolating Rob. The single disagreement I've maintained with you

through the years is epitomized in your previous message to . I know

you, and understand what you're trying to say, but others often don't and

take offense. Your tone is often critical and argumentative; even

condescending. This message, on the other hand, clarifies a position without

being critical, and opens the door for debate without argument. I appreciate

the fact that you made the clarification. Thank you.

Now, on to your points from this message. I must admit there is little you

say with which I disagree. I've taught plenty of adult learners. The most

frustrating part is the lack of critical thinking displayed by many. For

those, the structure and discipline you mention is probably best. However,

many of the younger generation were weaned on free-wheeling educational

opportunities, have better critical think skills and are more adapted to

self directed learning. These students often do very poorly in a structured

environment. Self-paced learning and the distance ed resources you

recommended may well prove to be a good option for , and others like

him.

Times are changing. We have to change with them. I'm not ready to retire

yet.

Donn

_____

From:

[mailto: ] On Behalf Of

rob.davis@...

Sent: Saturday, November 22, 2008 8:15 AM

Subject: RE: Any Idea About EMT/Paramedic Textbooks?

On Saturday, November 22, 2008 05:14, " D.E. (Donn) " <donnphudpucker (DOT)

<mailto:donn%40phudpucker.com> com> said:

> ONCE AGAIN Rob minimizes the the value of self education, and once again

Rob

> is DEAD WRONG!

>

> <snip> ...he again fails to understand

> that adults learn in different ways, and some learn better following a

> self-made path. Some folks don't require Rob's regimented form of

education

> to achieve lofty heights in medicine.

This is certainly a fair and valid point. And I did not mean to minimise the

value of self-education or even distance education, both of which I am a

true believer in and supporter of. Many distance learning institutions --

particularly in Canada -- do an excellent job at educating new EMS

practitioners strictly through self-study. My point -- which I obviously

failed to make very specifically -- is that learning -- whether self-paced

and self-directed, or in a classroom -- is ideally achieved when there is a

method to it. And just picking up some books, with no idea of which concepts

build upon which other concepts, and reading through them, is not an

effective means of learning medicine.

When you pick up the books and start reading them, there is an overwhelming

tendency to turn right to the sexy and exciting stuff, skipping over the

mundane science that is the very basis of everything we do. That tendency

comes from the mistaken notion that most have of our profession, which is

that it is nothing more than a collection of skills to be practised, and

that " all that book learnin' " is not important. So you end up with people

who know a lot of theory about intubation, cardiology, and pharmacology, but

still don't know anything about respiratory or cardiac anatomy and function

to put it into perspective. And if you start packing your mind with concepts

that do not have a solid foundation, it is often harder to teach you once

you get to school than if you had not picked up the books at all. Looking

for Paramedic level textbooks when you do not yet know the basics of A & P is

a sign that this is the direction our friend may be headed. It is simply

easier to teach a blank slate than it is to re-educate someone who brings

with them a slate full of misunderstood concepts and mistaken notions. Would

you rather raise your own newborn baby, or someone else's teenager?

I absolutely recognise the value of self-education. Hell, I'm the one who

has long recommended that Paramedic students read the Dubin EKG book before

the cardiology section of their school, because it honestly does a better

job of self-educating than most Paramedic instructors I have ever known. And

self-education is where most of my education has come from in the last

thirty-five years, despite eight years of college. And I would never

discourage anyone from seeking to further enlighten themselves through any

means possible. However, at the very beginning of your education -- where

now finds himself -- it is extremely important to get off on the right

foot by establishing an organised foundation. And with not the slightest

previous exposure to medicine, he is not well equipped to determine what

that foundation is composed of. He simply doesn't know what to study, so his

efforts will be chaotic, and in some cases counterproductive.

I will amend my original recommendation to acknowledge the clear value of

self-study, and to further recommend that you find a way to organise and

guide your efforts into productivity. There are distance learning courses

for EMT and Paramedic education that do a fine job of this, and they will

turn your efforts into results -- including a certification -- instead of

just time spent reading books. Books raise as many questions as they answer.

And with a course guiding you through the process, you can get those

questions answered instead of being left confused and only half

understanding the concepts. Two such institutions are:

http://www.TechProS <http://www.TechProServices.net> ervices.net

http://www.training <http://www.trainingdivision.com/About.asp>

division.com/About.asp

There is a synergy in having your learning guided through a logical sequence

that maximises the results from your efforts. My primary point here is that

you should seek that synergy and not just read aimlessly without guidance.

Yes, you can learn without it, but you will also waste a lot of time.

An alternative suggestion for you would be to assure that, when you obtain

your books for self study without the guidance of qualified instructors, you

be sure to obtain the corresponding workbooks that accompany those texts.

That way, you have some guidance along the way to both show you what key

concepts you should be taking from the reading, and to reinforce those

concepts for you.

Thank you, Donn, for your intelligent and constructive criticism. I

absolutely should have been clearer in my original recommendations, in order

to give our new friend more insight and options, than to dismiss an entire

learning concept outright.

Best of luck, !

Rob

[Guest guest]

Hi Rob,

Thank you. I understand and agree with your points. From my studies in other

fields I know that this is true. Books are helpful when being guided by an

instructor.

Best Regards,

S

This is certainly a fair and valid point. And I did not mean to minimise the

value of self-education or even distance education, both of which I am a true

believer in and supporter of. Many distance learning institutions --

particularly in Canada -- do an excellent job at educating new EMS practitioners

strictly through self-study. My point -- which I obviously failed to make very

specifically -- is that learning -- whether self-paced and self-directed, or in

a classroom -- is ideally achieved when there is a method to it. And just

picking up some books, with no idea of which concepts build upon which other

concepts, and reading through them, is not an effective means of learning

medicine.

When you pick up the books and start reading them, there is an overwhelming

tendency to turn right to the sexy and exciting stuff, skipping over the mundane

science that is the very basis of everything we do. That tendency comes from the

mistaken notion that most have of our profession, which is that it is nothing

more than a collection of skills to be practised, and that " all that book

learnin' " is not important. So you end up with people who know a lot of theory

about intubation, cardiology, and pharmacology, but still don't know anything

about respiratory or cardiac anatomy and function to put it into perspective.

And if you start packing your mind with concepts that do not have a solid

foundation, it is often harder to teach you once you get to school than if you

had not picked up the books at all. Looking for Paramedic level textbooks when

you do not yet know the basics of A & P is a sign that this is the direction our

friend may be headed. It is simply easier to teach a blank slate than it is to

re-educate someone who brings with them a slate full of misunderstood concepts

and mistaken notions. Would you rather raise your own newborn baby, or someone

else's teenager?

I absolutely recognise the value of self-education. Hell, I'm the one who has

long recommended that Paramedic students read the Dubin EKG book before the

cardiology section of their school, because it honestly does a better job of

self-educating than most Paramedic instructors I have ever known. And

self-education is where most of my education has come from in the last

thirty-five years, despite eight years of college. And I would never discourage

anyone from seeking to further enlighten themselves through any means possible.

However, at the very beginning of your education -- where now finds

himself -- it is extremely important to get off on the right foot by

establishing an organised foundation. And with not the slightest previous

exposure to medicine, he is not well equipped to determine what that foundation

is composed of. He simply doesn't know what to study, so his efforts will be

chaotic, and in some cases counterproductive.

I will amend my original recommendation to acknowledge the clear value of

self-study, and to further recommend that you find a way to organise and guide

your efforts into productivity. There are distance learning courses for EMT and

Paramedic education that do a fine job of this, and they will turn your efforts

into results -- including a certification -- instead of just time spent reading

books. Books raise as many questions as they answer. And with a course guiding

you through the process, you can get those questions answered instead of being

left confused and only half understanding the concepts. Two such institutions

are:

RE: Any Idea About EMT/Paramedic Textbooks?

On Saturday, November 22, 2008 05:14, " D.E. (Donn) " <donn@...>

said:

> ONCE AGAIN Rob minimizes the the value of self education, and once again Rob

> is DEAD WRONG!

>

> <snip> ...he again fails to understand

> that adults learn in different ways, and some learn better following a

> self-made path. Some folks don't require Rob's regimented form of education

> to achieve lofty heights in medicine.

This is certainly a fair and valid point. And I did not mean to minimise the

value of self-education or even distance education, both of which I am a true

believer in and supporter of. Many distance learning institutions --

particularly in Canada -- do an excellent job at educating new EMS practitioners

strictly through self-study. My point -- which I obviously failed to make very

specifically -- is that learning -- whether self-paced and self-directed, or in

a classroom -- is ideally achieved when there is a method to it. And just

picking up some books, with no idea of which concepts build upon which other

concepts, and reading through them, is not an effective means of learning

medicine.

When you pick up the books and start reading them, there is an overwhelming

tendency to turn right to the sexy and exciting stuff, skipping over the mundane

science that is the very basis of everything we do. That tendency comes from the

mistaken notion that most have of our profession, which is that it is nothing

more than a collection of skills to be practised, and that " all that book

learnin' " is not important. So you end up with people who know a lot of theory

about intubation, cardiology, and pharmacology, but still don't know anything

about respiratory or cardiac anatomy and function to put it into perspective.

And if you start packing your mind with concepts that do not have a solid

foundation, it is often harder to teach you once you get to school than if you

had not picked up the books at all. Looking for Paramedic level textbooks when

you do not yet know the basics of A & P is a sign that this is the direction our

friend may be headed. It is simply easier to teach a blank slate than it is to

re-educate someone who brings with them a slate full of misunderstood concepts

and mistaken notions. Would you rather raise your own newborn baby, or someone

else's teenager?

I absolutely recognise the value of self-education. Hell, I'm the one who has

long recommended that Paramedic students read the Dubin EKG book before the

cardiology section of their school, because it honestly does a better job of

self-educating than most Paramedic instructors I have ever known. And

self-education is where most of my education has come from in the last

thirty-five years, despite eight years of college. And I would never discourage

anyone from seeking to further enlighten themselves through any means possible.

However, at the very beginning of your education -- where now finds

himself -- it is extremely important to get off on the right foot by

establishing an organised foundation. And with not the slightest previous

exposure to medicine, he is not well equipped to determine what that foundation

is composed of. He simply doesn't know what to study, so his efforts will be

chaotic, and in some cases counterproductive.

I will amend my original recommendation to acknowledge the clear value of

self-study, and to further recommend that you find a way to organise and guide

your efforts into productivity. There are distance learning courses for EMT and

Paramedic education that do a fine job of this, and they will turn your efforts

into results -- including a certification -- instead of just time spent reading

books. Books raise as many questions as they answer. And with a course guiding

you through the process, you can get those questions answered instead of being

left confused and only half understanding the concepts. Two such institutions

are:

http://www.TechProServices.net

http://www.trainingdivision.com/About.asp

There is a synergy in having your learning guided through a logical sequence

that maximises the results from your efforts. My primary point here is that you

should seek that synergy and not just read aimlessly without guidance. Yes, you

can learn without it, but you will also waste a lot of time.

An alternative suggestion for you would be to assure that, when you obtain your

books for self study without the guidance of qualified instructors, you be sure

to obtain the corresponding workbooks that accompany those texts. That way, you

have some guidance along the way to both show you what key concepts you should

be taking from the reading, and to reinforce those concepts for you.

Thank you, Donn, for your intelligent and constructive criticism. I absolutely

should have been clearer in my original recommendations, in order to give our

new friend more insight and options, than to dismiss an entire learning concept

outright.

Best of luck, !

Rob