slacking again

Had a big exam this week, anything and everything trauma-related. Scored a 98%, not bad for a test with 200 questions. Don't remember if I recorded this or not, but on my pediatric/geriatrics exam- perfect 100%. I'm going to have a few days off next week during clinicals, that's when I'll catch up on my entries. Sorry I've been slacking again, finishing up all the classwork and getting ready for National Registry in 2 weeks. Besides, Saturday I'll be assigned to and ambulance for 24 hours and I'm sure to have some good stories for ya then.

Now, quickly, let me hit on a newfound "touchy" subject. For those of you who support me or leave supportive comments, I thank you.  However, if you have nothing nice to say, don't leave a comment. I just deleted 3 highly offensive comments from a person named "yousuckbeyatch". Again, I appreciate those of you who have read and those who continue to read this, but if a comment is left that is offensive (cursing a lot, bad-mouthing me or my job, simply being a jerk) I will delete it and block you from commenting.

Sorry to end on a sour note, I'll try to cheer up before I do the big update.

Take care

many things...

Not a lot going on at the academy the end of the week. Clinicals will be week after next. I'll be riding for 24 hours on the busiest ambulance in the county (on Sat, July 3rd), and doing my 8 hours of ER rotation ther following Tuesday-from 2300-0700 at DMC (local level-2 trauma center). Yesterday we went for round 2 of our Hep B shots, we also had to do a MMR Tider. We have to have our shot records turned in as well as <crosses fingers> having a positive MMR tider before we will be allowed to do our clinical rotations. The tider's have been put on a rush since they normally take 2 weeks, we have 1. If the results don't come back in time, we'll have to get the shots anyway...which will suck if it turns out your immune after-the-fact.

Well, Thursday, after class, was fun. After more than an hour of tearing my car apart, we finally gave in to the fact that my new speakers just won't fit in the trunk. The box is just barely too big, as in less than an inch. I give credit to the installer, he kept trying. We pulled the plastic out, then the carpet, then the whole spare tire and everything else...still a half inch too big. For the time being, the box is hooked up---in the back seat. Hopefully the same setup, but with 10" subs, will come in Monday. Slightly smaller subs=slightly smaller box.

Last night my boyfriend finally came home...he's been on active military duty for a month. He wasn't able to stay long, he wanted to suprise his parents (they thought he would be getting home tonight). We had a chance to swap gifts and talk for a bit before he had to leave. I gave him something with a dragon on it and another little thing with the american flag. He gave me a shirt, and, as a bit of a joke, a new cadence book. Woo Hoo! New cadences to use during PT...hearing the same ones day after day gets very old-very quickly. Later on today, we are going to go to Stone Mtn. and hang out for a while, then watch the laser show. I have a major trauma exam Monday, but my boyfriend said he'll help me study. I'm not going to ask him to say any of the medical terms(I have trouble with a couple myself), but he offered to read the definitions (so I could match the terms) or make up questions from the book. I guess that's the good thing about both of us being in public safety, he really understands why I have to study so much. Since I'm with fire-rescue and he's with the sherriff, there's enough distance between us so we can't get on eachother's nerves and will very rarely cross paths at work.

Stay safe

Day for a Daydream...

Yesterday wasn't too glorious, I almost lost my temper with a classmate. OK, I've been a lot of places and done a lot of things. Yesterday we were learning about trauma, specifically for this story, car accidents. The instructor posed the question if anyone knew what the front windshield of a car was made of. Everyone was tossing around suggestions but no one really knew. A classmate who sits behind me made the comment (in a rude voice) "ask Brandi, she ought to know." Well, I was nicer than I wanted to be. I turned around and said "well excuse me for ever working at NAPA." **if you don't know, NAPA is a huge automotive parts retailer**  She had been making comments all day....Well she didn't say anything else to or about me the rest of the day. I don't like it that it happened, but she, along with one other person, had been wearing on my nerves all day. I had already mentioned it to my platoon leader, he said he would address the issue with them in private.

Today has been fun so far<insert partial sarcasm here>. Dentist appointment this morning, went and bought a flag to give our instructors...in the blue field, the original skyline of New York and "September 11, 2001"... My car's new stereo comes in tomorrow, going from 1-10" subwoofer and upgrading to 3-12" subs in a bandpass box. I'm also going to have the capacitor that I already had wired into the system. You can check out what my car looks like at http://www.cardomain.com/id/iorg101.

Later on today, I'm going to go wash my car (there's a meet tomorrow night) and hang out with a couple people from the car club. Don't know what else yet, I'll find something to do. Right now I'm about to go and either play XBox or study, probably some of both.

take care

If anyone reading this has a state EMS patch from any state other than Hawaii, please let me know...it's for a project at the fire academy.

Crazy things goin' on

It's been a bit hectic since Wednesday. My grandad is still in the hospital, his cancer is back. My Aunt's (who's been in a nursing home for a year) house was sold, so I had to help clean it out over the weekend. I did manage to spend a little time with my dad yesterday, I bought him a flight simulator-type game for XBox. Air Force Delta Storm...This computer is too slow to run his good programs anymore, something's better than nothing. It's taking a bit of getting used to, but he's figuring it out and seems to like it.

Today we took our geriatrics/pediatrics exam....100%....I was so excited, that somewhat makes up for exam #5.

Today was weird, it went from boring to interesting to barely staying awake. We did our PT along with another roll in the water. Took the exam and ate lunch. Then we split into groups and worked with immobilization devices. My group went outside and I pulled my car around so we could get used to working in cramped quarters. It took a while, but I was finally removed from my car with the help of a KED (Kendrick Extrication Device). Then, so I could have a turn, a clasmate climbed into the driver's seat and I helped extricate her. One thing's for sure, it's a lot easier to use the KED with 3 people instead of 2... Luckily for us, 5 of the NPQ-I's were watching us work-they helped out a lot when it came time to move her to the backboard from the vehicle. I held the head of the board and, well, shoved it under her while they held onto the sides. C-spine was passed to a person outside the car (as the patient was pivoted) and she was slid onto the board, fully immobilized, and placed on the ground without further incident.

We went back into the classroom, watched the lightening (it kept killing the power=no powerpoint), and somewhat goofed around for 20 minutes or so. The storm passed, the clouds cleared, and it was time to learn about burns...Like I said before, we were fighting to stay awake.

Catching up...

OK, here it is, much awaited for updates.

THURSDAY 6-10-04

PT added a new twist for our workout pleasure. We did our normal workout at the academy, then went for our run. PT'd at Taco Hill, nothing really out of the ordinary...yet. As we ran down the street back inside the academy, we passed a decent sized puddle of water/mud. After a quick turn-around, we went through the puddle. No, I wish we ran through it, we had to roll in it. Continued running to the tower, ran up the stairs, did our 20 pushups topside, and raced down the stairs. We got back into PT formation and started to stretch. That's when our instructor noticed half the folks in the class aren't wet enough...let's go back. Running formation, another roll through the puddle, and a tower climb later, we finish our stretching. Next thing you know, the hose is turned on and we literally hose each other down. It sounds crazy, but here in Georgia, after a workout, it felt awesome.

The other classes didn't do much while we were gone (over an hour). As we hosed off, they hopped onto the academy's bus and took off. We later found out the bus dropped them a couple miles from the academy and they had to run back.

FRIDAY 6-11-04

As we did a warmup with some light PT, we had Thursday on our minds...anything you can do, we can do better. Not only did we run, we ran to a point over halfway to where the bus dropped the other classes Friday-there and back, around 3-4 miles. BTW, any time we run anywhere, we go by Taco Hill on the way back and do a little PT in the parking lot.

Later that night, 2130 (9:30 pm) I went to "Radio" to sit in for a while. I met one of our dispatchers on a scanner website and he gave me the number to call. I sat in on the north fire dispatch until almost 4 am. There were a lot of...interesting calls. Not really sure what I can write about without breaching patient-confidentiality, let's just say there was a person who thought her bed was on fire, it wasn't... about 3 different locations of 1 car accident...and a bunch of call-swapping. If nothing else, I learned a few of "Radio's" pet peeves  1. If you decided your unit is closer to the call than the unit dispatched, and the 2 units debate over the call, let Radio know who is actually responding.  2. Even if you go to a TAC channel, you should not refer to someone as 'loopy', it may give the dispatcher and anyone nearby a good laugh, but it's not good if the public hears it on a scanner.  3. If Radio wants to know the status of your unit, answer them on the dang radio-that's why you have it.  4. Who cares if the patient and his/her family yelled at you, don't take it out on the dispatcher, the most ridiculous, annoying, and time-consuming calls will find you (especially if it's close to shift-change).

MONDAY 6-14-04

So there we are, doing our warmup (light PT, I feel a good run coming on), minding our own business, here come the other classes. Their instructors must have thought it would be funny to do a staredown. They march to the front of our formation, turn to face us, and call to attention. We ignored them and kept doing our workout. A couple minutes later, they either got bored or gave up, either way, they went for their run. We finished warming-up and went for a run ourselves. Didn't go as far as we did Friday, but we made it count. Another pass by Taco Hill, and a stop at our new favorite swimming hole on the way to the tower.

Class was, very, well, interesting. We finally got to work with one of the stretchers, learning how to raise/lower it, what level it has to be on to clear into the back of the ambulance, and what level is safe for transport (to and from the ambulance). We also spent a little time learning about psychaitric patients...and how to restrain them. Sorry, no straight-jackets, just wrist/ankle bands. Most of the comments I'm not going to repeat, but let's just say even the instructor was rolling around laughing. We had to have a break just to try and calm down a little. 

TUESDAY 6-15-04

Another shortened workout so we could extend our run. Ran up to the main road, and over to the mall. Straight-forward run down the front of the mall through the parking lot. We did pause for a bit to PT and have a couple contests, diamond pushups, and diamond-nosebreaker pushups. Went to Taco Hill, then started back towards the academy. It's been raining lately so there are more "pools" along the road. Rolled through one, hopped up, ran across the street, rolled through another (about 6 inches deep). Here's where it got fun, we didn't go into the academy. We ran to the fire station at the top of the hill, I've mentioned it before, they have a volleyball court. As we came up the hill-just within sight of the sand pit- we started chanting "I wanna be a sugar-cookie." As the firefighters realized we were coming 'for a visit', they all came outside to watch...nearly 20 of them, it's a large station. (I can already hear the jokes if I get assigned there.) Started with a few races across the sand, then paired up. Had to lay on our stomachs and leap-frog sideways across the sand and back, we truly were sugar-cookies. Ran to the academy, did the tower (run up, 20 pushups, race down). As you exit the tower, you run around a bit of a corner...there's the instructor, with the hose, nailing folks. We had a good stretch, then had to run over to where a patient (dummy) was laying after falling off the gear shed. Helped remind us you have to be always ready, doesn't matter if you're tired, wet, and still halfway covered in sand...did I mention most of us had taken our shoes off too?

Took exam #5, I'm not happy with my score, 85.6%.  Now don't get me wrong, I know I could've done worse, and I did pass with flying colors...but I could have done a lot better. I don't like making excuses, but I've had a lot on my mind lately. Last tuesday, my great-uncle was buried. Since Thursday, my grandfather has been in the hospital (see previous entry). I've spent so much time in the hospital the past couple days, I haven't gotten much sleep. I still try to study every day, but lately, my mind keeps wandering because of my grandad.

Later on, we did yard duties. That afternoon, about 1600, the weather turned nasty and started pouring rain with bad lightening. As a joke, our platoon leader commented "wouldn't it be a shame if we had to go home early? I'm afraid of lightening."  Well, the instructor went for it....we grabbed our stuff, put the chairs up, and de-assed the academy before they could change their minds.

I think I've caught up, not to mention I'm tired of writing now...take care

Slacker...

I know, I've been slacking on entries. I don't have much time to write this one either. I promise to do a real update soon...Fun things to add, what it's like to sit in at Radio (dispatch), more crazy things to do during PT, a couple jokes the classes pulled on each other...  It's been more than rough the past week, my grandfather is in serious but stable condition at the hospital. He now has CHF, emphysema, left kidney failure, a thorasic aortic aneurism, and a mass between his kidney and bladder. Not to mention his heart is working at 25% of what it should and he decided to yank out his IV's and catheder this morning. We aren't sure when or even IF he'll get to come home. I've got another exam tomorrow, hopefully I'll get my score tomorrow, if I do I'll update then.

Stay safe and take care of yourself... you only get one body-make it last!

In a hurry

Don't have much time to write today, I'll add more tomorrow...hopefully pictures also.

Today was my great-uncle's funeral, 90 years old, had a stroke which caused seizures. Weird thing is, I learned about strokes and seizures Friday, he went by ambulance to the hospital Friday night. I'm not too shaken up about his passing, we weren't very close.

I earned a 90.64% on exam #4 yesterday. Still happy with my scores so far. Practicals will be a whole 'nother story (practicals are when you actually do things instead of test over them). As of today I'm dangerous, learned how to perform a IO on a small child...If you don't know what an IO is, be happy, it hurts like hell (thankfully is only done if you're knocked out completely). **mental picture** just imagine driving a big needle, the size of the ink cartrige from an inkpen, straight into your shin.

Gotta run, traffic will only get worse and I got a ways to go...

What a day!

I would add pictures from today, but AOL doesn't like me that much...I'll fight it later.

Today was the best day we've had at the academy. Yesterday, the NPQ-I class decided to come into our room with a little...show. 'Class attention'    "E-404   you may think you've got it, but without this rope-you ain't sh**"  Oh it's on now. Today they came in from a break to find a sign on their door  HANGING ROPES     Geriatric home of the 'old-old'   We gave you enough rope to hang yourselves with.   Today's lunch: prunes and Metamucil    Today's activities: knitting and embroidery            When we went on our next break, we had a sign on our door that said 'NURSERY'....had a bottle and abc building blocks. Obviously, we retaliated again during lunch. Put a picture of a gravesite 'NPQ- rest in pieces'  with a crow on the tombstone and a hangman's noose hanging from a tree in the background. We had a couple people keep them occupied while we flipped every table upside-down and put a glove on the door. We blew the glove up and taped down 3 fingers, middle and thumb left up, get it? We also managed to grab one of their ropes they have to wear (for practicing knots) and put it on a manequin in our room...along with a pair of sunglasses and a sign pointing to the dummy's butt "KISS THIS"         According to their instructor, 'it's on now, ya'll are going to get it.'   That just egged us on...a couple NPQ-I students left some of their PT clothes on the back porch to dry. Next thing you know, the clothes were hanging from the tower...7 stories up. The same instructor went up to get the gear. (Keep in mind, we have a lot of military folks who know some cool knots) She pulls the rope up, as soon as it touched the little lip at the top, the 'pop knot' worked it's magic and the clothes went flying. It was beautiful. They landed with a satisfying WHUMP onto the kitchen roof. The NPQ-II class had to help her get the ladder to get the stuff down.

Class itself was ok. Went over what will be on our exam Monday. Then we learned about strokes, seizures, and other similar situations. A lot of the things we learn don't seem like there would be that much to it, there is. I usually don't feel like writing it all in here because I don't want to bore you and I'd rather spend that time studying.

Today was one of our classmate's last day. He is a military man and has been activated. He reports Monday for his orders and will probably be going to Iraq. Come home safe 'Soul man!' We'll be waiting for your safe return!

Immature people suck

On my Exam Tuesday (#3) I earned an 88.6%, not the best, but I'll take it.

Today started off with a good PT. Nice run up to "Taco Hill," workout in the parking lot, not an overload-but decent amount of excercises besides running up the hill. Back inside the academy, our platoon leader carried a guy from another class up the tower as a joke...the guy passed out/fell inside the tower a couple days ago during a physical ability test. Everyone's been ribbing him about it, we were saying "yeah, you made it all the way up this time, good job...'bout time." Good morning for PT.

Class was somewhat boring, learned about diabetes, signs/symptoms/ect... Then people decided to act their shoe size instead of IQ. Every class makes a class shirt. We found a design that's awesome...Star of life with a dragon climbing over one side, surrounded by flames, inside the star is a shield (like what's on the front of a fire helmet) that will read Fire Rescue-404-DCFR. One person is refusing the design because it's too demonic...WTF??? Like running into a burning building, choking down smoke, and playing with fire isn't Hell? Come on! She wants the Star of life with the serpent to be on the shirt, yet she says snakes aren't demonic. Besides, we may be in EMT school right now, but we are going to fire school too, we can only make one shirt. It needs to reflect both sides of our training- who cares if we won't start NPQ school for 6 more weeks?!?

Ok, I think I've got it outta my system now...I hope the class can grow up and come back together tomorrow, we are a team and our lives may someday depend on us working together- like it or not