bell? Oh, that bell!

Yesterday was, well, very out of the ordinary. I was on the engine (yaaay!) and it was quiet. Almost too quiet for our station. I can count all the calls for the entire 24 hour shift on one hand- we normally run 10+ every shift. It was kinda nice, I did all my chores and had a nice day hanging out with the guys at the station. I doubt it will ever happen again, but it was a nice day.

I'm a happy camper now, me and Dad went for a nice long ride on the Harley earlier. There was little traffic so it was just about open roads. When we got home, I pulled out my go kart and rode it around the neighborhood a couple times...until I almost ran out of gas.

I'll try to get back online either tonight or tomorrow and write up a call from a couple weeks ago that was pretty interesting...'till then try not to get too drunk tonite.

I not under the alcofluence of incohol Mr. occiffer. I only had 2 beers (holds up 3 fingers)

take care and happy new year

another LONG shift

I honestly don't have the energy to write much about the past couple shifts. Christmas was slow considering how busy my station usually is. I was on the rescue yesterday and we ran like scolded yard dogs. We barely made it to the station to fill up on gas before getting another call. My partner (whom I usually work with if I'm on the rescue) is really starting to get on my nerves. As time goes by, I'm starting to realize just how inconsiderate he is. I'm going to leave it at that because I'm not going to mention any names or identifying features or anything else...He's just really starting to irk me.

CPR in progress

Last shift was pretty good overall, I managed to get about 2 hours of sleep so I was happy. We ran a few boring calls, but had an interesting diabetic call and the one I'm going to write about...cardiac arrest.

Radio: respond to 123 anystreet for a person down unconsious, not breathing.

While enroute (it was in the next territory over), the engine company onscene gave a update.

Engine: we have CPR in progress at this time, tell Rescue to step it up

Minutes later we were onscene. We grabbed ALL the gear off the unit and headed inside (both jump bags, the monitor, drug box, and suction kit). As we made it inside and into the room with the patient, the engine crew looked somewhat relieved. The paramedic I was working with replaced the pads from the AED with the ones from our monitor and hooked up a couple leads.... The patient was in asystole (I'm sure Scott could explain this better than I could). CPR continued while the patient was intubated. Moments later, we found a good sign, he had a pulse.

Don't get your hopes up, it didn't last long. The engine crew had already shocked him twice with the AED before we arrived.

A couple IVs were started and Epi and Atropine were pushed through one, a lidocaine drip was also hung. One of the guys on the engine rode in the back with us and another drove us to the ER. The gentleman had to be shocked a few times between the time we got him loaded until we dropped him off at the hospital. But another good sign was that he was trying to breathe a little on his own.

I've only been out of training a month and a half and I'm still learning how to do things even on a routine call. I'm starting to get more comfortable with my patient assessment and other skills. I can fill out the paperwork but need a little help with my narrative. I'm still struggling, but I'm learning my territory fairly quickly.

I'm not going to lie and say I knew what was going on the whole time, I've never been on a cardiac arrest before. I helped out by handing things to the people who needed them and really just trying to stay out of the way. Now that I've been on one, I'll have a better idea what needs to be done next time and will gladly jump in without being told what to do. I guess I was a bit overwhelmed in the controlled chaos of it all. But that's OK, I'm still learning and worked with the engine crew a couple weeks before... They knew it was my first cardiac arrest and helped me get through it.

Looking back, I'm not sure if there was much I could have done. There were 5 of us plus the patient in a bedroom, on the floor in what was maybe a space as big as a doorway.

I'm not trying to jinx myself, but if I'm assigned to the rescue again tomorrow, I kinda hope to transport another patient to that ER so I can try to see if the gentleman made it. Either way, I can't help but feel for his family, especially at this time of year.

Tell a loved one that you love them, and take care as always

What does it look like?

Last shift can be summed up with just one word....Murder. Halfway through the shift I was starting to forget what the inside of my station looked like.

Thus far, working 24-hour shifts hasn't been that bad. At least until last shift. From a few minutes after 0700, as soon as the previous crew came back from their call, we were off and running. We caught call after call. A few minutes before midnight, we made it back to the station. I put the calls into the logbook and the computer and went to bed. MAYBE 45 minutes later the bell rang for a fire. Caught another call as we left that scene. I think it was almost 4 when we got back to the station. The EMS Gods were cruel. Right as my head hit the pillow I took a nice, refreshing sigh... Just as the bell rang again. So much for sleep.

30 minutes to shift change and we were back at the station, my partner started some coffee and turned on the TV while I dozed in the recliner. The new shift came in and we gladly passed the rescue to them (They got a call before I could even make it to my car).

There weren't any interesting calls to report-at least not that I can remember. We ran 1 MVC, 1 fire call, and everything else was medical. Most calls lately have been boring, the cold weather is making people sick. First-time moms don't know what to do with their sick baby or somebody has the flu... Things that most people in the EMS field won't even bat an eye over, but these people freak out and call us. I know that's what we're there for, but I guess I'm still cranky from getting tortured last shift. 

As soon as I got home yesterday I went straight to bed, I'd basically been up over 28 hours. It was after 7pm when I finally woke up and got something to eat. 

Hopefully, tomorrow won't be nearly as bad. I'm going to be working at another station for the shift and I'm not sure how busy they normally are. It should be interesting, at least I hope so.

Take care

Military Humor

'Twas the night before Christmas, and all through the skies,
Air defences were up, with electronic eyes.
Combat pilots were nestled in ready-room beds,
As enemy silhouettes danced in their heads.

Every jet on the apron, each SAM in its tube,
Was triply-redundant, linked to the Blue Cube,
And ELINT and AWACS gave coverage so dense
That nothing that flew could slip through our defence.

When out of the klaxon arose such a clatter
I dashed to the screen to see what was the matter;
I increased the gain and then, quick as a flash,
Fine-adjusted the filters to damp out the hash.

And there found the source of the warning we'd heeded:
An incoming blip, by eight escorts preceded.
"Alert status red!" went the word down the wire,
As we gave every system the codes that meant "FIRE!"

On Aegis! Up Patriot, Phalanx and Hawk!
And scramble our fighters--let's send the whole flock!
Launch decoys and missiles! Use chaff by the yard!
Get the kitchen sink up! Call the National Guard!

They turned toward the target, moved toward it, converged.
Till the tracks on the radar all finally merged,
And the sky was lit up with a demonic light,
As the foe met his fate in the high arctic night.

So we sent out some recon to look for debris,
Yet all that they found, both on land and on sea
Were some toys, a red hat, a charred left leather boot,
Broken sleigh bells, white hair, and a deer's parachute.

Now it isn't quite Christmas, with Saint Nick shot down.
There are unhappy kids in each village and town.
For the Spirit of Christmas can't hope to evade
All the web of defences we've carefully made.

But a crash program's on: Working hard, night and day,
All the elves are constructing a radar-proof sleigh.
So let's wait for next Christmas, in cheer and in health,
For the future has hope: Santa's coming by stealth

Seriously???

Yesterday was the last day before my boyfriend left to get ready to go to Iraq. He won't actually leave until April (or so), but most of his training will be in Cali.

We've spent the past 2 weeks practically connected at the hip. Knowing we'd be apart for over a year makes it easier to tolerate anyone...kidding. His birthday was a couple weeks ago and we've been hanging out a lot lately. Last night, my Mom offered to make whatever he wanted for his last REAL dinner...Mmm, spaggetti.

After dinner was over and my brother and his wife left, Mom and Dad cleaned the table and left us alone to watch TV. A few minutes later, he proposed.

We've been dating almost 2 1/2 years and have joked about it, but for some reason, I thought he was kidding. I just kept asking if he was serious. I've never had a boyfriend who was this respectful of me (or even as decent a human being) before. My mind as well as my heart started racing a mile a minute. Once he finally convinced me he was serious, what else is there to say? I mean, the guy who races to open every door for me, gets mad if I try to pay for my own meal, and nearly cries just from watching me hurt -just asked me to be a part of his life!

days off

Not much to write about lately, I've had a couple extra days off. I work a 24/48 schedule (24 hours on, 48 hours off). Each month, we get a liberty day...basically a free 5 day vacation. To help out one of the guys at my station who didn't get the vacation time around Christmas, we swapped liberty days. So basically, I was off the shift before, worked yesterday, and don't have to work again until Thursday. Stuff like that I really don't mind, he has kids and a family to be with, my family understands and has already planned to wait to open the gifts we would normally open Christmas Eve.

Haven't had many good calls lately. We went on a bad car accident last night, one fatality and another patient that went by helicopter to the ER. One of the cars was on it's side resting against some trees. The heavy rescue team came out to stabilize the car and help get the body out for the medical examiner. It wasn't really a gruesome scene, but everyone was a little quiet as they went about their business.

My parents lost their minds last weekend...in a good way. They came home with a Harley-Davidson. It's got a lot of the chrome options and rides great. I can't wait to go on a mountain run with my dad. I'd love to learn how to ride, but not on a Harley, that's too nice of a bike should I get into an accident or drop it.

I haven't eaten in about 24 hours and my boyfriend's here, we're going to go get food. (He's leaving in 2 days)

Take care