Update on previous entry

Well, I finally managed to cross paths with the Dr. and one of the nurses (who I'm becoming fast friends with). The guy with the GSW to the head is not only still alive...He was extubated (breathing tube was removed) and is talking!!!! They're not sure how much his social skills will be intact, but he is alive and well. I guess that's all that really matters. He will not be a vegetable kept alive by machines for the rest of his days.

I'm going to go celebrate a job well done by me and my partners...

Take care,

PS...I turn 21 in 3 days...Sunday is the big day, and I can't wait!  :-D

Ups-N-Downs

Wow, I knew I'd been procrastinating, but I hadn't realized it'd been nearly a month since my last entry. A lot of things have happened lately, some good-some bad. I've been able to talk to my fiance online about 3 times a week, maybe once a week if I'm lucky on the phone. I've worked a couple events on the bike team and thoroughly enjoyed myself. Station life has once again become hectic. Me and Capt have continued to argue and he really does annoy me. As much as I'd like to ride the engine occasionally, it's nice to be away from him on the rescue. We also had another firemedic assigned to our station, he wasn't kidding when he warned that he was a jinx and a trauma magnet. Since his arrival, we've had a GSW to the head, severe MVC, and 2 different cardiac arrests that turned out to be dead upon our arrival.

The GSW to the head was interesting, PD said the kid was dead when we got there. Looking at the scene for a moment, I noticed the bullet hole in the window, blood and brain matter on the door, and the holes on either side of the kid's head leaking more blood and brain matter. Then the unimaginable happened...He took a breath....You guessed it, agonal respirations, he's not dead yet.

Here we go!

Running to the rescue, I grabbed the engine crew and told them to grab everything off the truck, monitor, suction kit, airway bag, C-collar, backboard, stretcher...everything, we were gonna have to work him.

Once we got the guy loaded, we quickly learned intubation was impossible-his teeth were clenched. Nasal intubation was also out of the question due to the fact that his brains were coming out his nose. The medic alternated between suctioning and using the BVM to help him breathe.

As we left the hospital to go finish DECON on the truck, the Doc was hopeful the kid would possibly pull through. Last I heard, he passed away.

I hope the detectives can bring this one to justice for the kid's family.

 

I'll write more later...One of the DOA's was very interesting, let's just say we had the Haldol drawn up and ready...

Be safe out there, and Happy Belated 4th of July!

PS...10 days until I turn 21!!!!!