we have the new EMT-I and in the other corner the reigning champeen, the big city. And this morning, one of the experienced EMT-Is snuck up behind me, grabbed my arm a la a heavy-weight title fight and declared to the oncoming staff in the garage that I had hearby survived my first city shift. Many folks laughed, and those that hadn't punched my new patch yet took the opportunity to do so.
The medic I rode with wished for an easy night because he didn't feel like working too hard, and he got his wish - which is probably better for me anyway. We ended with a total of just four calls, all dispatched as falls. Three of the four actually were falls. One patient had fallen but just wanted help up rather than a trip to the hospital. One patient swore there was a broken hip involved, but the symptoms seemed like it probably wasn't that severe. One patient spoke no English and the most information we got was from a child on-scene translating, who did not go to the hospital with the patient.
Overall, not a bad night, but I'm wiped out today because I really didn't sleep much - per usual in an unusual place. After 200+ miles in the car and taking the final test for Haz Mat, I'm going to call it a night.
p.s. K reports his grandfather seemed slightly better today (appetite was up a little and slightly more aware) and they are in the process of arranging hospice care for him.
08 November 2006
07 November 2006
Gray day
No major change in the condition of K's grandfather, but they were able to confirm the brain bleed. Doctors report he has 1-45 days left to live. Not a very helpful bracket for determining what we're going to do for travel. Today, at the request of his dad, K left for MI and will be there until Thursday. He was quite uncertain whether to go, but ultimately decided he wanted to be with his family when they needed support, even if it means he has to turn around and head back soon.
Fairly dreary day weather-wise around here, and my last patient personified this by being the saddest person I've talked with in a long time. He was fairly oriented for being demented and we had a pleasant conversation during the transport. The only way he seemed sad was that he kept saying he didn't have any reason to live, nothing left to do, no way to go anywhere. I tried to just talk about positive things with him and avoid disagreeing or supporting his negative statements. I also informed his nurses at the home, but I'm not sure that he hasn't just given up, so he definitely needs more qualified help. He actually thanked me for such a pleasant conversation and I was glad to have given him something good today.
Edited to add (20:04): Lucked into a spot in the big leagues tonight, hoping for a reasonably quiet night to get my feet wet...
Fairly dreary day weather-wise around here, and my last patient personified this by being the saddest person I've talked with in a long time. He was fairly oriented for being demented and we had a pleasant conversation during the transport. The only way he seemed sad was that he kept saying he didn't have any reason to live, nothing left to do, no way to go anywhere. I tried to just talk about positive things with him and avoid disagreeing or supporting his negative statements. I also informed his nurses at the home, but I'm not sure that he hasn't just given up, so he definitely needs more qualified help. He actually thanked me for such a pleasant conversation and I was glad to have given him something good today.
Edited to add (20:04): Lucked into a spot in the big leagues tonight, hoping for a reasonably quiet night to get my feet wet...
06 November 2006
Lazy
I can't tell you how positively wonderful today was. K is working his 24h shift. I have no where to be until 1830 and nothing strictly required of me today. So I did, nothing. Well, I did read a little - an interesting book I'll probably write more about when I'm done - but mostly, just lazed on the couch.
Sadly enough, I consumed 100% less halloween candy today - because there isn't any left here - so I think that I probably had less excess calories today by sitting still than I have the last several by moving from place to place with leftover candy. Mmmm, candy, droooool. This is the start of the overeating time of year. I find that from halloween to at least Valentine's day, I eat too much. I try and balance it out with exercise, but I haven't found a place to play basketball yet this winter.
Other news from an unfocused mind - I don't know who to vote for tomorrow. NH is having a gubernatorial election which I'm all set on, as well as a multitude of other state offices, some of which I have no idea what they are. What is an "Executive Councilor" and does it matter to me that one of the candidates is a lying, two-faced backstabber according to her opponent? Is there actually more than one person running for sherriff? Ugh. I may just go vote on the governor and the constitutional ammendments tomorrow and leave.
We may be making a trip to MI soon. K called this morning to tell me that his dad called and said grandpa is not doing well and had a significant decline over the weekend. The docs aren't sure whether they are seeing bleeding in his brain or some sort of calcification, but either way, he isn't a candidate for any sort of intervention to relieve the building pressure in his brain. This has been a bad year for funerals. I'm trying very hard to wish positive thoughts and keep my spirits up for K.
Sadly enough, I consumed 100% less halloween candy today - because there isn't any left here - so I think that I probably had less excess calories today by sitting still than I have the last several by moving from place to place with leftover candy. Mmmm, candy, droooool. This is the start of the overeating time of year. I find that from halloween to at least Valentine's day, I eat too much. I try and balance it out with exercise, but I haven't found a place to play basketball yet this winter.
Other news from an unfocused mind - I don't know who to vote for tomorrow. NH is having a gubernatorial election which I'm all set on, as well as a multitude of other state offices, some of which I have no idea what they are. What is an "Executive Councilor" and does it matter to me that one of the candidates is a lying, two-faced backstabber according to her opponent? Is there actually more than one person running for sherriff? Ugh. I may just go vote on the governor and the constitutional ammendments tomorrow and leave.
We may be making a trip to MI soon. K called this morning to tell me that his dad called and said grandpa is not doing well and had a significant decline over the weekend. The docs aren't sure whether they are seeing bleeding in his brain or some sort of calcification, but either way, he isn't a candidate for any sort of intervention to relieve the building pressure in his brain. This has been a bad year for funerals. I'm trying very hard to wish positive thoughts and keep my spirits up for K.
05 November 2006
Patience
I have rediscovered my intolerance for idiots today. Some folks had been doing stupid things to annoy me, but I was still making it through by reminding myself that I only had to deal with them for a little while. Today, I think retarded monkeys would've been better company than the idiots I was forced to sit through class with. The majority of the people in the Haz Mat class are part of a firefighter 1 class, so many participants are young, over-testosteroned wanna-be firefighters. They can't keep their fat yaps shut and listen to lecture and they have no practical experience in anything, so the only thing they have to offer the class is their particular idea of humor - which involves inside jokes and guffaws at the expense of one of their own. If I'm ever on fire in the town they're from, I think I'll just keep driving until I get to the next town over.
I'm not entirely sure how K ever made it through a series of FF classes involving people like this. I asked him today, and he reminded me that his class was actually worse because there was one guy who couldn't even read and they were all volunteers who knew they were never going to be professionals. The guys in my class think they're going to be hired some day, so they have at least a small motivation to pay attention. It is very hard to sit and try to learn anything, and I'm about out of patience. Being one of only four women in the class means that saying anything will get me labeled a bitch (or worse), but I think that it may have to be done to avoid any further disrespect to the instructor.
I'm not entirely sure how K ever made it through a series of FF classes involving people like this. I asked him today, and he reminded me that his class was actually worse because there was one guy who couldn't even read and they were all volunteers who knew they were never going to be professionals. The guys in my class think they're going to be hired some day, so they have at least a small motivation to pay attention. It is very hard to sit and try to learn anything, and I'm about out of patience. Being one of only four women in the class means that saying anything will get me labeled a bitch (or worse), but I think that it may have to be done to avoid any further disrespect to the instructor.
04 November 2006
Hazzzzz....
Out at Haz Mat Operations this weekend, learning all about the kind of scenes I never want to show up on. Apparently it is a FD requirement for all staff, but I would've avoided it if possible. Today was eight hours of powerpoint slides, following a night of poor sleep, that just about put me to zzzz's. The lecturer wasn't too bad really, just a total lack of interest in the material. We're starting earlier tomorrow so we can finish up by 1500, so I'm hoping to catch an afternoon nap.
Tonight I'm in the city, running on the 911 truck as a third rider. So far, one MVC who got collar/board/IV (which I stuck on the first try!! and I was nervous after over 6 weeks of no live sticks), and one call that was really a PD call and not an ambulance call so we cleared up quickly. I always feel guilty wishing death/dismemberment/illnesses on people, but hey, that's what I'm here for!
Tonight I'm in the city, running on the 911 truck as a third rider. So far, one MVC who got collar/board/IV (which I stuck on the first try!! and I was nervous after over 6 weeks of no live sticks), and one call that was really a PD call and not an ambulance call so we cleared up quickly. I always feel guilty wishing death/dismemberment/illnesses on people, but hey, that's what I'm here for!
03 November 2006
Five truths
Okay, tagged by NSP to give you five things that are true in my life.
1. I am scared. Scared to get into medical school, scared to not, scared that I will never even hear anything from them. A thousand and one negative scenarios swirl around my brain on a daily basis.
2. I am indescribably glad I am not 22 anymore. Not that I think I was ever the kind of 22 that is currently annoying me, but if I were young and single again, I would probably have to kill these boys.
3. I am addicted to Diet Coke and I don't care. I've gone through periods where I try and cut back for the sake of caffiene and irritated primary care physicians, but I rationalize it by the facts that I don't often drink and I don't smoke, so what's one little vice?
4. I do not hate my body. Sure, there are times I wish it could be more (or less), but mostly I'm glad that it gets me where I want to go and that it is quiet enough that I can usually take it for granted. This is probably a result of seeing a lot of people whose bodies don't get them where they want to go.
5. I'm outta truth today....gotta get crackin' on some w-o-r-k, so hopefully four will do!
1. I am scared. Scared to get into medical school, scared to not, scared that I will never even hear anything from them. A thousand and one negative scenarios swirl around my brain on a daily basis.
2. I am indescribably glad I am not 22 anymore. Not that I think I was ever the kind of 22 that is currently annoying me, but if I were young and single again, I would probably have to kill these boys.
3. I am addicted to Diet Coke and I don't care. I've gone through periods where I try and cut back for the sake of caffiene and irritated primary care physicians, but I rationalize it by the facts that I don't often drink and I don't smoke, so what's one little vice?
4. I do not hate my body. Sure, there are times I wish it could be more (or less), but mostly I'm glad that it gets me where I want to go and that it is quiet enough that I can usually take it for granted. This is probably a result of seeing a lot of people whose bodies don't get them where they want to go.
5. I'm outta truth today....gotta get crackin' on some w-o-r-k, so hopefully four will do!
02 November 2006
Patched!
The store that does clothing for the ambulance company (and unfortunately also the FD) usually sews all the patches on our shirts as part of their "full-service" ordering. Bad enough the company only forks out for the cheapest shirts which drop buttons regularly and need constant trimming for lose strings but most of the time it takes 1-2 weeks per shirt and you have to take at least one patch per shirt back to be re-sewed within a month. I'm no professional seamstress, but I have not been particularly impressed.
With my new credentials, I get one new patch per shirt (I'll try and get a picture up). I went by the shop on Tuesday and asked for a patch to swap out because I wanted at least one of my shirts done for work today. I've never seen the woman look so happy as when told I wasn't asking for her to sew my patch right then - just to give me one so I could do it. Her husband came out to see what was going on and gave me a suspicious look, but they let me take the patch. The rest of the shirts are heading to them today. It took me over an hour, but I have to say that my unskilled job looks at least ast good as theirs and will probably last longer too.
With my new credentials, I get one new patch per shirt (I'll try and get a picture up). I went by the shop on Tuesday and asked for a patch to swap out because I wanted at least one of my shirts done for work today. I've never seen the woman look so happy as when told I wasn't asking for her to sew my patch right then - just to give me one so I could do it. Her husband came out to see what was going on and gave me a suspicious look, but they let me take the patch. The rest of the shirts are heading to them today. It took me over an hour, but I have to say that my unskilled job looks at least ast good as theirs and will probably last longer too.
01 November 2006
Spooky
Halloween was a bit of a disappointment this year. I was working a vanbulance shift - in a real box ambulance - and nobody on day shift was even kinda costumed. We went around to hospitals and nursing homes as usual and there was a disturbing lack of both holiday spirit and CANDY. These are places that have had candy for a week or two now, and on the actual day, nada. The best I saw all day was a patient at one of the homes who had an orange vest with bats, a matching headband with stuffed bats on springs and bright orange garland with plastic bats wrapped around the wheels of her chair. I wish I had a picture for you, but this particular place wasn't a likely candidate.
Trick-or-treating is town-regulated to run from 6-8p only and my shift ended at 6p so I was home for most of it. I'll just say that there were so few candy-begging ghouls and goblins, we actually watched all of Saw from 7-9p and only had to pause twice to answer the door. So much for being in a better place for trick-or-treat.
Patient quote of the day, as we were lowering the stretcher so she could move to her wheelchair and I had just been hit by a n-a-s-ty wave of stink: "Oh, girls. You made me so excited I just farted. Sorry, I think it smells a little." I could only wish I had been at the head of the stretcher instead of the foot right then.
Trick-or-treating is town-regulated to run from 6-8p only and my shift ended at 6p so I was home for most of it. I'll just say that there were so few candy-begging ghouls and goblins, we actually watched all of Saw from 7-9p and only had to pause twice to answer the door. So much for being in a better place for trick-or-treat.
Patient quote of the day, as we were lowering the stretcher so she could move to her wheelchair and I had just been hit by a n-a-s-ty wave of stink: "Oh, girls. You made me so excited I just farted. Sorry, I think it smells a little." I could only wish I had been at the head of the stretcher instead of the foot right then.