I am finally home after a long shift. Worked a 24 on the medic, then a 24 on the BLS side for some what should have been easy OT. Ha! The first 24 was fine... nothing challenging. Got called out for an asthma attack and when we get there a guy is sitting outside a strip mall looking pretty upset. He had recently had some abdominal surgery and apparently him and his wife got into it and she punched him in the belly and elsewhere. Parts of his story sounded dramatized but the cops on scene sure did not have any sympathy for him. "What, you're wife beat you up?"
Got called to the grocery store for an in custody with a laceration. The guy is shoplifting some goods and he just cant figure out for the life of him why the store security might tackle him in the parking lot after he starts running. He knows the complaints to have, even though he is still hopeful for some reason that its actually going to delay jail. No such thing as a smart ciminal.
The second 24 hours were a completely different story. We ran our butts off. Everyone seems to be out sick lately so dispatch was short on crews. We left the station around 10am and didnt get back til 12:45am. And there was no sitting under a tree somewhere hiding out. I had a really good partner. We laughed and made the best of being beat to death with calls. Plenty of goofy sound effects over the intercom as we're going down the street in the hood. We finally quieted down about 1am, but then got called out at 3:40am this morning to head down to an outlying hospital for a transfer back into the city. Its a good 35 miles each way. I was booking it in hopes of getting back into bed faster. Joe got to sleep the way there, I wanted to mess with him... If I have to be up, HE should have to be up! I kept my thoughts on Tim and Austin to keep my brain focused and trying to keep my eyes from crossing and then subsequently closing. Sleep.... mmmm.. precious, precious sleep. It was 5am before we got back... The next few days off will be nice. Enough OT for me.
Friday, February 24, 2006
Tuesday, February 21, 2006
Hold'em
Worked last night and didnt do much. Got called out and then disregarded for a possible stroke at a dialysis center. Patient complained of tinlging in her hands and feet. Once we got there, found out that the nurses apparently waited until her dialysis was finished before they called 911... which at first may seemed shocking.. but then again, after getting some history from the patient, she ALWAYS has this tingling and she had no other impairments. The EMT's took the call.
We got a good game of Texas Hold'em in around 10p. Held on for a couple of hours and then gave in and went to bed. Middle of the night got a resp. distress but again got disregarded enroute. Oh well. This week I'm working non-stop save for a 4 hour break right now.
We got a good game of Texas Hold'em in around 10p. Held on for a couple of hours and then gave in and went to bed. Middle of the night got a resp. distress but again got disregarded enroute. Oh well. This week I'm working non-stop save for a 4 hour break right now.
Thursday, February 16, 2006
Time
I've done so much overtime lately that actually being off the last two days feels like I'm playing hooky or something. Tuesday (Valentines Day) had lunch with a friend and helped him get his house ready for a showing that evening. I think I only had a brief 20-second pause as to "...hhmm.. I dont have a Valentine" but that was about it. Now mind you I certainly had someone in mind... but we wont go there.
I was looking forward to drill Tueday night at the firehouse.. hoping to get some energy out and tear something up, but no... ugh, coporation meetings are such a waste. We all talk about and dare each other to raise a motion to disband the corporation but its such a tradition that no one ever does it. Yesterday I went and had lunch with some friends that I used to work with in corporate america. It was great to see them, and we all updated each other on life and I shared my news about moving. I know the next 2 months will fly by.
Today I am at a station that is way out. Took about an hour to get into work this morning and that is with no traffic. Closest hospital is 25 miles away. If you get some good calls, its a good opportunity to practice skills since you have a lot of patient contact time. So far we've had nothing all day. Just sitting here watching men's hockey on the olympics. ....
Finished out the day with 2 chest pain calls. The first one seemed legitimate, the 2nd one, not so much. The first one, the other medic I was working with knew him personally, so that always adds a little pucker factor.
Working at this outpost is a good refresher. Maxed out the protocol just short of Morpheine with still 10min to go, I thought about giving 2mg of Morpheine but my guessing game got the better of me. At my normal station we're barely through the the 2nd round of NTG and we're pulling into the ER. I know confidence comes with time....
I was looking forward to drill Tueday night at the firehouse.. hoping to get some energy out and tear something up, but no... ugh, coporation meetings are such a waste. We all talk about and dare each other to raise a motion to disband the corporation but its such a tradition that no one ever does it. Yesterday I went and had lunch with some friends that I used to work with in corporate america. It was great to see them, and we all updated each other on life and I shared my news about moving. I know the next 2 months will fly by.
Today I am at a station that is way out. Took about an hour to get into work this morning and that is with no traffic. Closest hospital is 25 miles away. If you get some good calls, its a good opportunity to practice skills since you have a lot of patient contact time. So far we've had nothing all day. Just sitting here watching men's hockey on the olympics. ....
Finished out the day with 2 chest pain calls. The first one seemed legitimate, the 2nd one, not so much. The first one, the other medic I was working with knew him personally, so that always adds a little pucker factor.
Working at this outpost is a good refresher. Maxed out the protocol just short of Morpheine with still 10min to go, I thought about giving 2mg of Morpheine but my guessing game got the better of me. At my normal station we're barely through the the 2nd round of NTG and we're pulling into the ER. I know confidence comes with time....
Tuesday, February 14, 2006
911 vs taxi?
Well after today I may not be a wheel chock, just an ALS wheel chock. My partner calls the runs butt-ache runs but its just the standard BLS stuff. Seems everyone liked the floor today as most of runs were for falls. A cook @ the elementary school fell, an older lady at an assisted living place fell trying to get to the toilet. Seems she couldnt wait for us to get there as there was poop everywhere. We helped her up, cleaned her up and went on our way.
Another call for ab pain, ... then a possible structure fire... its funny how when its freezing out and people are in their backyards looking around and they see smoke coming from a chimney and then they call the fire department for possible structure fire. Hmmm... brilliant. I've got a ton of energy lately and I'm wanting to get out and do something. I will hit the gym tomorrow.. I can feel myself getting weaker lately and its frustrating.
Another call for ab pain, ... then a possible structure fire... its funny how when its freezing out and people are in their backyards looking around and they see smoke coming from a chimney and then they call the fire department for possible structure fire. Hmmm... brilliant. I've got a ton of energy lately and I'm wanting to get out and do something. I will hit the gym tomorrow.. I can feel myself getting weaker lately and its frustrating.
Sunday, February 12, 2006
Tug
On a chase car today covering about 8 cities and as usual I am the wheel chock. Only 1 run all day, but at least it an unusual run. Got called to join the city BLS unit to meet a boat at one of the river docks. It is not a dock any of us are familiar with. The FD have also been dispatched to help cut the locks off a gate in order to get to the dock. Call is for a woman unconscious on a tugboat pushing a barge down the Ohio River. We're meeting up with another tug to take us out there.
She is the "mom" of the ship and the cook. Elderly woman with only known history being diabetic. She is only responsive to loud voice but after briefly fixing her eyes on us, is content to go back to sleep. Sugar is fine, and since she is on the floor of a tug, cant get a rythm. Packaged her pretty tight for the trip back to shore. Am guessing that its an ischemic stroke as her CT shows clean.
City appreciation party is tonight so I'm clocking out early to join in the festivities. Its always a blast, everyone dressing up... good meal and fine spirits on the city tab. We hit the chief's house afterwards as per tradition to continue the party in the hottub. Anything else that happened, I do not claim to remember.... what happens at the chief's house... stays at the chief's house.
She is the "mom" of the ship and the cook. Elderly woman with only known history being diabetic. She is only responsive to loud voice but after briefly fixing her eyes on us, is content to go back to sleep. Sugar is fine, and since she is on the floor of a tug, cant get a rythm. Packaged her pretty tight for the trip back to shore. Am guessing that its an ischemic stroke as her CT shows clean.
City appreciation party is tonight so I'm clocking out early to join in the festivities. Its always a blast, everyone dressing up... good meal and fine spirits on the city tab. We hit the chief's house afterwards as per tradition to continue the party in the hottub. Anything else that happened, I do not claim to remember.... what happens at the chief's house... stays at the chief's house.
Saturday, February 11, 2006
Traveling woman
Well the last 3-4 days have been quite a whirlwind. There has been excitement, nervousness, soreness, and tiredness. I went to the Atlanta area to test for a department. I have been trying to test for as many depts as possible since getting my medic. My chances may not have always been great, but the more experience the better. I had heard about this department on a fire job page and started researching it. It's big, busy, and has good opportunities to advance the career. They have a good special ops division. and well.. it just looked attractive. The time to come down and test was this past week. I went down a day early to ride a shift with a station. A great friend of mine knew someone on the dept and hooked us up.
It was good. Was able to ride both the squad and the quint. First out the door after being there only 10 minutes was a GSW. Apparently the police were called for an animal complaint and while on scene it became necessary for the officer to draw his weapon on the animal. Our patient, brilliant as it was, leaped in front of the officer and took the bullet for the dog. Story/Video Now thats love.
The rest of the day stayed busy making butt-ache calls. Had dinner with the guys and then headed to my uncles place. Had to be at the Health Dept by 0800.
Got a full range of a physical (3 hours worth) and got fitted for uniforms and gear. The next day was the written and physical agility.
There was only 7 of us doing the testing so we were able to get to know each other and move along pretty fast. Aced both and then headed off to the airport to try and make an earlier flight. We had a hockey game that I am was hoping to make.
Now flying standby is an experience. I used to work for American so I know how the process works and you'd think that flying on Delta between their two main hubs would be easier. mmmmm.... No. I checked in for the first flight with 10 open seats available. By the time I got to the gate, there were 57 standbys and I was #32. 3 missed flights later I decided to fly to an alternate airport, spend the night in the airport, and then take a morning flight into home. Rummaged through a bar that was closed for a coke, swiped some airplane blankets and crashed in a corner. I made it in @ 0730 and made it into work on time @ 0900. It was rough but fun.
Home... at least for the next 2 months.. is so sweet. I got the job in GA. I am estatically happy. I am ready to head across that bridge.
It was good. Was able to ride both the squad and the quint. First out the door after being there only 10 minutes was a GSW. Apparently the police were called for an animal complaint and while on scene it became necessary for the officer to draw his weapon on the animal. Our patient, brilliant as it was, leaped in front of the officer and took the bullet for the dog. Story/Video Now thats love.
The rest of the day stayed busy making butt-ache calls. Had dinner with the guys and then headed to my uncles place. Had to be at the Health Dept by 0800.
Got a full range of a physical (3 hours worth) and got fitted for uniforms and gear. The next day was the written and physical agility.
There was only 7 of us doing the testing so we were able to get to know each other and move along pretty fast. Aced both and then headed off to the airport to try and make an earlier flight. We had a hockey game that I am was hoping to make.
Now flying standby is an experience. I used to work for American so I know how the process works and you'd think that flying on Delta between their two main hubs would be easier. mmmmm.... No. I checked in for the first flight with 10 open seats available. By the time I got to the gate, there were 57 standbys and I was #32. 3 missed flights later I decided to fly to an alternate airport, spend the night in the airport, and then take a morning flight into home. Rummaged through a bar that was closed for a coke, swiped some airplane blankets and crashed in a corner. I made it in @ 0730 and made it into work on time @ 0900. It was rough but fun.
Home... at least for the next 2 months.. is so sweet. I got the job in GA. I am estatically happy. I am ready to head across that bridge.
Tuesday, February 07, 2006
A stretch
I've been ignoring this thing lately... I suppose the whole point is to be able to go back and remember patients that I've encountered and skills that I may have used but once a year. A lot going on on the personal side of life that I am trying to stay distracted from. Getting dumped is never any fun. I am flying to Atlanta tomorrow to test for a county fire dept. I really hope I get, but on the other hand, staying in the place that everyday more becomes my home sounds pretty good too. A lot of things have fallen into place if I move South... a lot closer to my family, a nice place to stay, a fresh start, a good hockey team to play, and a good FOOLS chapter to hook up with.
But I will also be closing a chapter on a place that has been the birthplace of the last 12 years of my life. This is where I came to college, met my now ex-husband, started in the fire service, got my medic, and have some of the closest and dearest friends. Now, dont get me wrong... I'm not scared of moving. Just happy-sad. Hell I dont even have the job yet, but the antipication of it all makes it hard to keep everything balanced. I've moved 7 times since leaving home after high school. Whatever God has in store for me, I know He knows where I should be.
As for the last week or so of patients and calls... the one that sticks out in my mind is last night. She was a transfer back from the ER to her nursing home. 87 years old, hx of CVA, came in by squad with chest pain, and severly dehydrated. Doc wanted a line in her before we took her back. One of the ER nurses had been trying for a bit before we got there. A 22... a 24.. it didnt matter. You could see them pretty well thru her thin skin, but she couldnt hit any of them. Now like all medics and nurses out there.. you're watching someone trying to get an IV and you think, "Ah, come on... I could hit that blind-folded..." and you want to jump in and get it.. until you realize that you miss it too. This poor woman was stuck and restuck. We needed the line and this woman could do nothing but grunt and moan in pain as we kept trying to get the line. Her feet were an option but I do everything I can to avoid it. We finally get one above her AC. Dehydrated old veins suck. What made her prominent in my mind was her eyes. She understood that what we were doing was a necessary intervention, and she wanted to be anywhere than there, but if she had the strength and where-with-all, she probably would have clocked us and given us hell for sticking her so many times. I may go visit her next week in the nursing home. She had fire in those eyes... a spunk that was forced to be contained to her mind because of a stroke.
I've had my share of partners the last week. Mostly all good. I will just leave it at the ones who were frustrating... were "let me beat you with the clipboard" frustrating. But.. its only 12-24 hours. Nothing I cant live through. Well I am off to pack and square everything away. Have to go back into work for a short 6 hours later and have some running around to do.
I am standing on a cliff with a bridge that goes out across a chasm into a fog to my left and solid ground that is clear to my right. I've always been one for going out on my own and adventure. This will be fun to see where I go.....
But I will also be closing a chapter on a place that has been the birthplace of the last 12 years of my life. This is where I came to college, met my now ex-husband, started in the fire service, got my medic, and have some of the closest and dearest friends. Now, dont get me wrong... I'm not scared of moving. Just happy-sad. Hell I dont even have the job yet, but the antipication of it all makes it hard to keep everything balanced. I've moved 7 times since leaving home after high school. Whatever God has in store for me, I know He knows where I should be.
As for the last week or so of patients and calls... the one that sticks out in my mind is last night. She was a transfer back from the ER to her nursing home. 87 years old, hx of CVA, came in by squad with chest pain, and severly dehydrated. Doc wanted a line in her before we took her back. One of the ER nurses had been trying for a bit before we got there. A 22... a 24.. it didnt matter. You could see them pretty well thru her thin skin, but she couldnt hit any of them. Now like all medics and nurses out there.. you're watching someone trying to get an IV and you think, "Ah, come on... I could hit that blind-folded..." and you want to jump in and get it.. until you realize that you miss it too. This poor woman was stuck and restuck. We needed the line and this woman could do nothing but grunt and moan in pain as we kept trying to get the line. Her feet were an option but I do everything I can to avoid it. We finally get one above her AC. Dehydrated old veins suck. What made her prominent in my mind was her eyes. She understood that what we were doing was a necessary intervention, and she wanted to be anywhere than there, but if she had the strength and where-with-all, she probably would have clocked us and given us hell for sticking her so many times. I may go visit her next week in the nursing home. She had fire in those eyes... a spunk that was forced to be contained to her mind because of a stroke.
I've had my share of partners the last week. Mostly all good. I will just leave it at the ones who were frustrating... were "let me beat you with the clipboard" frustrating. But.. its only 12-24 hours. Nothing I cant live through. Well I am off to pack and square everything away. Have to go back into work for a short 6 hours later and have some running around to do.
I am standing on a cliff with a bridge that goes out across a chasm into a fog to my left and solid ground that is clear to my right. I've always been one for going out on my own and adventure. This will be fun to see where I go.....
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