First things first. I'm a Mommy. I'm a good Mommy. I have good kids.
She Who Rules The House is two, The Future Cardiologist is seven.
She Who Rules has NO fear. None. She can leap tall buildings in a single bound and is intrigued by her scrapes and bruises. She eats dirt. She makes more noise than a class of kindergarteners after juice and cookie time.
The Future Cardiologist is my tenderheart. He cried just as hard as I did when Bambi's Mom died. (HEY, it was sad!) He's quiet, a little anxious, and he worries about being embarrassed in front of others. He just about faints at the sight of his own blood and is TERRIFIED of needles. He's a very smart boy.
Today I had to take The Future Cardiologist to the Allergist. He's been suffering from a pretty nasty reaction to some mosquito bites lately and I was desperate to get him some relief. I've never been to an Allergist so I had no idea what to expect. When the Doctor said we were going to do a "skin test" I suspected there would be needles involved. When the nurse came in with a tray of 70 vials I attempted to get her attention.
"Are there N-E-E-D-L-E-S involved?"
She ignored me and started to swab The Future Cardiologist's back down with Acetone. Which freaked him out. I attempted to calm him down while simultaneously attempting to get the Nurses attention.
"For Pete's sake young man, it's just alcohol" the Nurse snapped at him.
Epijunky's blood pressure shoots up 20 points.
I actually had to grab his shoulders to keep him from flopping off of the exam table. I finally asked her to stop for a second and explain to him what was going on. I said it as nicely as I could, but I imagine it might have come out a little... roughly.
I don't think I was going to make friends with her at this point.
I asked her again about the needles, spelling it quickly because The Future Cardiologist can spell about two grade levels above his age. She looked directly at me and shook her head "No". I breathed a sigh of relief. I did my best to keep him calm and quiet while she quickly applied 70 drops of allergens on his back. He's a very curious kid and had a hundred questions about everything from the color of the drops to if it was raining outside. I answered his questions and kept him still so she could do her job.
Then that evil-lying-un-kid-friendly-nurse did something I could not believe. She pulled out a frickin' STRAIGHT PIN and hand to GOD waved it in his face. "I'm going to have to stick this in your back once for each drop. You're going to have to lay perfectly still or I'll have to start over."
Epijunky's blood pressure shoots through the roof.
OH HELL NO. She did NOT just lie TO MY FACE. I understand not telling a child until a few seconds before you stick them, but --- SHE TOLD ME THERE WERE NO NEEDLES INVOLVED. I TOLD HIM THERE WERE NO NEEDLES INVOLVED.
She starts sticking him in the back with that needle and he's flopping around like a fish out of water. He's hysterical and crying. I had to hold him down. It was horrible and I wanted to cry with him. Not because I believed it was terribly painful, but because that Nurse betrayed his trust and made me a freaking accomplice.
He survived. I'm still fuming. Hell hath no fury like a Mommy lied to by an evil nurse.
Rule #1 Don't Lie to a 7-year-old. Or his Mommy.
Tragedy and Squad 41
Surprisingly (or maybe not so much), I've had a number of people call me to talk about the tragic accident that occurred last night in a rural area not horribly far from here. My mother-in-law read about before I did and was afraid to tell me about because she was afraid that I would be "too upset to go out to the fair"...
Here's how I feel about it, for what it's worth.
A horrible horrible horrible accident. I'm broken hearted over it.
A husband and wife involved in a MVC being transported with whiplash injuries.
Three EMT's (Paramedic's, whatever, what does a certification mean at this point?) are dead. One is a young wife, my age in fact, and mother of five. Her husband, also a member of the service, and was in the squad. He and the driver of the truck were the only survivors. A Veteran of the service who "rarely missed an ambulance or fire run", a young woman who had just recently joined the service, a 2000 graduate of Antwerp Local High School.
All of them... gone.
“They were all just fantastic people. None of them would ever give up the chance to get in the EMS and help out, and they died doing it"
Antwerp is a tiny community, about 1600 people. What an awful blow to this town.
This really hit home for me, and my family. My mother is now completely frantic about the fact that I "ride around in the back of an ambulance with no seatbelt on". I really didn't know what to tell her at this point. I DO wear a belt for long transports, it's just habit. I ALWAYS wear one when I'm in the front of the sqaud, as a driver or a passenger. That being said, when I'm doing patient care in the back it's not always possible to be belted in. And unfortunately in this case, I'm not sure how much it would have helped.
There are a lot of dangers involved in this job. Some of them involve situations that we don't perceive as threatening because that's just how we work. I don't know many EMT's who wear a belt in back. I just don't know what to say, it's all so sad.
We all need to be more careful on the road. And I know that the next time I'm in the back of a squad I'll definitely be more likely than not to have a belt on.
Please be careful out there.
3 medical workers, 2 patients killed as semi hits ambulance
3 medical workers, 2 patients killed as semi hits ambulance
PAULDING, Ohio — Three emergency medical workers and two of their patients were killed last night when their ambulance was struck broadside by a tractor-trailer and burst into flames in northwestern Paulding County, the Ohio Highway Patrol said.
Another emergency medical worker and the driver of the semi were hurt in the crash just before 7 p.m. between Paulding and Cecil, Ohio, about 65 miles southwest of Toledo, troopers at the patrol’s Van Wert post said.
The Ohio State Highway Patrol's Van Wert Post released the names this morning of the five people killed in the crash. The emergency workers from Antwerp were: Sammy R. Smith, 64; Heidi L. McDougall, 31, and Kelly J. Rager, 25.
The victims who were being transported in the EMS squad were identified as Robert R. Wells, 64, and Armelda Wells, 60, both of Hicksville.
A fourth EMS worker, Matt McDougall, 31, of Antwerp, who was in the squad, and Gerald D. Chapman Jr., 54, of Bryant, Ind., the driver of the commercial vehicle, were both transported from the scene. Mr. McDougall, a Hicksville police officer, was in fair condition this morning at Parkview Memorial Hospital in Fort Wayne. Mr. Chapman's condition was unavailable this morning.
The emergency workers were all volunteers from Antwerp, Ohio, who were treating patients from an earlier crash on U.S. 24 in Paulding County.
“It’s very sad. Very tragic,” Antwerp Village Council President Ronald Farnsworth said. “Right now, we need all the prayers we can get. Right now we’re grieving.”
The crash occurred at County Roads 176 and 87 in Crane Township.
The ambulance was southbound on Road 87 when it was struck broadside by the semi, which was eastbound on Road 176, troopers said.
No other details on either accident were available last night.
The loss hit hard in the village of Antwerp, population 1,642.
Last night, several dozen fire and emergency workers gathered at the fire hall with a pastor.
“They aren’t in very good shape right now,” said Mr. Farnsworth, adding that the village planned to arrange for counseling.
“We’ll get through it,” he said. “But we’ll need all the prayers we can get from everybody.”
Trauma Scenario
I need to come up with a Trauma Scenario that will knock my I/C off of his throne. I need something goooooood. I need injuries, vital signs, symptoms, dialogue, treatment, the whole nine yards.
I was given the following to build on:
26 year old suicidal female jumps off of a bridge (approximately 30 foot drop). She lands on her feet and falls to her back She then crawls up the embankment where she's found. She is Alert and Oriented X3 and adamant that she does not want to go to the hospital. She has fractures to her lower legs, and no sensation below her waist. She is calm and not anxious.
OOooh, this could be fun :)
Any contributions would be appreciated as well.
What Makes a Good EMT.
I *heart* Ambulance Driver.
http://ambulancedriverfiles.blogspot.com
"People ask me what makes a good EMT...and here it is:
If you can be the island of calm when the feces strike the thermal agitator, and keep your wits about you when everyone else is losing theirs...and then turn right around on the very next call and do nothing more than gently hold a frightened old lady's hand on the way to the hospital and perhaps coax a smile from her...and realize that BOTH are equally important skills...then THAT is what makes a good EMT. Even if they never saved a single life."
Ambulance driver knows his stuff. It's not often I come across someone who makes me think, gag, and laugh out loud in the same post. You HAVE to respect that!
Not Appropriate.
What I learned in Medic class tonight....
Not appropriate:
Using an IO set to set up a ginger teriyaki drip/infusion/marinade on chicken legs.
Using the scalpel from the surgical cric kit to trim the fat from aforementioned chicken legs.
Using (unused) suction canisters as beer cups.
Using cold packs to chill your 40 ounce.
Using paddles set at 360 to fry your bacon/straighten your hair/teach your instructor a lesson
Gee, and that's just tonight. No wonder our instructor is so afraid for us.
Sixteen classes left.
Ramblings of a Stressed Out Mind
Good God why am I doing this?
For the past few days I've been working on moving old posts from another blog to here in an effort to get away from the mess that Myspace has become. I honestly believed that I was doing a good thing. The more I read and repost, the more I'm convinced that all I do is whine and feel sorry for myself.
Yikes, I can barely stand to read my own writing.
I'm 16 classes away from being done with the Medic course. That scares the living crap out of me. Where's the confidence I thought I'd have at this point? Every new bit of information I learn seems to push another vital bit of knowledge out. I learn the peds dose for Atropine and forget my cell phone number.
I really need some more sleep.
My partner, my hero. (Originally Posted September 23, 2006)
For my birthday this year my baby brother (The Responsible One), gave me a pretty silver watch. I loved it. The longstanding joke between us is that any present he gives me becomes my “lucky” whatever. He gave me earrings one year. They were instantly my lucky earrings. When he was 11 he made me a necklace. It became my lucky necklace. This watch was my lucky watch. It was an integral part of my job. I NEEDED that watch. Plus, as I said, the second he gave it to me it became my lucky watch. I loved it.
The problem is, it has a weird latch on it and picks horrible times to fall off. Add to that the fact that I NEVER know it falls off until I go to take someone's pulse.
Last shift it poured most of the night. The rain came down in sheets.
I lost my lucky watch. It disappeared somewhere between Local ER and a run we had a few miles away. I noticed it was gone pretty quickly, tore apart the back of the squad, and realized it was probably on the ground out in the rain. I was a little heartbroken over it, but there was no way I was going to be able to find it in the middle of the night, in the middle of a downpour. Besides, I wasn’t even positive I lost it at the scene. Pseudo Dad talked me into going back to the scene, in the RAIN mind you, to look for it.
To make this already long, boring, only-interesting-to-me story a little shorter, he found it.
We were both drenched and sitting in the squad after what I thought was a fruitless ten minute search when he said, “Hold out your hand.” There it was. Still ticking too.
Pseudo Dad is my hero. We've only worked together for a few months and he already knows when to tell me to sleep, even if it's only for 25 minutes... He doesn't roll his eyes at me when I'm whining (at least not to my face)... He buys me a Slider or a cup of coffee when I'm destitute... He makes me laugh out loud and teases me mercilessly. He's a good guy. I couldn't ask for a better partner at work.
I'm a lucky girl. I have an unbelievably wonderful and supportive husband at home, and a great partner at work. You can't ask for much more.
Could It Be? (Originally Posted September 20, 2006)
Could it be that this job is making me lazy? I’m willing to give myself the benefit of the doubt and say that maybe the combination of school, studying, work, and lack of sleep is just stressing me out a little bit. I seriously underestimated how much time would be required for studying. I seriously overestimated how much sleep I’d be able to get during the day while working the 7p-7a shift at The Closet. I’m kind of just stumbling through life right now. It’s a familiar feeling, kind of like that feeling you have for the first few weeks there’s a newborn in your home.
Tonight was supposed to be quiet.
When will I learn that number of calls in a 12 hour shift directly relates to how many hours of sleep/studying time one needs?
I know how bad that sounds. They’re paying me to work. I understand that. I’m not one of those people who believe that they are entitled to sleep during a 12 hour overnight shift. Sometimes you just need a quiet night.
It was as far from quiet as it possibly could be.
The CT scanner at Backwoods General Hospital 35 miles away was broken. They contacted The Little Private Service that Could and contracted with us to transport any patient who needed a CT up to St. Moneybags hospital where the CT would be done, then return them to Backwoods General.
It didn’t sound too bad, how many people out in the middle of nowhere need a CT scan? I’ve been to Backwoods ER more than a few times, and typically, it’s empty.
That night everyone within ten miles of this hospital needed a CT scan.
(This wouldn’t normally be a problem except She Who Rules The House had been teething and miserable all day resulting in net sleep of ZERO for me in two days. So I’m exhausted.)
We ran patients back and forth all night long. And had to complete a run report for each segment of the trip. We would end up with 22 run reports by 7am.
At one point around five am I was literally in tears, babbling about something. Pseudo Dad grabbed me by the shoulders and steered me toward the patient compartment.
He told me in no uncertain terms that I would sleep, and I would sleep now. And he’d wake me up when the next patient was ready. If I chose to defy him he’d ground me. Or something.
“Yes, Dad,” was all I could mumble at that point.
He actually put me to sleep like I was a cranky five year old, which makes me think I must have been acting like a cranky five year old. I’m not proud of that.
I really need to work on getting that 24 hour shift.
The Pimple. (Originally Posted September, 2006)
*takes a deep breath*
Please, friends and neighbors, for the LOVE of GOD...
Do NOT call 911 because you popped a pimple and it wont stop bleeding.
Slap a bandaid on it. Try a little pressure.
When we arrived on the scene, (Code 3 by the way -- but that's for another blog.) the firefighters were laughing outside of the apartment.
Long story short, a 12 year old popped a pimple on his arm. It was bleeding. His mother was worried and called 911. The City Fire Department slapped a dressing on it and wrapped it in kling. Yes, they still want to have him seen at St. Moneybags ER. One of the firefighters remarked that the Mother believed the pimple was attached to a vein.
I had to stiffle a little giggle at this point. Then again, who am I to judge? If they want a 600 dollar taxi ride to the ER, I'll drive 'em.
On the way to the ER Pseudo Dad has to give one of the most hysterical Medical Reports ever given. He's trying to relay to the ER staff that the patient's Mother believed the pimple was attached to a vein. He accidentally says "artery" and corrects himself. Apparently the ER missed that.
When we arrive at the ER they direct us to the trauma room. The resident wants to know where the "arterial bleed" is.
Oh Jesus.
After a quick report the ER staff redirects us to a small private room.
All I can do is shake my head.
I did get to see the pimple after the nurse took off the kling... No sign of bleeding whatsoever. The only blood we can see is what can only be described as a pin-head sized dot on the dressing.
Another life saved.
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