Why do I love being a paramedic?

In a word....interesting!

What other job could this happen...at 6pm we're responding to a breathing problems call which is actually back pain which is really an Aortic Aneurysm rupture which is fatal and we quickly realize that the back pain is the primary symptom of this poor patient's largest artery ripping open and flooding insides with blood. Blood which is supposed to remain intravascular not extravascular.

That's bad...very bad. Unfortunately, when an Aorta completely ruptures there's not a damn thing anyone, anywhere can do for you. You can be flayed open on the operating table with the best thoracic surgeon over priced insurance money can buy and you're still dead meat. Yeah, you guessed it, this poor patient did not survive.

Immediately afterwards we respond to another breathing problems call and this one is an anxiety attack. Yep, some anxiety and hyperventilation caused this patient to feel dizzy and experience numbness and tingling in both arms. And, yep...had to be transported by ambulance to the hospital as a placebo to make them "feel better". Which worked because I'm damn good at my job, lol!

I wonder...do you think this patient's anxiety would have been worse if the knowledge that someone had been dying on the same stretcher just an hour ago had been shared?

Nooooo, I didn't but it sure does put things into perspective for you doesn't it?

Yes, I love being a paramedic...where else can you experience such extremes and get paid for it?

Plus it gives me great party stories.

Chicken Breath and Helium

I'm back to work or at least I was yesterday. My lungs sound like I'm blowing bubbles through a straw and I'm coughing up enough phlegm to feed a small country; eewwwww, nice thought huh? Ok, yes I'm coughing and yes, my lungs are fluidy but only at the very bottoms so it's not like I'm drowning in my own fluids just yet. But do I feel 10 times better than a few days ago when I had a fever and my remote control arm was too weak to hold said remote control up for more than 10 secs. Can we say dog crap anyone?

So my partner and I run several calls yesterday; not too crazy just steady and serious enough to not feel guilty about earning our paychecks. Well...until we got off shift 2 hours late this morning but I digress. One particular call set off my paramedic humor alarm. We responded to a difficulty breathing call. I walk up and a family member tells me~

"Chicken breath! Her helium no work!"

This was a Hispanic family that barely spoke English and what he was trying to say was:

"She can't breath. Her inhaler didn't work." The chicken breath part is just badly accented English but he actually said helium instead of inhaler. That was a first for me. Never heard anyone call it helium before! LOL! Me being me I made him say it a couple more times just to be sure it really was what I heard before I corrected him. I know I'm evil, hehe!

How much fun is my job? This much fun!

Just a pic of how much fun I had at work last night. An altered mental patient bit my upper right arm just inside and above my elbow. Fortunately he bit through two layers thick fleece, my sweatshirt and my jacket otherwise he would've taken a chunk out of my bicep because he was serious. Spend several hours at the hospital doing paperwork for insurance, worker's comp, blood work, tetanus booster and an amoxicillian prescription just in case cause human bites are seriously nasty - worse than animal bites. Seriously, retirement can't come soon enough some days.

It took 7 adult males to hold him down while I argued with the ER for sedation orders. We have medical protocols here that are still 1980 and "they" don't feel comfortable allowing us "peon" field morons make these type of decisions- like knowing when a 220 lbs top physical condition adult male who is currently out of his mind for medical reasons needs to be sedated in the field. Otherwise this type of patient tries to kick our collective asses while we (paramedics, firefighters and police) have to humanely restrain them without causing them permanent harm. Nevermind this same patient would be sedated immediately in the ER by the same Dr if this happened in the ER. But apparently us -der- paramedics are too stupid to know when to use this appropriately.

That's a big reason why the public sees recordings of police and medics 'ganging up' on 'helpless' persons in the media and it's assumed that public safety persons are using excessive force. (not that it's never happened, unfortunately) But many services are not allowed to use medical sedation, such as valium, to control persons that are out of control and willing to harm themselves and others because Dr's and government agencies are afraid to get sued (rightfully so) therefore they rely on good old fashion football dog piles and physical restrains to control these patients. (Because the admins don't have to do it, they leave it to the moron field crews!) However, this takes several adults per 1 adult patient to do the job without causing undue harm to the patient and avoid receiving harm themselves. And it's a major pain in the ass! This job is not for the old and I'm feeling more every year.

Post ChristmasTraditions

There's a pattern to human society and last weekend the Annual Post Christmas Family Beatings were kicked offed; pun intended. Ah, yes after the wonderful spirit of Christmas love and forgiveness has worn thin within 24-48 hours family members begin fist fights and domestic disputes. Over indulgence of alcohol, sugar and the general malaise of spending one too many hours in the company of relatives; which are barely tolerable in the short term, spark short fuses causing tempers to flare and fur flies.

But usually only after dark. Everyone is busy eating, sleeping, partying or shopping during the day so when the boredom of nightfall sets in there's always a fight to pick with your in-laws for entertainment. Or your cousins, or parents, or siblings, or even your neighbors if your desperately bored.

The week of Christmas tends to be either dead or deadly for EMS. We either do not much of anything cause no one (even the frequent fliers) want to go to the hospital on Christmas or we're running lots of dead or dying patients because of the stress of the holidays. A time which is supposed to be happy and fun causes many, many people overwhelming stress and loneliness which in turn increases the death toll through suicide, accidents, poor decisions, and exacerbation of pre-existing health problems such as high blood pressure.

Then right after Christmas day the assaults between family members begin due to everyone's last nerve snapping just after sunset; and we run calls all night.

And here's the real irony of it all. Since everyone wants to believe how wonderful Christmas is supposed to be~ when one of these terrible events happen in their family they're all stunned and exclaim "How could something terrible like this happen on Christmas????"

Guess what...something like this is always terrible and it happens everyday to someone, somewhere. Death and fate don't take holidays and humans create even more of their own stress during this (cue music) most wonderful time of the year.

Don't get me wrong...I love Christmas! I love all my family traditions and spending time with everyone but ya gotta keep it in perspective. Stress is still deadly and you are your own best health care attendant. Things are just things, dinner can be ordered out if need be, don't worry about what someone else is wearing or buying or not buying or giving or not giving....blah, blah, blah. Just be content that you and your family are happy and healthy and be grateful for today. The rest is just commercial Christmas flocking anyhow.

First Shift Back and Crappy Environments

My first shift on the ambulance in 3.5 months was much easier than I expected. I was a bit anxious that I'd be rusty but it's like falling off a bike. No problemo! That's when I realized that I've spent for more time on an ambulance than off. I've been working full-time and OT/second EMS jobs for 16 years so 3.5 months wasn't nearly enough time to lose my edge; fortunately.

Luck was even on my side! My partner and I responded to a minor assault call in our district. During that same time the neighboring unit responded to another call in our district which turned out to be a cardiac arrest. Working an arrest is lots of sweaty hard work, drug calculations and a high level of skill all combined. And the majority of cardiac arrest patients are unable to be revived - so lots of work with usually very little return.

My partner and I cleared our call and decided to stop by with the other unit to help since they were near by and I got to meet a new young, female medic that was hired during my absence. She was very nervous since she was attempting to obtain an airway for the patient (which can be difficult and is the "star attraction" during a cardiac arrest) and her partner was one of our most veteran medics who is known for not being supportive of rookies (especially female rookies). His obvious lack of support and her being the center of attention was making her so nervous that her technique was off and she was unsuccessful.

As I witnessed this I attempted to offer my own support and give her calm, clear advice (which earned me a look of contempt from the senior medic) and she attempted to follow the advice but unfortunately the environment was too far gone and nothing I could do or say ended up helping. The senior medic in charge of the cardiac arrest finished the airway successfully and they left for the hospital.

EMS is a naturally stressful job and senior medics always challenge and harass rookies which seems harsh but is necessary to a degree because the entire team needs to know what the rookie's breaking is and if they can handle themselves confidently in real life stressful situations. However, I've always felt that along with the good-natured harassment there needs to be a mentally and emotionally supportive atmosphere for all rookies. But there will always be those medics that have no patience for rookies even though we were all rookies once upon a time.