Praegu on masu ja raha on vähe, ilm on kole jne.. Ühesõnaga otsustasin minagi raha kokku hoida ning alustasin oma mobiiliarvete korrigeerimisest.

Olgu öeldud, et olen olnud EMT lojaalne lepinguline klient pea 10 aastat, vahel tööandja kaudu, vahel personaalselt, aga siiski pidevalt, koostöösuhet katkestamata. Alguses oli EMT valiku põhjuseks parim leviala. Kui leviala ei olnud enam argument, siis oli seda hea klienditeenindus, tasemel turundus. Viimastel aastatel aga pigem harjumus, sissejuurdunud arusaam, et EMT on parim. Müts maha EMT turundustiimi ees, et nad ennast minu peas nii mitmeid aastaid seda brändi sellisena (parim mobiilioperaator) positsioneerida suutsid!

Ühesõnaga, kuna MinuEMT meeliköitev turunduskampaania oli mulle kui turundajale ammu silma jäänud ning  mis seal salata, ka mõjunud (!), otsustasin validagi säästmise eesmärgil MinuEMT paketi.

Paketi võlud on järgmised:

Vali endale sobiv hulk kõnesid, sõnumeid ja internetti. MinuEMT tasu saad teada, kui liidad kõikide valitud teenuste osatasud kokku.

• Kõnede kasutusmahus sisalduvad kõik Eesti-sisesed tava- ja videokõned.
• Kõnede kasutusmahus ei sisaldu:
- tasuta Perekõned, tasuta kõned Sõbraliinile, tasuta suunamised, neid saad kasutada lisaks valitud kõnemahule;
- eritasulised kõned (erihinnastusega võrgud, kõneteenusnumbrid).
• MinuEMT paketis arveldab EMT kõnesid sekundipõhiselt ja kõnedele ei lisandu kõnealustustasu.
• Mahu ületamisel maksab Eesti-sisene kõneminut 1.53 kr/min ja videokõne 5.03kr/min.

Ühesõnaga, otsus sai tehtud ruttu. Teadsin umbkaudselt, kui palju ma kuus räägin, valisin vastava paketi vastava kuutasuga ja jäin rõõmsalt väiksemaid arveid ootama..

Üllatus saabus esimese arvega – ligikaudu 1/3 kallim arve kõneteenuste eest, kui seni kunagi olnud! Ok, selgitasin seda endale asjaoluga, et olen senisest rohkem kasutanud M-parkimise teenust, maksin arve ära ning asi selleks korraks unustatud. Järgmisel kuul aga tuli arve, mis ületas arveid enne minuEMT-ga liitumist enam kui poole võrra!

Kõigepealt vihastasin ennast seaks… Siis elasin ennast välja, kurtsin lähedastele oma saatust. Ja siis süvenesin arvete sisusse (loomulikult oleksin pidanud seda tegema kohe, esimese arve saabudes, ma tean, ma tean – aga aastatepikkune usaldus EMT-sse oli liialt süüvinud, et midagi kahtlustada).

Ja mis selgus – olin oma naiivsuses valinud MinuEMT-ga liitudes liiga “õhukese” paketi, mis sisuliselt tähendas seda, et kui ma valitud kõneteenuste mahtu ületasin, hakkas sekundipealt edasistele kõnedele kehtima järgmine klausel:

Mahu ületamisel maksab Eesti-sisene kõneminut 1.53 kr/min ja videokõne 5.03kr/min

Täpselt sealt need meeletud kõnede arved tekkisidki. Kusjuures, loomulikult ei saa ma siinkohal süüdistada EMT-d, vaid ainult iseennast, et ei olnud tähelepanelik, ei hinnanud olukorda jne.. Aga siiski, ma leian, et on eetiliselt väär mitte teatada kliendile, et tema paketti kuuluvate kõnede määr on ületatud. Kui oleks selline teade edastatud, oleksin ma ju kohe saanud valida MinuEMT-st suurema mahuga kõneteenuseid sisaldava paketi ning oleks ikkagi üldkokkuvõttes rahaliselt võitnud! Muidu tulevad igasugused pakkumistega sõnumid söögi alla ja söögi peale, aga nüüd sellist väikest teavitust ei ole siis võimalik automatiseerida ning sellega kliendi usaldust võita?

OK. Tunnistan, et paljuski tulenesid suured arved selle tõttu, et ma ei käinud Iseteeninduses aktiivselt saldot jälgimas ega teinud sellest vastavaid järeldusi. Siiski solvusin EMT peale, kuna mind ei teavitatud kahel kuul, et paketti kuuluvate kõneteenuste maht on ületatud. Siinkohal lihtsalt tõdemus, kui vähesest piisab, et sinu seni lojaalsest kliendist saab päevapealt konkurendi klient. Võiks ju öelda, et kogu turundus selle kontakti nimel on luhta läinud. Iseasi, kui väärtuslik on 1 kontakt? Samas, kui ta räägib oma halvast kogemusest 7-le sõbrale… teame ju seda turundustõdemust isegi.

Esitasin taotluse operaatori vahetuseks. Valituks osutus Tele2 ning paketiks Hinnaliider 80. Miks? Vaadake ise:

Hinnaliider 80: Miinimumarve 150; Võrgusisesed kõned 0,81; Kõneminut teistesse võrkudesse 0,81; Kõnealustustasu 0; Tekstisõnumi saatmine 1,88; Kuumaks * 10,17 * Klientidel, kes valivad e-arve, on kuumaksu soodustus 100%.

Kindlasti ei taha ma antud üllitisega EMT-d halvustada. Tegemist on ju siiski väga tubli ettevõttega. See, et ma ühte pisikest tegematajätmist klienditeeninduses südamesse võtsin, on puhtalt minu probleem. Küll aga on antud loo põhjal soovitus teistele MinuEMT klientidele – jälgige oma jooksvat saldot, et teaksite, millal on teie kõneteenuste maht ületatud.

Loo moraal ehk mida ma tegelikult tahan öelda:

1. turundus on kõikvõimas ning lojaalne klient usaldab ettevõtet ja ei pööra tähelepanu pisiasjadele
2. hinne 5+ EMT turundustiimile, kes on suutnud korraldada üliedukaid turunduskampaaniaid ning saavutanud EMT kui usaldusväärse tel.operaatori maine turul
3. hinne 2- EMT klienditeenindusele, et nad ei võtnud “lahkumisavalduse” teinud kliendiga isegi ühendust selleks, et küsida tagasisidet, miks klient operaatorit vahetab

Või mida teie arvate?

What line?

Despite the controversy around the H1N1 vaccine, our family decided we would be better off to get it.  There was a “first round” clinic at the high school last Sunday, and all of three of us being in one of the risk groups qualified for round one.

We heard that the previous week’s clinic went smoothly, with waits from 11 to 27 minutes, the longest wait times being in the morning.   Originally the county health department had limited the shots to residents of only one area in the county, but the response was so light compared to what they expected that they opened last Sunday’s clinic to all county residents falling into the initial risk categories.  So we decided to take a chance on late-morning (shots were given from 9:30 am to 7:30 pm).

As we drove into the parking lot outside the high school’s Fine Arts auditorium I was shocked – where were the lines of  honking cars, where were the lines of frantic people?  We found a close parking space.  At the door we were greeted by a volunteer and directed to the registration area.  Since we had downloaded and completed our registration forms ahead of time, we were given a number and directed to have a seat in the auditorium. 

It was about 1/4 full with a very cheery crowd of mostly adults and some very little children.  (School age children were vaccinated at their home schools.)  We were called to move to the “shot room” in groups of 25.  We waited about 10 minutes before our group was called.  There were two rooms- the planners had thankfully set aside a room for “strollers” which was a euphemism for “screamers.”  Andy looked a little worried as we waited our turn listening to the very loud protestations of a small child, but we were finally ushered into a quiet, calm room where EMT’s from local fire departments administered the shots.

Andy passed the time with his tunes

The funniest thing was Andy talking himself through it and the EMT responding.  Andy was saying, It’s OK, and the EMT would say, Yes, it’s OK,  Andy would say, Just hold on, and the EMT would say, Yes, I’m getting it ready.  Just before he was injected Andy said, Be careful now, and the the EMT said, Yes I’ll be careful – I about fell on the floor laughing, and the EMT was having a hard time holding it in! 

So we all did fine, got through in 15 minutes total, and are now protected.  The only side effect was Dana’s arm was sore for a while, I did not have any discomfort at all, and Andy didn’t report any problems.  Dana did not even get flu-like symptoms like he does with the regular flu shot. 

Kudos to the Lake County General Health District for the great way this was handled and to all the volunteers who helped!  

Now when can we get that vaccine for the common cold?

This picture is “Waiting for Grandad.”  Left to right we have, EMT, JCountry and Gaffer.  Pardon my over-crowded house.

Four men in the house and anytime that we can get all four in one room, a game happens.  The latest “greatest” game is 1942, Axis and Allies.  The challenge is getting them all in one room.

The first thing that happened was EMT disappeared.  Literally, disappeared.  He left, on Friday night, to go help with Bingo at the fire department and never returned.  He told me he might just sleep at the department, but would be home in the morning. 

EMT has a bad habit of not letting us know what he is doing.  He is twenty, so it is hard to complain; however, I have repeatedly explained to him that it is a matter of courtesy to let the people you live with know when to expect you back.  Heck, it is even a matter of your own safety, as we have a relative who died when his car flipped over and he wasn’t found for three days.  The first two days he lived. 

So, the first day EMT was missing, I grumbled about him all day.  I left the outside light on until 3am and then swore and went to sleep.  The second day, I began to worry a bit.  Late that day we called his friends.  Why is it no one is ever home when you call them for something really important?  Late that day we drove around.  No one was at the fire department.  No one was at his friend’s house. 

At seventy-two hours, we went to the police and filed a report on him, missing, in our car.   He has had a problem with a couple of guys and we were concerned they had cornered him and beaten him to a pulp and left him in the woods.  We drove around staring between trees for our red van.   Our County is wooded.

Two hours later, when we arrived home from the police station and driving around, for the second time, Gaffer decided to make a library run for books, movies and high speed.  Twenty minutes later, Gaffer calls and lets us know that he is parked next to our Red Van at the library, and will call if his brother is in the library.

YUP!  That’s where we found EMT, after seventy-two hours.  During the time he was missing, he had gone camping, torn apart a car with a friend, and made money scrapping the parts, done Christmas shopping, and gone to the library.  He really does not understand why we were so upset.  In the meantime, my hair is grey!!!

EMT, anticipating leaving for the Army in January, where he will be the problem of the U.S. Government and they can figure out where he is, brought home the Harry Potter Clue game.  He gave it to the family for Christmas and wanted to get a lot of gaming in before he left.  He also figured it was maybe a game I would play.  He was right.

Playing games is akin to having a kidney infection, for me.  I am more a knit and giggle with daughter, while games are going on, preferably with a glass of Bailey’s in hand, kind of gal.  There are now three games I will willingly play: Cribbage, Dominoes and Harry Potter Clue. 

I should be cleaning my piles of projects out of the front room and baking pies or cookies for our Thanksgiving dinner, instead I am blogging and listening to Gaffer speak with a Russian accent as he rolls his dice to defend Russia from Germany.  The are figuratively spitting at each other, I am told.  JCountry is Germany.  Gaffer is Russia.  Granddad is back in from his disappearance to my studio and all is well with our world.

Southern California FIRE & EMS is currently seeking a female account executive to create new accounts within the motion picture, events industry and hospital industry. This position will also include public relations utilizing the web and social networking sites to promote the services of  the company. All candidates must be familiar with the FIRE & EMS field and understand strategic marketing/branding.

This position requires excellent customer service skills and professional appearance. We need someone who can secure accounts at major venues, non-union production companies and hospitals (Los Angeles City). There is room for growth and you will be a part of the most professional and caring staff to be assembled in one place.

This position is commission based at this time but at a later time the position will become hourly plus commission.

For more information on the company, please visit our website.

Please send resumes to:

Southern California FIRE & EMS
Human Resources Dept.
26504 Bouquet Canyon Road, #109
Santa Clarita, CA 91350

###

www.socalfireems.com
800-661-7418

EMS 2.0 is an idea that is circulating around the blogosphere and twitterverse for the past year. Many intelligent people are debating and offering ideas on how to advance the profession of EMS providers.

I began asking on Twitter what people thought of Nurse Practicioners and Physician’s Assistants. I am always looking for how to advance my education. The reply I got struck a nerve with me “…isn’t it sad that paramedics don’t just stay paramedics? We feel compelled, or forced, to move onto something else”.

Why do medics have to leave the streets to improve their status in the healthcare industry?

The community paramedic idea is still being tested in the US, most recenty in Colorado. Chris Montera has started a program in his service that is promising Gary Wingrove is the spearhead behind Community Paramedicine in the US.

Another blogger who is active in the EMS 2.0 movement is Ckemtp. He proposes that paramedics be trained in the Physicians assistant model (and preferrably take a PA program).

I agree that education is an important piece to becoming more than just ambulance drivers. These ideas take time, money and a willingness on the part of the workers to go back to school. I certainly want to further my education.

The one aspect I feel is over looked is public relations. EMS has done a poor job educating the public in who we are, what we do and how our resources can be utilized. The fire service has almost put themselves out of work with their fantastic fire prevention programs. Fire safety PR campaigns have greatly reduced the number of structure fires in the US over the past century thanks to efforts by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) and the United States Fire Administration (USFA).

EMS does not have a national voice. We are too regionalized and segregated. We need to educate the people we serve and tell them how we can help them. I understand that we are the infant of emergency services, only 40 years since inception, but we need to come together and promote EMS. Not just public health or public safety but both. We need to educate doctors and nurses, mayors and public health directors. Numerous times I explain to staff in emergency room staff what we do and what we cannot perform. The healthcare providers we assist are unaware of our capabilities, strengths and weaknesses. An organized campaign could be in place immediatly with limited funding. Start with you! Talk to the nurses, explain what we are allowed to do, some are willing to listen. We have marketing people trying to get contracts, enable them to educate the doctor offices on what is an emergency and what is a non emergent transport. Some municipalities have both public 911 service and private service. Encourage nurses to make good decisions and not burden the 911 service with a transport that is just to satisfy legal requirements (prevent possibly litigation).

We can do this, everyone needs to be involved. The new EMT all the way up to the chief officer in the service. Be the change you want to see

The family that owns the house we’re living in, lives on the property too. All the units connect but we hardly ever see or hear each other. Downstairs in our house is a staircase that has a little post-it note sign: Please Do Not Open.

This door leads directly into our neighbors apartment. For the first time the other night, we got to see what lies on the other side. B and C had us over for dinner with some friends and neighbors.

I love this family. There’s something so easy and warm about them. The house, in a way, is an embodiment of their spirit.

One of our neighbor’s who came to the dinner also has left a strong impression on me. She is a huge personality and exudes a joyfulness that is so magnetic. She was a firefighter for 18 years. I love her stories. I could listen to them for hours.

Tomorrow night, 11/19/09, the H1N1 vaccine will be available at the Ellenburg Depot Fire Department from 5-7 pm ONLY for EMTs.  It is strongly recommended that all EMTs receive this vaccine, in order to help protect them in the event of exposure in the course of providing patient care.

At this time, the vaccine is only available for EMTs.  If you are not an EMT, you are not eligible for this shot.  If you’re not sure if you’re an EMT or not, you’re not!

Any questions, please contact your chief.  And thank you for all you do to keep our community safe!

Whether you are a seasoned non-union or union set medic, knowing how to work with stunt coordinators and stuntmen is crucial in the motion picture industry. Too many set medics tend to be too relaxed in the area of stunt safety leaving all the details up to stunt coordinators or Fire Safety Officers. The bar has been raised yet again and now medics are being utilized more as eyes and ears for stunt coordinators. When it comes to safety, no chances should taken.

Set Medics must know how to work around stunts which is why Southern California FIRE & EMS is hosting workshops to address set safety. The classes are being taught by some of Hollywood’s biggest names in the stunt arena.

If you are interested, please go to www.socalfireems.com/training_classes.htm

Southern California FIRE & EMS
www.socalfireems.com
800-661-7418

I have been working in EMS for almost a decade.  I am a full time paramedic working in a 911 system.  I work for one of those “for profit” ambulance services.  I am just curious though? Who is making the profits?  I’m paid decently but barely enough to pay my bills.  Overtime is how we survive.

I truly like being a paramedic.  The system I work in is good.  RSI, Crics, CPAP, 12 Leads, all the fun stuff.  We have a plethora of standing orders, and rarely need to contact on-line med control.  I am my own boss.  The local fire dept responds with us, this is good, but I am sure they appreciate me, as they are not a transporting agency.  You need a ride to the ED, it’s a cab or me and my partner.

I am starting this blog for two reasons,

1.    I need a place to vent

2.   To see if my “for profit bosses” can find it.

I will try to avoid mentioning the name of my company, they have a policy about blogging about work.  If you are curious, the initials of the company might be linked to “Ambulance Might Respond” or “Another Medicaid Run.”

I am starting this blog on Friday the 13th at least in my timezone.  I am planning on bitching about useless and useful crap at least once a day.

If you want to really keep up, check me out on Twitter.  emtpueblo is my tag there.

About to head over to the second day of the NJ EMS Conference. Too bad we don’t have an agreed-upon hashtag so we could all Tweet about our classes. But some good discussions going on.

Although I won’t have an opportunity to talk formally with everyone, I’m wearing a tag that says “Ask me about a New Jersey Emergency Vehicle Lemon Law.”  Bruce, Heather, Roberto and Tyler — all members of the Flanders Rescue Squad — are wearing the buttons. We have cards we’re handing out that summarize the issue. We handed out a bunch yesterday, but it’s interesting to see the number of people staring at my bright yellow badge, and not asking. I wonder why. I don’t bite.

Among those I’ve talked with, some know the problem, some are surprised. All agree that it’s rediculous that the family sedan falls under the protection of the state, but emergency vehicles don’t. Ihope they post some comments here after they read up on the issue.

Today, I’m going to sit in sessions about improving resuscitation outcomes, and recreational drugs as well as special meeting about using EMS Charts, the electronic patient care reporting system we’re all going to be using. Saint Clare’s is using; Flanders is set up and ready.

Also going to be sitting through a lunch presentation about the history of EMS in New Jersey. I wonder if ambulances have become more dependable over the years…

Monday, November 9, 2009, 2:55 PM

Email from good friend of Frank Allen’s stationed at Fort Hood.

This is allegedly written by a witness to what went down.

Subject: What happened

Since I don’t know when I’ll sleep (it’s 4 am now) I’ll write what happened (the abbreviated version….. the long one is already part of the investigation with more to come).  I’ll not write about any part of the investigation that I’ve learned about since (as a witness I know more than I should since inevitably my JAG brothers and sisters are deeply involved in the investigation).  Don’t assume that most of the current media accounts are very accurate.  They’re not.  They’ll improve with time.  Only those of us who were there really know what went down.  But as they collate our statements they’ll get it right.

I did my SRP last week (Soldier Readiness Processing) but you’re supposed to come back a week later to have them look at the smallpox vaccination site (it’s this big itchy growth on your shoulder).  I am probably alive because I pulled a ———- and entered the wrong building first (the main SRP building).  The Medical SRP building is off to the side.  Realizing my mistake I left the main building and walked down the sidewalk to the medical SRP building.

As I’m walking up to it the gunshots start.  Slow and methodical.  But continuous.  Two ambulatory wounded came out.  Then two soldiers dragging a third who was covered in blood.  Hearing the shots but not seeing the shooter, along with a couple other soldiers I stood in the street and yelled at everyone who came running that it was clear but to “RUN!”  I kept motioning people fast.  About 6-10 minutes later (the shooting continuous), two cops ran up.  One male, one female.  We pointed in the direction of the shots.  They headed that way (the medical SRP building was about 50 meters away).  Then a lot more gunfire.  A couple minutes later a balding man in ACU’s came around the building carrying a pistol and holding it tactically.  He started shooting at us and we all dived back to the cars behind us.  I don’t think he hit the couple other guys who were there.  I did see the bullet holes later in the cars.  First I went behind a tire and then looked under the body of the car.  I’ve been trained how to respond to gunfire…but with my own weapon.  To have no weapon I don’t know how to explain what that felt like.  I hadn’t run away and stayed because I had thought about the consequences or anything like that.  I wasn’t thinking anything through.  Please understand, there was no intention.  I was just staying there because I didn’t think about running.  It never occurred to me that he might shoot me.  Until he started shooting in my direction and I realized I was unarmed.

Then the female cop comes around the corner.  He shoots her.  (According to the news accounts she got a round into him.  I believe it, I just didn’t see it. He didn’t go down.)  She goes down.  He starts reloading.  He’s fiddling with his mags.  Weirdly he hasn’t dropped the one that was in his weapon.  He’s holding the fresh one and the old one (you do that on the range when time is not of the essence but in combat you would just let the old mag go).  I see the male cop around the left corner of the building.  (I’m about 15-20 meters from the shooter.)  I yell at the cop, “He’s reloading, he’s reloading.  Shoot him! Shoot him!)  You have to understand, everything was quiet at this point.  The cop appears to hear me and comes around the corner and shoots the shooter.

He goes down.  The cop kicks his weapon further away.  I sprint up to the downed female cop.  Another captain (I think he was with me behind the cars) comes up as well.  She’s bleeding profusely out of her thigh.  We take our belts off and tourniquet her just like we’ve been trained (I hope we did it right…we didn’t have any CLS (combat lifesaver) bags with their awesome tourniquets on us, so we worked with what we had).

Meanwhile, in the most bizarre moment of the day, a photographer was standing over us taking pictures.  I suppose I’ll be seeing those tomorrow.  Then a soldier came up and identified himself as a medic.  I then realized her weapon was lying there unsecured (and on “fire”).  I stood over it and when I saw a cop yelled for him to come over and secure her weapon (I would have done so but I was worried someone would mistake me for a bad guy).  I then went over to the shooter.  He was unconscious.  A Lt Colonel was there and had secured his primary weapon for the time being.  He also had a revolver.

I couldn’t believe he was one of ours.  I didn’t want to believe it.  Then I saw his name and rank and realized this wasn’t just some specialist with mental issues.  At this point there was a guy there from CID and I asked him if he knew he was the shooter and had him secured.  He said he did.  I then went over the slaughter house…the medical SRP building.  No human should ever have to see what that looked like, and I won’t tell you.  Just believe me.  Please, there was nothing to be done there.  Someone then said there was someone critically wounded around the corner.  I ran around (while seeing this floor to ceiling window that someone had jumped through movie style) and saw a large African-American soldier lying on his back with two or three soldiers attending.  I ran up and identified two entrance wounds on the right side of his stomach, one exit wound on the left side and one head wound.  He was not bleeding externally from the stomach wounds (though almost certainly internally) but was bleeding from the head wound.

A soldier was using a shirt to try and stop the head bleeding.  He was conscious so I began talking to him to keep him so.  He was 42, from North Carolina, he was named something Jr., his son was named something III and he had a daughter as well.  His children lived with him.  He was divorced.  I told him the blubber on his stomach saved his life.  He smiled.  A young soldier in civvies showed up and identified himself as a combat medic. We debated whether to put him on the back of a pickup truck.  A doctor (well, an audiologist) showed up and said you can’t move him, he has a head wound.  We finally sat tight.  I went back to the slaughterhouse.  They weren’t letting anyone in there not even medics.

Finally, after about 45 minutes had elapsed some cops showed up in tactical vests.  Someone said the TBI building was unsecured.  They headed into there.  All of a sudden a couple more shots were fired.  People shouted there was a second shooter.  A half hour later the SWAT showed up.  There was no second shooter, that had been an impetuous cop apparently.  But that confused things for a while.  Meanwhile, I went back to the shooter.  The female cop had been taken away, and a medic was pumping plasma into the shooter.  I’m not proud of this but I went up to her and said “this is the shooter, is there anyone else who needs attention…do them first”.  She indicated everyone else living was attended to.  I still hadn’t seen any EMTs or ambulances.   I had so much blood on me that people kept asking me if I was ok.  But that was all other people’s blood.  Eventually, (an hour and a half to two hours after the shootings) they started landing choppers.  They took out the big African American guy and the shooter.  I guess the ambulatory wounded were all at the SRP building.  Everyone else in my area was dead.

I suppose the emergency responders were told there were multiple shooters.  I heard that was the delay with the choppers (they were all civilian helicopters).  They needed a secure LZ, but other than the initial cops who did everything right, I didn’t’ see a lot of them for a while.  I did see many a soldier rush out to help their fellows/sisters.  There was one female soldier, I don’t know her name or rank but I would recognize her anywhere who was everywhere helping people.  A couple people, mainly civilians, were hysterical, but only a couple.  One civilian freaked out when I tried to comfort her when she saw my uniform.  I guess she had seen the shooter up close.  A lot of soldiers were rushing out to help even when we thought there was another gunman out there.  This Army is not broken no matter what the pundits say. Not the Army I saw.

And then they kept me for a long time to come.  Oh, and perhaps the most surreal thing, at 1500 (the end of the workday on Thursdays) when the bugle sounded we all came to attention and saluted the flag.  In the middle of it all.

This is what I saw.  It can’t have been real.  But this is my small corner of what happened.

Gettting ready to head down to Atlantic City for the 2009 New Jersey EMS Conference and I’m kind of excited about it. Of course, I had hoped the state would let me talk about the need to support the legislation to expand the Lemon Law to emergency vehicles, especially now that we have General Motors looking to change our plans. OEMS said I couldn’t address the group. I’m hoping it’s because I asked too late, not because they’re not supporting this legislation. They invited me to speak at an event in December.

That may be too late, depending on when the lame-duck legislature finishes its work. If we can’t get this done by the end of the year, we have to start the process all over again.

We'll be wearing these tags. Ask us about the Lemon Law for emergency vehicles.

So I — and a few friends — will be at the conference going to classes and wearing a bright yellow button inviting you to ask us about the NJ Emergency Lemon Law. So, ask!

And if you’d like to meet us there, let me know.

By the way, we’re still looking for stories about vehicles you’ve had problems with and just to hear your thoughts about this issue. Pls write me back!

I have neglected you all for a while.

Sorry! I find myself rushing back to the keyboard however to write about something which I am sure you will find just as interesting as I did. Beware though! I became a tad upset for a short time when I was told. I don’t blame you if you do too.

Yesterday I was sent to a road traffic accident. The control centre was being bombarded with multiple callers – a sure sign that the accident is a major one. As the information began to filter through to me a picture began to develop in my mind as to what had likely occurred. Witnesses had seen a car swerving violently between traffic on the dual carriage way. This had continued for about half a mile at high speed before the car flipped off the road and rolled several times up the embankment before rolling back down and ending up back on the carriageway facing the wrong direction. We were informed that there was one suspected casualty and that he was believed to be drunk.

Upon arrival there was debris every where. One lane was blocked by the police who were shielding the scene with their own car. The remaining lane together with both lanes of the opposite carriage was moving very slowly. This could have been because of the hundreds of blue lights everywhere, or more likely I suspect because of people slowing down for a good look. The casualty’s car was a wreck. He was trapped inside from what I could see as I approached and not doing a whole lot else. I side stepped several cans of beer as walked up the front of his car and looked in through the front window. I could see him staring out at me. I shouted loud so he could here me, ‘Stay exactly where you are! Focus on me and do not move your head. My colleague will now approach you from your right. Say yes if you understand.’

I was acknowledged with,

‘Fuck you!’

A hefty mouthful of brownish gob spattered against the inside of his window. What a nice bloke. A copper approached and asked me what I thought the patient was trying to say. I can distinctly remember arching an eyebrow, surprised that the guy hadn’t quite realised that the patient was not only very likely drunk but also acting a little aggressive. We both looked back at the patient who had now obviously identified the policeman’s uniform given the look of disgust on his face. He started swearing and gesticulating toward the copper with his free hand.

‘I can only assume he’s trying to tell you that he is your number one fan,’ I remarked.

We both laughed and he went back to controlling traffic and collecting witness statements. I joined my colleague at the car who was battling to hold the patients head still so as to protect the spine. The stench of alcohol was near over powering. I dread to think how much the man must have drunk. After nearly half an hour of fighting with this idiot we eventually managed to free him from the wreckage and strap him down to a spinal board on our ambulance.

Then we all stood back. We were all waiting for the copper to do a breath test on the patient, thereby proving what we all already knew – that this idiot was massively over the legal drink drive limit. The patient however refused. Now this was hugely annoying. The policeman was not worried though, he explained that they would need blood tests confirming the result anyway and that we would get those from hospital.

So, another half hour later and we are all at the hospital. The patient however refuses again to do a breath test and then also refuses a blood test. Now the policeman begins to get very upset. He tries to remain calm and make the idiot see sense but it is no good. I ask the policeman why he is getting upset. Surely the fact that the guy reeks of alcohol is enough? Not so. The breath test is more of an indicator he tells me. If the patient agrees to do one and it is positive it suggests the patient is under the influence. However – it cannot be used in court. What?! You heard me. It is an indication of guilt only and does not provide any real proof. You need a blood test or sometimes urine to use in court.

I ask the policeman what this all means. He told me that had the patient provided a sample then, in his opinion it would have showed the patient was hugely over the limit and would likely receive a driving ban for many, many years. However, with no sample all they can charge him with is failure to provide a sample. This carries with it a immediate one year ban, but lets face it, that’s a pretty shitty deal when we know the guy probably has more alcohol than blood right now. He could have killed someone tonight.

The policeman informs me that in the eyes of the law the patient is only suspected of being drunk. I find this incredible and utterly mad of course. I fully intend to grab the next traffic copper I see and double check all of this nonsense. So what can the idiot expect? Well apparently they will push for dangerous/careless driving and… suspicion of driving under the influence. There must have been nearly one hundred pounds worth of booze in that car and I can only guess how much all over the road. What a wanker eh? And the less said about the law the better…

M.

I went from being a bored housewife who realized her kids really didn’t need her much anymore, to working four jobs. I’m not quite sure what I was thinking, other than I wanted to get off the sofa, away from the pantry, and take a great big bite out of the world.

Friday I lunched with my lovely writing pal, Diane, at the Olive Garden. It was the first time I could squeeze her in since August.

Saturday evening I worked in the emergency department of a busy suburban hospital. I climbed in bed as soon as I got home.

Sunday my family and I rode Amtrak’s Acela to visit New York City’s Grand Central Station and stood in line for three hours to visit Disney’s A Christmas Carol train. We had Nathan’s hot dogs for dinner and then hopped back aboard the train. It was the wee hours of Monday morning when we returned home.

Monday evening I ran duty as the Attendant-In-Charge with an elite volunteer rescue squad. It was after 11PM when I returned home.

Tuesday I was sequestered at the polls for seventeen hours as an Election Official. Had dinner with my mister at 10:30 PM.

Wednesday I worked a twelve-hour shift at the hospital.  Dinner alone was a bowl of ice cream before bedtime.

Today, Thursday, I signed a contract with Class Act Books to publish my kooky mystery, Inappropriate. Wrote the back cover blurb, dedication and bio. Started this blog as my means of promo.

I do have a lovely professionally designed website, but it’s up for renewal. I have a dozen books published with small presses and none took off. I spent more money in promotion than I received in royalties, so I stopped that nonsense. This will be it.

I am absolutely loving all of my new vocations. Instead of just making up stories, I’m a living breathing heroine cast in my own life, humbled to have the priviledge of helping people through some of the worst hours of their lives, and occasionally sharing their joy. My kids seem fine with jostling the cars and dropping me off or picking me up. I’m still doing basically everything for them at home I always did, so to my chagrin, they really don’t miss me. My mister is the one with the biggest adjustment. I will endeavor to coordinate our work schedules so that we have more time alone together. I miss him too.

Found a great quote from a certified EMT on the effect an emergency situation can have you you, and how taking a class doesn’t make you immune to the pressures of using those skills in a life-threatening situation.

It may seem obvious to call 911 for help, but I know a lot of people won’t think of it under pressure just based on what I’ve seen first hand. Taking a class is one thing – stepping up when the time comes (possibly with someone’s life in your hands) is entirely another. The first time you have to use those skills, even if it isn’t life-threatening, is scary! You’re trying to regurgitate an entire class’ worth of materials in 3.2 seconds in your brain, your hands are shaking, and you have some stranger [or friend/coworker] lying there. That is about as stressful as it gets…..

RForsythe (Responder/EMT) – Firehouse Forums

Have you been in an emergency firs aid situation? How did you feel and react? Leave comments below!

Let us help you be prepared for the unexpected. Take first aid and CPR emergency event coaching anywhere with your iPhone or iPod Touch with ResQr apps!

Today while at work, I decided to take a break from my EMT studies and search for open positions as a Firefighter.  I printed out two applications today.  The first was for Ithaca New York and the second was for Los Alamos New Mexico.  Truth be told, I don’t really want to live in New Mexico.  But because it is an opening, so I can see myself moving to any state.

For those who don’t know, I work for Union Bank. Not much of a place to help me in my quest for firefighting, but they pay well. Right now I’m studying for my National Regisrty EMT test. I didn’t pass the first time that I took it so I decided to purchase a book to help. Not passing the test hurt, but once I found that most of my other class mates didn’t pass either I felt a little better. Now I just have to study harder and more often. I bring my materials to work, I don’t think they seem to mind that I study (I think).

Dear student:
I remember your first shift with me. You were so nervous and green that you bagged a patient with the mask upside down. You asked “is this right?” after everything you did. I smiled and helped you out when your gloves got stuck in the veniguard and when you sprayed yourself in the face with the Nitro. But overtime you stopped asking me if you were doing things right- and you started asking “Why? How can I do this better? what is your opinion? what if we did it this way?” instead. You became a thinker. You never gave up on tubing, even when you missed 3 in a row. But you smiled triumphantly and hugged me the first time you heard those glorious sounds in the chest and not in the abdomen. Your med administration calculation times will always beat mine and only get better. Then when we were standby at that house fire and I had the asthma attack during that cardiac arrest. While I tubed him, you started the line, pushed the epi, took control of the first responders doing compressions and managed to set up my neb before we left the scene. You became the hero that day. And I knew that you’d be better than me someday. I wasn’t jealous, though. I was proud. I still am proud of you. Then came the time in clinicals where you took charge of the calls. But I wasn’t scared or nervous. I was in awe. You were a born leader. Tonight, on out last night as teacher and student we are doing what we’ve always done. We’re listening to EMS podcasts and discussing what’s new in the EMS world. You’re so full of ideas that can change our profession. You are motivated and smart and love a challenge. These last few months have been amazing. I want the world to look at you one day and say, “he’s the man who changed EMS.” I’ll be on the sidelines cheering you on. So, in this time we’ve had together you’ve become my teacher, my motivation, my inspiration. You’ve made me try harder than any other student has. I’ve become an educator because of your constant need for more information. So, as we watch Level Zero together and I give you your final grade in the morning and you go off on your own-I want you to remember these things: remember the basics. Always go back to BLS. Remember that patients don’t care what you know until they know that you care. Remember to ALWAYS make connections: with patients, with their families, with your partner, with your coworkers, and with other EMS professionals. And most importantly that if you ever need me, I’ll be here for you. So go off and become the rockstar medic I know you are.

Your teacher, your student, your friend-

MsParamedic

“… the assignment.”

Force my eyes open… the dash clock reads 0300…

The radio blares again “30 for the assignment!”

“30. Go.”

“30, head over to ‘that nursing home’ for the cardiac.”

Wake my partner up and we’re on the way. 7 minutes later and we’re on scene. Upstairs we find a 102 y/o woman in respiratory distress with a SPO2 of 70% (above 95 is normal). She’s tachy at 150, resps around 30 while on albuterol, eyes barely open. I toss on a quick 3 lead, get a BP, and our own pulse oximeter while my partner starts an 18ga in her left hand (I swear the needle was bigger than her thready veins, but he got it on the first stick).

Quick read of the ECG shows no acutely significant findings other than a rate that was way too fast. Our pulse oximeter can’t even get a reading with her on 100% O2. BP is 88/48. A liter of NS is hanging at this point, running slow even with it wide open. While my partner auscultates her lungs and heart look back at the monitor, the rate is becoming irregular and dropping to 120-130, yet we haven’t pushed any drugs and the saline just started running. Partner says it’s time to go to the closest hospital (he says this with a begrudging tone, foreseeing the outcome at this particular hospital). We package her and get her downstairs. Did I mention she has a DNR?

As we get to the hospital my partner says “she’s gonna code on the bus, I know it”. We had called a notification on the way down in the elevators. 3 minutes after closing the doors we’re at one of the worst hospitals in Brooklyn, at least if you want aggressive treatment.

As I pull the stretcher out my partner is bagging her, so we roll her inside to the resuscitation room, where a grand total of one doctor (a resident) meets us. Keep in mind that at nearly any other hospital or for a non-DNR patient there would be a team of 3-5 (or even more sometimes) doctors surrounding the patient. The doctor is a resident, and the first thing she says to us as we are giving our report is “why are you bagging her if she is DNR?”

“She is still breathing and we are allowed to aid her breathing unless she goes into respiratory failure.”

“Take that off her and just put her on a non-rebreather.”

Fine, the patient is technically under the doctor’s care at this point so we let them put her on a mask. Then they waited for her to die. That may seem a little extreme, and she very well may have died regardless of treatment, but the decision to not help her breathing other than provide passive oxygen was a choice nonetheless.

After that she started having agonal breathing, and about a minute later went into respiratory arrest. We watched the monitor as her heart continued to beat, about 30 times a minute (normal is 60-100), with no visible P or T waves, just these tiny little R waves every couple seconds. She actually had a carotid pulse, just barely. About a minute later she was asystole (flatline). This is about the time that someone in the room says something to the effect of “can’t save them all”.

The doctor proceeded to complain about the amount of nursing home patients that have died on her lately.

No es la primera vez que mostramos la parada de autobús de la avenida. Su marquesina sirve de asiento, de cobijo mientras llueve o de parapeto contra el frío. La espera se hace más agradable. También tiene su función publicitaria. Como vemos en la imagen, vendedores de pisos, vehículos o perros, aprovechan su superficie de cristal para anunciar sus productos. Suelen ser papelitos colgados con celofán, sin diseño, toscos, pero directos.

Cuando en los medios de comunicación se multiplican los debates sobre la caída del mercado publicitario, los vecinos de Monte Igueldo han encontrado una fórmula barata -e ilegal- para que los que esperan el autobús lean sus mensajes.

NEW for November 2009 Code Blue has added Saturday CPR, AED & First Aid classes to our regular Monthly schedule in Santa Clarita, CA. 

Beginning November 14th Code Blue will be adding Saturday a.m. classes to our current Weeknight Open Enrollment venue at the Hampton Inn Hotel, Santa Clarita.  These Saturday courses will provide more options for individual students who may be unable to attend one of our Weeknight courses.

Saturday classes will be held 8:30 am to 12:30 pm and are open to the general public for both lay-rescuers and healthcare professionals alike.  Code Blue offers easy on-line registration via credit/debit card, PayPal, or by mail in payment with check or money order.

To register, please visit our registration page and click on the course topic of your choice.  Pricing ranges from $50 to $70 for most courses, and includes a 2-year CPR & AED and/or 2-year First Aid certificate issued on-site at class. 

Nationally Approved American Heart Association or American Safety & Health Institute training programs for the community and workplace.

For more information please call (800) 272-0785 or visit www.codeblueonline.com.