Well it is official my professor's predictions and warnings on the first day of class have come to fruition.
*SAY FAREWELL TO YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS BECAUSE FOR THE NEXT 9 MONTHS YOU ARE MINE. I OWN YOU:
I have no life. All my friends are at university or working and when they have free time I am in clinicals. I am not meaning to whine I love class with all my heart and soul. However the only time I am able to talk to my boyfriend is really late at night (right around now) or random five minute bursts
*YOU WILL LEARN TO LOVE COFFEE. THIS IS NONEGOTIABLE.
I am getting less sleep now than I did during college. The only difference is used to stay up late to hang with friends and eat and play games. Now I stay up late studying Calcium channel blockers and Tricyclic antidepressants, Medications, dosages, uses, indications, contraindicates, special considerations, routes, dosages (adult and peds). I have begun to consume coffee to stay awake during lectures in class.
*IF YOU ARE AT ALL SHY YOU WILL NOT BE. BY THE END OF CLASS YOU WILL HAVE BEEN IN EACH OTHERS PERSONAL SPACE SO MUCH YOU WILL NOT BE EMBARRASSED ANYMORE.
I have officially passed into the realm of, my hand is going into your crotch to tighten a strap and you know this, so I will simply mutter move the boys if you need to while tightening. I also do not feel bad popping an angiocath into somebody's arm and fishing a little bit to get a decent vein and flash.
*YOUR HUMOR IF NOT ALREADY SLIGHTLY WARPED WILL BECOME WARPED SOON ENOUGH TO DEAL WITH WHAT YOU ARE GOING TO SEE.
We make jokes about the songs we sing while doing CPR to keep a steady beat. We had a debate about when it is appropriate to sing "Another One Bites The Dust" vs. "Staying Alive". We came up with some definite guidelines that shall never be repeated.
*YOU WILL KILL SOMEONE.
No one in class has done this yet and this is part of the prophecy that we hope does not come true. However as a class and as individuals we have killed several simulated patients in scenarios. In our defense we were trying to do this while looking at an examiner in a chair not acting at all and having no paper on which to write vitals or anything from SAMPLE or OPRST or anything else pertinent. And the patient we killed as a class had a problem none of us had ever heard of and we were only allowed to ask one question before the professor moved on to the next person. It was the worlds weirdest way to diagnose and very hard to get other tudents to follow your line of thought.
Well for now that is it but there will be more when we start respiratory and cardiology and definitely some clinical stories. Of course all the stories will be completely fictional or so generic no one will ever know who it could possibly be.
10/28/2009
10/01/2009
What can you do?
I am writing this because... Well I need opinions and I need to get it off my chest.
So you are called to a house for an assault. Her roommate states that your patient stumbled into the house crying, bloody and very confused.
When you open the door to her room you find an approximately 18 year old female cowering in the corner. She is bloodied, her clothes are torn, and she is rocking back and forth slightly. As you introduce yourself from the door she doesn't move or acknowledge your presence. You slowly enter the room watching her and talking to her the whole time. Eventually you are close enough to see her well enough to start your assessment. You can see she is breathing, slightly fast but adequate. You observe quite a bit of blood coming from some deep lacerations to her face and arms. As you keep talking to her, your partner brings you a sheet to wrap around her while you take her to the hospital.
As you slowly move closer she still is not showing any sign that she sees or hears you.
**How do you proceed?
You touch her foot as they are the part of her closest to you. She looks up at you and starts rocking faster.
**What do you do now?
You keep talking to her and reassuring her but you back up a little to give her some space. You bring the roommate in, in the hopes that a familiar face will calm her down and it seems too. You have the roommate help explain who you are and what is going to happen now to your patient.
Eventually you get her in the vehicle and start towards the hospital. She still has not spoken but she is following simple commands and nods in the affirmative and negative in response to questions. She starts crying and grabs onto your hand. You just keep talking to her.
**What do you talk about? (Anything you can think of? weather, sports, school)
When you get to the hospital and the nurses take over and ask you to leave the room she will not let go of your hand.
**Do you reassure her and leave? Do you see if you can stay just a little longer? Do you out her hand in a Nurses and tell her that she will be taken care of?
** How do you decompress?
** What if this was your best friend, your little sister, your mom, your girlfriend, your daughter?
** What would you have done differently?
So you are called to a house for an assault. Her roommate states that your patient stumbled into the house crying, bloody and very confused.
When you open the door to her room you find an approximately 18 year old female cowering in the corner. She is bloodied, her clothes are torn, and she is rocking back and forth slightly. As you introduce yourself from the door she doesn't move or acknowledge your presence. You slowly enter the room watching her and talking to her the whole time. Eventually you are close enough to see her well enough to start your assessment. You can see she is breathing, slightly fast but adequate. You observe quite a bit of blood coming from some deep lacerations to her face and arms. As you keep talking to her, your partner brings you a sheet to wrap around her while you take her to the hospital.
As you slowly move closer she still is not showing any sign that she sees or hears you.
**How do you proceed?
You touch her foot as they are the part of her closest to you. She looks up at you and starts rocking faster.
**What do you do now?
You keep talking to her and reassuring her but you back up a little to give her some space. You bring the roommate in, in the hopes that a familiar face will calm her down and it seems too. You have the roommate help explain who you are and what is going to happen now to your patient.
Eventually you get her in the vehicle and start towards the hospital. She still has not spoken but she is following simple commands and nods in the affirmative and negative in response to questions. She starts crying and grabs onto your hand. You just keep talking to her.
**What do you talk about? (Anything you can think of? weather, sports, school)
When you get to the hospital and the nurses take over and ask you to leave the room she will not let go of your hand.
**Do you reassure her and leave? Do you see if you can stay just a little longer? Do you out her hand in a Nurses and tell her that she will be taken care of?
** How do you decompress?
** What if this was your best friend, your little sister, your mom, your girlfriend, your daughter?
** What would you have done differently?
9/19/2009
Weeks 1-3
Ok so for the 2 of you that actually read this I apologize. It has been more than a little crazy around here. I am sorry that I have not posted in such a long period of time. So here it goes.
Wow so classes 2-11.
We have been covering everything we ever covered in Basic class. Taking vitals, Pt assessments, immobilizing Pts on backboards, standing take downs, KED, extrications, KTD, hand washing, PPE use and removal. Then we moved on to Anatomy and Physiology. We have been studying body systems, the differences between the different age brackets, how to approach and interact with patients.
We are now in our second book of the 5 books we have for this class. It has been hard work to keep up with class mostly due to the fact that we are going very fast to get through the information that we should know already and the information that we will build upon for the rest of the class.
We have also been working on learning drugs. So far we have to know, Name, class, doseage, route, actions, emergency use, contraindications, and special considerations. For the first 9 drugs. Acetominophen, Adenosine, Albuterol, Amniodarone, Aminophylline, Amyl Nitrite, Asprin, Ateolol, Atropine.
The class is definitely bonding though. We joke and tease like we have know each other for a very long time. We have begun forming study groups and exchange emails and text messages of a fairly regular basis.
We are becoming the family that we will need to survive and pass this class.
Wow so classes 2-11.
We have been covering everything we ever covered in Basic class. Taking vitals, Pt assessments, immobilizing Pts on backboards, standing take downs, KED, extrications, KTD, hand washing, PPE use and removal. Then we moved on to Anatomy and Physiology. We have been studying body systems, the differences between the different age brackets, how to approach and interact with patients.
We are now in our second book of the 5 books we have for this class. It has been hard work to keep up with class mostly due to the fact that we are going very fast to get through the information that we should know already and the information that we will build upon for the rest of the class.
We have also been working on learning drugs. So far we have to know, Name, class, doseage, route, actions, emergency use, contraindications, and special considerations. For the first 9 drugs. Acetominophen, Adenosine, Albuterol, Amniodarone, Aminophylline, Amyl Nitrite, Asprin, Ateolol, Atropine.
The class is definitely bonding though. We joke and tease like we have know each other for a very long time. We have begun forming study groups and exchange emails and text messages of a fairly regular basis.
We are becoming the family that we will need to survive and pass this class.
Week 3
Ok so for the 2 of you that actually read this I apologize. It hasbeen more than a little crazy around here and I am sorry that I have not posted in such a long period of time.
8/24/2009
Day 1
Today was day one of Paramedic school. We began today with 12 students, 4 girls, 8 guys. We spent eight hours in conference room that will serve as our classroom for the next year. After an hour of paper work and procedural things our professor Jay began to lecture. He began his lecture with a small bit of a reality check for all of us in the class.
Jay: Look around this room. Go home tonight and say good-bye to your families. You are mine, body, mind, and soul for the next year. The people you see around you will be your family for the next year. No matter what you back each other up. You all need each other to learn from and to be there for support. Your significant others will not understand, your children will not understand, you friends will not understand. The people in this room will understand. You miss classes or come in drunk or hung over you will be automatically dropped. If you fail to achieve a 80% or higher on every test and every quiz you fail. You fail to complete a skill, you fail. You do something outside you scope of practice, you fail. Understood?
Class: (all looking like we want to run for the door and yet still smiling and looking like we want to be there) Understood.
Jay: However I am the rule maker. If you are a good student and a good person and are working hard in the class and something comes up tell me. I will do whatever I can within my power to help you. But there are limits to how much I can do for you. Try your hardest and we will get along just fine.
So now I am both excited and terrified. This is what I want to do no matter how hard I have to work to achieve it.
Jay: Look around this room. Go home tonight and say good-bye to your families. You are mine, body, mind, and soul for the next year. The people you see around you will be your family for the next year. No matter what you back each other up. You all need each other to learn from and to be there for support. Your significant others will not understand, your children will not understand, you friends will not understand. The people in this room will understand. You miss classes or come in drunk or hung over you will be automatically dropped. If you fail to achieve a 80% or higher on every test and every quiz you fail. You fail to complete a skill, you fail. You do something outside you scope of practice, you fail. Understood?
Class: (all looking like we want to run for the door and yet still smiling and looking like we want to be there) Understood.
Jay: However I am the rule maker. If you are a good student and a good person and are working hard in the class and something comes up tell me. I will do whatever I can within my power to help you. But there are limits to how much I can do for you. Try your hardest and we will get along just fine.
So now I am both excited and terrified. This is what I want to do no matter how hard I have to work to achieve it.
6/10/2009
5/29/2009
Memorial Day
This Memorial Day was more bittersweet for me than most others have been. With my little brother gone with the Marines I found myself reflecting on the true meaning of the day more than usual. I have never really thought of it as just a vacation from school like some people I know. But this time it truly made me think of the men and boys my brothers age who died so that I can live and have the freedoms I do have.
Later in the day I went to a party with my friends. Some of whom are enlisted and some of whom were missing from the party because they are currently in deserts in other countries. One got back from field training the day before and one left for 4 months the next day. Playing kickball and swimming and dancing with these men who have just left boyhood and who would be leaving soon was also sad. Everyone made sure to give them a few extra hugs for the road.
I almost had to use my EMT Training more than once at the party. We play this game that is a mix of wrestleing, tag, and frogger. It leaves major bruises and more than a few people had to tap out before they got hurt. Playing it in the water was even more dangerous. It had less of a danger of simply getting bruises but more a danger that someone would be held under water by accident.
All in all it was a good Memorial day.
Later in the day I went to a party with my friends. Some of whom are enlisted and some of whom were missing from the party because they are currently in deserts in other countries. One got back from field training the day before and one left for 4 months the next day. Playing kickball and swimming and dancing with these men who have just left boyhood and who would be leaving soon was also sad. Everyone made sure to give them a few extra hugs for the road.
I almost had to use my EMT Training more than once at the party. We play this game that is a mix of wrestleing, tag, and frogger. It leaves major bruises and more than a few people had to tap out before they got hurt. Playing it in the water was even more dangerous. It had less of a danger of simply getting bruises but more a danger that someone would be held under water by accident.
All in all it was a good Memorial day.
5/08/2009
Silly Police
Disclaimer: I have no problem with law enforcement personel. In fact I have many friends who are in law enforcement.
So at 0645 this morning I was driving down the hwy in Fond du lac. I was going maybe 70(at the most) in a 65 zone. Yes I know I should have even been going that fast but I was keeping up with traffic. And then I made the mistake of trying to pass the car I had been following for an hour. As I was passing him I saw the trooped ahead of me and took my foot off the gas and let it drop to 65. At this point the guy on my right flew past me. And after I got in the right hand lane again the trooper pulled me over.
He took a good look at the box that was taking up most of my car and then told me he was giving me a written warning for speeding. Yeah right. I know he did not clock me speeding. I figured he had pulled me over because he didn't think I could see well enough to be safely driving with that box in my car. In fact he tested this by pulling up behind me so I could not see him out of my side mirrors and then turned his lights on so that he was only in my rear view mirror.
So now for the first time in my life I have gotten in trouble with the law. I am more angry that he pulled me over for going 1 mph above the speed limit when all the cars around me were going faster. And he could have just said that the box looked dangerous and not given me a warning.
Grrrr
So at 0645 this morning I was driving down the hwy in Fond du lac. I was going maybe 70(at the most) in a 65 zone. Yes I know I should have even been going that fast but I was keeping up with traffic. And then I made the mistake of trying to pass the car I had been following for an hour. As I was passing him I saw the trooped ahead of me and took my foot off the gas and let it drop to 65. At this point the guy on my right flew past me. And after I got in the right hand lane again the trooper pulled me over.
He took a good look at the box that was taking up most of my car and then told me he was giving me a written warning for speeding. Yeah right. I know he did not clock me speeding. I figured he had pulled me over because he didn't think I could see well enough to be safely driving with that box in my car. In fact he tested this by pulling up behind me so I could not see him out of my side mirrors and then turned his lights on so that he was only in my rear view mirror.
So now for the first time in my life I have gotten in trouble with the law. I am more angry that he pulled me over for going 1 mph above the speed limit when all the cars around me were going faster. And he could have just said that the box looked dangerous and not given me a warning.
Grrrr
5/03/2009
Reciprocity
For my summer job I was getting all ready and packing. Buying sunscreen and soap and such things necessary to live somewhere for 2 months. And then my boss sent me an email. Dear Freckles I sent your credentials into the health department and they have decided that you are not qualified enough. Apparently in this state being a NREMT is not enough. So now I have to prove that I took a class and have the WI EMS bureau fill out paper work on me to send to them. And then I will get a number that will allow me to take a refresher course and test to be a legal EMT in the state I will be working in all summer. That is all fine I can do that. The problem is this state is a 10+ hour drive for me and I have to take the refresher course there. And with enough time to fill out all the necessary paperwork and have it all filed and cool before I am supposed to start working. I have 1 month.
Well here is hoping for Reciprocity to go quickly and everything to fall in place easily.
Well here is hoping for Reciprocity to go quickly and everything to fall in place easily.
4/29/2009
Presidents and Press Conferences
Thank you president Obama. Without you how would we know that to prevent Swine flu we should... wash our hands, cover our mouths, and stay home if we are sick. I am not sure about you but I have known this since I was 2. Get off my tv and talk to people who care.
I strongly dislike when presidents interrupt regular programming to hold a press conference. I also dislike when they do it because something they deem really important happens. I do not mind a quick blurb or a scrolling across the bottom of the screen.
I feel that maybe there should be a tv channel completely devoted to the president and world events or something like that. A news team on every continent could broad cast on it for 2 hours a day each covering world events on their continent that are important. And when the president feels that he has something really important to say he can go on there and talk to his hearts content. And they can replay the president on it for those that missed it the first time and really want to see it. Heck make it interactive let us pose questions for him.
Sorry I really have nothing against presidents or press conferences and I am not that addicted to tv I just really do not like all 3 together.
I strongly dislike when presidents interrupt regular programming to hold a press conference. I also dislike when they do it because something they deem really important happens. I do not mind a quick blurb or a scrolling across the bottom of the screen.
I feel that maybe there should be a tv channel completely devoted to the president and world events or something like that. A news team on every continent could broad cast on it for 2 hours a day each covering world events on their continent that are important. And when the president feels that he has something really important to say he can go on there and talk to his hearts content. And they can replay the president on it for those that missed it the first time and really want to see it. Heck make it interactive let us pose questions for him.
Sorry I really have nothing against presidents or press conferences and I am not that addicted to tv I just really do not like all 3 together.
4/24/2009
Results
Today I found out many things
a) I do not have Tuberculosis (I already knew that) 1 test down 1 to go.
b) I got offered the job I have been waiting for. Outside doing first aid all summer!!!
c) My parents really are worried about me going away all summer.
d) Allison (my car) looks better with out paint on her front bumper.
e) My Big Brother from school is graduating in a couple of weeks and is on his way to being a grownup.
My brother is also sleeping next to me on the couch right now he got leave for a week before he is leaving again.
Today is a good day.
a) I do not have Tuberculosis (I already knew that) 1 test down 1 to go.
b) I got offered the job I have been waiting for. Outside doing first aid all summer!!!
c) My parents really are worried about me going away all summer.
d) Allison (my car) looks better with out paint on her front bumper.
e) My Big Brother from school is graduating in a couple of weeks and is on his way to being a grownup.
My brother is also sleeping next to me on the couch right now he got leave for a week before he is leaving again.
Today is a good day.
4/18/2009
Yay for paperwork
Today I received my Pre-Paramedic paperwork and it made me feel like a dog. I have to prove that I have had all of my shots and in the proper order and amount. I also have to go get more shots and boosters to satisfy the requirements of my program. MMR, TB, Varicella, Hep B, Hep A (recommended),Tetanus. Not that bad but still trying to find the records is tough when you have had several different doctors over the years.
Yay for TB tests I have to have a 2 step test again because it has been 12 months and 4 days. At least this time I know I am allergic to their bandages so I will not get a false positive due to a bandage reaction this time.
Well off to become a human pincushion. Here is hoping I do not have TB.
Yay for TB tests I have to have a 2 step test again because it has been 12 months and 4 days. At least this time I know I am allergic to their bandages so I will not get a false positive due to a bandage reaction this time.
Well off to become a human pincushion. Here is hoping I do not have TB.
4/15/2009
Paramedic Mandatory Meeting
Today I went to the mandatory meeting about paramedic school. I showed up 25 minutes early and was told that I was at the wrong building but that they could set up a Video Conferencing relay for me so I did not have to make the hour drive and miss the meeting.
So they set me up in a quiet room with a note pad and a pen staring at a tv screen of an empty room. Not a good sign when the meeting was supposed to have started 5 minutes ago. Then the teacher and my fellow classmates showed up and we got down to business it was slightly awkward but not too bad.
Then a woman came into my room to give me the papers that I was supposed to be filling out. She chatted with the people on the tv for awhile and then left.
5 minutes later there was a man outside my door signing.
He signed "need interpreter?".
I signed "No".
He signed " Deaf?”.
I signed “No hearing”.
Yes folks that is right apparently if you accidentally sign while you are talking you get an interpreter! It made me happy because they were trying to make sure that I knew what was going on and being helpful.
I also found it hilarious that at the meeting for a profession in which you cannot be deaf I was asked if I was deaf.
So they set me up in a quiet room with a note pad and a pen staring at a tv screen of an empty room. Not a good sign when the meeting was supposed to have started 5 minutes ago. Then the teacher and my fellow classmates showed up and we got down to business it was slightly awkward but not too bad.
Then a woman came into my room to give me the papers that I was supposed to be filling out. She chatted with the people on the tv for awhile and then left.
5 minutes later there was a man outside my door signing.
He signed "need interpreter?".
I signed "No".
He signed " Deaf?”.
I signed “No hearing”.
Yes folks that is right apparently if you accidentally sign while you are talking you get an interpreter! It made me happy because they were trying to make sure that I knew what was going on and being helpful.
I also found it hilarious that at the meeting for a profession in which you cannot be deaf I was asked if I was deaf.
4/11/2009
I love WI
So for the last few days I have been up north in northern WI. Now as many of you know it is pretty much Spring in most of the country. Well not here it isn't today I had to shovel snow out of the way so I could walk down to the lake. Then I proceeded to walk out to the end of the pier and walk across said lake. Yes in northern WI the lakes are still frozen enough to be considered safe to walk and ice fish on. The lake still has 2 feet of ice in the center but the edges are sketchy. I also made a very large bonfire to burn all the wood and pine needles that fell during late fall and winter. This was so that come true spring we can plant things. And by things I mean anything that the deer will not instantly devour. I have also been interviewing for a summer job and I will know by the end of the week if I have the job or not. I would be health officer at a camp this summer. Well that is all.
4/08/2009
Marine Corp Symbol
So I have decided that this Blog will be Bipolar. I will be posting about the Marine Corp and I will also be posting about Paramedic school. So today's Marine bit is the story of the Marine Corp symbol.
"We stole the Eagle from the Air Force,
The Anchor from the Navy,
The Rope from the Army,
and on the seven day when GOD rested,
we overran his perimeter and stole the Globe,
and have been protecting our shores ever since,
We Are.....The United States Marine Corp
4/07/2009
Plagerism
Ok so this following story I found years ago on the internet and I have no clue who wrote it. I amm going to post it any way. If you know tell me and I will give credit.
When the Lord made EMT's, he was into his sixth day of
overtime when an angel appeared and said,
"You're doing a lot of fiddling around on this one,"
And the Lord said,
"Have you read the specs on this order?
An EMT has to be able to carry an injured person up a wet, grassy
hill in the dark, dodge stray bullets to reach a dying child unarmed, enter
homes a health inspector wouldn't touch, and not wrinkle their uniform."
"He has to be able to lift three times his own weight, crawl into wrecked
cars with barely enough room to move, and console a grieving mother as he is
doing CPR on a baby he knows will never breathe again."
"He has to be in top mental condition at all times,
running on no sleep, black coffee, and half eaten meals.
And he has to have six pairs of hands."
The angel shook her head slowly and said, "Six pairs of hands....no way."
"It's not the hands that are causing me problems," said the Lord,
"It's the three pairs of eyes an EMT has to have."
"That's on the standard model?" asked the angel.
The Lord nodded. "One pair that sees open sores as he's drawing blood and
asks the patient if they may be HIV positive,"
(When he already knows and wishes he'd taken that accounting job)
"Another pair here on the side of his head for is partner's safety.
Another pair of eyes here in front that can look reassuringly at a bleeding
victim and say 'You'll be all right ma'am' when he knows it isn't so."
"Lord," said the angel, touching his sleeve,
"rest and work on this tomorrow."
"I can't," said the Lord, "I already have a model that can talk a 250 pound
drunk out from behind a steering wheel without incident and feed a family of
five on a private service paycheck."
The angel circled the model of the paramedic very slowly,
"Can it think?" she asked.
"You bet," said the Lord. "It can tell you the symptoms of 100 illnesses,
recite drug calculations in its sleep; intubate, defibrillate, medicate, and
continue CPR nonstop over terrain that any doctor would fear...and still it
keeps its sense of humor."
"This EMT also has phenomenal control.
He can deal with a multi-victim trauma, coax a frightened elderly person to
unlock their door, comfort a murder victim's family, and then read in the
daily paper how EMT's were unable to locate a house quickly
enough, allowing a person to die.
A house which had no street sign, no house numbers, no phone to call back."
Finally, the angel bent over and ran her finger across the cheek of the EMT.
"There's a leak," she pronounced. "I told you that you were trying to put too
much into this model."
"That's not a leak," said the Lord, "It's a tear."
"What's the tear for?" asked the angel.
"It's for bottled-up emotions, for patients they tried in vain to save, for
commitment to hope that they will make a difference in a person's chance to
survive, for life."
"You're a genius," said the angel.
The Lord looked somber, "I didn't put it there."
When the Lord made EMT's, he was into his sixth day of
overtime when an angel appeared and said,
"You're doing a lot of fiddling around on this one,"
And the Lord said,
"Have you read the specs on this order?
An EMT has to be able to carry an injured person up a wet, grassy
hill in the dark, dodge stray bullets to reach a dying child unarmed, enter
homes a health inspector wouldn't touch, and not wrinkle their uniform."
"He has to be able to lift three times his own weight, crawl into wrecked
cars with barely enough room to move, and console a grieving mother as he is
doing CPR on a baby he knows will never breathe again."
"He has to be in top mental condition at all times,
running on no sleep, black coffee, and half eaten meals.
And he has to have six pairs of hands."
The angel shook her head slowly and said, "Six pairs of hands....no way."
"It's not the hands that are causing me problems," said the Lord,
"It's the three pairs of eyes an EMT has to have."
"That's on the standard model?" asked the angel.
The Lord nodded. "One pair that sees open sores as he's drawing blood and
asks the patient if they may be HIV positive,"
(When he already knows and wishes he'd taken that accounting job)
"Another pair here on the side of his head for is partner's safety.
Another pair of eyes here in front that can look reassuringly at a bleeding
victim and say 'You'll be all right ma'am' when he knows it isn't so."
"Lord," said the angel, touching his sleeve,
"rest and work on this tomorrow."
"I can't," said the Lord, "I already have a model that can talk a 250 pound
drunk out from behind a steering wheel without incident and feed a family of
five on a private service paycheck."
The angel circled the model of the paramedic very slowly,
"Can it think?" she asked.
"You bet," said the Lord. "It can tell you the symptoms of 100 illnesses,
recite drug calculations in its sleep; intubate, defibrillate, medicate, and
continue CPR nonstop over terrain that any doctor would fear...and still it
keeps its sense of humor."
"This EMT also has phenomenal control.
He can deal with a multi-victim trauma, coax a frightened elderly person to
unlock their door, comfort a murder victim's family, and then read in the
daily paper how EMT's were unable to locate a house quickly
enough, allowing a person to die.
A house which had no street sign, no house numbers, no phone to call back."
Finally, the angel bent over and ran her finger across the cheek of the EMT.
"There's a leak," she pronounced. "I told you that you were trying to put too
much into this model."
"That's not a leak," said the Lord, "It's a tear."
"What's the tear for?" asked the angel.
"It's for bottled-up emotions, for patients they tried in vain to save, for
commitment to hope that they will make a difference in a person's chance to
survive, for life."
"You're a genius," said the angel.
The Lord looked somber, "I didn't put it there."
4/05/2009
Pre paramedic classes
Tomorrow starts the craziness of what I got myself into.
A little background, up until December I was a student at a Big State University. I was in a major I hated and stuck in classes that I didn't need for the major I really wanted. So I mustered up all the courage I had and said, "Screw this, I am becoming a stripper". JK instead I said "Screw this, I am becoming a Paramedic". So I told my parents, and started packing and applying to the paramedic school that was in my home town. Three weeks before the end of the semester I finally told my friends that I would in fact not be coming back at the end of break.
Then I got to figuring out how I was going to pay for school, and a car and still have enough money at the end to set off on my own to go live like a big girl. Alone.
So now I am trying to get all the extra classes required for an associates degree done before I start the Paramedic core classes. These extra classes would not be so bad if I had started at the beginning of the year like most normal students. But no I am trying to cram 2 years worth of classes into 1.25 years. And trying to work at the same time because books are expensive.
So in a matter of 6 weeks I am taking 12 credits. Yeah doesn't sound that bad to you right. Well for a reference each credit is 20 hours of class time and approximately 20 hours of non-class time aka. homework. So...
12 credits x 40 hours per credit = 480 credit hours.
Divide that by 6 weeks and you get 80 hours a week of class work.
So yeah going to school like this is equal to having 2 full time jobs at the same time and having to take tests and learn in them. All in all it makes for an interesting time.
-Freckles
A little background, up until December I was a student at a Big State University. I was in a major I hated and stuck in classes that I didn't need for the major I really wanted. So I mustered up all the courage I had and said, "Screw this, I am becoming a stripper". JK instead I said "Screw this, I am becoming a Paramedic". So I told my parents, and started packing and applying to the paramedic school that was in my home town. Three weeks before the end of the semester I finally told my friends that I would in fact not be coming back at the end of break.
Then I got to figuring out how I was going to pay for school, and a car and still have enough money at the end to set off on my own to go live like a big girl. Alone.
So now I am trying to get all the extra classes required for an associates degree done before I start the Paramedic core classes. These extra classes would not be so bad if I had started at the beginning of the year like most normal students. But no I am trying to cram 2 years worth of classes into 1.25 years. And trying to work at the same time because books are expensive.
So in a matter of 6 weeks I am taking 12 credits. Yeah doesn't sound that bad to you right. Well for a reference each credit is 20 hours of class time and approximately 20 hours of non-class time aka. homework. So...
12 credits x 40 hours per credit = 480 credit hours.
Divide that by 6 weeks and you get 80 hours a week of class work.
So yeah going to school like this is equal to having 2 full time jobs at the same time and having to take tests and learn in them. All in all it makes for an interesting time.
-Freckles
4/03/2009
Marines are Amazing
So today I dropped my Brother off at his Marine Reserve Unit for training. His Unit was recently called to active duty and he was pulled out of classes and told to get his stuff together. He will be training for the next 3 weeks. After that he will be deployed. Deployed to an undisclosed location, with a new unit, from a different state, for an indeterminate amount of time, to do classified things. Yay. I am proud of my brother and I love that he bucked what my parents wanted and decided to join the Marine Corp. However I am going to miss him a lot and I am very worried that he will be injured while doing what he does. Also my parents are very worried about him and are a little crazy about things including him being deployed. They are very over protective in general and this is not helping them relax at all.
Well that is all for now.
Well that is all for now.
3/31/2009
My boring week.
Well I just got home from donating double red so I am treating myself to some down time and some relaxation. So I figured I better bring this up to speed.
Well for Paramedic school there are classes you have to take along with the Paramedic core classes in order to graduate with a degree. The ones I am currently enrolled in seem mildly pointless and boring.
For Example before you take any classes at the school you are required to take a series of tests to determine what classes you do not have to take and at what level. The highest you can get on the Math section is 12.9 which is equal to having above and beyond high school math capabilities. When I took the test I received a 12.9. I immediately thought awesome I will not have to take anymore math classes this will be nice. Oh was I wrong they looked at my score and said you have to take this self paced class there are 15 tests and a ton of busy work and you have to finish it this semester. Yes I too found this ridiculous that i received the highest score and still have to complete Basic Math Proficency!!! YAY.
Then I had to take student Success. Basically I sat in a class room for 4 days for a total of 16 hours and listened to some of my classmates talk about things they did not understand. very very simple things. Like how to navigate a website or save documents so they could be sent to our professor.
And now i am enrolled in computer literacy. I am currently 2 weeks ahead of the class in the homework. I am also only doing the homework during class time and I am teaching the stuff to 2 little old ladies who sit behind me and I still have time to do homework for other classes. Oh and did I happen to mention today was only my second class there and I am ahead!!!
I cannot wait until classes that I feel will be more useful start up. I can understand Human Anatomy and Microbiology and Ethics and Oral and Written Communication. All those classes seem at least marginally useful to me unlike some classes. And yes I know for the little old ladies behind me these classes are extremely useful but come on there has to be a way to all some of these classes to be tested out of some how.
I applied for a job at Boy Scout Camp yesterday and I recieved an email about doing a phone interview. I am excited. It seems like it will be a fun job, I will be the camp EMT. I love the outdoors and I will be getting plenty of it and I really hope I get it. Problem is the job is in NY and I live in WI. I am thinking about driving my car there for the summer. However it is a 10+ hour drive and I have to be there 2 days after classes end here.
Well until next time don't do anything you wouldn't want to explain to the paramedics.
Well for Paramedic school there are classes you have to take along with the Paramedic core classes in order to graduate with a degree. The ones I am currently enrolled in seem mildly pointless and boring.
For Example before you take any classes at the school you are required to take a series of tests to determine what classes you do not have to take and at what level. The highest you can get on the Math section is 12.9 which is equal to having above and beyond high school math capabilities. When I took the test I received a 12.9. I immediately thought awesome I will not have to take anymore math classes this will be nice. Oh was I wrong they looked at my score and said you have to take this self paced class there are 15 tests and a ton of busy work and you have to finish it this semester. Yes I too found this ridiculous that i received the highest score and still have to complete Basic Math Proficency!!! YAY.
Then I had to take student Success. Basically I sat in a class room for 4 days for a total of 16 hours and listened to some of my classmates talk about things they did not understand. very very simple things. Like how to navigate a website or save documents so they could be sent to our professor.
And now i am enrolled in computer literacy. I am currently 2 weeks ahead of the class in the homework. I am also only doing the homework during class time and I am teaching the stuff to 2 little old ladies who sit behind me and I still have time to do homework for other classes. Oh and did I happen to mention today was only my second class there and I am ahead!!!
I cannot wait until classes that I feel will be more useful start up. I can understand Human Anatomy and Microbiology and Ethics and Oral and Written Communication. All those classes seem at least marginally useful to me unlike some classes. And yes I know for the little old ladies behind me these classes are extremely useful but come on there has to be a way to all some of these classes to be tested out of some how.
I applied for a job at Boy Scout Camp yesterday and I recieved an email about doing a phone interview. I am excited. It seems like it will be a fun job, I will be the camp EMT. I love the outdoors and I will be getting plenty of it and I really hope I get it. Problem is the job is in NY and I live in WI. I am thinking about driving my car there for the summer. However it is a 10+ hour drive and I have to be there 2 days after classes end here.
Well until next time don't do anything you wouldn't want to explain to the paramedics.
3/21/2009
Things I should have known
So funny and not funny story....
Last night I went to a dance with a bunch of friends at a town hall near our homes because everyone was on Spring break from school. Well at the dance there were 3 very intense strobe lights and one of my friends is on anti-seizure medication for past seizures.
Okay so temporary pause for a side note... Any of you that know anything about health care at all know that strobe lights are BAD BAD BAD for people who have had seizures because they can trigger them. In fact to test for epilepsy people are place in front of a strobe light to attempt to induce a seizure. Me and my friend, both EMT-B's failed to put this together.
So mean while bad at the dance... He was going in and out of the dance and smoked a few cigarettes with some of the other guys at the dance. After awhile he came back in and sat down on a chair because he felt funny. I saw him sit down and looked away and when I looked back he was on the ground actively seizing.
He seized for approximately 2-3 minutes. While he was seizing I was trying to loosen his tie and collar and protect his head. I had people call 911 and just stayed there next to him until he stopped seizing.
Once he stopped seizing he was laying there very tense with snoring respirations and I was trying to help him get a patent airway but he was so tensed it was hard to do. He slowly started to wake up and kept trying to stand up I had to physically hold him to the floor in a sitting position so he would not stand up. And as I kept trying to keep him calm and on the floor he kept trying to hold my hand because I was the only one close to him.
When the paramedics came they were trying to ask him questions and he just kept answering NO to everything no matter what the question was and mumbling incoherently. He almost freaked out when they tried to place O2 by non re-breather mask on his face. So they loaded us up in the ambulance and I got to sit in front and try to give them as much information as I could. Then I had to wait in the waiting room at the hospital. Which was heart breaking because he tried to motion me into the room as they we taking me past his room to wait.
Finally they let me in the room and we had some fun talking to various doctors, nurses, phlebotemists, and clerks. Until the doctor finally came in and we talked about strobe lights and how it probably set a seizure off.
In the midst of all of this me and my friend talked about different types of seizure and what had happened to him and the different stages of a seizure. So that he would understand. it also helped kill the time because we got there at 10pm and didn't get to leave until past 1230 am.
So lesson learned strobe lights are not a good idea for my friends.
Last night I went to a dance with a bunch of friends at a town hall near our homes because everyone was on Spring break from school. Well at the dance there were 3 very intense strobe lights and one of my friends is on anti-seizure medication for past seizures.
Okay so temporary pause for a side note... Any of you that know anything about health care at all know that strobe lights are BAD BAD BAD for people who have had seizures because they can trigger them. In fact to test for epilepsy people are place in front of a strobe light to attempt to induce a seizure. Me and my friend, both EMT-B's failed to put this together.
So mean while bad at the dance... He was going in and out of the dance and smoked a few cigarettes with some of the other guys at the dance. After awhile he came back in and sat down on a chair because he felt funny. I saw him sit down and looked away and when I looked back he was on the ground actively seizing.
He seized for approximately 2-3 minutes. While he was seizing I was trying to loosen his tie and collar and protect his head. I had people call 911 and just stayed there next to him until he stopped seizing.
Once he stopped seizing he was laying there very tense with snoring respirations and I was trying to help him get a patent airway but he was so tensed it was hard to do. He slowly started to wake up and kept trying to stand up I had to physically hold him to the floor in a sitting position so he would not stand up. And as I kept trying to keep him calm and on the floor he kept trying to hold my hand because I was the only one close to him.
When the paramedics came they were trying to ask him questions and he just kept answering NO to everything no matter what the question was and mumbling incoherently. He almost freaked out when they tried to place O2 by non re-breather mask on his face. So they loaded us up in the ambulance and I got to sit in front and try to give them as much information as I could. Then I had to wait in the waiting room at the hospital. Which was heart breaking because he tried to motion me into the room as they we taking me past his room to wait.
Finally they let me in the room and we had some fun talking to various doctors, nurses, phlebotemists, and clerks. Until the doctor finally came in and we talked about strobe lights and how it probably set a seizure off.
In the midst of all of this me and my friend talked about different types of seizure and what had happened to him and the different stages of a seizure. So that he would understand. it also helped kill the time because we got there at 10pm and didn't get to leave until past 1230 am.
So lesson learned strobe lights are not a good idea for my friends.
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