Druss Log

Learning has taken place

2007-01-26T08:32:00.000Z

So we are back to the new year. Real patients, clinicians and new topics.
We have started with Dermatology (skin for those that are not of the medical persuasion) I start this block with some ideas of what was involved and how to treat it.
This ideas was formed and assisted with some of the friends I have that are working in medicine at present.

"Yeah don't worry about it, there are loads of conditions but only three treatments.
if it's wet dry it
if it's dry wet it
give steroids."

I am happy to say I know know more and find the subject, I am loathed to admit it, interesting. But in real terms there are only a few more treatment. apart from the above

You can give
Antibiotics
Antivirals
Photo-therapy
Leave it alone

and when in doubt cut it out.

I am enjoying the subject and now have the ability to identify loads of different changes in the body surface.
this in future will allow me to avoid shaking hands with contagious people.

Did you know

The skin is the largest of the body organs.
And you can wear away the entire top layer with 30 strips of sellotape.
these are just some of the interesting facts I found out this last two weeks.

Catching up

2006-11-28T16:55:00.000Z

It has been to long life speeds by and you race just to stand still.
That's not trying to be an excuse just the truth.
So from the last post it's been5 1/2 months.
What can I say so much has changed and yet I'm still the same.
Life has taken a few unusual turns. By the end of this all hope of anonymity is gone.
Here we are standing on the door step of the world. I'm still working, only less often. For those of you who don't know it was my choice and because of bigger plans. I applied, it took months, but and after a couple of refusals and a couple of interviews I had my place.
Now a new approach
I'm not the Allied Heath Professional by day.(well except for holidays)
Now I am a student(again).
Yes I am pretty much the oldest student on the course at scuttle bug University.
So with some work and a little luck maybe a Doctor in a few years.
Who knows.
Leaving work was interesting. But that's for the next post.
studying to be done so I will try and post before the next 5 mths.

Time for a talk

2006-06-14T14:09:00.000Z

It has been months since my last blog. To those who still occasionally check this I have not fallen from the earth. I am sorry but I have been ... I don't know but my time has been taken up in all manner of ways. so here I am 2 and a bit months down the line.
Work wise I have been very busy extra courses:- paediatrics, trauma, life support, driving. You name it I've been doing it.
Now you maybe thinking what's happened but nothing that interesting.
There is no other reason than I wanted learn and to keep everything up to scratch. But it has kept me mainly out of trouble.
The next few months will be providing me with a lot of changes. people leaving, people joining, people moving on, up, down, sideways.
So I have been thinking about change in general.

Most are comfortable with the status Quo, Some because it allows them to relax and have a routine, Some because it is easier than the effort to affect the change they want. This does not mean that they don't dream. But they need real incentives to push that dream or conviction to say this is my dream and I will make it happen. The problem with this is that it can leave you open and vunerable and unless you are really focused you will worry so much about the ground that you won't reach for the stars.

So I have continued with my desision that I will not be one of the people who in years to come will say I wish I had......

A bit touchy feely I know. But, it's my blog.

more will follow

To Be Cont....

We want you

2006-04-04T10:25:00.000Z

Dear Druss
We will extend you an unconditional offer, congratulations.
I'll just make my way down from the ceiling and tell you about it later

HE HE

Coffee

2006-03-24T08:34:00.000Z

'Rant warning'
Ok so I think I am a coffee snob. I hear you denying it but, I think it is true and I must confess. Real coffee made well is an art form however it seems to be a dying art.

Across the world I am sure there are many places which make very good coffee. Late last year I visited a coffee plantation in Mareeba, Cairns. A long way to go for a cup of coffee but what a cup. As the group of us drove into the car park of the plantation and parked our tonka toy. There were ambulance, fire and police 4x4s with people walking back to them with coffee's in hand. In OZ that is a great recommendation. I had the best coffee I have ever had at that plantation, ok it was followed by another and another for the journey and some packets of coffee for home. But it really was great.

I bring this up because Last night I spent an amazing dinner out at 'The Seafood Restaurant' in St Andrews the food was amazing each dish lovingly prepared. A taste extravaganza with each bit. I kid you not the meal was delicious. I then ordered coffee. I differed slightly from my tradition in that I had a caffitier instead of an expresso.
what arrived was a very average cup of coffee yes it was coffee tasting it was dark and wet, but the quality of the food had set a standard, it lead you to believe it would be good if not great. I was disappointed so I asked if something could be done could they have another attempt, they did and it was the same.
I just feel that with the standard of food they provide and a wine list to die for they should possibly spend a little more time on their coffee.

As I said at the start I am a coffee snob and some people get embarrassed when I send coffee back, but if you are paying for something why should you settle. If this was on the continent they would be complaining.
I feel that if a bar or coffee shop have a proper machine and the staff can't use it properly or if they can't make a proper coffee by the third attempt I am quite happy to go behind the bar and make it myself and show them how. This has happened on a number of occasions now. On one occasion I made two coffees and gave one to the chap behind the bar, who thanked me and said it was really good and he didn't realize that the machine could make coffee like that. He then charged me for the coffee I had made myself.
I don't really think that's fair but in the end it was a good cup of coffee.

'Rant over'

Visit the restaurant it is well worth it you will not be disappointed The Seafood Restaurant

our wheels

2006-03-21T16:32:00.000Z

Just thought you might like to see where we spend most of our day

A4C

2006-02-18T10:39:00.000Z

Ok for those not aware agenda for change is coming to the publication stage
and we are not happy
Covering Wages conditions contracts of employment
not that we thought we would get a fair deal but we were ever hopeful

So we now have bandings
are they the same as was expected --- yes
are they the same across the country -- no

Paramedics get to move into band 5 at the very top so you can't really move anywhere and there are no incriments, no additional for long service, for training qualifications, instructor qualifications, APEL pretty much anything so where is the value for the staff where is the incentive to better ones self.
how do you motivate staff when you treat them so badly
YOU can't

so lets all move to west yorkshire or surrey and be in band 5 for techs and 6 for paras

grump over
Forward with the appeal

funny thing happened on the way to the forum

2006-02-17T09:00:00.000Z

Different days at work.

This week I could not think of two more diverse days at work. 1st a nice quiet start to the day a collapse - Vasovagal due to an infection, assesed and into hospital. then other side of the nook to collect someone with an obstruction who wandered down the hall to us carrying their bags in one hand and their sticks in the other. as my partner said 'Taxi for one?' the pt then walked out to the ambulance and got in. so we toodled off to hospital. Then we had just called clear when someone came up to ask directions.
I must look approachable in the drivers seat.
So as i give slightly confusing directions to this member of the public I am aware of the vehicle mobile ringing. my partner answers it and i over hear only
'.....cardiac arrest.....building site....'
so with that I tell the lost person sorry bye and drive away. I'm then told slightly more. there has been one at a near by sight and they are also despatching the rru. at the round about we use a bus to cut off the traffic and the rru oops and we get to the job arrive on site and ask some one who says 'don't know anything about it have you got the right place?'
someone on a platform moving very slowly down says yeah guys he's on the roof.
so we look up at the 4 storey building and think oh! we move towards the lift platform and the guys on it says you can put your stuff on it but you will be better going up the ladders. hmmmmmmm not so sure but ok
SO rushing round the corner and a ladder goes up through the scafolding tied in at the top with bailing twine, and it moved as we went up, got to the top then on to the next ladder. Ariving at the top I was met by someone saying 'don't worry about the roof you can step pretty much anywhere.'
'What do you mean pretty much anywhere?'
with that encouraging info I carefull made my way across the roof to the patient. as the equipment made it's way up the side and across the roof to us.
sliding and fall as we made our way across the roof we begain the acls intubated

ups and downs during work

2006-02-15T12:28:00.000Z

There are some shifts where you can do no wrong and everyone is better for it. To quote line.
'there are time when my hands move with a skill and speed which is not my own'
then there are shifts where you should really call in sick as the general public would be better of that way, well almost you can do everything and still have a negative result.
These are both days you can Identify and live with.
Then there are days when leak proof seals will, universal fit joints won't and the unbreakable does.
then again your fluid skill and practice can be thrown off by the inclusion of another professional. They arrive first they work in a way that for you and your partner is like working with someone to complete a delicate maneuver in a foreign language.
But then it gets better you learn this new language and things need done and we get them done. The job starts to get better. Things start to go wrong with the pt again. We worked at it they improve slightly, then go down again. We finally managed to get into the ambulance. Down turn again but we were working as a team. But downward spiral of the patient continued. The three of us left in the ambulance we warned the hospital we were coming, 10 mins later we arrived. Everyone worked as a team the hospital the crew and additional crew helped. Not a good day

The final job of the shift lets break into a house to find a body then break the news to the relative.

Anyone who has not read 'Bringing out the dead' by Joe Connelly and seen the film, do not even contemplate becoming a Paramedic without doing so. It is an essential survival manual

Perspective

2006-01-29T17:13:00.000Z

The last few week since I have been away have given me a further insight into life. Things change, opinion varies and the world moves with them. After a recent death in the family I have changed my views slightly.
My relative became ill. My first thoughts were with the training I have received.
Right lets get some fluids up to rehydrate lets change the medication to combat the confusion and assist with the AF and a broad spectrum antibiotic for the infection.
I was then asked why?
Who was I trying to save?
me or them?

I thought about it more and more. It was difficult to accept that I was wanting to treat for me so I could say I tried. Until that point I had not really been objective. If this had been someone else family and we had been called we would have considered quality of life and wishes of the individual as well as that of the family. Because this was so close I thought I could so I should not I could so should I?

We attended the funeral a couple of weeks ago now, I think it was the right treatment choice to make comfortable but it doesn't make it any easier for anyone.
But we live and learn and what doesn't kill us makes us stronger.

A New Hope

2006-01-28T12:51:00.000Z

So I think this might be me getting back on form. Another busy week under my belt. and we are getting near that time again the dreaded changeover. This time just to confuse the allied health professionals they are making the changeover a week later. The new docs the consultant cover is boosted 'just in case' and the M&M meetings become more of a teaching forum. so If you get ill in the next couple of weeks you might just want to go skiing, or on a quiet beach somewhere because that's where you will find all the consultants who managed to swing an early week away. They hide now and comeback when people are settled.

I've been using my skills and I think made a difference. I've also realised, with a little help, that In the long run do the things we do matter to the big picture, May be not (probably not) But do we all look at the big picture all the time, the answer is no so is it not true that in the life we lead, is it not just the things we are doing that matter.

This might be a little strong for the first real Blog of the year but there we are. I have been thinking whilst I've been away.

2006-01-10T00:56:00.000Z

I think I should apologise to those who still even check this site for letting my rantings dwindle over the last couple of months. Things have been hectic and not really getting better yet. Everything seems to be in a sort of limbo at present. The post that some saw and was then withdrawn has led to some further activity. not the posting but the job. so that is still ongoing. But Here is a new year and hopefully more fun and exciting times. Sorry for not posting and those peopl I have not spoken to or phone recently, sorry I will be in touch.
Keep safe

Hmmm

2005-11-20T17:30:00.000Z

Ok so I thought this would be rubbish but it seems to be right. Not really saying I like what it says but it could be true
all those things you think but don't want to broadcast and more

Your Personality Is

Rational (NT)

You are both logical and creative. You are full of ideas.
You are so rational that you analyze everything. This drives people a little crazy!

Intelligence is important to you. You always like to be around smart people.
In fact, you're often a little short with people who don't impress you mentally.

You seem distant to some - but it's usually because you're deep in thought.
Those who understand you best are fellow Rationals.

In love, you tend to approach things with logic. You seek a compatible mate - who is also very intelligent.

At work, you tend to gravitate toward idea building careers - like programming, medicine, or academia.

With others, you are very honest and direct. People often can't take your criticism well.

As far as your looks go, you're coasting on what you were born with. You think fashion is silly.

On weekends, you spend most of your time thinking, experimenting with new ideas, or learning new things.

The Three Question Personality Test

All the things I have lost in life I miss my mind the most

2005-11-18T15:43:00.000Z

Your Brain's Pattern

Your mind is a firestorm - full of intensity and drama.
Your thoughts may seem scattered to you most of the time...
But they often seem strong and passionate to those around you.
You are a natural influencer. The thoughts you share are very powerful and persuading.

What Pattern Is Your Brain?

Others experience

2005-11-12T12:07:00.000Z

I was at another station for a break (yes we occasionally get them) a couple of days ago and I thought you would like the story.

A crew were making their way back from the Hospital to their base station out of town when they came across what they thought was a drunk driver. This was a guess as the driver was swaying about the road from one side to the other bouncing of the barriers on the bypass so they thought well follow and call the fuzz.

They did. they followed down the length of the bypasss round the roundabout three times when all lights were red (obviously not to the car driver who could not focus on any lights) keeping just a little back they started back up the bypass in the opposite direction.

Control called to say that the police we on their way from four different directions to stop them should they try and make a run for it. so in the distance the crew saw blue lights lots and lots of them in all directions so to let them know where they were they quickly flashed their own blues. at which point the driver obviously saw them for the first time and pulled in to the hard shoulder and stopped.

No fuss no hassel.
Good use of resources you be the judge.
The driver asked where they were how they got their and said they had taken some drugs because they were upset.
Not half as much as they were going to be

Educating the public again

2005-11-12T11:11:00.000Z

It is unsual to see the reactions some people have to things. In my everyday life I tend to be around the more unpleasent side of life, That is of course work (before I get slapped by Mrs Druss)

I thing an additional campaign is needed to educate the public. If you were to look at the demographics of the users of the 999 system and specifically the ambulance system I think you would notice two things.

1st the number of calls to areas with a 'lower social level' would be the greatest quantity with the highest percentage of those being a result of alcohol one way or another.

2nd the population of middle class (for want of a better term) would make the fewest calls with them calling their doctor instead of bothering the ambulance.

The reason I bring this up is the confession of a pt I recently helped from their car at A&E

When I ask what brought them to the hospital that day, "I had chest pain at home and came in." and "I drove myself because I knew you would be busy."

Now, as drivers, how do you feel about sharing the road with someone in that state? happy? I think not.

Lets make things really simple chest pain could be trapped wind but it could be a heart attack. so lets play doom and gloom, its a heart attack this is when the heart muscle is deprived of oxygen. When deprived of oxygen, parts of the heart muscle will begin to die = more pain. You may find this a little distracting whilst at 70 mph in heavy traffic. When you mess around with the heart muscle it doesn't work properly it can cause conduction problems and lead to arrhythmias some of which are not conducive to safe driving. Or driving at all or even living.

So the chest pain that may have lead to a heart attack, may end up with a car accident and a heart attack. If your hearts in a bad way your body really should be to give you the best chance. If your going for points you may not only take out yourself, but possibly others, maybe an entire line of people wating for a bus.
I'm not trying to paint a nasty image these things do happen and we have enough to do with drink and drugs on the road with out worrying about these extra jobs.

There are many reasons to call for an ambulance. Chest pain is high on that list. Another equally important reason to call for an ambulance . An ambulance is a phone call away. People who know what they're doing come to your house and start taking care of you transporting you to a definative care facility. We can do things whilst someone else drives. Last I checked, not even Rolls Royce offer defibrillators as optional extras yet.

If you feel as though you are having a heart attack or stroke, don't drive yourself to the hospital. Don't have your spouse drive you. Please call us. It could save your life and the lives of others. It could also stop us getting to pick up another drunk who is just going to swing for us, vomit and once checked spend the remainder of the night in the cells. Let us help and use the skills we spent years learning.

Thanks

The facts about my Job

2005-10-22T21:20:00.000Z

Air goes in and out, blood goes round and round, any variation on this is bad.
Try not to discuss "your day" at the family dinner table.
You may not install a "car catcher" on the front of the ambulance.
The more equipment you see on a Technicians belt, the newer they are.
Examine all chest clutchers first, bleeders next, then the rest of the whiners.
When dealing with citizens, if it felt good saying it, it was wrong.
All bleeding stops... eventually.
You can't cure stupid.
If it's wet and sticky and not yours -- LEAVE IT ALONE !!!
"Riding shotgun" does not mean you shoot the tires of non-stopping vehicles.
If at all possible, avoid any edible item that fire fighters prepare.
A job in the ambulance service is extended periods of boredom, interrupted by moments of sheer terror.
Every emergency has three phases: PANIC... FEAR... REMORSE.
A good tape job will fix almost anything.
Yuppies involved in accidents complain how bumpy the ambulance ride is.
It's not a compliment when Policemen say you're crude, crass & cynical.
The severity of the injury is directly proportional to the weight of the patient.
Turret mounted machine guns usually work better than lights and sirens.
Schedule your days off to avoid working during full phases of the Moon.
There is no such thing as a "textbook case".
You've come to conclude 90% of all drunks are a waste of protoplasm.
Never refer to someone in respiratory distress as a "Smurf".
Automatically multiply by 3 the number of drinks they claim to have had.
Your social skills will be lacking, if all your anecdotes deal with blood.
Assume every female between 6 and 106 is pregnant until proven otherwise.
Get very, very scared when a child is too quiet.
Don't place bets on the glucose level of an unresponsive patient.
You cannot institute a surcharge for unruly or surly patients.
It is not necessary to have a pet name for your cardiac monitor.
As long as stupidity remains epidemic in the UK, you have job security.
Don't worry about the gunshot wound as much as dealing with the family.

All emergency calls will wait until you begin to eat, regardless of the time.
Corollary 1:
Fewer accidents would occur if ambulance personnel would never eat.
Corollary 2:
Always order food "to go".

The Paramedical Laws of Time:
There is absolutely no relationship between the time at which you are supposed to get off shift and the time at which you will get off shift. Given the following equation: T + 1 Minute = Relief Time, "T" will always be the time of the last call of your shift. E.g., If you are supposed to get off shift at 08:00, your last run will come in at 07:59. (Or if you have early relief coming in you will see you relief sitting at the first stop light from the station, waving!)

The Paramedical Law of Gravity:
Any instrument, when dropped, will always come to rest in the least accessible place possible.

The Paramedical Law of Time And Distance:
The distance of the call from the Hospital increases as the time to shift change decreases.
Corollary 1:
The shortest distance between the station and the scene is under construction.

The Paramedical Rule of Random Synchronicity:
Emergency calls will randomly come in all at once.

The Rule of Respiratory Arrest: All patients who are vomiting and must be intubated will have just completed a large meal of Barbecue and Onions, Garlic Pizza, and Pickled Herring, all of which was washed down with at least three cans of Beer.

The Basic Principle For Dispatchers:
Assume that all field personnel are idiots until their actions prove your assumption.

The Basic Principle For Field Personnell:
Assume that all dispatchers are idiots until their actions prove your assumption.

The Axiom of Late-Night Runs:
If you respond to any Motor Vehicle Accident call after Midnight and do not find a drunk on the scene, keep looking:
somebody is still missing.

The Law of Options:
Any patient, when given the option of either going to the cells or going to the Hospital by a Police Officer, will always be inside the Ambulance before you are.
Corollary 1:
Any patient who chooses to go to the cells instead of the Hospital has probably been in my ambulance in the past.

Just for Fun

2005-10-16T15:35:00.000Z

Now I think most people will appreciate this site, Warning those of you who become addicted it is not my fault, just go to the pop now section
Bubbles

The Opening the book and showing them life

2005-10-16T15:25:00.000Z

On Saturday I helped out Kal as a patient on a First aid course. So I arrived to put some unsuspecting people through the biggest step in the training.

You have had a pt in the classroom, and you have tied them with bandages, you have had the pt in the hall, the one that felt a bit funny and collapsed.

Now you get the bridge to real life, something in between. Outside the car has pinned a person up against the wall, the driver has a hypo and the person is crushed, or the person who has fallen onto a fence and it has gone right through their leg. Or the stabbing in a stair way. Now in the real world where these things do happen. Try and apply the same training not as easy as a jump as some thought. Which is the point of the exercise, You know stuff but before you jump in, in front of the public lets expose you to it and you can make your mistakes here.

It can be a bridge too far for some, at this stage but some coped admirably. Lots of blood and makeup and after a reasonably gentle debrief (were are nice at the start so they come back) everyone seemed to enjoy it. Some might just work a little harded now to be that bit better.

Just wait until they have some more experience. Then we'll try again. ( evil cackle )

Up up and away but back now

2005-10-16T15:06:00.000Z

Working as hard as normal in my little corner of the world, I got to stab needles into a few people and I think I am slowly coming to terms with my new skills. A variety of interesting pts most seem quite willing to have themselves wounded by me. So cannulas got some missed some gave some drugs. to this end things seem to be going well and to be honest since I've been back at work in October It seems to be getting better. More of the getting less on the missing. But in the middle there has been a four week drought of emergency work. Not a bad thing. Infact an amazingly great thing. I went to the other side of the world, and did not fall off.

Three weeks in the land of G'day, 'wan a cold one?'
So we left the cold here and arrived in the warmish there.
Sydney with some of the coldest weather they had had. still we were walking around in t-shirts and shorts as the locals walked past wearing scarf and gloves.
I can recommend the city to anyone it is great the sights, the food, the general culture. I cannot give it enough of an endorsment.

So as any good holiday maker would do we went to the opera house and we took about a hundred photos of it. we went to the aquarium too look at all the things which we might encounter on our dive trip and our trip into the rainforest. This I think was not the greatest idea. There are such a concentration of things that can and may kill you I think i would be better off not knowing. But we did and were educated.

Back

2005-10-16T13:59:00.000Z

Ok I'm sorry to anyone who has been trying to read this in the last couple of months. I have lots to tell so I'll work on it and then post a blog about the missing time in the mean time here's what has been happening recently.

A bit scary

2005-08-28T21:25:00.000Z

Yes it has been a while but living life and finding fun has taken a bit of a preference over the last week.
So here's the recap.

After a long wait and a couple of harassing phone calls I got registered with the help of a very nice chap at the HPC it was obviously not him I had previously spoken to he must have been a temp he was too helpful. Anyway, I got my licence.

I was slightly nervous but in a good way. First Paramedic shift, night shift and on with a new technician. (No-one to turn to)
The shift was ok got to use some of my new skills. The next couple of nights proved the same with a fair number of standby calls made to the Royal.

A Standby Call = my pt is very unwell we have stopped them dying at the moment can you be ready to take over when we arrive thanks.

Got to cannulate my first fitting pt, whilst still fitting and give drugs. FUN!
So night shift was over and we escaped with no more damage to be done.

Saturday night we went to a comedy show. ended up sitting in the front row in the middle. That was a bad idea we were picked on throughout the show, in a nice way. It was great fun and if anyone gets a chance to see Stephen K Amos I would recommend it.

Sunday we went down to the countryside. Mountain biking, walking etc great just to escape and unwind. Then back to work on Thursday, Fri, Sat, Sun early shifts

Not too eventful until first thing Saturday morning when our patient X decided to have a major heart attach in the entryway of a rather large hotel in the nook. so we arrived and so did the RRU (Rapid Response Unit).

Better to have three pairs of hands so I grab the bag and the O2 and make my way inside. Arriving at the pt and look round to find no sign of my partner or the RRU paramedic. So I got on with my job, after about 3-4 mins the other two arrive at my side (they got chatting outside) saying "oh your well on your way! What can we get you?”

Cheers guys.

So after giving the pt all the standard drugs for chest pain and attaching the monitor we complete the 12 lead ECG and confirm an inferior MI.
So I start asking all the questions and beginning to explain about the drug TNK that we are about to give them and the pt says “I don't care, if it could help me just give it to me.”

Ok so I do.

In the back ground at this stage the other two sent the ECG to CCU at the Royal via the modem. CCU then called back and tells my partner that they think we should give the drug, at which he smirks and points out to the staff nurse on the end of the phone that I had already but thanks for the call anyway and we would see him soon.

Apparently there are a lot of crews on the road that have been waiting for CCU give the go ahead before administrating the drug.

Then it was a rather fast journey in to the Royal.
I should probably explain the drug we gave the pt has a mortality rate of just less than 1% and other complications. So to be fair it is a scary drug.

In the case of this patient the drug managed to revert the third degree heart block the pt was in but did nothing for the ST elevation (ECG - Bit of the wigglie line that was bad)

So since I have been here it has been busy.
It's fun having the skills and the responsibility is something you come to terms with but it is nice to be able to do more for your pts.

Work :- Stressful or not, discuss

2005-08-15T09:53:00.000Z

Over the last few weeks it has come to me that at work we are dealing with a greater number of real jobs less D&I, hoax and other such interesting calls.
As a result the station has been louder with more banter and humour. Any outsider would look at this as being, sick or depraved but in our world (emergency work, not where the sky is green and animals talk) it seems to be the best way to deal. We all subconsciously ignore stress and the reality of what we do.
Please don't misunderstand me, we know what we do and how important it can be, but the jokes, the merriment and the sick sense of humour allows us to go and keep on with what we do.
After a really bad job we can talk about it to our crew, they were there, they saw, they helped, they probably want to talk, but for the rest. The station will hear they will recognise, they will help.
For any of you who are not already bored with the subject, I found the study into humour for emergency personnel (someone was obviously very interested)
Or you could just be happy with the fact that it works and carry on with the idea
that I try and work with
Stress don't be a sufferer be a carrier

Driving in The Scottish Nook

2005-08-12T11:30:00.000Z

After my Last post and the comments on some of the other blogs i have read. I think maybe a national campaign should be run. A document telling the public what to do and what not to do when they see an emergency vehicle. The posting Public Information Broadcast Could be used as an example. But since the public think that the highway code is the 'pass the test then disguard' book for driving, what chance do we have for them reading it anyway.

Excuse me

2005-08-11T09:52:00.000Z

Yes it's tourist time again.
Lots of interesting thing to see and do in the Nook. But please as an addition to kal's posting 'Festival time', can I make a request.
I'm not sure where your from and I don't mind, enjoy everything we have to offer, but when a large moving vehicle with flashing corners and headlights and making a lot of noise comes towards you reasonably fast, and If you are standing in the middle of the road to get a good view of the sights, and that view is blocked by this big white vehicle.

PLEASE MOVE

Your photo is not quite that important. The passenger should not have to lean out of the window and ask you to move. It is considered quite rude.
Apart from that please enjoy your time in the city and be careful crossing roads.

Someone who made me think

2005-08-07T21:37:00.000Z

Yes a second posting in one day I know

I was introduced to someone very interesting yesterday and we got talking. It was amazing how well we got on. Her other half just finished working with my other half. They were both away chatting and mingling with others for most of the night, while we spent almost the entire evening talking about nothing in particular.

We did, at one stage, get onto the topic of the blog and she made me look at things in a different way.

Where as I had thought of it as a bulletin board for things I’ve seen and moans and gripes she asked me some direct questions about why I think I wrote it, and what the under lying motivation may be for my blog and for that matter everyone else’s blog. So after a day of pondering (I’m still working on it) but things do occur and ring true.

Is the blog not in the same general group as big brother, maybe at the opposite end but in the same group? You write in the blog so people can know you, maybe see a different perspective. From my point of view, get an idea of your thoughts that, with out it you would keep to yourself, your internal monolog.
Or for those of you that hear voices your dialogue :-P

Are we not designed to communicate?
So, you know who you are and I just want to say thanks. I’m not sure if it will make much of a difference to my postings but the company was enchanting and the food for thought was appreciated.

Crossing lives

2005-08-07T17:17:00.000Z

Someone at work retired and had a leaving party on Friday. During the night I managed to speak to the chap (as you do) saying how after 37ish years they were going to have to get someone else to fill his role.

He suggested that it could have been me. I didn’t really want to break it to him that another few years and plans that are brewing will hopefully come to fruition.

But apart from that, just looking around the room at the number of people that attended that night. About 130 could make it, about the same again that would have liked to but couldn’t.

Affecting this many people’s lives, (staff) over that length of time. Just think about the amount of lives that are better off because of him (patients) and the work he has done over the years. It makes you proud to be involved in the job we do. Maybe not every day, with late breaks and interesting management decisions, but like many things in life looking back on the time spent some real good bits stick in your memory and the bad hopefully fades over time and you can recall with rose coloured glasses the years spent working with friends and colleagues.

Even over the small amount of time I have spent in the job I’m already looking back with those glasses firmly placed for most of my four years. And wondering what the next few years will bring.

How many lives are effected by my colleague and I as a crew, and what differences have been made good and bad.

Open season

2005-07-30T15:41:00.000Z

Almost that time again,

For those in the real world, with really jobs that don't operate at funny times, every six months almost all the hospital doctors in the country move jobs. On the first wed in August and Feb they change. New exciting roles, new responsibility.

For the rest of us we go on like nothing has changed.

Gripe warning

For my part this means that my role goes from being a paramedic with skills and a reasonable knowledge of prehospital care, to being treated as the porter that picked up the nicely wrapped up patient put them on a trolley and pushed them into hospital from the big White van with blue flashing corners

End of moan

Ok so it's not true of all the docs but some fall into this category, but it can be an interesting time normally for the first few weeks anyway. So for the rest of you, if you're going to get ill, do it before wed

Finally, last bit

2005-07-29T17:12:00.000Z

So after two weeks of waiting for a letter that I was told would take 2 days arrived arrived, I filled it in and sent it away again. whether it is correct or not, that is another question. so once again go Mr postman. Registration here I come.

Always happens

2005-07-24T23:10:00.000Z

Two days last week we had an observer. More people to inspire. For those who don't know observer is a person who wants to see what we do and has a good reason for it. Health professional, student, volunteer etc even the bucket boys occasionally. They spend the day with us and marvel at all the exciting things we do in our day to day job.

Or that's the theory
Two of the most boring days I have ever had on shift, the first we did three jobs and transported two pts and the second, we did five jobs and transported three pts.
This student nurse is now looking for a job in the Ambulance service.

Even an abusive drunk who threw things at us didn't put her off.
never mind. Funny didn't work in putting kal off Either

Then anyone who has seen our interesting working times and the sudden rush will know that we can appreciate the occasional quiet shift especially at events and concerts I think Scotmedicman will agree on that front. The greatest achievement we had was us both turning our faces scarlet midway through the day because we forgot sun cream. We will know better next time we are asked to visit edinburgh and watch 250 000 people (MPH) who want to march round Edinburgh.

Things you see

2005-07-16T22:31:00.000Z

Darwin
Ok so I think some people should not be out, well lots of people.Driving back from a long day at work 'FYI CCU is great' but anyway. I reach a large roundabout leading from the motor way to town and I get passed by a 12 year old Astra. Nothing special but this car was different. As it passed I glanced across at the driver and car. The chap driving was in his late 50's pottering along with no particular place to go and nothing to think about. I suspect he was probably thinking I wish I didn't have to you my spare keys and I wonder where I left my originals.
My deduction was due to the slightly mystified look on his face and the set of keys hanging from the passenger door lock.

So being the good Samaritan I thought I should let him know but by this time he had passed and my opportunity was gone.
Then at the main roundabout at the end of the motorway. I pulled along side him at the traffic lights.

Yes the shortest this driver could have been driving is about 6 miles at between 60-80mph all the time with these keys in the side door.
And it got me thinking that you really don't spend much time checking the car on the passenger side. This chap had probably been looking for his keys for ages.

I tooted waved tooted some more but still looking straight ahead and the lights changed and he carried on with his journey oblivious.

The car on the far side looked over but he just sat. So off he went round the roundabout and straight on to another section of the road in his own little world. You try and help but sometimes.

And when he reaches his destination hope fully someone will tell him about his keys.

The Idea

2005-07-08T11:52:00.000Z

I've been speaking to a lot of people about a blog and thinking about starting one for a while and finally here it is.
At present work has given me the opportunity to look at myself and with these new eyes, through training and experience, I want more. I love my job, I sometimes can make a difference. You can see that in the people that you treat, but we are bound by such limits that the provision of what you can do can be so limited that you think I could be doing more, I need to be doing more.
Sorry for the first real posting this may sound like the rant of a madman but those of you involved in prehospital medicine, be it ambulance service or VAS, might just understand
At present I have just completed my Paramedic qualification, well as soon as the paper work arrives I can practice. In comparison to the role I have been doing as a technician this is so much more. As part of the training you get to spend some time in hospital. I have enjoyed every min of this it was an opportunity to get training from people who are specialists in their field, enthusiastic at the job, well the majority are. The chance to pick their brains. And what did this do? It shouted at me THERE IS MORE YOU CAN DO . So the additional ATLS course was fun now back to the books to find another course. But for now I'm going to enjoy my new skills and soon hopefully I can practice. Go Mr postman

The start of something new

2005-07-08T09:38:00.000Z

So this is my blog.