"At w**k tonight. Had a guy earlier that called us for a free transport to the ER because he did not want to impose on his father Sometimes I wonder why I do this."
I hear ya Pal...loud and clear on THAT one. W**king in the ER (and ambo) in Creston, IA, we'd get ER walk-ins with such life-threatening emergencies as "a tooth ache going on three months." So sir, why did you decide to come into the ER now, at three in the morning? "Cause I can't sleep." OK... I'll go wake up the Doc, and he'll give you a hand full of 800mg Tylenol and send you on your way...Oh, and we'll also give you a free magnet with the hours, location, etc. to the County free clinic... What's that sir? They're only open during the day? That's right sir... but you sleep during the day? Oh...you must work nights then. No? You just party all night long.... alllllllllllllllllllrightee then.
Hey CURT, ever had the Pt. meet you at the curb? Luggage (several suitcases) packed and ready to go? I had a "suicidal subject" do THAT...if you want to call eight Tylenol a "suicide attempt." Not eight bottles...eight tablets. My hat is off to you, for still doing it.
Speaking of EMS CURT, I see Iowa is jumping into some national (???) push to re-define EMS certification levels, and in the process, cutting some interventions the First Responders and EMT-Basics were able to use, such as the Combi-Tube. The new "Emergency Medical Responder" and "EMT" apparently will NOT be able to use any airway other than the oral pharyngeal... Whisky Tango Foxtrot? If'n I were still an "Iowa Paramedic Specialist," I would have to either "transition" to the new "Paramedic" or drop down to an "Advanced EMT." As it is now, the PS follows the 1998 National Standard Curriculum for EMT-P while the "Iowa Paramedic" follows the 1999 NSC for EMT-Intermediate.
I might be able to make an article out of this mess for THAT Editor as Solon, Swisher, Ely, Tiffin, Oxford and North Liberty all rely on volunteers (Fire Dept. EMTs) before J a C k A S s (Johnson County Ambulance Service) arrives. Those vollies (and the JCAS paid guys/gals) will have to undergo hours of "transitional programing." I suspect some will say "enough!" and hang up their stethoscopes, especially if they are "losing skills" they once had extreme competency in.
Gooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooood Evening, bottle of Coke please 'n thank-you.
Since writer's block has clamped down upon my brain, rendering it useless to write about two 20-something "kids" and their coach who LOVE fencing (on-guard! perry, dodge, thrust!). It's a neat story...I'm just not sure how to tell it! So................(not a needle pulling thread) I've been playing with choo choo stuff instead, finally getting Dullcote applied to stuff THAT has been piling up on the w**k table. They will all soon enough be, as JEFF said, "collecting dust on my shelves."
Best wishes to all in need, be they man or dog...
Chris
Photo by Chris Umscheid, Fall, 1990