Closer

This past week I worked my last day at the bookstore, and I can honestly say I am glad to be out of there! I also talked with someone from my EMT class who got hired by the same company as I did. They started there a couple weeks ago, so I was asking them how things were going and such.

Unfortunately, what they had to say was not good. Things about the company, the staff, the training, their policies... Granted, everything that was shared with me was from this person's perspective. So far my interactions with this company have been pleasant (for the most part) and so I was a bit shocked to hear some of the things this person had to share.

Needless to say, I'm getting a bit more anxious about Monday morning. But, alas. What can you do? I won't know anything for sure until I show up next week, go through my own orientation and training, and find out for myself. And either way, I'm still beyond excited!

Until then, any pointers/tips or words of wisdom for the newbie? :)

Also, I ended up getting a (pink) Littmann Classic II SE. Someone decided to get it for me as a gift, which was an unexpected delight!

Oh, and as you can tell the blog has got a new look. I got bored with the other layout. We'll see how long this one will last.

I got a job!!

Yupp. November 30th... The first day of my new job!!

I'm excited. And nervous. But, definitely excited. :)

I'll finally be a full-time EMT working with a good ambulance company. Yeah!

And I'll be sure to write more substantial posts in the coming weeks. Stay tuned.


Oh, and if you haven't heard about or checked out the Chronicles of EMS, you can go here, here or here. What they're doing is awesome. (Be sure to follow them on twitter and youtube too!)

Stethoscope?

Okay, so I know I asked this in one of my very first posts, but I wanted to ask one more time before I go ahead and buy something. I am (finally!) going to be getting a stethoscope [one that doesn't fall apart when you look at it] and want to know what kind you suggest?

The Littmann Classic II SE is what some people said so far. But then I've had a few people who work in EMS swear by the Littmann Cardiology III because of the acoustics. And, finally, someone mentioned Ultrascope as being a good one too.

Have you tried or do you use either of these?

Why you do...

...what you do.

What made you want to get into the field you are in today?

Tuesday

I apologize (again) for the lack of posts recently. Just been busy with work and filling out applications, trying to get a job in the world of EMS. In fact, I just got off the phone and have my first interview on Tuesday the 27th! Though now I'm super nervous. I've had interviews before, but this one is bigger. More important. Any tips or words of wisdom? :-)

The Results Are In

And... I'm a certified EMT!!

YEAH!!

Dust Collector

So originally the call comes in as groin pain. We arrive at the apartment complex on the third floor and his son answers the door. He leads us through a maze of narrow hallways lined with boxes of long forgotten items now blanketed in a thick layer of dust. As we got closer to the bedroom the smell got stronger.

According to the son, his father (age 76) had fallen on the way to the bathroom three days earlier, and now the pain was to the point that he could not get out of bed. As it turns out his father was in so much pain that we couldn't get his heart rate and blood pressure without him wincing. Poor fellow was in such pain, and we had no choice but to use a sheet carry and a wheel chair until we could reach the stretcher three floors down.

On the way to the hospital I was able to get the man talking, and I even got a chuckle out of him a time or two. Now, here's where I've got some trouble. His son said his father had fallen three days ago, and had only not been able to get out of bed that day because of the pain. But when we were walking down the hallway the smell was obvious. And when we lifted the father off his bed, the stench honestly made me want to vomit. There was no doubt that the man had been laying in that bed, soaked through with his own urine (and such things), for at least a week. And there were three other people in that apartment the entire time, who could have called for help earlier, who could have changed the man's sheets and clothes, who could have done something. Anything. Ugh!

So, questions.
Have you encountered situations like that, in which neglect is obvious?
What is your reaction?
I have heard that you should keep a little jar of Vicks Vapor Rub with you, does it actually help with the smells?

Anywho, I am still awaiting my test results. I hate waiting! But, hopefully tomorrow will be the day. :)