There is a memorial plaque in town. I pass it regularly. I remember. I remember a sunny Saturday morning drilling at the firehouse. I remember swearing loudly and running to the engine when the tones dropped. I remember almost overshooting the address, and I remember the horrid moaning sound the engine's radial tires made as… Continue reading Memory
Category: EMS
Take your dog to work
So the internet has decreed that today was Take Your Dog to Work Day. At first I thought it wouldn't work, then I reconsidered. Long stretches on the couch. Blasting across town, head out the open window, tongue lolling in the wind. Howling along with the siren. Yeah, Cricket might enjoy it too. 🙂 … Continue reading Take your dog to work
Scenes from an ED
The helicopter crew turns the corner ahead of us in their blue jumpsuits. Their patient doesn't look too bad. She's awake, sitting up on their stretcher. I cannot see a heart monitor or any IVs, and I wonder what she did to warrant flying. We roll together into the Acute area of Big City Trauma… Continue reading Scenes from an ED
Adventures in babysitting
"Medic 9, umm, check your CAD notes." I flip the Toughbook screen open as my partner scowls from the driver's seat. Response to the clinic. Non emergency, but bring up your equipment as the staff is having trouble. Uhhhh. . . After a quick consultation with the dispatcher we decide this sounds like an emergency.… Continue reading Adventures in babysitting
More than a job
I received this in the mail yesterday. I'm not sure of AFSCME's audience or intent here. The photo jumped out at me though. Untucked shirts? Improperly sized gloves? A rat's nest of ECG cables?! This is an organization which wants to represent us professionally? It's "more than a job?" Obviously it wasn't more than just… Continue reading More than a job
Things I’ve learned on the transfer truck
The transfer truck. Jack of all trades. Cath lab heroes, the vent squad. We burn a full tank of Diesel every shift. We run emergencies across 5 cities, transfers to and from every hospital in two counties, and backup for the other division. We see the sickest patients, sometimes more than once; and we have… Continue reading Things I’ve learned on the transfer truck
Normandy
He sits in his hospital chair, staring out past an uneaten breakfast at the city skyline beyond. Frank starts slightly as we enter the room, then turns and smiles. Our routine has begun for the day. He's a slight wisp of a man, now. Twice my age and half my size, time and disease have… Continue reading Normandy
Wordless Wednesday-ish
Grinch
It hasn't been a great week. We ran all the usual EMS annoyances, from truck swaps through ignorant hospital staff to late calls. I'm still adjusting to my new schedule, and my family is having a harder time than I. They've all managed to contract the flu. Yesterday we were reminded that sometimes Evil truly… Continue reading Grinch
Overheard in the Emergency Department
From the adjacent curtain bay: "Good afternoon, sir. I'm Doctor Attending. What brings you in to see us this afternoon?" "Well, back on March 15th. . ." *sigh*
Notes from Mosquito Hill 