Into the distance, a ribbon of black stretched to the point of no turning back a flight of fancy on a windswept field standing alone, my senses reel. . . A shift swap has brought me back to the Witch City for the afternoon. My old shift is now occupied by new medics. I rollContinue reading “Earth-bound misfit”
Tag Archives: EMS
Week 20 – Surprise!
While I was awaiting the return of my slides from the lab, I grabbed my Polaroid Spectra for a few quick shots. It had a pack of Impossible B&W which I needed to finish. Imagine my surprise when these popped out. I really shouldn’t let cameras sit around with film in them for so long.
Muerte
A sunny Sunday morning. A crowded neighborhood; the closest thing we have to tenements, filled to the brim with people seeking the American dream and finding everything but. Paramedic 9’s diesel screams at the curb, nose to nose with a fire engine in the tiny one way street. They will have to back out. WeContinue reading “Muerte”
What were you thinking?
Coming up on today's episode of What Were You Thinking? EMS Edition: A dispatcher confuses the medic crews, A diabetic takes his insulin and goes out for the day without eating, Texting and driving almost kills a man, A coworker loses his temper, And I make a poor first impression. Stay tuned!
Memory
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 asContinue reading “Memory”
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 TraumaContinue 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 justContinue 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 haveContinue reading “Things I’ve learned on the transfer truck”
Finishing the month at work – 0130, 013113
FOSTER STR -013013 Polaroid SX70 / Impossible PX680 with ND filter Posting – 013113 Polaroid SX70 / Impossible PX 680 with ND filter
