Cookie

As I had reported earlier in June we were going to have to pack up and move due to the potential flooding of the Missouri river basin. Well at first we had no where to go, we purchased a 36 and a half foot 5th wheel travel trailer. So during the week of Memorial Day I worked like hell to pack my home up ready to move. We also got two 53 ft. dry van semi trailers to pace all of our household into and that of my brother in laws household, two other households, my daughters and my brother in laws wife kids went into two stock trailers. June 6th we moved into the local state park. We are still here. After about three weeks the Gov. of Iowa declared that those people seeking spots to park in the parks because of the flooding, all fees were waived. Then on June 30 the levee broke about two miles north and west of the town wehre we live. I went down there on that day to look at the house real quick and remember what it was like and thought I would never see it again. I went back yesterday for the first time. I had known that we only got water in the basement despite the fact the farm is completely surrounded by water, and our crops are gone and we were among the lucky ones. There are some homes completely destroyed by the flood water. Others damaged to the point they probably will be torn down anyway. It may be next year by the time I-29 has any repairs done. It is closed from Rock Port Missouri to Glenwood Iowa. There are a lot of sections still under water, some damaged that repair is impossible and total rebuild of some road beds and bridge structures is the only solution. My only problem is combating daily boredom, and sleepless nights. The day the levee broke was my 61st birthday, what a hell of a bday present. I got back to camp poured myself a lovely single malt scotch and a splash of water and cried for about an hour. I will survive. It's just that I am not in for this kind of adventure at this point in life. Now where did I put that bottle of Glenfiddich or was it Glenlivit?

I spent nearly two weeks packing up my household. Sorting what goes where and such. We bought a 35ft 5th Wheel trailer and currently located in a state park high up on the hills overlooking the Missouri River. Had to file for unemployment, changes of address, forwarding mail and a whole bunch of stuff that takes an inordinate amount of time. The levee broke near Hamburg Iowa south of us and thewater is slowly backing in. It also has to back uphill 6 ft to get to where I lived. I will try and keep folks updated when I can go into town and sit outside the library to access their wifi with my laptop. Just did not ever think I had worked all these years for a home and to wind up in a 35ft trailer for god knows how long! Guess I am adaptable and can get along with the minimun of what it takes to live day by day. Our ambulance and fire truck are located in a town about 5 miles from the campground and will have to respond to calls as need be. They have closed I 29 and in a couple of days close Highway 2 at Nebraska City. So if we need to do any business in that city we have to go north about 25 miles and back down the Nebraska side same distance. Oh what fun we are going to have. Cookie, currently a refugee and displaced person.

We do understand that there has been record amounts of snowfall and rain. This has been going on for a while, and the corps did notstart releasing water in anticipation of that, not this year nor in the past 4 to 5 years. It was held back with minor increase in flows. This time the flows are astronomical and if it gets as bad as they predict water will cover the land for quite a while. They plan to run increased flows till December. Which by mid june will be 150,000 gal cubic feet per second or higher. I know that Senator Grassley from Iowa and Johanns from Nebraska and Missouri's Govenor are not going to let this slid this time.

Well brothers and sisters of the EMS world, I will be among the many homeless so to speak in a very short time. It's not because of the ecomony, loss of a job, forecloseure or anything such as that. It is because of the man made disaster the Corps of Engineers is inflicting on the people who live and farm the Missouri River Valley. I will loose my home to the massive amount of water they are releasing from the dams on the upper Missouri River. We have no idea how much water will actually flood the area. The corps of engineers say up to ten feet from the Nebraska side to the bluffs on the Iowa side. That is a freaking lot of water. We are an angry bunch here. The people who live on the lakes and reservoirs want the levels kept full for their recreational use. The nature lovers pressured the Corps to manipulate the river flows for the pallid sturgeon to have hot sex and reproduce, simply because the dam fish is a leftover from the age of dinosaurs. The Corps created sand bars so the plover could build nests and lay their eggs, then raise the river level to wash away the sand bar. The impact will be tremendous. If we get as much as they predict, it will close Interstate 29, and commerce up and down this area from points north to Omaha, Council Bluffs, Kansas City, St. Louis etc. Never mind areas that have been continuiously inhabited since Lewis and Clark first surveyed it in the early 1800's. That accounts for nothing. Never mind that the agriculture industry will be affected, since the grain crops we farmers raise are in just about everything people eat and drink. All for the sake of a fish and bird to fornicate.

Years ago, one of my first calls was an accident on the Interstate. When we finally managed to get the person out of the vehicle, mini pickup rear ended a snow plow, and our patient weighed over 400 lbs by the way, complained that Johnny and Roy would have done a better job!

You have gotten some very good responses from some very experienced people. We all have had the jitters on our first call, and most of us can remember exactly the call and how it went down. There are also many who criticized themselves over the entire scenario, that is a horse you can beat to death. Every level I have had, and every class I have taken, first and foremost is ABC's. If you don't determine that first, you may not have a patient.

With all the fear of radiation fallout from Japan I thought it might be useful to tell you about a cheap, effective, homemade radiation tester you can easily assemble and rely upon. Just follow these simple instructions: OPEN A BAG OF ORVILLE REDENBACHER MICROWAVE POPCORN LEAVE IT ON YOUR KITCHEN COUNTER IF IT STARTS POPPING, YOU’RE SCREWED-

Well at least you have not fallen off the earth yet, wait your in Kalifornia, not far to go. Post on occassion, impart some of your esteem wisdom and sarcastic tongue, cannot let the others corner that market. Good to hear from you. Cookie

Idiot

I got this thing as well. I also got one supposedly from the FBI about some merchandise or some such thing that needed to get thru customs, supposedly addressed to me, and asking me to send money and personal information. Well you get the idea. Sadly people fall for these scams every day. Cookie

Illinois First Responder Suffers Fatal Heart Attack Following Response EMSWorld.com News Share Avon First Responders First Responder Dan Dare An Avon first responder suffered a fatal heart attack Tuesday after responding to a call during a blizzard, according to The Register-Mail. Dan Dare, a member of Avon First Responders, responded to a residence in Greenbush for a call of a 2-year-old in distress, but the call was canceled and he headed home. As he returned home, the 52-year-old suffered a heart attack and was transported to a local fire station. Responders at the station performed CPR without success. Other agencies attempted to respond but were unable to due to weather conditions. Dare was pronounced dead at approximately 1 a.m. on Wednesday. Avon First Responders is composed of 12 volunteers who work both nights and weekends. He had been a member for close to 20 years. "He's always been there for us," Director Kay McKinley told the newspaper. "It's going to be a huge, huge loss for the whole community." He also volunteered with the local fire department. Funeral Arrangements Visitation will be held on Saturday, Feb. 5 at Abingdon United Methodist Church two hours before the funeral services, which will be held at 2 p.m. Cremation will be accorded following the service. My condolence to the family and to his EMS Brothers and Sisters.

From all that I have read and heard on the news, he tried to stem the bleeding, and kept talking to her, trying to calm her. His voice was a voice she knew. He was given accolades for his actions yesterday at the State Assembley in Arizona. We were not there. Can we really decry the decision making of those that were? I certainly can't. That is my two cents worth. Cookie

Wishing each and everyone a Merry Christmas or whatever one may celebrate at this time and a Happy New Year. Stay Safe, Stay Warm Cookie

16. when the previous 15 fail, try "Yes Dear"

I regularly send stuff to my friend for her son in Iraq. These items are small enough to fit in the bdu pockets. They are charmine travel toilet paper. Disinfectant wipes for hands, again in the travel size. If you have an Avon representative purchase the hand cream mini's. The best ones are the moisture thereapy, intensive Treatment and Vitamin Treatment plus the moisture threapy intensive lip stuff in either the tube or push up dispenser. I send fly paper in the little tubes as well. Another thing I did send is Nature Valley granola bars.

Don't read more into the questions than what is written. Relax. Don't stay up all night before the test studying. Lightly review. Keep a positive attitude, and don't second guess yourself. Instead of picking apart a persons post, can we just answer the question and or give advise based on many a members experiences taking the NREMT? That is all the poster was asking just advise on the best way to study and take the test.

A friend of mine has a Segway, there are different models to choose from, his has a t shaped handle bar. He loves his, and he has found freedom he has not known since the 50's before he was stricken with polio.

I listen to what the first responder/bystander has to say, and I also talk to the patient. They might just have some important information that the patient cannot tell us. This brings to mind a recent accident where the first responder happened to be a paramedic from another state. when we arrived on scene we gratfully listened to what he had to say as he also was a witness to the accident. Mom stated that she and the little girl were belted in, well the bystander said otherwise as she had bounced about in the passenger compartment, and had accompanying injuries that also said she was not belted in. You just never know, so get covered on all basis.

How Do You Like Me Now by Toby Keith

Merry Christmas to everyone and Happy New Year.

Dear Santa: Tiny Tears Doll, wait I still have that, a Ballerina doll, oops I still have that, origional Barbie, yep still have that, radio flyer wagon, still got it. I can't think of a thing except to have my mother and dad and sister with me again on Christmas, and for that I will have to wait till it's my time to cross over. How about Peace on Earth? Cookie

I am truly sorry for your loss. Prayers of comfort for your family.

To my dad who served in the United States Navy in both Atlantic and Pacific Theaters during WW II, then in he served in Korea, and my Uncle Clyde who was also in the USN and served during WW II. To my Uncle Lester whom I never knew, he died in Burma during WW II, while with the Army Engineers building the Burma Road. Another uncle served in WW I. I also reflect on those who during WW II made it possible for the soldiers and sailors to do what they did to preserve our freedom. My mother made radios for on board the destroyers, one of her girlfriends worked at the Martin bomber plant near Omaha building aircraft, her other girlfriend worked at the bomb plant at Meade Nebraska. I salute all of you.

I am still trying to get past the fact your using such an old book. When I took the class I used the ninth edition and my brother in law just took it not all that long ago and used the eleventh edition.

What you are seeing are not your typical ladybugs, they are red and black, these large swarms or groups of them are orangeish with black spots and they are the chinese variety, and a pest. They do bite. Just keep doing what your doing, its about the only way to keep them at bay. On Monday it was real warm here in Iowa, and the sun shining on the back porch brought them out in droves. The whole side of the house and door were solid with them. I left them there as the outdoor cats were having a field day trying to catch them.